F800GS vs new F650GS (plus a few old favourites)

[Lagan]

Hi all,

I just wondering if anyone had some opinions about the above bikes, although there's a caveat to that below. Basically I'm thinking of doing a trip down to India next summer (2014) and I'm trying to find a suitable bike. I've had a few bikes in the past including the new(ish) Yahama Tenere and a 2004 R1050GSA, but due to an ongoing medical condition I sold them and gave up my overland dreams. The medical situation has now been stabilised, and those dreams have started knocking again!

I liked the Tenere to be honest, it had a lot of character and was a perfectly solid bike, but lacked a bit of power, as has been noted. The R1050GSA obviously didn't have that problem, but I really didn't like the weight of the thing - I'm sure other riders with more experience love them, but it's just too heavy for me.

So...basically I'm looking for something with a bit more grunt than a 660 (and preferably not a thumper to be honest), but not as heavy as a 1050. For reference sake, I'm a shade under 6'4" and 88kg (a bit under 13.5 stone), I like to take less travelled roads but at the moment that means gravel tracks, not wading through swamps but I'm not averse to going along a motorway if it makes sense. So, finally...

1. What's the difference between the Honda F800GS and the new F650GS, aside from the money? For a journey of the type I'm thinking of, would either be acceptable?

2. I've also looked at getting an Africa Twin, or maybe an old XTZ Tenere, so thoughts and opinions there would be appreciated for those too.

Thanks - sorry for the extended post.

Alex (Lagan)

[Walkabout]

IMO you will benefit from clarifying your questions.

Take a look at the BMW official website and the BMW tech forum in here and you will see that there are these models:-
F650GS single cylinder (standard version and Dakar version)
F650CS (belt drive)
F650GS twin
F700GS twin
F800GS twin
F800GS twin adventure

G650GS single cyl (standard version and Sertao)
G650X challenge
G650 X country

Some of these are new, or very new, models.
By the way, there isn't a 1050GSA, so far as I know - perhaps you owned a R1100GS or a R1150GS?

As for your other bikes under consideration:-
Do you prefer EFI or carburettors?

Hope this helps, as a start point for thoughts/discussion.

[Lagan]

Ah, fair enough, need to do a little more work on the various models. Yah, typo re. the R1150GSA.

Re. EFI or Carbs, I won't pretend to know that much about it, but the general consensus seems to be in the favour of EFI, which I appreciate is more modern tech.

Alex (Lagan)

[PaulD]

I would go for the G650gs they are a thumper but apparently pretty smooth, the twins are heavy bikes, imo to heavy when loaded, & I know I have just ridden mine thru Africa, so go light & go well.
Cheers
Paul

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by Lagan

Ah, fair enough, need to do a little more work on the various models. Yah, typo re. the R1150GSA.

Re. EFI or Carbs, I won't pretend to know that much about it, but the general consensus seems to be in the favour of EFI, which I appreciate is more modern tech.

Alex (Lagan)

There is a mega-thread somewhere in here about the pros and cons (by advocates of each) of carbs and FI; you should find it easily with the revised search function within here which works well nowadays.
e.g. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/sea...fuel+injection
Then there are the discussions about singles Vs twins which can be just as lengthy.

You could also read into some of the other tech fora, such as "honda tech" which has some interesting, recent discussion about new models produced by that company (500cc and 700cc).

IMO, you are in the right ball park with a bike somewhere around 600/650cc, assuming that you will be riding one-up i.e. no pillion passenger.