Please Enlighten Me

[Gracious]

Hi All you GSers,

I'm a Newbie so apolgises if I've posted in the wrong place. Or if I ask any stupid questions.

I'm looking around for my first bike.I've Looked at a few, but I think I fell in love when I sat on F650 GS. At 5 10.5" Got giggled at when I was able to touch the ground with the bike on the centre stand. But I have to say the bike just felt so comfortable and I couldn't get over how light it was(which was one of my main worries in looking at a bike.Didn't want to feel like a Damsel in Distress if I dropped the damn thing and not able to pick it up)

So I've currently been looking at 2nd hand f650 gs single cylinders. for around €3,500 .I'll be using the bike for commuting to the city. So it'll be used pretty much everday on country roads and motorways.So would it be worth my while looking at the Dakar? considering it's the taller bike and built to take a bit more punishment, because let's face it Irish roads aren't the best in the world . Or should I be looking at the newer 2 cylinder 800cc version of the bike?

Any advice anyone has would be great thanks

 

[Mick_rw]

Hello Gracious...

sorry can't be any help on your 650GS question, having never ridden one, but welcome to the forum....

Someone will be along shortly to let you know what you need....

 

[john_aero]

Hi All you GSers,

I'm a Newbie so apolgises if I've posted in the wrong place. Or if I ask any stupid questions.

I'm looking around for my first bike.I've Looked at a few, but I think I fell in love when I sat on F650 GS. At 5 10.5" Got giggled at when I was able to touch the ground with the bike on the centre stand. But I have to say the bike just felt so comfortable and I couldn't get over how light it was(which was one of my main worries in looking at a bike.Didn't want to feel like a Damsel in Distress if I dropped the damn thing and not able to pick it up)

So I've currently been looking at 2nd hand f650 gs single cylinders. for around €3,500 .I'll be using the bike for commuting to the city. So it'll be used pretty much everday on country roads and motorways.So would it be worth my while looking at the Dakar? considering it's the taller bike and built to take a bit more punishment, because let's face it Irish roads aren't the best in the world . Or should I be looking at the newer 2 cylinder 800cc version of the bike?

Any advice anyone has would be great thanks

well dakar has better standard suspension but it is higher, can get lowered seat to help.

but if you look at my past threads you will see 2 options, buy standard GS and pump cash into it and get super suspension. but if below 14 stone (sorry dont take offence to weight here) then the standard dakar suspension is very good.

i have my dakar lifted and love it but is bit high for me, i have short inside leg.

i would pick dakar or gs if keeping it standard.

cant go wrong with either really and wold info on here. either way go for the 04 plus bike with twin spard ignition. easys potted with twin spark on the covers.

 

[john_aero]

few bikes for sale in donedeal but be honest if getting a pre 04 bike then upgrade the front forks they can shear off.

search for the net for BMW FORK FAILURE and will find all the info there.

oh by the way i have set forks for sale

 

[rc mad]

hey Gracious and welcome

Firstly the dakar and the standard f650gs bikes are identical in everything but the suspension travel and front wheel size. The the gs has a centrestand and a low front mudguard which the dakar does not have - there are aftermarket parts available for both items tho.

The dakar sits around 2 inches higer than a standard f650gs. I'm around 6 foot and can flat foot the dakar. Seat height on the f650 is 785 mm and the dakar is another 86mm above that ( it uses a seat with thicker padding than the stock gs)

The gs is the better road bike due to the smaller 19 inch wheel, the dakar is a better off road bike due to the 21 inch wheel and longer travel suspension, for irish roads ( i was there last week, they aren't that bad) either would be fine, tho the dakar may just have the edge in comfort.

The single cylinder rotax engine in the 650 and dakar are just about bullet proof, there are bikes with above 100k on them and still going strong, service parts are cheap, around £60 for a 6k service and it's fairly easy to work on. It will pull you along at 85 -90mph without to many problems, above that and it starts to struggle but it will crack the ton, just

Pretty easy to work on too, I have just over 25k on mine with no major problems other than servicing.

If it was me i would buy a dakar But it does depend on what you want, the last single cylinder bikes rolled off the line in 2007 so the youngest bike you can possibly buy will already be at least 2 years old.

 

[Spear Ruler]

Hi and welcome
As a 650 GS single rider on Irish roads, booreens gravel and motorways it does the business. I have a lowered seat as I am only 5' 2" but am tippy toed.

It will do 80 to 100 Kms on the back roads no problem and it is the most forgiving bike I have mine a year and a half-first bike and survives wrong gear, being dropped and I prefer it to the new 650. Though in fairness I tries the new one for a short spin on a motorway. It is much lighter than the single but I get top speed 160 Kms on the single and the new one struggled to get there. I enjoyed the spin but when I got back on my own bike I preferred it.

I'm back to the drawing board for my next bike now, it will take a lot to persuade me away from my current one.

