If they can't figure this out easily....well you get the idea.

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Yeh i actually thought it all sounded a bit to crazy for me and to be honest i was more just thinking about getting a bigger front wheel on it rather than changing the world...

You can do far travels on any bike, even one with every other wheel spoke missing, loose handle bars, no operating lights, blown shock, spewing forks, bad rings.....etc.

How you ride whatever bike it might be, is a huge difference.

The machinery used is more important now, at least as it's viewed by today's rider setting off on a long trip. So many choices....

Hi Guys

3 months ago I had to make a decision on what bike I wanted to buy for my "long" trips.
I wanted the BMW GS1200.
Anytime I travel to distant lands and meet other bikers on the road they all ride one. That speaks for itself.
Unfortunately I am to short to ride it (If I wasn't, that would be my choice, no doubt!).

I was looking for an alternative and checked all your previous comments on GS and KLR
EventuallyI opted for the GS650.
In the last 2 months I have travelled in Italy, France Spain and Morocco
I think the bike is confortable and reliable.
I only had 1 incident in Madrid where my battery was completely dry.
I believe it's nothing to do with the bike.
Probably the battery was cracked.
I'll have this issue checked when I am back in Italy in September.
One of the features I am really impressed with is the petrol consumption.
The bike can ride over 30km with 1 ltr! I think that's impressive.
Also quite handy when you have to ride 100s of kms before you can finally find a petrol station!

I wanted to give some feedback as your previous comments where very useful to finalise my decision
Never tried a KLR, so I can' really comment

Ciao
Paolo

Just look around you will see how many people use the GS650 for RTW trips. Here's one man thats still busy since 2005 and the bike is on 130000km, nuff said
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Big Budget.......No Budget

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

No Budget

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

I've just read all 7 pages of this thread, I am busy like so many of you deciding on which bike to buy next. I have a 2005 R 1200GS which has given me many problems. It is 5 months out of it's 24 month warranty, I am scared of it, the handlebar switch gear has a latent defect, they stop working, mine has done this 4 times now, the starter button has fallen off again, it happened on a very busy day in the traffic. I had to heave this monster off the road, nearly got nailed by a truck because I could not start the lump. Now I know that I will have a big argument with BMW SA about this when they open again.....Yup, they have closed for the year. What do people do for spares and backup when the company is closed? I am really right now with BMW.

I am going to go for something smaller and simpler, a 650.

I would not consider the GS 650, it is made of lead and is not a proper off road bike. The new X650 is sooooooo ridiculously tall that I can only reach the ground with one toe...

I have been considering the new Yamaha Tenere, but it weighs 183kg DRY, that is just slightly less than the R1200GS, the KTM 690 Adventure is not available yet, so, that leaves me with the DR650 or the KLR650, and I have just ridden a friend's new model KLR650, which I found to be comfortable and confidence inspiring. I had a 2000 model DR650 for 5 years before I had the BMW, and it weaved on a tar road at anything over 120kmph, AND HAD A SEAT MADE OF WOOD! So, it looks like I'm going to go with the KLR......

For the time being, I am going to look for a buyer for the BM and ride my XT500 for a while.....with only 136kg dry weight and a fuel range of 350km it is still a great bike in the real world. You can still get 90% of the spares for a total rebuild over the counter from your local Yamaha dealer, really cheap. And I absolutely trust my old XT. The complete engine spares list to rebuild the XT500 engine (piston, rings bearings gaskets engineering and all) cost about the same as the BMW handlebar switch gear, how does BMW justify that?

I just love to ride, and all the posts I have read point towards the new KLR650, do they have any flaws?