F650gs Dakar

"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
06/09/2020 at 12:05 • Filed to: None

So I found a bike for sale that I’m kind of in love with, but I also think could be a terrible idea.

One of these.

It’s a 2003 F650 GS Dakar, with the ///M Livery and all. It seems like it wouldn’t be a terrible first bike, with a relatively low seat height or 34”s. I say relatively because other other big bike I’ve ridden an Honda ST100 has a 36” seat height and I didn’t feel uncomfortable on it, and it was considerably wider.

It’s also not a power house at 50hp, Altho that is a lot more than the 18-20 of the TW200s, DR200s and I’ve been considering.

So what do you guys think? Should I go for it, or run away and buy a little bike.

DISCUSSION (22)

TheRealBicycleBuck > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/09/2020 at 12:25

I’m not a fan of thumpers. The vibration puts my hands and feet to sleep after just a few minutes.

The challenges that tall bikes present are similar to riding clipless pedals. New riders often don’t know what do do when they stop and end up falling over.

I once watched a really, really short guy riding a Ha yabusa. At the stop lights, he’d slide halfway off the saddle so he could put a foot on the ground. It was clear he knew what he was doing, but I was left wondering what would happen if he didn’t get it leaned to the left before he stopped.

Nom De Plume > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/09/2020 at 12:30

You dummy, it’s in New Zealand.

Also it sold already !

It would’ve, WOULD’VE, been a great bike for what you’d get up to if it was as clean and well maintained as it looked.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Nom De Plume
06/09/2020 at 12:37

Lol not that one exactly

Gone > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/09/2020 at 12:39

Love the Rotax F650GS’s, that’s a good livery too. Totally worth moving to NZ for.

Svend > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/09/2020 at 12:41

Nice, we Brits and Europeans use the BMW F650GS as police motorbikes.

Kinja'd!!!

and F800GS for anti terror policing.

Kinja'd!!!

Generally BMW motorbikes are the go to for many British and European police forces.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > TheRealBicycleBuck
06/09/2020 at 12:41

The reviews I’ve seen have said it “almost too smooth” which is hard to believe for such a large single.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Gone
06/09/2020 at 12:42

So if the engine is a Rotax does that make it a Can-am?

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > TheRealBicycleBuck
06/09/2020 at 12:47

Rubber pegs and handlebar dampers/weights do a lot to quell vibrations in my KLR. Honestly I think the Z125 has more vibrations since it has metal footpegs. That BMW shouldn't have vibration issues.

Gone > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/09/2020 at 12:57

It just intensifies the German-ness (German²) since it’s pre-Bombardier. But now it’s really just a Can-Am BRP650 . Since it’s gone from G erman powered Canadian bikes to Canadian powered G erman bikes I think you get to pick.

Beefchips > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/09/2020 at 13:00

I doubt 50hp is going to kill you. My klr650 has about 40hp and you’d be hard pressed to make it do anything crazy. Just remember to smoothly roll on and off the throttle!

As others have said , the biggest risk to the new rider is probably dropping the thing on its side, or on your ankle.

Darkbrador > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/09/2020 at 13:06

Singles are not necessarily “thumpers” if they are properly balanced, case in point my KTM Duke (single cylinder 400 cc) is completely smooth up to its 10,000 rpm upper range.

I say : give it a test ride, it’s always much more valuable than online armchair experts opinion.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/09/2020 at 13:11

My mom had that bike and rode the crap out of it for about 10 years. She loved it. IIRC it had very few issues too even as the mileage kept going up. I think as she owned it all she did were tires and I think a rear shock. It handles pavement surprisingly well. Yes it’s not a power house at 55 HP but it will still get up and do 115 or so without issue-I know I was following her in my Impreza!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/09/2020 at 13:12

Also I’m thinking that is an Aprillia chassis?

TheRealBicycleBuck > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
06/09/2020 at 13:28

That’s hilarious. The last thumper I rode was a KLR650. Two passes down the field was enough for me to bring it back because my hands and feet were tingling. I really wanted to keep riding, but the buzzing was just too much.

Nom De Plume > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/09/2020 at 14:40

Well, condition of said bike would make a huge difference in which way opinions swing.

Mileage, service records, damage, tires/wheels, ... price.

PyramidHat > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/09/2020 at 14:48

My friend has the street version (650CS). Yes, at idle it shakes bit, but it smooths right out. I’d definitely consider this, had I time/room for a bike...

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/09/2020 at 15:43

As I questioned earlier. Are you doing mostly off-road? See you’re kind of asking what knife to use but not really saying if you’re cutting is butter, apple, or steak...

This GS becomes more of an all round bike. It’s something you don’t have to hammer 100% to do highway. I would be comfortable to ride something like that all year and on any speed of surface roads (and a good deal off-road). Realistically compared with the Tee Dub it’s a bike you’d likely be able to ride faster, farther and more comfortably if you want to use the pavement get to exploration off-road spots .

However it is heavier and larger , which can be detrimental to off-road depending on the technicality of riding you plan on doing.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Nom De Plume
06/09/2020 at 17:24

It seems to have need well cared for, not big scratches , broken/missing components. Nice new knobby tires. But it does have 74,000 miles! However the seller only wants 2400 for it.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com
06/09/2020 at 17:28

It seems like it would be a good fit for me. I wants something g to tool around town in, that can carry few groceries home.

I do want to be able to ride a lon on the highway, but I have no interest in 65+ freeway riding, closest freeway is a 60 miles away lol.

I do want something that is capable of a bit of off-roading, and camping. Specially one trip I was to do is riding the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail down to Iowa and back. http://lonewolfexpeditions.blogspot.com/p/trans-wisconsin-adventure-trail.html?m=1

Funny thing about that is that most people ride the TWAT (lol) to get up to Bayfield/Red Cliff/ Apostles Islands , which is only 30 minute from my house.

Exage03040 @ opposite-lock.com > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/09/2020 at 17:52

I would suggest going with something like this 650 over the TW200 then. Grocery runs would be okay but I think the 200 would be less than ideal when loaded up for camping. Its all opinion but wouldn’t go smaller than 300 personally. The link you posted for the trail recommended a 650 DS/ADV.

Obviously depends on budget but I really think Kawasaki Versys-X 300 and a Honda CB500X are good starting Adv bikes however might be at the top end of your budget used because they’re rather new and you’d also likely need to budget for knobby tires. Also worth checking and researching would be a Kawasaki KLR650, they’re tanks (apart from the chain tensioner) , and can be had for a song, even kitted out.

Nom De Plume > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/09/2020 at 21:37

Might be great, as a few of us said. Obviously there are a few model/year specific items to watch out for if you go far enough to get your moto license in order to test ride it.

brianbrannon > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
06/10/2020 at 20:32

The footpegs are so far forward it makes it almost impossible to stand off road