Author Topic: Why the BMW 650 Dakar? (Read 1234 times)

Big E · « **on:** June 21, 2009, 09:24:35 pm »

I'm playing around with the idea of upgrading to a BMW 650 Dakar!
Weight wise the Dakar is 7kg ligter than my KLE according to specs and is higher,with more power which is exactly what I'm looking for!
But thats all just specs!
Can some Dakar owners please tell me why the Dakar is such a great bike...or is it? Some pro's and cons please!

Big E · « **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2009, 09:38:39 pm »

Pinging Bobnob!!!

Captain Zef · « **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2009, 09:42:51 pm »

Koop hom!!

Of 'n KTM

DUSTRIDERS · « **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2009, 09:45:53 pm »

They are nice bikes Big E. Light on fuel and hardly ever give problems. Great seat for long distances. Not a rocket but can be ridden all day long in comfort. Will buy one again if I go back to the 650 class.

Goose · « **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2009, 09:58:52 pm »

I have a lot of respect for the Dakkie - 2-up wif me & missus - still runs beautifully. Comfy and powerful. Also a model that's stood the test of time. Mine was supposed to be a "temp" bike... but I have really fallen in love with this one.

Highly recommended.....

Trailrider · « **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2009, 10:06:30 pm »

Nice bikes. Not as smooth as your twin though.

the_BOBNOB · « **Reply #6 on:** June 21, 2009, 10:27:41 pm »

you cant go wrong

the dakar is an awesome bike

i have done 1050km in a single day and i could have done another 500km no problem - it really has the most comfortable seat ever

not the most powerful but the power delivery is smooth and constant

very fuel efficient - very reliable

have done a 1000km weekend trip 2 up no problem

service costs from the dealers are a bit expensive but you only service it every 10000km compared to a klr every 5000km it evens out and might actually work out cheaper

the only other bikes i would consider in the class if i were you - if you want more solo dirt ability then ktm640 if you want more 2 up touring then maybe a africa twin

i think the dakar is a perfect middle ground between hardcore off-road and touring

and you get so much bling bling for the dakar

michnus · « **Reply #7 on:** June 21, 2009, 11:20:28 pm »

Great is a understatement.

The most reliable motor of all 650's
FI, and lightest fuel consumption
10000km service intervals, relatively low service cost
Compact radiator set up
Under seat petrol tank lower COG
Not the best suspension but also not bad, perfect for D/S riding.
Can cover 1000km a day with ease.
No Doo

Very little mods necessary to ride
Crash-ability quite good (if there's even such a word)
Bad, bad xorst.
Most people use it for RTW trips

Most documented for repairs and maintenance www.f650.com/faq

It's going to be a cult bike, get yours now.

JAmBer · « **Reply #8 on:** June 21, 2009, 11:55:37 pm »

When I trashed my Dakar, I had to make the decision again: which bike? After looking at all the alternatives, it was down to two: The 640A and the Dakar. I opted for the Dakar again for the following reasons:

* Parts are freely available and repairs/servicing reasonably cheap. Uses "standard sizes". Bearings, spark plugs, tires etc etc are all stocked by third-party suppliers. You can even buy the oil filter for a Bombardier/Aprillia and it fits. No need for BMW's crazy prices for most things.
* Self-service is easy.
* Proven, well-understood design. It's a popular bike with lots of knowledge and experience floating around.
* FI is a beaut (early models had some problems, but no issues post-2005).
* Good fuel range and bulletproof mechanics - essentials for touring. Drive carefully and you can do over 450km on a tank. 340km if you're thrashing it.
* The suspension really is quite adequate for almost every use. I would have refitted the OEM parts if I could get them cheap, but rebuilt my bike with the USD WP's 'cos they were available secondhand.
* Quality components last a long time. It takes a beating and just keeps going. Just ask all the guys who overload these bikes when touring... no problems.
* And it's not bad looking either

There is only one thing that keeps the Dakar from being the ultimate dual sport bike: its weight, which you can feel in the rough stuff. Though, it sounds like you're used to heavy bikes, so no problem for you? And it's really fine for touring, only a problem when the going gets tough on a technical route. The thing with weight is that it's always a tradeoff - using the same material and making the bike lighter would also make it weaker, reducing its loadability. Else you need more expensive material. I believe BMW made a sensible compromise.

To my mind, the Dakar is the perfect bike. I would buy one again in a heartbeat.

Etienne2T · « **Reply #9 on:** June 22, 2009, 12:34:53 am »

The dakar is the benchmark of the 650 DS bike.

