650 Dakar off road vs. ??????

[bigdog1807]

Realized too late this should be in thumpers but....my riding buddy just acquired an '01 Dakar and we're planning to do some off roading, including the TAT, etc. What are your impressions of the bike? What would you prefer over the Dakar, if anything? He is an avid trail rider with a 250 KTM so the added weight will be a hurdle. Suspension, durability performance...? Thanks for the input.

[Motorfiets]

Originally Posted by bigdog1807

My riding buddy just acquired an '01 Dakar and we're planning to do some off roading, including the TAT, etc. What are your impressions of the bike? What would you prefer over the Dakar, if anything? He is an avid trail rider with a 250 KTM so the added weight will be a hurdle. Suspension, durability performance...? Thanks for the input.

Might have more luck in thumpers... This the forum thread for the new 800cc bmws

Welcome to the asylum!

[skibum69]

Originally Posted by bigdog1807

My riding buddy just acquired an '01 Dakar and we're planning to do some off roading, including the TAT, etc. What are your impressions of the bike? What would you prefer over the Dakar, if anything? He is an avid trail rider with a 250 KTM so the added weight will be a hurdle. Suspension, durability performance...? Thanks for the input.

my buddy has one too, I really don't like it much compared to my 640 Adventure

[Flashback]

G650 X Challenge. Much more able mount. I'm on an F8 now but think that if I were to do it again I'd either get a KTM 690 and modify it for adventure riding or a G650 X Challenge and do the same. These stock street oriented ADV bikes are just too portly. Adding weight is easy. Dropping it, not so much.

[BobbySands]

X-challenge.

Nearly the same motor as the Dakar, but the squeeze more horsepower from it, though not much more. The reliability is still there.

Better suspension, front and back, and much lighter.

You'll have to sort your panniers, though, the sub-frame really isn't meant to haul panniers. And fuel capacity is lacking.

Find a used one, toss the Touratech rear subframe with Zega mounts on it and the larger fuel tank, and you've got what I consider to be the best touring dirt bike out there.

Plus-- no fuel injection, fuel delivery, clutch slave, broken engine case problems and it won't take you a day to do an oil change.

[Motorfiets]

Originally Posted by BobbySands

Plus-- no fuel injection,

thought the X-challenge was EFI?

[Ducksbane]

Originally Posted by Motorfiets

thought the X-challenge was EFI?

It is ... I have one in the garage I am probably going to make into an Adventure/RTW Bike. I haven't had it long, but it seems like a good bike ... pretty light, economical, fairly decent on the road, surprisingly powerful. The motor is regarded as one of the most reliable thumpers around and it will apparently run on almost anything resembling petrol. As usual for BMW its greatest fault is probably the suspension, but its not too bad. Of course the rims are a bit soft ...

I need more fuel range for it, but I have ridden one with a touratech tank and it doesn't seem to get in the way much, and gives a huge fuel range.

Heres a photo of what I had in mind stolen from another thread ...



Link to thread ... http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=568048

And of course the legendry Colebatch build ...http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=524638

[inmate-n00b]

Originally Posted by Flashback

G650 X Challenge. Much more able mount. I'm on an F8 now but think that if I were to do it again I'd either get a KTM 690 and modify it for adventure riding or a G650 X Challenge and do the same. These stock street oriented ADV bikes are just too portly. Adding weight is easy. Dropping it, not so much.

I tend to agree.
Don't get me wrong, though, I love my f800gs.

[huckleberry]

if the x was so good why then did bmw drop it and bring back the g650?

[dendrophobe]

Originally Posted by huckleberry

if the x was so good why then did bmw drop it and bring back the g650?

Because as good as it is, people didn't want to pay that much for a dirt bike. Same reason they canceled the F800S; good bike, but sales numbers weren't up to snuff.

[inmate-n00b]

Originally Posted by dendrophobe

Because as good as it is, people didn't want to pay that much for a dirt bike. Same reason they canceled the F800S; good bike, but sales numbers weren't up to snuff.

along the same lines, the f800s would have made a good track bike, but no one thinks of bmw for track bikes (prior to the s1000r) and no one wanted to pay for one when there's so many japanese bikes on sale on craigslist.

i need to do a track day on my f800gs someday.

[Flashback]

Originally Posted by OMG_WTF

I tend to agree.
Don't get me wrong, though, I love my f800gs.

Oh I love my F8 as well. Just have had to come to grips with its limitations.

[The Griz]

Originally Posted by Flashback

G650 X Challenge. Much more able mount. I'm on an F8 now but think that if I were to do it again I'd either get a KTM 690 and modify it for adventure riding or a G650 X Challenge and do the same. These stock street oriented ADV bikes are just too portly. Adding weight is easy. Dropping it, not so much.

Originally Posted by OMG_WTF

I tend to agree.
Don't get me wrong, though, I love my f800gs.

+1 Me too. If I could have a mulligan I'd probably go for a slightly used G650Xchallenge or F650GS Dakar (single). That Rotax 652cc single in it is bomb-proof and highly regarded as one of the most reliable motorcycle engines ever made.

However, now that I've had the F8 for 2 1/2 years and will probably have it for 2 1/2 more, change really isn't an option at this point. I do love the F8 though, it's a great bike. Other than a clutch failure at 800 miles on the odo, this bike has been bomber.

As for my next bike after the F8, I'm having a pretty serious debate in my head as to whether to go larger or smaller. I have a 450cc enduro. I've got the dirt sect covered..... hmmm....I'm leaning towards an R1200GS Adv and chewing up tons of miles adventuring the countryside at 80 mph in even more comfort and with more power than an F8. All the while keeping the G450X for my trail riding pleasures.