Good luck with the search
Geraldine

 

[john_aero]

rad where you go when over here, should given us shourt few nice sports to go up the hills

also if this is your firs bike i would also make one pointin favour of the bmw, mine is restricted and limits you to 90mph and does not affect the accl or torque.

it is ideal 1st bike and then whip out the throttle stop when its up and away you go

 

[Flipfly]

few bikes for sale in donedeal but be honest if getting a pre 04 bike then upgrade the front forks they can shear off.

search for the net for BMW FORK FAILURE and will find all the info there.

oh by the way i have set forks for sale

That has happened but I think it is important to point out that this is an extremely (as in massively extremely) rare occurance.

Of all the Dakars that were sold, this only happened a handful of times, so I wouldn't change the forks for this reason unless they show signs of failure. Keep a regular check on them that's all.

A WP upside down fork or a WR upside down fork is a far better option if you wish to change the forks. requires a little more work, but you will get a huge performance advantage.

The Dakar is the bike to go for if you have any intentions of going trail riding. Otherwise the standard one will do ya, and you should pick one up cheaper.

New 650 will cost a huge wad more but will be quicker and smoother.

Personally I have a F650 Dakar (with mucho modification!).

Whatever you choose, have fun

 

[rc mad]

flipfly, both mine and john_aero's bikes are running forks of a yamaha yz, with a 1 inch height increase at the rear as well.

Mucho modification indeed, custom front axles to run the stock bm wheel, new brake hanger to suit and shorter dogbones at the rear to lift the back in line with the front

Now i need a stronger set of rims, the suspension (especially the front) has improved so much i'm in danger of fudging a rim by riding over the bumpy stuff too fast

The problem with the front forks was on pre 2002 ( i think) bikes, and was fairly minor, there's about 20 documented cases worldwide. Really a non issue.


John, i was over there for work, flew into dublin one day and back out the next. Might be coming back across this next week in the van, too much stuff to bring the bike across

 

[Micky]

Hi All you GSers,

I'm a Newbie so apolgises if I've posted in the wrong place. Or if I ask any stupid questions.

I'm looking around for my first bike.I've Looked at a few, but I think I fell in love when I sat on F650 GS. At 5 10.5" Got giggled at when I was able to touch the ground with the bike on the centre stand. But I have to say the bike just felt so comfortable and I couldn't get over how light it was(which was one of my main worries in looking at a bike.Didn't want to feel like a Damsel in Distress if I dropped the damn thing and not able to pick it up)

So I've currently been looking at 2nd hand f650 gs single cylinders. for around €3,500 .I'll be using the bike for commuting to the city. So it'll be used pretty much everday on country roads and motorways.So would it be worth my while looking at the Dakar? considering it's the taller bike and built to take a bit more punishment, because let's face it Irish roads aren't the best in the world . Or should I be looking at the newer 2 cylinder 800cc version of the bike?

Any advice anyone has would be great thanks

Welcome to the land of Tossers Gracious

They don't make bad bikes these days and if you like the F650GS then go for it. You'll hear scaremongering stories about any bike out there...

The F650 GS singles (standard or Dakar) have hearts of steel and are bulletproof. I ride across in Ireland quite a bit and either are just as good in the real world. As RC says, the Dakar is better, for the more experienced pilot, on the rougher roads, but you'll need to be a Simon Pavey to tell the difference.

Girlfriend Sue and myself rode across Europe, Russia, Siberia, Mongolia, Gobi Desert, the Stans et al on 650 singles without a problem. She did 50,000 on one 650, then 80,000+ on another. I did 50,000 miles on my Dakar....

No probs

 

[john_aero]

rcmad a van would be dangerous for me, i would go over empty and back full of bikes and parts

well either bike will do. best is just try both and see which you like. i like the dakar colours over standard gs,also the dakar had the abs option where as not all the gs bikes came with it.

 

[dakarjim]

rcmad a van would be dangerous for me, i would go over empty and back full of bikes and parts

well either bike will do. best is just try both and see which you like. i like the dakar colours over standard gs,also the dakar had the abs option where as not all the gs bikes came with it.

it was an optional extra on the dakar too

took me a while to find one without it

 

[Deleted Member I]

I had a F650 for a few months and used it for commuting over the winter. It was a great little bike. Sold it because I prefer sleeping on the train then battling car/van drivers on the M4 who wants to kill you.

 

[Timolgra]

Welcome to the land of Tossers Gracious

They don't make bad bikes these days and if you like the F650GS then go for it. You'll hear scaremongering stories about any bike out there...

The F650 GS singles (standard or Dakar) have hearts of steel and are bulletproof. I ride across in Ireland quite a bit and either are just as good in the real world. As RC says, the Dakar is better, for the more experienced pilot, on the rougher roads, but you'll need to be a Simon Pavey to tell the difference.

Girlfriend Sue and myself rode across Europe, Russia, Siberia, Mongolia, Gobi Desert, the Stans et al on 650 singles without a problem. She did 50,000 on one 650, then 80,000+ on another. I did 50,000 miles on my Dakar....

No probs

You cannot get a better testiment to a bike than that!