N[]vA · « **Reply #10 on:** June 22, 2009, 01:18:04 am »

Awesome bikes

jamber I see you one weight and raise you a stearing rake that makes it feel like you are wrestling a schoolbus when you turn

blazes · « **Reply #11 on:** June 22, 2009, 08:09:41 am »

Have enjoyed mine for over 30,000km now and still fall in love with it all over again---everytime i take her on tour. Low stressed motor. Can go all day and needs minimal work done on it. Thought of selling mine a few times

But have decided to ride it till the wheels come off.. Goooooood choice IMHO.

Varadero · « **Reply #12 on:** June 22, 2009, 08:26:24 am »

We buy bikes, we ride them and then sell them to "upgrade." I reckon the true test of whether a bike was not just good but bloody excellent is if you ask yourself do you miss it and would you buy it again? I have to answer yes to both of them with regards to my Dakar, and I think most owners (both past and present) would say so.

Big E · « **Reply #13 on:** June 22, 2009, 08:35:21 am »

What must I be on the look-out for? I see theere are alot of them availible between R50-R60K with less than 10 000km on the clock!!!

Varadero · « **Reply #14 on:** June 22, 2009, 08:43:27 am »

If you are going to play offroad try get one without ABS (don't need the weight or the dumb ass on/off switch that keeps pulling the wires off when you've fitted handlebar raisers) and heated grips (hey I live in Jhb and don't use them - even in winter, just buy yourself a decent pair of gloves), at under 10000km they aren't even run in yet; bet most of the owners that are trying to sell them want to "upgrade" to something bigger, better, faster, .... Buy it and ride it, add mod's as you go along.

lecap · « **Reply #15 on:** June 22, 2009, 09:25:30 am »

I did not like the Dakar for the following reasons:

It's very tall and very heavy (for a 650) and difficult to handle if you're less than 1.8m

The bike is pretty much set up as a road bike. The suspension is a bit too soft and overdampened for dirt.

The steering head bearings are not sealed but only protected by a washer

No fork boots either.

The side stand is positioned very awkwardly. It is difficult to tilt the bike over the side stand to spray your chain or fix a tire.

All three F650GS / GS Dakar I owned developed brain numbing vibrations at 3500 - 4000rpm. My bikes were early models, two Y2K Dakkies and the GS being the most recent - a 2002. Not the normal thumper vibes but the kind that blurs your vision.

I found the engines power delivery uninspiring and pap although the bikes perform well. It's probably a personal thing but I prefer an engine which kicks in at some point and responds crisply to throttle imputs. The F650's throttle cable seems to be 400 metres long and made from rubber.

Body panels are shockingly expensive (spraypainted).

The paper air filter element is tiny.

The water pump drive gear is a piece of cheap shite.

I liked the Dakar for these reasons:

Very good fuel economy

Very good passenger comfort

I would say:
If you are tall, don't mind a slightly heavier bike because you are looking for a tar & gravel tourer, plan to do some to a lot of two up, go for the Dakar.
A good alternative I would also consider is the RD07 Africa Twin.

If you are short and if you want to ride solo and hard dirt & technical stuff look somewhere else.

edgy · « **Reply #16 on:** June 22, 2009, 09:42:52 am »

I had a Dakar a few years back and really enjoyed it a lot! Great comfort and handling on the road and generally very capable tourer. What i never enjoyed was going off-road...the bike sucked! Heavy and funny enough the width bugged me? Too wide to stand comfortably for long?
My 2c....

N[]vA · « **Reply #17 on:** June 22, 2009, 09:54:19 am »

Quote from: edgy on June 22, 2009, 09:42:52 am

I had a Dakar a few years back and really enjoyed it a lot! Great comfort and handling on the road and generally very capable tourer. What i never enjoyed was going off-road...the bike sucked! Heavy and funny enough the width bugged me? Too wide to stand comfortably for long?
My 2c....

lol I guess your not used to having something wide between you legs....

Ginger Bread Man · « **Reply #18 on:** June 22, 2009, 10:18:13 am »

Quote from: edgy on June 22, 2009, 09:42:52 am

I had a Dakar a few years back and really enjoyed it a lot! Great comfort and handling on the road and generally very capable tourer. What i never enjoyed was going off-road...the bike sucked! Heavy and funny enough the width bugged me? Too wide to stand comfortably for long?
My 2c....

i feel the same, i almost want to double my footpeg width....

its a great bike, but nothing exciting about the power delivery but as an all-rounder i have found nothing wrong with it, yes a bit heavy( but i come from a kdx 200 so that’s almost double the weight)

michnus · « **Reply #19 on:** June 22, 2009, 10:31:52 am »

Aaaag ffs, harden the fuck-up bulk-up with that USN stuff the laaities use, weight nooo problem, it's not a off road bike it's a d/s bike.