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  #1  
Old 13 Jan 2013
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BMW G650 Engine - Reliable ???
So... It's been out a few years now.

Is it any good ???

It's no secret. I'm no fan of the old F650 in any of it's guises. Unreliable and built to kinder Egg toy standards.

The Sertao is tempting me to the dark side. It seems to tick all of my boxes. On paper that is.

I had so many experiences with terrible F650's that I fear the new one..

Any real world experiences out there ???

Good or bad !
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Old 13 Jan 2013
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I had a good look around the message board and also managed to contact a few people when I was looking fro a sertao. All reports back were really positive - the engine's built by Kymco and from what people are saying is reliable and well built. There's quite a few done some distance - London to Magadan was one with out a hitch with a group of G650's and some morroco stuff. Ended up buying one, so time will tell now !
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Old 13 Jan 2013
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Originally Posted by iainnic View Post
I had a good look around the message board and also managed to contact a few people when I was looking fro a sertao. All reports back were really positive - the engine's built by Kymco and from what people are saying is reliable and well built. There's quite a few done some distance - London to Magadan was one with out a hitch with a group of G650's and some morroco stuff. Ended up buying one, so time will tell now !
Yeah.. There is an EPIC thread on ABV rider and no one is having problems but no ones really taken one further than 25,000 miles.

Kymco... WOW !! I used to sell Kymco bikes/scooters. They are probably the worst made pieces of unreliable shit ever to grace our roads.

But, they were built to a VERY low budget.......

Chinese engines. Good or bad !! hmmmmmmmmm

I'm torn between a Sertao and a XT660Z for my next trip.
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Old 13 Jan 2013
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Wow, TT, no-brainer? Why would you choose the Sertao? I know I'm biased, but I rode one in the summer and thought it was a POS next to the XT660Z, a nice example of which can be had for around 3k GBP....
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Old 13 Jan 2013
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Originally Posted by Docsherlock View Post
Wow, TT, no-brainer? Why would you choose the Sertao? I know I'm biased, but I rode one in the summer and thought it was a POS next to the XT660Z, a nice example of which can be had for around 3k GBP....
I like the way you talk haha !

I liked the Sertao as it's lighter than the XT660, which is a lardy bitch isn't it !

Nice economy too. Only 14L tank though. I heard the Sertao is quite nice offroad which would be great for the road of bones
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Old 13 Jan 2013
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I like the way you talk haha !

I liked the Sertao as it's lighter than the XT660, which is a lardy bitch isn't it !

Nice economy too. Only 14L tank though. I heard the Sertao is quite nice offroad which would be great for the road of bones
It's true - the XT is a heavy bike, but once you get all your gear on it, will it make much difference? I get 65-70 mpg unless hammering it on the motorway; and you can pretty much take 'em stock.

Also, screw and locknut tappets, no dodgy waterpumps yada yada yada. I'm modding mine for further trips as we write and the deeper I get into the bike, the more I like it.
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Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
I liked the Sertao as it's lighter than the XT660, which is a lardy bitch isn't it !
Hello Ted

I don't know about the Sertago, but my XT660Z brought me so far over 76000km since I started my trip.
I had some minor problems, due to "made in Italy".
With all my camping gear, food, extra gaz (total 800km), Water for several days,etc. I think that was around 60kg on the back of the bike.
I don't think the few kg that the sertago was lighter would have made a difference.

All I can say is that with the Tenere you will finish your trip on the bike,not on a Pickup.

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