Love and hate relationship

[mozzer]

Hello people, just accuired a 650 Dakar,

Just wondering what the good and bad points that you feel the bike has.

Also being on the shorter side 5'8 do you think ill have any problems with the bikes height? although i am aware you can change the seat.

post away

 

[G.C.]

Ride it like you nicked it !

At 5“8” you may well struggle a bit with the Dakar's height !
There are many here better qualified than I to list its good points v bad points but the one piece of advice I would offer is to “ride it like you nicked it.” To get the best from the Rotax engine it needs to be worked hard.

It’s a great bike, enjoy it.

 

[Bert]

height is all in the mind!

but occasionally shows up when you put your foot down!!
at 5 foot 6", I manage the Dakar - tricked up with 21" excel front and standard GS rear wheel!
That geometry works a treat of-road and for vertically challenged souls like me!
BUT remember, mon ami, that brains begin from just above your eyebrows and go up the rest...is academic

 

[Jon]

When I had mine, I upgraded the front springs to the touratech ones and it made a helluva difference, on and off road.

If I made one change to the bike, that would be it.

If I bought another, I'd do it straight away..............

 

[Taff]

On normal roads, you should be ok but you will need to be very careful with adverse cambers ie where the road drops away from you. I know this, because I dropped my 7 day old Dakar, when the road just fell away and I couldn't get my foot down in time.

If the height is an issue, try it with the lower seat. After I dropped mine, I swapped seats with a standard F650 riding mate out of curiosity as much as anything else. The difference was amazing, but by then I was getting used to the height.

They are good bikes - if I was doing a lot of off-road rides, I would buy one tomorrow.

 

[LOLGEOFF]

but the one piece of advice I would offer is to “ride it like you nicked it.”

Yeah ride on the footpaths, straight throgh red lights,stop for nothing and when you've finished riding it set fire to it and then hide under a hedge in someones front garden.

 

[G.C.]

Yeah ride on the footpaths, straight throgh red lights,stop for nothing and when you've finished riding it set fire to it and then hide under a hedge in someones front garden.

Mmm, no smilies !
I think you know what I meant, but just to clarify, the enging needs to be worked hard, keep the revs high, but hell, what do I know, I’ve just owned two 650`s, an FL and a twinspark…………. nah cant be arsed.

Quote GC. There are many here better qualified than I to list its good points v bad points

Go on Lolgeoff you tell im.
Have a Dram

 

[LOLGEOFF]

Mmm, no smilies !
I think you know what I meant, but just to clarify, the enging needs to be worked hard, keep the revs high, but hell, what do I know, I’ve just owned two 650`s, an FL and a twinspark…………. nah cant be arsed.


Go on Lolgeoff you tell im.
Have a Dram

Sorry GC no offence intended. It's just that phrase conjures up that image everytime I hear it, and I certainly wouldn't question your expertise.

As for Smilies I don't use them I always think of them like canned laughter, If somethings funny you don't need to be told to laugh, if it isn't funny you don't laugh. l think they are also the equivalent to a nervous laugh. It appears that you can write what you like about someone and as long as you follow it up with a smiley everythings ok.

Thanks for the offer of a drink...my round next.

Lol