I've got a Tourateched BMW F650GS Dakar (2001 with 48.000 kms on the clock). It has been through Europe, through much of Africa, Iceland, and I keep on punnishing it... Wherever you will go, it will take you... but so will any other bike. I've been riding a classic Vespa without, a support crew, in the Budapest to Bamako Enduro Rally (all the way down to Guinea Bissau), up against SUVs, ATVs and Enduro Bikes... through deserts, sandy beaches, rocky off road terrain, etc and made it to the finish line... If the Vespa can do that, the Bimmer can take you anywhere.

Capable is not the same as suitable though, and wether the Dakar is the most suitable bike for you depends on how and where you intend to ride, as well as your skills on both riding and wrenching. It is a great bike no doubt, but a 650 is heavy (though not as heavy as much of the competiton, but still heavier than a KTM). Heavy is ok for cruising, but a bitch gor most riders when the going gets even a littlebit tough. In my opinion: the lighter the bike, the cheaper the bike, and the lighter the packed gear, the better the experience... if you intend to do anything off smooth tarmac.

Like many other bikes out there, you will find a few lemons among the F650GS's (I mean, it is not japanese). If you are technically minded then you will be able to sort it out... but some of these issues can be too difficult and incomprhendable for your average mechanic who doesn't have the sense to research the f650.com website. Make sure it is good, or prepare to spend your own time to research and fix... because the average mechanic dosn't know how to fix anything that the equally incompetent computer doesn't tell them to.

My opinion, the most suitable bike for any long trip that takes you outside Western Europe or North America is something small, reliable, cheap, something with grunt and offroad capabilities.

At the very top of my list would be the Yamaha WR250R. I've had the WR250F which is allmost exactly the same bike, but is a racing edition which requires service every day, and major service every 50 or so hours (I'm talking changing oil every other day and oil filter every day, changing piston every 50 hours). So, don't get a plated WR250F, but make sure it is a wr250r... People who hasn't ridden a WR250F may laugh at it, but I promise ou, it will run circles arround any 650cc bike or bigger... The WR250R is not as much of a beast, but it is still very capable... and weighs muuuuuuch less than the bimmer, is much cheaper to buy and maintain, and offers great fuel economy. Also, you don't look like a million bucks on it - which doesn't exactly hurt in some places... and it is very simple and therefore easy to maintain and service. And it is bullet proof reliable.

You don't need to make any changes at all to the Yamaha, but I would conscider the following changes, and in chronological order:
-Soft Panniers
-Long Range Tank
-Centerstand
-Longer Wind Screen
-Improved seat
-12V socket
-Strengthening of sub frame (if you are to haul heavy luggage, carry a pillion, or use hard panniers)
-Bash Plate

My dream bike is a unicorn and probably will allways remain a unicorn, and it is the wr450r which has been rumored for ages that will hit the market... there are a few plated wr450f's out there, but it is the racing version with mirrors and fuel injection... no good for long yourneys. My next bike will therefore be either a KTM 690 Enduro R (light and powerful, but KTM tight service intervals and lack of cruising comfort) or a Tourateched BMW F800GSA (more suitable for what I do most, cruising on tarmac, but capable for a bit of the rough). My deciding factor would be if I had a big trip planned when buying and what type of trip that would be. For your trip, it would be the Yamaha or The KTM, and in that order.

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