GS 650 OR GS 700

[Gordyman]

I have read and researched so many sites and books to try and help me select the most appropriate bike for my intended travels which also have been changed several times due to wars etc. My original intentions were to set off and ride around the world starting through Europe and the Stans. Then due to costs and Ukraine I was going to travel through Iran but now they insist on guides. So I am thinking about starting off from where I intended to finish (Canada/USA). To do this I am thinking about freighting my bike (Air). Doing the Americas as one leg then coming home and doing Australia as another leg and then hopefully things in Asia/Eastern Europe/ Middle East may have calmed a bit to make this a third leg. So I am thinking of a smaller bike (currently have 1200GS & have in the past used 1150GS and previous GSs). On reading and trialing bikes I was convinced the GS 650 but last week I looked at a GS700. Both bikes seem to have the best balance between weight/height/torque/speed; to enable reasonable progress and comfort on easy open roads (dual carriageways etc) and also confidence inspiring on more difficult roads (mountain tracks etc). I will be travelling solo so dropping and picking up needs to be taken into account hence weight to power compromise. The GS 800 is quite tall and also weighs more than the other two so I have ruled this one out. However on trawling GS User there doesn't seem to be much talk about the GS700 it is mostly 650s or 800s. So I am wondering if there is a reason for this.
Whatever bike I go for I intend to carry out mods to improve weaker areas such as suspension and seat and anything else that is considered a good mod to improve robustness etc. I am an experienced traveller and have been on BMW offroad courses but consider myself a competent rider on road and careful rider off road (ie nice n slow in my own time). On one of the BMW courses I used the 1200GS but I really think in the real world as an average biker that I am the smaller bike is more manageable and pracitical.
So what do you chaps think? All advice very much appreciated.
Gordyman.

 

[earwig]

The earlier version of the 700, but basically the same bike

http://adventure-motorcyclingh.com/2012/04/05/bmw-f650gs-se-long-term-test/

If your on facebook, there is a f650/700 page which is well used by 700 owners (mainly from Europe and the old eastern block)

 

[Dean]

Wow what a trip you have planned, like to here more about that one

Talking twins....... I had an F650GS cracking bike, I uprated the suspension and seat (maybe my 15 + stone weight was aided by these two mods) , I racked up thirty odd thousand miles farthest afield was euro land.

F7 similar but different a hand full more BHP beans, twin front brake discs, wide false tank.

I have an F8 now more of them beans taller than your 12 but running on tubed rubber. difference in weight from f7 to f8 is 5kg, I know a lot of distant wanderers like it light & strip it down.

biggest weight carrying capacity factoid is the F650GS twin pips the post due to its lightness...

My choice would be for best balance between weight/height/torque/speed would be your 12GS all day long

But someone will be along shortly with another opinion

 

[Gordyman]

Thanks Dean & Earwig for your replies much appreciated. I will check out the sites for more information and keep you posted.
All the best
Gordon

 

[Gigsy]

For what it's worth, I think you'll runout of puff on the 650... the 700 has that bit more grunt for motorways, overtaking etc.

 

[Dean]

For what it's worth, I think you'll runout of puff on the 650... the 700 has that bit more grunt for motorways, overtaking etc.

How much more puff do you think the 700 has over the 650 twin or how much more puff would one want, how much puff would one need


mine had plenty of puff

 

[Gigsy]

How much more puff do you think the 700 has over the 650 twin or how much more puff would one want, how much puff would one need


mine had plenty of puff

G650 vs F700, not F650 vs F700

Otherwise, I have about 5 more puffs on my 798cc vs your 798cc

 

[Dean]

However on trawling GS User there doesn't seem to be much talk about the GS700 it is mostly 650s or 800s. So I am wondering if there is a reason for this.

Maybe because the GS700 arrived a few years later later back in the day it was just the two GS 800 twins

G650 vs F700, not F650 vs F700

Otherwise, I have about 5 more puffs on my 798cc vs your 798cc

Indeed, F650gs single, F650gs twin (800) and the G650 single 3 different bikes with different puff ability. I thought this whole thread was about 800 twins

five puffs it like a gnats dangly bit of difference

 

[Gigsy]

I'm not even sure it's as much as that