I left the US in September 2005. I am still riding. My bike is a 2002 F650 Dakar. I bought it used. I have now ridden around the world with this bike. I had new pump seals installed at Dakar Motos in Buenos Aires as a precaution. My after-market Ohlins was broken in the Sudan and was repaired in Germany at a cost of 411 Euros. The bike has seen me through an RTW of more than 45,000 miles with no other problems (OK, 3 punctures!). BMW does not finance me in any way. Just one riders experience. From where I sit the Dakar is a solid mount, the standard 650 feels less so. Good luck to all of you who actually take the ride! Ted, kudos to you for meeting hundreds of riders, I only met 6 riders during my year riding in the Americas- excepting the boys/girls at Dakar Motos. Ride safe. Hook.

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"And I think to myself, what a wonderful world..." L.B. Armstrong. www.davesgreatescape.net
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readme...e&id=661274218

Hook,
Your experience is on the old 650(2002) and those
are champs. The newer stuff, everything in the last 5 years from BMW including their clothing, is becoming more suspect.

BMW nowadays is more interested in selling the roundel...


MollyDog,
I think your criticism's are valid about their dealer network. I can say I interacted multiple times with about 15 BMW dealers globally and 25 dealers overall...for the sake of interaction, not out of necessity for parts, etc. Having a pleasant experience with a BMW dealer was more an exception to the rule; but the converse was true of Honda dealers...nicest guys on the planet!

There are good BMW dealers out there but they are slowly fading into the sunset...which is fine by me as the quality/durability of their products started fading a long time ago.

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edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com

Planning a long trip, plan for the worst. Ride a BMW where spares are available. Don't ride a BMW where a breakdown entails struggling with Airport Customs. My Honda 125 has taken me from Mexico to Mexico via Tierra del Fuego. The clock will pass the 40,000 Ks mark short of the US border. No mechanical problems, a few falls and a broken leg through being run down from behind by a big truck. I was riding on ice so the accident was my fault for being an idiot. What would I change? The seat! I hanker after one of those big leather seats with a back support. Power? Yes, a little more. I am due to cross China next year and am considering a 200 trail bike (probably Honda again), with the ratio changed for cruising and a comfortable seat. What ever, have fun...
home

Hi Simon,
Congrats again on a fantastic ride!
Fpr China take a look at this:
Silk Road - which bike? - ADVrider

Go to post #4

Good travels
Patrick

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Ah, but Simon, you gloss over the inadequacies of your bike choice as well. You mentioned previously about how you stuck to paved roads - whereas some of us seek out the dirt. You mentioned how you crossed one pass at 4000+ meters where the bike labored under its lack of power - whereas some of us have spent days, if not weeks, riding at 4000+ meters, reaching 5000+ meters multiple times. You asked the HUBB readers to help you achieve greater warmth when you wanted to retrieve you bike from Ushuaia, when most of us would have just plugged our heated jackets into the electrics - but alas, you couldn't plug anything into the "electrics" on your little bike. Not that a bigger bike would have prevented you from getting run down on Paso Garibaldi in winter, but a bigger bike allows one to accelerate out of trouble, whereas your little bike probably placed you in more danger than even you were aware of (just the nature of your riding on a small bike).

So you compromised your ride, in favor of smaller-cheaper-standard 3rd world issue. You don't know what you missed by not being able to essentially venture into the 'road less traveled'.

Not that you are in the wrong here - just, there are tradeoffs you made, which some of us aren't willing to accept.

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

What happened to the shock? I'm actually thinking about getting Ohlins. Or would you say something else (like Wilbers maybe) would be better? Ohlins are very popular over at F650.com, but here they seems to have issues mostly.

As for the fork seals. I think (unsupported) that most of that is due to not using fork gaiters. That is from looking again at F650.com. Other than that, it should probably be considered a weak point like the water pump and just a case of taking some spares. Beats other issues though like frame weak points, etc.
Ted. Did you see any subframe bolts broken, or crash in the subframe? I'm thinking about strengthening this

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

but few ever see the abuse offered on a RTW ride.

