Author Topic: K50 or K51 (Read 2091 times)

rohann · « **on:** February 10, 2017, 11:33:26 am »

Hello Guys,

I am going to be in the market soon for one but not sure on which one to get but I will have to go with a second hand one.

I test rode the older adventure the other day so still need to go and test ride the LC to see how they feel but my heart is pulling to the K51.

Is there any of you guys here that came from a K50 to a K51 and vise versa and what was your feel on it?

And what year model is the best to get?

Noneking · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2017, 12:02:46 pm »

The K50 feels nippier and much smaller than the K51. I prefer the K51 for several reasons, but mostly appearance and resale.

Cost of "upgrading" K50 with aux lights, crash bars and pannier and topbox frames, brings it into K51 territory

Both are awesome. Buy latest model possible, will have latest upgrades.

Omninorm · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2017, 12:27:53 pm »

I agree with Noneking. To me the sheer size and weight of the K51 was what put me off. The rest makes it good value for money.
I also like the look of the Non Adventure better but that's a personal thing obviously to each person.

Obviously the Range, crashbars, longer fork travel etc on the GSA makes it superiour for a lot of things.
Imho My perfect GS LC is the new up and coming rally version. Has the shocks, etc but not the heft and weight. That price though!! It will be years before i can justify that!

Good luck with the hunt. They are A.W.E.S.O.M.E bikes.

Antois · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2017, 12:56:28 pm »

Also agree with above after fitting all extras comes to same price. Personally I preferred the K50 because of size and weight of K51 especially when doing technical riding

rohann · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2017, 01:23:36 pm »

Thanx guys for the advise, I think currently the only thing that is pulling me towards the Adventure is the longer range on the tank. I am the type of person that loves longs distance travel and very long breakfast runs.

For most of the part I travel two up but I will want to explore the Cederberg when I have the off road capability as well.

Noneking · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2017, 03:31:16 pm »

Quote from: Antois on February 10, 2017, 12:56:28 pm

Also agree with above after fitting all extras comes to same price. Personally I preferred the K50 because of size and weight of K51 especially when doing technical riding

Personally, I have found that there is very little, if any advantage when riding technical terrain. The K51 just looks so much more imposing between your legs

silvrav · « **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2017, 03:35:35 pm »

Quote from: Noneking on February 10, 2017, 03:31:16 pm

Quote from: Antois on February 10, 2017, 12:56:28 pm
Also agree with above after fitting all extras comes to same price. Personally I preferred the K50 because of size and weight of K51 especially when doing technical riding

Personally, I have found that there is very little, if any advantage when riding technical terrain. The K51 just looks so much more imposing between your legs

and the balance they got just right...doesnt feel that heavy...not like the older adventures

DavidMorrisXp · « **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2017, 04:24:03 pm »

Quote from: silvrav on February 10, 2017, 03:35:35 pm

Quote from: Noneking on February 10, 2017, 03:31:16 pm
Quote from: Antois on February 10, 2017, 12:56:28 pm
Also agree with above after fitting all extras comes to same price. Personally I preferred the K50 because of size and weight of K51 especially when doing technical riding

Personally, I have found that there is very little, if any advantage when riding technical terrain. The K51 just looks so much more imposing between your legs

and the balance they got just right...doesnt feel that heavy...not like the older adventures

Agree, the K25 felt top heavy whereas the K51 felt "planted"

K-9 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2017, 11:12:35 am »

do the sums cash wise and weight wise.

if you are going to add everything on to make it the "same" as a GSA, by the time you have added everything onto the GS.

you have spent more money and added more weight than a GSA and you don't have the advantages of a bigger tank.

if the 30lts fuel compared to the 20lts fuel worries you don't fill it up.

The shocks, springs etc on the GSA are much bigger, stronger, more travel and higher ground clearance than the GS. Made for the extra weight and ruff travels.

beside the GSA is just better than the GS.

Omninorm · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2017, 01:00:39 pm »

Quote from: K-9 on February 13, 2017, 11:12:35 am

do the sums cash wise and weight wise.

if you are going to add everything on to make it the "same" as a GSA, by the time you have added everything onto the GS.

you have spent more money and added more weight than a GSA and you don't have the advantages of a bigger tank.

if the 30lts fuel compared to the 20lts fuel worries you don't fill it up.

The shocks, springs etc on the GSA are much bigger, stronger, more travel and higher ground clearance than the GS. Made for the extra weight and ruff travels.

beside the GSA is just better than the GS.

Must be why they use the GSA for the BMW GS Trophy competition.....oh....wait....

rohann · « **Reply #10 on:** February 13, 2017, 02:01:07 pm »

Thanx guys, I am burning but a few things must first fall into place before I can get one. Some very nice points here to consider.

DavidMorrisXp · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2017, 07:21:24 pm »

Quote from: Omninorm on February 13, 2017, 01:00:39 pm

Quote from: K-9 on February 13, 2017, 11:12:35 am
do the sums cash wise and weight wise.

if you are going to add everything on to make it the "same" as a GSA, by the time you have added everything onto the GS.

you have spent more money and added more weight than a GSA and you don't have the advantages of a bigger tank.

if the 30lts fuel compared to the 20lts fuel worries you don't fill it up.

The shocks, springs etc on the GSA are much bigger, stronger, more travel and higher ground clearance than the GS. Made for the extra weight and ruff travels.

beside the GSA is just better than the GS.

Must be why they use the GSA for the BMW GS Trophy competition.....oh....wait....

But what I did notice was they used the full spec K50 in 2016 and not stripped down SA Trophy Edition

K-9 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 27, 2017, 09:50:00 am »

the GS trophy is about using standard bikes, stripping a bike down defeats the object. Then the headlines would read BMW uses modified bikes for trophy, one way to chase customers away.

I said by the time you add everything to be like the GSA. the costs and weight are almost the same.

the GS is lighter, until you add everything. and then you have weaker shocks etc.

off road, no argument the lighter bike wins, until you add all the extra weight.

The TRANSPORTER · « **Reply #13 on:** February 27, 2017, 02:59:12 pm »

GSA all the way.

rohann · « **Reply #14 on:** March 13, 2017, 12:05:15 pm »

So I went to test drive one on Saturday and OMW is it a awesome bike. It is a huge improvement over the older air cooled model and way faster.

The only thing I will have to get use to is the throttle on the bike and the clutch. The clutch I will probably be able to set to what I like but dammmm that throttle is twitchy. It is as light as a feather and one will have to be careful twisting it.

When I went for the test drive the sales guy asked where I was going and I just said up the road. Upon riding it I thought one could not just test it up the road so I went a bit further as this is a big decision to make. I think the sales guy sweated a bit cause I had 5 miss calls from him and one voicemail asking if I was okay.

All in all very happy with the bike and cant wait to get one now and it is a worthy replacement for the Busa.

Omninorm · « **Reply #15 on:** March 13, 2017, 12:22:35 pm »

Quote from: rohann on March 13, 2017, 12:05:15 pm

So I went to test drive one on Saturday and OMW is it a awesome bike. It is a huge improvement over the older air cooled model and way faster.

The only thing I will have to get use to is the throttle on the bike and the clutch. The clutch I will probably be able to set to what I like but dammmm that throttle is twitchy. It is as light as a feather and one will have to be careful twisting it.

When I went for the test drive the sales guy asked where I was going and I just said up the road. Upon riding it I thought one could not just test it up the road so I went a bit further as this is a big decision to make. I think the sales guy sweated a bit cause I had 5 miss calls from him and one voicemail asking if I was okay.

All in all very happy with the bike and cant wait to get one now and it is a worthy replacement for the Busa.

So what will it be...the K50 or K51?

silvrav · « **Reply #16 on:** March 13, 2017, 12:26:12 pm »

Quote from: rohann on March 13, 2017, 12:05:15 pm

So I went to test drive one on Saturday and OMW is it a awesome bike. It is a huge improvement over the older air cooled model and way faster.

The only thing I will have to get use to is the throttle on the bike and the clutch. The clutch I will probably be able to set to what I like but dammmm that throttle is twitchy. It is as light as a feather and one will have to be careful twisting it.

When I went for the test drive the sales guy asked where I was going and I just said up the road. Upon riding it I thought one could not just test it up the road so I went a bit further as this is a big decision to make. I think the sales guy sweated a bit cause I had 5 miss calls from him and one voicemail asking if I was okay.

All in all very happy with the bike and cant wait to get one now and it is a worthy replacement for the Busa.

Start in rain mode to get use to the bike, then switch over to road mode and then only to dynamic

rohann · « **Reply #17 on:** March 13, 2017, 02:14:25 pm »

@Omninorm, it will have to be the K51 hey

@silvrav, I went straight to dynamic, after the first 20km I was about 90% used to the throttle and dynamic mode is a lot of fun

I must say the cruise control is also awesome on the bike. First time I ride a bike with this feature.

One thing, does the bike have high and low beam, I know you can flash the high beam but how do you ride with the high beam permanently on and I had to figure out how the spots gets switched on.

silvrav · « **Reply #18 on:** March 13, 2017, 02:47:27 pm »

Quote from: rohann on March 13, 2017, 02:14:25 pm

@Omninorm, it will have to be the K51 hey

@silvrav, I went straight to dynamic, after the first 20km I was about 90% used to the throttle and dynamic mode is a lot of fun

I must say the cruise control is also awesome on the bike. First time I ride a bike with this feature.

One thing, does the bike have high and low beam, I know you can flash the high beam but how do you ride with the high beam permanently on and I had to figure out how the spots gets switched on.

just click it forward

your salesperson shouldve showed you how it works.

is your auto lights disabled in the menu?

rohann · « **Reply #19 on:** March 13, 2017, 03:53:38 pm »

Not sure silvrav, will check it when I get one then I can play with it on my time.