I've owned one in the past, it didn't suit me and ended up with a Dakar derived Rallye bike which most definately does, since it's Rallye days I offroad it in Wales, ridden offroad across Portugal and Morocco twice with no problems whatsoever.

My partner now has a 2001 650 Dakar and loves it, it's also very much better looking than a standard 650 IMO.

 

[essjay]

Howya Gracious...... took you long enough to register....

Chances are that you'll be tall enough to at least flat one foot on the Dakar, but starting out it's always handy to be able to put both down. According to a quick google the Dakar seat height is 870mm whereas my 1100GS in the high setting is 860mm - might be worth having a sit on my bike to get a feel for it (although mine feels lower than 860mm). I can get both down and I'm only a 29" inner leg.

The other side of the coin is that it's always a killer going with the bike your head tells you to, but your heart brakes when you see the bike really wanted...... (I went with the heart before and ended up with an 1150GSA SE when it was way too big/heavy for me).

Two more non-Dakars on donedeal today
http://www.donedeal.ie/find/motorbikes/for-sale/Ireland/BMW

 

[john_aero]

are you feeling enlightened??????? haha

 

[Gracious]

Thanks for all the replies guys,

I know the Gs and the Dakar are both great bikes. I've heard nothing but praise when I ask people about them. Being 5' 10.5" with a 32.5" inside leg I'm hoping height won't be much of an issue. And at just over 10 stone the weight of the bike would be more of issue for me.

My sensible side is saying the Gs, but my Reckless bite off more than I can chew side is saying the Dakar.I know for definite that it will one of these two.I guess I'll just have to get out there and see what I can find.In the end it will probably come down to what's the most I can get with my money.

I'll keep you guys posted on what my I get in the end.

But if anyone knows of anything I should keep and eye out for, or stay well clear of when looking at these bikes let be know

 

[john_aero]

Thanks for all the replies guys,

I know the Gs and the Dakar are both great bikes. I've heard nothing but praise when I ask people about them. Being 5' 10.5" with a 32.5" inside leg I'm hoping height won't be much of an issue. And at just over 10 stone the weight of the bike would be more of issue for me.

My sensible side is saying the Gs, but my Reckless bite off more than I can chew side is saying the Dakar.I know for definite that it will one of these two.I guess I'll just have to get out there and see what I can find.In the end it will probably come down to what's the most I can get with my money.

I'll keep you guys posted on what my I get in the end.

But if anyone knows of anything I should keep and eye out for, or stay well clear of when looking at these bikes let be know

go for twin spark if you can afford it.

at 32inch leg you will be fine. i have my dakar lifted by 2 inch and i can get i1 foot down and i am 31inch leg.

also watch for rotting spoke nipplies and damged plastics like all bikes hats it.

 

[Flipfly]

flipfly, both mine and john_aero's bikes are running forks of a yamaha yz, with a 1 inch height increase at the rear as well.

Mucho modification indeed, custom front axles to run the stock bm wheel, new brake hanger to suit and shorter dogbones at the rear to lift the back in line with the front

Now i need a stronger set of rims, the suspension (especially the front) has improved so much i'm in danger of fudging a rim by riding over the bumpy stuff too fast

I know about your mods fella, we've ridden together remember

My bike has a Schalber extended Rallye swingarm, longer WP rear shock, different rear dogbones, WP front forks and TT top and bottom yokes (retains the ignition barrel and the steering lock) and Excel rims laced on to BMW hubs with HD stainless spokes in 21" and 18" sizes.
I also have the TT rallye footpeg system.

Just need to get the sidestand modified so that it doesn't lean over at 50 degrees when parked up.

My point was about the forks issue that really is not an issue as you say yourself. Most failures have been American I think, maybe it's retaliation for the war

 

[Flipfly]

go for twin spark if you can afford it.

at 32inch leg you will be fine. i have my dakar lifted by 2 inch and i can get i1 foot down and i am 31inch leg.

also watch for rotting spoke nipplies and damged plastics like all bikes hats it.

Again, sorry to disagree, but the single sparks are perfectly good. mine has no surging and requires less parts to maintain it. The twin spark offers very little IMHO other than more potential issues.

Biggest issue with the 650GS or Dakar is the weight. They are suprisingly heavy and the sidestands are notoriously too short and cause the bike to lean over too much when parked. You can replace the bush which wears (this helps a little), but the design is poor and really it needs to be at a different angle or a little longer.

Oil pressure switches can often leak and the chains can stretch like a cheese string. Check the steering head bearings, wheel bearings and front wheel rim if it has been off roaded (they are soft). Oil is notoriously difficult to check (like every BM!!) so make sure you know the procedure and check that the person selling does!!.

Check the rear light too. They often break at the mountings which make them loose. There is a TT strengthening part which helps to prevent this.

Check the heated grips if they are fitted as these fail (like the 1150s). The starter motors can be a little lazy, but this isn't so much an issue, just make sure you stop and start it a few times as the relay can cause issues.

All these points are minor really and a collection of the most popular faults imho. They are thankfully rare though so if you miss a check, you would have to be fairly unlucky to suffer from any of them.