thinking of trading the Xch for a 650 Dakar Help please

[Adventure boy]

Thinking of trading the 07 Xchallenge for a 07 or simular reg 650 dakar simply for the comfort aspect of it, and it will eliminate one of my other bikes if I can go further on my trailly bike but dont know what it will be it will be like offroad in the mud Please help ive seen many pictures of the dakar offroad
thanks

[Max Kool]

After the Xchallenge, the F650 Dakar will be a disappointment offroad. It's like 90lbs heavier, and carries the weight high. I'm a BMW afficionado (for some stupid reason), and I owned one. For travelling or commuting it's a sweet bike, very civilized. But for playing in the mud I didn't like.

Expensive, fragile plastics, heavy, poor engine (lacks "snap") and mediocre suspension stock.

You'd rather fix up some sort of windshield for the Xchallenge if that's what you are missing on your current bike. The Xchallenge is so much better than the F650....

[Steady]

Originally Posted by Max Kool

After the Xchallenge, the F650 Dakar will be a disappointment offroad. It's like 90lbs heavier, and carries the weight high. I'm a BMW afficionado (for some stupid reason), and I owned one. For travelling or commuting it's a sweet bike, very civilized. But for playing in the mud I didn't like.

Expensive, fragile plastics, heavy, poor engine (lacks "snap") and mediocre suspension stock.

You'd rather fix up some sort of windshield for the Xchallenge if that's what you are missing on your current bike. The Xchallenge is so much better than the F650....

+ 100

Set your mind at ease by getting a quote for a tank panel on the Dakar. Very heavy off road.

[Adventure boy]

Cheers fellas just an idea I was playing with ill search for a screen of somesort

[GB]

Listen to Max.. he knows what he's talking about.. You can modify the X to make it more comfortable without losing it's off road edge. you can add a windshield and get a more comfortable seat.

Hyde products makes a clear shield for it, (it's blue on their site, just to show you what it looks like, but it's available in clear).

[Zapp22]

why would you buy a dead product? killed, mercifully, by its Maker......

you should be in Tejas.... lots of them for sale here [well, lots of F650's... only a couple of Dakar models] and they ain't movin'. Stuck owners still paying them down, can't get near payoff for the slugs.

[Johnnyboxer]

Originally Posted by Adventure boy

Thinking of trading the 07 Xchallenge for a 07 or simular reg 650 dakar simply for the comfort aspect of it, and it will eliminate one of my other bikes if I can go further on my trailly bike but dont know what it will be it will be like offroad in the mud Please help ive seen many pictures of the dakar offroad
thanks

I've had 2 Dakars and wouldn't go back

Better on road, but abysmal offroad compared to the XC

My XC is great and can be made more road civilised

[JimC]

Originally Posted by Adventure boy

Thinking of trading the 07 Xchallenge for a 07 or simular reg 650 dakar simply for the comfort aspect of it, and it will eliminate one of my other bikes if I can go further on my trailly bike but dont know what it will be it will be like offroad in the mud Please help ive seen many pictures of the dakar offroad
thanks

If you only could own one motorcycle and it would serve as a tourer, commuter and a dual sport bike the F650 would probably be a better choice. You would gain some comfort and long distance legs at the expense of offroad prowess.

If you are still going to own a street bike for long distance riding then stick with the XChallenge. It will be far easier and less expensive to make the XCh more comfortable than it will be to make the Dakar more dirt worthy (ask Max and I how we know). I've owned two F650 Dakars both highly modifed to make them more dirt worthy and neither could keep up with the XCh when the off roading gets tough.

The F650 is a great all around adventure bike with the emphasis on all around. The XCh is a better off road bike no matter how you measure it. I put a lot of miles on my F650's and enjoyed them very much, but the XCh is one of the more fun bikes I've owned in quite a while. When my plans include dirt, the XCh is always the bike that rolls out of the garage.

Jim in Sacramento

[Colorado Uli]

Depends on your size.

I'm over six foot four and weigh over 300 and can handle the Dakar in the dirt as though it was a 450. PLUS, it's the best darn engineering compromise between good highway and off road performance under the stars. Hmmmm ..., comfy seat.

[2xrboys]

I also went from a Dakar to an X. Compared to the X, the Dakar is not only a total mut in the dirt but also a mut on the highway. X has much more fun factor in both areas which, for me, overrides the uncomfortable seat issue. If I wanted a bike for long distance highway, it would be a bigger bike than the Dakar.

[John 10:10]

Originally Posted by Max Kool

After the Xchallenge, the F650 Dakar will be a disappointment offroad. It's like 90lbs heavier, and carries the weight high. I'm a BMW afficionado (for some stupid reason), and I owned one. For travelling or commuting it's a sweet bike, very civilized. But for playing in the mud I didn't like.

Expensive, fragile plastics, heavy, poor engine (lacks "snap") and mediocre suspension stock.

You'd rather fix up some sort of windshield for the Xchallenge if that's what you are missing on your current bike. The Xchallenge is so much better than the F650....

Well put