Excellent post Le Cap!

Dr 650
 

All my bikes:
 

re mollydog:

Yep, that's me.
I currently have 5 KLR650's (A and C), 4 DR650SE, one Freewind, a MZ 660 Baghira HR (which I like a lot :-)
Two big bikes: A 900 Tiger and a 1100 GS

Phased out: F650 Funduro earlier and later models (circlip sprocket and retaining nut sprocket), F650 GS, F 650 Dakar.

I do all service and repair myself up to engine overhaul.

There were rumors at the time running up to the presentation of the R 1200 GS that BMW will bring out a completely new 650. The figures going around were 150 kg dry weight and 50 hp+. Never heard anything further, the project might have been scrapped completely or in favor of the 800cc twins.

I am a bit under the impression that the whole F 650 project always was some kind of an unloved child for BMW. At some stage it looked to me as if BMW just wanted to throw something in only to make sure not to leave the market to MZ and Aprilia (while the Funduro is an Aprilia in BMW tank emblem disguise anyway) and to the Japanese.

BMW SA definitely does not have a problem with warranty claims. After replacing steering head bearings on a GS and a Dakar on warranty the Dakar went back with bearings buggered the second time while still being under 20000 km and about 10 months old. I was told that the steering head bearings are now excepted from the warranty just like the usual wearing parts and electrical parts and paint andandand. WTF does the famous (here two) years BMW warranty cover?

Many Japanese importers in SA are upping their warranties to two years at least for big bikes.

A KLR KL650A currently sets you back ZAR 40000. A F 650 ranges between ZAR 63950 (GS basic) and ZAR 73700 (Dakar ABS + heated grips)
The DR650SE does not come in officialy any more :-((((( but I saw adverts for grey imports in the ZAR 50000 range. Suzuki SA unfortunately scrapped the import of the DR650SE after the advent of the DL650 and previously dwindling sales caused by hefty price tags.

I am very very much looking forward to the "new" KLR 650. I hope the clipped suspension travel does not make the KLR a street bike in disguise and looking at good sales of the KL650A since 2004 and a probably very competitive price of the new model I see no reason why KMSA should not import them.

Thats quite a fleet!

Le Cap, KLR, DR...
 

Thanks for pointing out my minimalistic profile! I just updated it.

I run my own workshop. Although I do not advertise the workshop to walk in customers I do fix the odd bike that comes in. I have been working on bikes for 20 years and since 1995 with my own business.

I saw the 2007 (2008) KLR 650 before. The 450 is a bit "small" for my purpose. The current KLR's are my choice for offering a good compromise of dirt road capability and passenger capability. Keep in mind that my customers often do not have dirt road but rather touring bike experience. If you tell them: Oh, it's just like a Tenere they will be happy. If they see a DRZ they might not.
The 400's / 450's like DRZ used to be inadequately expensive here and did not have the DR650SE's big advantage of the low seat height.
Further Johann had some bad experience with DR350 which were generally fine but got ridden to death on the open road quickly.
As far as I have heard the DR650SE will at least continue through 2007 although we can't get them any more here in SA unless grey imported.

My ideal DR650SE would be very much like the current model with an increased tank volume of 20 liters. The DR650SE is a bit useless when it comes to passenger transport but that's what I have the KLR for. I don't see good reason to scrap the SE in favor of something radically new. A careful face lift will do.

With regards to BMW: It looks as if the guys in Munich finally want to go the way after the DL 650 (at which a 800 BMW dual sport will probably be aimed).
We will have to see what comes out of this BMW - Suzuki clash. Remember the Freewind which IMHO in handling and comfort was always superior to the Funduro.

I agree. Big and roomy are important for this group.

Overland single
 

Unfortunately the times of every japs manufacturer having a big knobbly single ready to go to the end of the world and back are gone. The bikes often get too pretty to break and try to be all in one. Examples: The new XT, BMW F650, Pegaso...
We used to travel on XT500. Too weak, crap brakes and suspensions. What light? Broken frames. But they did the job. All across Africa. A friend even took his SR (!) 500 from Germany to Dakar. (And that was waaaay before it was all tarmac)
A lot of travellers still seem to prefer big singles as soon as the tarmac ends.
The recent local success here in South Africa proved that there is a market for bikes like the KLR (which apparently also sells well in the US).

As the products develop more and more two fold into the showy shiny adventure bike, heavy and too pretty to take it anywhere else than the Promenade in Camps Bay, and the rallye racing KTM and wannabe dirt track bike fraction never ever to be seen even in the vicinity of the Cederberg, I can only hope that there will be enough customers left to allow the manufacturers to produce simple and reliable overland bikes like the KLR650 and DR650.

I hope Suzuki will leave it with a slight face lift. What about the mentioned 20l tank and 140 kg dry weight. That should not be too difficult. Suzuki has nice bikes to cater for more off road oriented riders.

OK Mollydog, which one is best?
 

I greatly value your experience and biking knowledge. I'm debating between the KLR and 650GS. I owned (and crashed)on a KLR 650. It is pretty crude, I had lots of aftermarket stuff on it. The 650GS just seems like a better bike overall. What do you think? I realize you may have answered this question previously.

The f650 is a nice bike to LOOK at but I wouldn't own one.

DR 650 Windshield, Gas tank, 2008 KLR?
 

Again, Patrick, thanks for your input. I've looked but I don't see any windshield available and what about the small gas tank? These are issue for long distance travelling. I'm drawn to the simplicity and quality of the DR 650. Also, the DR 400 looks interesting. I've also looked at the 2008 KLR, wow, this could be THE bike to go for if they've made some fundamental improvements. Don't know when it will be out? Perhaps this year?

I would not bother about a windshield for a DR 650. Just go a bit slower. 100 - 110km/h are easy with the minimalistic shield and it does not block out your view of the road (rocks and potholes) immediately ahead of the front wheel.
Big tanks are readily available from IMS.
Acerbis makes a big tank for the older (SP45) DR 650 but it does not fit the DR650SE (SP46) without hickups. You will have to make up tank mountings, modify the seat etc.
The standard 14l tank is actually fine for most trips giving you a fuel range of about 300 km at cruising speed. I sometimes take a 10 l jerrycan when I go into remote areas (Central Karoo).
Although being a 2008 model the new KLR is said to become available in 2007. Not sure which month and which countries will get the first bikes.

If anyone is looking at a KLR650 as an expedition vehicle, I'd recommend the KLR650A (USA) rather than the KLR560C (Europe), for a couple of reasons:

- miserable little rear luggage rack on the KLR650C (3kg max!)
- pannier racks, oversized tanks etc are easy to find for KLR650A, but difficult if not impossible to find for KLR650C (I'm going to end up making my own pannier racks for my KLR650C as a consequence of not being able to source one commercially to fit it, given it's different rear subframe and different + less obvious mounting points).
- manuals seem to have far better coverage of KLR650A (the Clymer manual only covers the KLR650A, and not the KLR650C, for instance)

The F650 BMW is a beautiful package but it can't deliver on down the road
if given hard use.

DR 650 is back in South Africa
 

Yes! and for 48000 Rand! :-)

MZ 660 Baghira HR
 

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Lecap, I've looked at the MZ 660 Baghira HR with the Yamaha engine and really liked it. But I thought that there wasn't enough support here in the States. If you could, give your reasons why you favor this MZ ride.
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.......Gary