Patrick

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

What is the opinion of brands like Technoflex and Penske, etc

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

A lot of BMWs comes with the Showa (incl the old 650) and as you can see in other post they tend to fail.

Good suspension-units are expensive and I think that most bikes come with crappy suspension. “The average rider doesn’t notice the difference anyway so why spend the extra money?”
WP has slowly decreased the quality on many setups during the years and maybe others have done the same.

I would say that a good shock needs an overhaul at 30-50kkm. Not necessarily because it leaks or is broken but because it wears out. An overhaul is typically around 200€ and the difference it makes its worth even more.

Often compression-damping is increased a lot to compensate for extra weight, this (combined with the weight) increases the temperature of the shock which again decreases its lifespan.

My stock Beemer shock failed, and considering that shocks have to get rebuilt anyways between 30-50k, when mixing off -road riding, I went with a lower priced unit that was supported by a shock specialist who sold Wilbers, YSS, HyperPro and WP. I chose the YSS and have been happy.

The YSS is half the price, so the cost of the rebuild later on is paid for when you don't choose the more expensive ones. The quality of Ohlin's is remarkable but has gone downhill recently. In fact, i looked at picking up an old Ohlins and having it rebuilt, because the price point and durability were extremely attractive.

Anyways...the YSS is a solid shock and for the price, definintely worth a look, IF coming from a shop that knows how to set it up for you.

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edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com

I came across YSS on a google run for suppliers in Australia but never heard of them before. What's their story and who run them stock? Also, say if we were to consider a top 10, where would these lesser known brands fit in? Thing is that I don't know how to guage where the quality is distinguished between all the brands. I assume component qualitiy.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Set up by an experienced shock shop is a huge part of the shock performance...i.e. choosing the right spring that should be coupled with the shock unit(based on rider variables...)

Is YSS as good as an Ohlins/WP? Tough to say and based on what criteria?

For me considering I was paying for the shock AND future rebuild, the YSS offered a compelling price argument.

I don't believe we all need the best ALL the time from a practical point of view, except for bragging right perhaps.

In this case, second best is an improvement from stock...any aftermarket shock will be compared to your stock F650.

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edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com

Like a lot of forums on many diffferent subjects people have a tenancy to 'only' post 'problems' about various subjects. This might be to have a winge about an item or seek advice to make something better.

I personally think there are few people who go about how good something is as they are generally they are getting on with doing what they like useing it. There's lots of bikes out there with owners who don't use forums at all.

I have had a few different types of bikes over the years and most recently a BMW F650gs which I have just completed riding from the UK to Oz having covered 45000km. The bikes has in total done 75000km, 25000km when I bought it and 5Km I did running around London on it.

Generally speaking the bike has performed brilliantly. Whilst it has been in my ownership it has has suffered from a rear shock failure (which I understand they are prone to) and a stuffed fuel pump. Aside from this the remainder of the items have been rear and tear. They have been items like brake pads, bearings, chain & sprockets etc etc. It is not the most exiting bike to ride but it has been a exteremely reliable bike to own and even more so on my overlanding adventure. I also believe you to take into account for people who overland around the world 'are to asking the bike to do too much' Simple thing like it is overloaded, is it packed propertly, is the weight even etc etc.

Realibility not only comes from how well a bike is looked after but also how it it ridden. On this trip it was ridden over some hard terrain and alot of shitty very rough roads with potholes the size of the bike and in for some of the time 2 up. Again it soaked them without too much fuss and simply proved to be a good all round bike for my trip. From a personal point of view I would have liked a 6th gear and some more top end power for cruising.

What I will agree with is the comments about the dealer networks. I don't think they are brilliant but more they point most of them seem to hold very little in the way of parts even basis parts. I visited two massive brand new dealers in Malaysia and Singapore with lots of new bikes on offer however in both instances there service/parts area was not great unless you rode a brand new 1200gs. In contrast the little workshop a few miles down the road was able to supply tyres, brake pads, sprockets, chain tensioner, oil & air filter and a few other parts all in a efficient manner and probably cheaper.

I have to say I have had a happy ownership with mine. Would I take one again probably, no reason not to. It still starts everyday without hesitation

Now mention Touratech and I will get started!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers