Is a G450X the right bike?

[iamgigglz]

I know Slaaiblaar asked a similar question recently but he was more focused on enduro. I'm looking for something around R35k to do a 2km (yes, two) commute to work around twice a week, the occasional 20km round trip to a friend's place and the odd weekend blast around dirt roads and the likes of Breedts Nek, Jericho Rock etc, although I'd like to get into (slightly) more technical stuff too.

You might say get an XRL but none of the 650 bikes can offer the same weight, fuel injection and quality suspension as the 450 for anywhere near my budget.

What's it like living with the X (servicing etc)?
What else is there?

[Dirt Junkie]

WR450 will leave the BMW to eat dust on enduro, handles way better

[ClimbingTurtle]

WR450 will leave the BMW to eat dust on enduro, handles way better

But are they available for R35k - that aren't shot....?

[777]

WR450 will leave the BMW to eat dust on enduro, handles way better

But are they available for R35k - that aren't shot....?

I recently bought a 2008 WR 450 with roadworthy for R28K, keep looking you will find one.

[iamgigglz]

How's the WR's reliability and service intervals against the Beemer? 8000km is pretty good in my books. Granted that's on low power mode.
...and will I find a fuel injected one in my budget?

[ClimbingTurtle]

How's the WR's reliability and service intervals against the Beemer? 8000km is pretty good in my books. Granted that's on low power mode.
...and will I find a fuel injected one in my budget?

And I am glad you asked - I wanted to, but not on your thread! 
I am keen on a WR.....

[iamgigglz]

How's the WR's reliability and service intervals against the Beemer? 8000km is pretty good in my books. Granted that's on low power mode.
...and will I find a fuel injected one in my budget?

And I am glad you asked - I wanted to, but not on your thread! 
I am keen on a WR.....

 
In my head I see the WR as more of an off-road enduro bike and the GX as (very slightly) more dual-sport. I'm just terrified of anything that measures its service interval in hours.

[Xpat]

Why would you buy enduro/ds bike for that? Commuting and Breedts nek? Your 990 was huge overkill for that. Anything can do that and better than offroad bike.

I seriously believe from your description you are looking at wrong category of bikes. Unless you want to ride DeWildt every weekend without hassle of trailering, look at same cheap commuter.

[fcprinsloo]

Please view this ad:

Suzuki DR-Z 400 - BARGAIN SALE - URGENT,
https://www.gumtree.co.za/a-motorcycles-scooters/east-london/suzuki-dr%2Bz-400-%2B-bargain-sale-%2B-urgent/1002304044860910002565109?utm_source=com.google.android.apps.docs&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttonsVIP&utm_content=app_android

Price: R 26,000

Download the application from the Google Play Store.
 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ebay.gumtree.za

[fcprinsloo]

And chat to Zebra. Chris from Flying Brick. He owns one and will give more accurate feedback than the rest of us armchair experts!

[caconcepts]

And chat to Zebra. Chris from Flying Brick. He owns one and will give more accurate feedback than the rest of us armchair experts!

Chris helped me a lot when I was looking at getting one. I now own one. Service is about 10 minutes and R150 oil and filter. Great little toy.

[Sláinte Mhaith]

How's the WR's reliability and service intervals against the Beemer? 8000km is pretty good in my books. Granted that's on low power mode.
...and will I find a fuel injected one in my budget?

And I am glad you asked - I wanted to, but not on your thread! 
I am keen on a WR.....

 
In my head I see the WR as more of an off-road enduro bike and the GX as (very slightly) more dual-sport. I'm just terrified of anything that measures its service interval in hours.

I think the BMW is unique with the longer service intervals when on low power mode.  But if I remember correctly it also has hourly service intervals when you switch to high power mode.
Very little info available of how this low/high power service intervals really work.

If you ride a WR kinda normal then why can't you also extend the service intervals?  BMW has just made it official.

PS hourly intervals is not all that bad.  It takes more time than you think between oil change intervals and oil services are really easy and takes little oil/cost.
Rather compare when top ends or other major work needs to be done.

[iamgigglz]

Why would you buy enduro/ds bike for that? Commuting and Breedts nek? Your 990 was huge overkill for that. Anything can do that and better than offroad bike.

I seriously believe from your description you are looking at wrong category of bikes. Unless you want to ride DeWildt every weekend without hassle of trailering, look at same cheap commuter.

I'm glad someone is challenging my initial choice. That's why I post these questions. 

My 990 was indeed overkill, although crazy fun. I also used the 990 for trips to Dullstroom and the Free State, doing 400km in a day with lots of tar. Rides like that mixed with occasional off-roading like Maraisburg made the 990 a great choice.
My riding has changed. I won't be doing weekends away any time soon and I'm done with doing 400km tar rides.
I'm looking for a point & squirt fun machine. I don't want to ride DeWildt every weekend, but I'd like to ride DeWildt on occasion as least.

As for the dirt roads and Breedts, yes, a cheap commuter would probably do those rides no problem, but how much fun would I have? I like being able to open the throttle and have the back step out around a long corner. I like being able to ride over Breedts even when it's in shit condition.

All of that said, I don't want to shut you down completely. What specific cheap commuter(s) would you recommend?

PS hourly intervals is not all that bad.  It takes more time than you think between oil change intervals and oil services are really easy and takes little oil/cost.
Rather compare when top ends or other major work needs to be done.

Fair enough. I'll do some research. 

[Omninorm]

I kinda agree with Xpat. Those roads mentioned you can do on a Vstrom no problem.

If you want to do a lot more technical, and still ride to wherever you need to be, sell the 990 and get a 690 and use the other money on petrol and tyres.
The 690 will do everything you mentioned and more. Trust me. Esp with a good set of tyres, I don;t miss my 1200GS, I don't miss my WR250F, I don't miss my KLX450R, my mate doesn't miss his G450X He also has a 690 now.
Unless you are going to do seriously hardcore 95% of the the time...I think something like a WR450 is too much hassle than it's worth over a 690/701 hell even a CRF250 Rally.
 
However if you are truly only doing seriously hardcore rides not very often, want to jump and do rocks where they will fall etc, then yes, WR450, G450X even a KLX450R will be better.
Imho the G450X is better on road than the WR. It's reliable as well but I'm not sure if parts will be cheap if you need it, not because its a BMW but because its a G450X

[iamgigglz]

I kinda agree with Xpat. Those roads mentioned you can do on a Vstrom no problem.

If you want to do a lot more technical, and still ride to wherever you need to be, sell the 990 and get a 690 and use the other money on petrol and tyres.
The 690 will do everything you mentioned and more. Trust me. Esp with a good set of tyres, I don;t miss my 1200GS, I don't miss my WR250F, I don't miss my KLX450R, my mate doesn't miss his G450X He also has a 690 now.
Unless you are going to do seriously hardcore 95% of the the time...I think something like a WR450 is too much hassle than it's worth over a 690/701 hell even a CRF250 Rally.
 
However if you are truly only doing seriously hardcore rides not very often, want to jump and do rocks where they will fall etc, then yes, WR450, G450X even a KLX450R will be better.
Imho the G450X is better on road than the WR. It's reliable as well but I'm not sure if parts will be cheap if you need it, not because its a BMW but because its a G450X

One of the primary reasons I'm selling the 990 is money. I'm on a debt-crushing mission. I've given myself a R30k~R35k antidepressant budget to fill the gap for now.
I would give a kidney for a 690 or a 701. I've ridden them both quite a bit and they're fantastic machines. Show me one in half-decent shape for R35k and I'll owe you sexual favours.

Yes, a Strom would do the simple stuff, but in a boring, functional way. Having owned a 990 for a while I've become addicted to the fun-fun-silly-willy value of a ride, and I don't believe a Strom or lower capacity bike will give me that.

Your last paragraph is gold. Something that can do the rough stuff when it's asked to but not be completely useless on tar. I'll look into the parts prices and availability.

[zebra - Flying Brick]

Quote from: Sláinte Mhaith on Today at 02:55:02 pm

>

[zebra - Flying Brick]

"I think the BMW is unique with the longer service intervals when on low power mode.  But if I remember correctly it also has hourly service intervals when you switch to high power mode.
Very little info available of how this low/high power service intervals really work..."
IIRC, the increase between Low power map and High power map is 10HP, meaning from 40hp to 50/52hp...
most often a 'jumper' clip is in position behind side shroud, and removing/replacing this gives the change.

NOTE: high power map is DESIGNED to be used in conjuction with Akro slip-on, for better performance.
NOTE: whilst I have a handle-bar switch with Map 1 + Map 2, it is NOT switchable on the fly; you need to switch bike off, wait for headlight to extinguish (30 seconds) and THEN other map can be activated.

Bike is sold with THREE CS sprockets, 13, 14 & 15, I can only imagine trying to keep front wheel down with a 13-tooth in high power!
taken from ONE road test:

With the ECU circuit completed with the ‘power plug’ and the full 52bhp released, the 450X turns into a completely different animal.
In low-power mode it is perfect for fast trail riding and easy power, but with full power on tap there’s a big slug of horsepower on top that allows the BMW to rev out and stretch its legs.
On the faster, more open sections of the massive loop we were riding the 450 showed real pace, blasting across gullies without being intimidating to the average off-road rider (that being me.)

[Omninorm]

I kinda agree with Xpat. Those roads mentioned you can do on a Vstrom no problem.

If you want to do a lot more technical, and still ride to wherever you need to be, sell the 990 and get a 690 and use the other money on petrol and tyres.
The 690 will do everything you mentioned and more. Trust me. Esp with a good set of tyres, I don;t miss my 1200GS, I don't miss my WR250F, I don't miss my KLX450R, my mate doesn't miss his G450X He also has a 690 now.
Unless you are going to do seriously hardcore 95% of the the time...I think something like a WR450 is too much hassle than it's worth over a 690/701 hell even a CRF250 Rally.
 
However if you are truly only doing seriously hardcore rides not very often, want to jump and do rocks where they will fall etc, then yes, WR450, G450X even a KLX450R will be better.
Imho the G450X is better on road than the WR. It's reliable as well but I'm not sure if parts will be cheap if you need it, not because its a BMW but because its a G450X

One of the primary reasons I'm selling the 990 is money. I'm on a debt-crushing mission. I've given myself a R30k~R35k antidepressant budget to fill the gap for now.
I would give a kidney for a 690 or a 701. I've ridden them both quite a bit and they're fantastic machines. Show me one in half-decent shape for R35k and I'll owe you sexual favours.

Yes, a Strom would do the simple stuff, but in a boring, functional way. Having owned a 990 for a while I've become addicted to the fun-fun-silly-willy value of a ride, and I don't believe a Strom or lower capacity bike will give me that.

Your last paragraph is gold. Something that can do the rough stuff when it's asked to but not be completely useless on tar. I'll look into the parts prices and availability.

I looked a while but found a 2010 KTM 690 on Gumtree that had 45 000km on but well looked after. Guy wanted R50K but eventually he said he would settle on R43K. I then decided to sell my other bikes and just get a 2017 690 Demo model. But the fact of the matter is if you can maybe up the budget R10K you will eventually find an older one.
But yeah R30k-R35K. The G450X is excellent but I'd probably go for a KTM525/530 or WR450F now if I was choosing, and it will be a silly reason.  Part availability and Kickstart.
The one thing I know is a issue with the 690 is if I'm in the sticks and the battery goes, and my battery jumper doesnt jump it, I'm stuck without a kickstarter.
The problem is those "Plastic's" engines and valves...they need to be checked regularly etc, and you don't know what the previous owner did with it. All bikes are risky but Enduro/MX bikes are doubly so imho.

What about a DR650 or XR650L or BMW G650X Challenge?

[Sláinte Mhaith]

Having owned a 990 for a while I've become addicted to the fun-fun-silly-willy value of a ride, and I don't believe a Strom or lower capacity bike will give me that.
Your last paragraph is gold. Something that can do the rough stuff when it's asked to but not be completely useless on tar. I'll look into the parts prices and availability.

Wanted to say just that: An ex 990 owner is not satisfied with the right bike for the job on paper.  You need the fun factor.

Maybe instead of comparing them rather search for one within budget, that is already on the road and licenced, and have low hours or miles (below 100 or 3000) and then buy the best 400-500 you can get.
Should be easy to sell if your needs change.

[Xpat]

If you are going to stuck to the riding you described, you are going to be selling whatever enduro bike you buy very soon indeed.  Let me give you a scenario: i dont know where you live in gp, but i will assume it is on average 100 km to Breedts nek. All or most of it tar with little good dirt thrown in. Breedts nek is a little blip about km long if i remember correctly. And i dont care how washed out it is, you will be over that km within 5 minutes even on r1. So you will go lets say for 3 hour ride of abou 250 km, where - as you call it - fun bit has km or two and the rest is just open commute. You clearly have no idea how uncomfortable these bikes are for such boring commute - including good dirt roads. I would bet some money that on second max third trip there you will be posting for sale section even before you get there.
Second - commute to work. These are less maintenance than you imagine if used for such put-puting, but they still require some care. So on the cold morning would start the bike and let it idle for few minutes to warm up. And the jump on it to ride 2 km in 2 minutes? Repeat on return. Sounds very tedious to me.

The bikes can do it - any of them. Can you?

I would personally buy some 650 - 690 being the top choice for fun. But that drz would do just fine for very good money imo.