New BMWs
 

Guess you wanted to catch a glimpse of the new BMWs presented at the Intermot fair in Cologne, where this one probably is the most interesting one for you globe riders:

http://perso.orange.fr/mike.werner/B...XChallenge.jpg

More here:
http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf...4201MWELET.htm

and here (French - babelfish it if needed)
http://www.moto-station.com/article2...challenge.html

Surprising to see the X Challenge model sporting only a high dirt bike type fender. On a trip up British Columbia's Cassiar Highway last summer my friend's GS 650, which had the same configuration (i.e. no lower tire hugging fender) proved to be a major problem on the wet dirt / gravel portions of the road. He was showered with copious quantities of dirty spray which the high fender was quite unable to stop. Visibility became rather difficult. The bike was apparently sold for a while (at least in Canada) equipped this way.

He complained to BMW following the trip and received a free low fender and an acknowledgment that they were aware of the issue.

Norm

Not sure without seeing the bike in real life / riding it but it seems directed at the KTM show stars that park in front of Café Caprice in Camps Bay:

The bike is very high.

It does not look as if it's made to carry anything more than a rider and his credit card.

I (personally) don't like inverted "upside down" forks as I think they are more prone to accident damage of the inner tubes (scratches) and I know that they are more difficult to disassemble to change oil seals. The lack of fork boots IMHO is also a fat minus.

Hi,

I think it looks just the job.

Having done the two day off road course with BMW in Wales I thought both the Dakar and standard GS coped very well… but were in deed very heavy for any sort of off roading.

I came away hoping BMW would produce something in the 140 kg class, as opposed to the 175 kg weight of the current F650 bikes.

The G Series 650s has gone top of my list… :).

All the best,
Kip.

I just wonder if the steps to mount it come with the bike, or an optional extra..

there is nowhere to carry stilts either

kipanderson: You should really compare the BMW F 650 GS and Dakar to what the competitors sell, especially if it comes to dirt road use.
A KLR 650 can everything better than a F 650 Dakar except looking good and that for little more than half of the price (here in South Africa).
Give me a Suzuki DR 650 SE and I will ride circles around you and every F 650 of any type.
BMW does not only have to make a bike better than the previous BMW model but they have to accept the fact that there are a few other manufacturers producing fine bikes. Some of them are better and cheaper than BMW's. If the others would only be cheaper I would say ok (for patriotic reasons).

The new BMW looks like a designer tinkytown toy for rich boys. A revival of the idea of a Aprilia Moto 6.5 but the latter at least came with the tag of a collectors item due to its origins on Philipp Starck's drawing board.

new bmw,s
 

i was at the intermot show last week when these new models were shown for the first time ,the enduro and the scrambler are incredibly compact bikes , also they feel a lot lighter than my old F650 DAKAR.
i am waiting for BMW to release the F800GS , as i feel that for me that will be more suitable to my needs than the new 650,s also i am only five feet six inches tall in my bike boots, but have an inside leg measurement of 31 inches and both these bikes have very narrow seats so getting at least one foot flat on the ground is not a problem , also the tanks on all the new 650,s look absolutely tiny , but i think the fuel economy of the reworked 650 engine will make up for that.

test drive
 

I had a test drive on one of them yesterday, i dont normally ride bm's and didnt go with the intention of even looking at one.
It was a supprise as i went past the local police station on one wheel, i found it light, easy to throw around, good brakes (no abs on the tester) and plenty of power, cant comment on the suspension as it wasnt set up for me, the only thing am not so taken with is the lack of pillion foot rests, the fairly small petrol tank (its just not got the range i need) and the seat height although i've been told it can be lowered a little. Despite these things am considering getting my self a flat cap, pipe, and a ferit to walk on sunday mornings before sleeping in an arm chair for the rest of the day but thats ok as i'd have the rest of the week to scare motorists on the way to and from work if i do get one.

Does anyone have any long ish term knowledge on them, things that break, wear out, need replacing or is it the usual bm thing where it will be about long after i am.

Thanks George