Contact Overland Solutions for all your custom modifications and setup for overland travel.               Discover the extraordinary with Compass Expeditions.

Go Back   The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > Which Bike?

Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
With more than 58 destinations worldwide, Edelweiss Bike Travel is Number 1 in guided motorcycle tours!
AMERICA’S PREMIER MANUFACTURER OF MOTORCYCLE SUSPENSION

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 23 Mar 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Genova, Italy - Kabul, Afghanistan
Posts: 201
BMW g 650 x country

Any of you have an opinion about this new enduro BMW?
It looks not bad, an improvement of the classic F 650 GS, save for the small tank (9,5 l).
Let me know what you think.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 23 Mar 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Scotland
Posts: 28
I'm interested too

I agree that it is an interesting machine, but wish it didn't have that silly 9.5 litre fuel tank limitation.

I will be very interested to see what is in the BMW accessories package to fit the XCountry in particular. Of the three, only the XCountry has any chance of being any sort of long-distance tourer, at least for shorter people, because the other two models are ridiculously tall -- more for fashion purposes, I feel, than to make them any more suited for the sorts of territory where they will do the majority of their riding. The XMoto supermoto machine is a stupid poser's toy, with a wooden plank suspended four feet in the air for a seat; the 'dirt' model is even taller, and far too heavy to be a serious dirt bike.

To give you an idea how tall they are, when I visited a BMW showroom, the staff guy there told me that the XCountry, which has easily the lowest seat of the three new 650s, is FAR taller than the 1200GS!

But with a small screen to deflect some of the wind and after-market luggage, the XCountry might be an option, even if the seating position is not nearly so comfortable as the 'old' F650 model. I am looking forward to reading some real-world tests, as the 'first look' articles in the press don't really tell us much about how the XCountry handles real road conditions.

ron
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 23 Mar 2007
Mr. Ron's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Vancouver, BC, for now...
Posts: 798
you can read lots about the bike here:
Ma, look what I bought this weekend! - ADVrider
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 25 Sep 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: London
Posts: 276
Having owned a 1200 and currently an X-country and F800gs I can categorically state it is the lowest of them all. It's a brilliant bike, very reliable and very cheap to run returning unbelievable milage on a run (three fills of £5-£6 returned 260 miles two up at speeds around 80mph on motorways). It is a little cramped but nothing else inspires my confidence. I have no doubt that my bike will always do what I need it to do. The tank size is an issue but I see 80miles around town and 100 on a run easily for about £6 so it's not a huge problem as my XT engined Pegaso does the same mileage from a 16ltr tank.
This bike is very misunderstood. Lets get this straight. This is not a dirt bike, it's a competition bike built so that BMW can carry on winning rallies that the 800 is not eligible to enter because it's a twin. The G650 Challenge is built for that, the Xmoto and Country are the same bike with tweaks, different gearing, wheels and bodywork and built so the investment in building this machine attracts at least some sales to offset the costs. I bought the Country because of the seat, I can ride this all day and because it's built to a high standard to be reliable and durable. So far I've loved owning it and it's been the best bike I've had in years. My 800 is faster but not as capable in the dirt and not as sure footed or trustworthy. My biggest issue is availability of accessories but I'm working on that.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 25 Sep 2010
T.REX63's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Atlanta, GA / USA
Posts: 302
Quote:
Originally Posted by blueron View Post
...
I am looking forward to reading some real-world tests, as the 'first look' articles in the press don't really tell us much about how the XCountry handles real road conditions.

ron
Granted, its not the X-Country, but here is a link to a real world test of a 650 XChallenge, by Sir Walter Colebatch . Doesn't get any more real world than that... You'll get the idea. Great bikes!
__________________
Thomas

"Hey, ...I'm just ridin' shotgun"

Last edited by T.REX63; 25 Sep 2010 at 17:06.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 26 Sep 2010
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 21
was just about to post that link

With the bullet proof 650cc rotax engine, low weight (140kg) and high tier items used this bike is very high on my list as my next bike
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Buying a car hard in your country? Treeclimber Europe 6 27 Feb 2007 03:16
peru is a useless country.... ainslier South America 5 31 Dec 2005 19:30
Need help all over the country. Please check this out zabba Route Planning 0 25 Jun 2002 06:47
Need help all over the country. Please check this out zabba North America 0 25 Jun 2002 06:44


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 18:38.