F650GS / Transalp / VStrom Comparison

[RBSK100RT]

For a technical comparison between the BMW F650GS, Honda XL650V Transalp and the Suzuki DL650, go to the following link-

http://vstrom.info/fom-serve/bags/650Comparison.pdf

[MOOSE]

if only the v-strom had abs

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IT NOT THE ADVENTURE IT THE
RIDE THERE

[jstephensca]

It is possible to get the VStrom DL650 with ABS !!

I have one and it is called a DL650A

[TravellingStrom]

Originally Posted by jstephensca

It is possible to get the VStrom DL650 with ABS !!

I have one and it is called a DL650A

This is an old thread and back in 2004 it was not possible, it only came out in 2007, I have an 09 model

Cheers
TS

[Popex]

the link seems busted to me...

Link from http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...omparison-4918

/fom-serve/bags/650Comparison.pdf could not be found on this server.

Most likely a broken link ... sorry!

The VSRI admin team V-Strom Riders International Group

[Popex]

i forgot to mention i'd be really interested in that comparison...

[ozhanu]

v-strom rulez!!

[Mickey D]

Originally Posted by ozhanu

v-strom rulez!!

Pretty much sums it up really!

There are lots of comparos here and over on ADV rider. Do some research and come back in a month!

This is a very old thread and all the bikes but the Vstrom have changed.

The Trans Alp has a different look now, more road oriented, but is still based on the 20+ year old design. It's had a few tweaks but still is a rather slow, stodgy bike and not very interesting, IMHO. I'd buy an older one and completely refurbish it. (see below)

The F650GS is no longer. It's been replaced by the G650GS single, now made in Taiwan. Basically the same 650cc single. Of course there are plenty of older F650's around still, and Funduros and such that go back to about 1995. Yes, that bike has been around forever. It's really a Rotax/Aprillia design that BMW eventually took over. That's when the problems started. The new Taiwanese ones are said to be better according to early reports. (cost about €8000 !!)

If you've got the BMW bug also look closely at the BMW X Challenge.
Now discontinued, but some new and used ones around. Very interesting bike and if seriously modded, could be a decent solo travel bike if off road was a priority.

The Vstrom is virtually unchanged other than ABS now available. I would buy a DL650 that has not been ridden off road. A good friend has a 2005 Vstrom. It's got 72,000 miles on it with lots of off road in the mix.

It's running fine and has never had any sort of problem. But comparing it (test rides) with a newer Vstrom is a revelation. The old one is very "loose" feeling. Probably needs all new bearings (head, swing arm, link) and new Cush drive rubber. This can make a old bike feel new again. New suspension or rebuild would also be advised.

Still, buy the newer, low mileage bike if possible.

Look on ADV rider for years of DL650 reports.

[tmotten]

Originally Posted by Mickey D

The F650GS is no longer. It's been replaced by the G650GS single, now made in Taiwan. Basically the same 650cc single. Of course there are plenty of older F650's around still, and Funduros and such that go back to about 1995. Yes, that bike has been around forever. It's really a Rotax/Aprillia design that BMW eventually took over. That's when the problems started. The new Taiwanese ones are said to be better according to early reports. (cost about €8000 !!)

The G650 GS motor is the Xchallenge motor assembled by Loncin in China. Parts for it are still machined either by Rotax or someone else in Europe. Rotax sold the design of it and no-longer shows it in their own lineup apparently.

[Mickey D]

Originally Posted by tmotten

The G650 GS motor is the Xchallenge motor assembled by Loncin in China. Parts for it are still machined either by Rotax or someone else in Europe. Rotax sold the design of it and no-longer shows it in their own lineup apparently.

Your right, China, not Taiwan. I think it's the dirt bike that is made in Taiwan? BMW also have car operations there, no? Not sure if in Taiwan or China, but seems their invested in a major way for the future of the company.

Are you saying finished, Made in Germany parts are being shipped to China for assembly only? No manufacturing in China? I know this is what GM and Ford do for Mexico. They have a deal with the govt., all the bits are shipped down from USA, assembled, then cars are re-imported back to USA whole. Maybe a similar deal in China/BMW?

I know the G650GS, X Challenge, X Moto and X Country all use the same basic motor, but wouldn't the tuning be different on the X Challenge compared to the G650GS (cams, cam timing, comp. ratio, F.I. fueling) ?

It's a shame BMW did not stick with the X-Challenge and develop it. With some work I bet it would have done well. Can't imagine why they gave up on it so quickly. :confused1:

[Mollygrubber]

Originally Posted by MOOSE

if only the v-strom had abs

------------------
IT NOT THE ADVENTURE IT THE
RIDE THERE

If only I had abs...

Peter

[welshstrome]

I got a V-strom K7 650, 14 months old 12000 miles. I am having the second ABS modulator and wiring harness fitted due to a problem with water ingress causing corrosion. ABS not as reliable as I thought
Welshstrome

[colebatch]

Originally Posted by Mickey D

Your right, China, not Taiwan. I think it's the dirt bike that is made in Taiwan? BMW also have car operations there, no? Not sure if in Taiwan or China, but seems their invested in a major way for the future of the company.

The 450cc engine is built by Kymco in Taiwan (G450X)

Originally Posted by Mickey D

I know the G650GS, X Challenge, X Moto and X Country all use the same basic motor, but wouldn't the tuning be different on the X Challenge compared to the G650GS (cams, cam timing, comp. ratio, F.I. fueling) ?

No, the G650GS now has the same 53hp motor as the Xs and the only difference seems to be the G650GS has 400w generator vs the 280w on the 650X series.

Originally Posted by Mickey D

It's a shame BMW did not stick with the X-Challenge and develop it. With some work I bet it would have done well. Can't imagine why they gave up on it so quickly. :confused1:

I think 2 reasons ... the stock 'out of the showroom' X-Challenge was impossible to market. It was a nothing bike. Was too heavy to be an enduro, so what was it? It was a marketer's nightmare, so they didnt bother, and it didnt sell. If they had built it as a light adventure bike in the beginning with bigger tank and touring fairing, it would have actually been something, and therefore would have been marketable, there would have been an angle for marketers to get their teeth around - especially since it came out around the same time the KTM 640 Adventure died.

And the other reason I suspect they killed it, is there was a global crisis hitting sales, 6 months after the bike was released, which compounded the the lack of sales, made them say "just bin in". Some wise guy could report to his boss and say "Yes sir we have done something in response to the global crisis, we have cut out the non-performing units from our model line up" - makes the suits seem "pro-active".

[Officialslacker]

Originally Posted by Mickey D

The F650GS is no longer. It's been replaced by the G650GS single, now made in Taiwan. Basically the same 650cc single. Of course there are plenty of older F650's around still, and Funduros and such that go back to about 1995. Yes, that bike has been around forever. It's really a Rotax/Aprillia design that BMW eventually took over. That's when the problems started. The new Taiwanese ones are said to be better according to early reports. (cost about €8000 !!)

I know this is going back to Feb, but there is a BMW F 650GS, but has a 798cc engine? It's one of the bikes I'm looking at - Assume BMW site is right, although I'm sure its been around longer than the last 6 months?

BMW Motorrad UK. New Motorcycles. Enduro. BMW F 650 GS.

[pecha72]

Yep, there is a "GS650" twin 800cc bike. What an unnecessarily complicated way to name their products - this confusion is just the tip of the iceberg!