The best part of the this thread is all the insightful comments thus far from the winter riding contingent, mostly located in northern countries. Finland, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, that's a lot of winter experience
The 800GS (and I assume the 650) in stock condition starts very reliably up to about -10 C, at -15 it takes some cranking but generally fires up fairly quick, at -20 you need a boost to turn it over enough to get it running without killing the battery, at -25 it takes a very long boost, some kicking an swearing, and parking it in the sun to just maybe get it going, and at -30 you are best to pull it into a heated building to thaw it out.
My initial thoughts on a ride across Russia is that it sounds like fun, but access to heated buildings in Eastern Russia is extremely limited so you would have to be completely self sufficient. Possible, but a geat deal of planning required.
The road conditions would also produce some interesting dilemas. The trans-siberian is not maintained well even in summer, in winter who knows whether parts of it ever get plowed. You should be prepared to ride on ice and packed snow and loose snow. The ice part you can prepare for and is acually quite fun to ride on. The snow part, on a bike with no side car, would be a challenge to say the least.
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