1997 Funduro question

**nobalance** · #1 3 Mar 2005

I'm interested in getting a GS like bike for 1up travel in North and South America - the kicker - it's also got to be a daily commuter and allround fun stead. I've looking at a 1997 Funduro with about 46,000km. It appears well maintained and is running great. Are there problems with this model or should I be worried about the km's?

Any help would be great. I live in Eastern Canada and they're asking 5700 canadian if anyone has an opinion on whether or not that's a reasonable price.

Thanks in advance. And if someone has a suggestion for another choice of Bike I'd be interested - pretty new to adventure touring and BMW's (lots of Japanese crotch rockets).

NB

**davidmc** · #2 3 Mar 2005

$5700 canadian, that's about $4500us? Don't know much about the Canadian bike market, but $4500 would be a bit high for that bike in the US. You can probably get a newer model for that price, but look out for the surging/stalling on the 2001 models.

The KLR650 and Transalp are also good alternatives to the F650.

-Dave

**davidmc** · #3 3 Mar 2005

Also check out this site for the F650:

http://f650.com

**Jordan** · #4 3 Mar 2005

After watching for the market for quite a while, I bought a very nice 1998 F650 with 29,000 km last year in Western Canada. I paid $CAN 5200, it also it came with a BMW tank bag, mounts for the BMW luggage and a few spare parts. I noticed the prices were much lower in the US, there do not seem to very many of the Funduro up here in Canada. I thought the price was a bit steep, but that seems to be the going rate. I'm very happy with the bike, not problems thus far.

**mariner** · #5 14 Mar 2005

Re: your 1997 F650 question.
I've been using one for extended overland trips through Asia. At the risk of repeating other posts on this site, I think it depends what type of roads you'll be on. I've found the Funduro to be excellent for one-up riding - comfortable on the asphalt if a little slow at the top end but it makes up for this when you get to the twisty mountain roads in Northern Thailand and the dirt roads of Cambodia. Like many bikes, its a compromise and that often means 'not great at anything' but I think in the case of the Funduro its just right for one-up touring on mixed roads, however, I wouldnt want to get into deep sand or mud, especially with luggage.
I've found mine to be reliable although I've done plenty of preventative maintenance which I think is essential before any overland trip on any bike. Spare parts are a bit expensive but easy to get mail order if you're stuck on tour. And of course there's tons of back up at www.f650.com. I'd buy one again, perhaps not for commuting but definately for overlanding.

**mariner** · #6 14 Mar 2005

I forgot to mention in the above post that buying at 46,000km is unlikely to be a major problem, but if you're going touring you will probably need to look at the wheel and cush drive bearings (cheap), replace the water impellor (cheap if you DIY), check the oil hoses, check the voltage across the battery is 14-14.5 (anything around 17-19 means the voltage rectifier is fried - not cheap), maybe upgrade to steel braided brake hoses, check the steering head bearing, coils and plug caps. These are known wear items at this mileage so don't be put off as better the devil you know. If the bike's been well looked after it should have plenty of life left in it.

**Werner** · #7 14 Mar 2005

On my 2000 Funduro (the last model with twin carbs), I did an around Africa trip, and an Around the World trip, and several shorter ones, for a total of 110,000 km. I performed all the maintenance suggested in the previous post, plus I installed a voltmeter in place of the clock. Week spots: two many electrical connectors which can corrode and fail without warning, therefore the voltmeter, which came in handy several times. The Germans call this bike a "Wollmilchsau," i.e. a wool-milk-hog, an all around animal that supplies wool, milk, as well as porc. So, go for it. If you're Jewish or a Muslim, you don't have to eat the porc.

**nobalance** · #8 16 Mar 2005

Thanks all - and lots of great advice. I've now got to chose between the 97 funduro and a 2001 F650GS with 28,000kms. The price works out to be essentially the same (I'm financing the thing for the first year and the 97 kicks the interest into the stratosphere - in fact the 2001 comes out cheaper, go figure).

So carburated, or EFI? Thoughts?

And thanks all.

NB