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  #1  
Old 3 Nov 2008
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G650X Challenge
Does anybody have any experiance of these bikes, I have been using the wifes F650GS and really don't like it so was thinking about the G650X now that I know I can get a 20 litre tank for it but was wondering how tuned/reliable the motor is and if it shares any parts like levers etc with the GS ?
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Old 3 Nov 2008
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It's a fairly bullet-proof engine. Si Pavey is riding a G650 XChallenge-based bike in the 2009 Dakar with no engine modifications.

The G650 is nothing like the F650 single. Much more fun, though it needs work to make it suitable as a dual touring/trail bike. Some comments I wrote earlier.

There's some threads with pics on AdvRider showing how people have used it for touring bike. Also the 450/650 forum on UKGSer.

Tim
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Old 4 Nov 2008
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I think that with a few mods the XChallenge would make a great overland bike for trips with a large amount of off-tarmac going - relatively lightweight and smooth (for a single) and strong motor. Weak points? All resolvable with enough £££: fuel range springs to mind. Talking of springs, is the air shock OK? Wheel rims: seen a few pics of badly dented ones. Gear lever?: see advrider. Last but probably most important for me: reminds me of the early G/S....which I always wanted....
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Old 4 Nov 2008
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Originally Posted by Ian View Post
Talking of springs, is the air shock OK? Wheel rims: seen a few pics of badly dented ones. Gear lever?: see advrider. Last but probably most important for me: reminds me of the early G/S....which I always wanted....
Anyone who races one has swapped the air shock for a coil...

The dented rims could just be due to it being a heavy bike, hitting stuff hard...

Si Pavey bent/broke his gear lever on the Transoriental, but that was sort of a freak incident...

I'd say it would be a great bike for modifying into an extreme terrain overlander - as you say, you can get a big tank for them now, bash plates etc.

I'd certainly be tempted by one (at the right price) - I understand BMW UK have just knocked £1000 off the rrp, but that's still not enough really when you consider how much you'd have to spend prepping it, especially if you factor in the price of the tank and the shock, and perhaps replacing the huge exhaust with something lighter...

So I bought a new Tenere which has everything fitted already...

xxx
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Old 4 Nov 2008
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Going for a test ride today so I'll keep you guys posted, a good friend of mine works at the BMW dealer and they have a couple of secondhand bikes in stock with less than 2K on the clock on 07 plates and I think he will let me have one with no warranty/sold as seen for a smidge of £3K, 20L tank comes in at £500 rrp so I'll see if he can cut me some discount on that as well.
I think the ali subframe will need beefing up but this is no problem again because an even better friend runs his own specialist welding/fabrication business and will do any mods to my bikes for a or two
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Old 4 Nov 2008
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Sold to the man in the pointy hat 1400 mls, year old, thown in a pair of handguards and the OE tyres which are new ( got knobblies on at the mo) He's going to get me the best deal he can on the tank, so just got to go get it dirty.
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Old 12 Jan 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian View Post
I think that with a few mods the XChallenge would make a great overland bike for trips with a large amount of off-tarmac going - relatively lightweight and smooth (for a single) and strong motor. Weak points? All resolvable with enough £££: fuel range springs to mind. Talking of springs, is the air shock OK? Wheel rims: seen a few pics of badly dented ones. Gear lever?: see advrider. Last but probably most important for me: reminds me of the early G/S....which I always wanted....
Pretty much sums it up. Great engine, fuel injected, great economy, runs on 76 octane fuel, no maintenance required apart from oil and filter every 10k km.

Fuel range ... buy an additional tank.

Gear lever ... change it to a steel F650 single lever.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JMo (& piglet) View Post
Anyone who races one has swapped the air shock for a coil...

The dented rims could just be due to it being a heavy bike, hitting stuff hard...

I'd say it would be a great bike for modifying into an extreme terrain overlander - as you say, you can get a big tank for them now, bash plates etc.
Coil over shock works very well with the bike. I went for Hyperpro, but understand Wilbers and Ohlins also do them.

Rims were nowhere near as bad as some of the complaining out there would imply. They are good enough for challenging adventure biking. And the wheels are a lot sturdier than G650 Dakar wheels / rims.

And yes you can get all the aftermarket touring bits for them.

Quote:
Originally Posted by JMo (& piglet) View Post
So I bought a new Tenere which has everything fitted already...
Well yes, its 50 kgs heavier and uses 20% more fuel, but if you are into that ...



I put 50,000 km on mine last year, about half of that was off road. A lot more detail on prepping my X-Challenge is here:
RTW X-Challenge Adventurization

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Old 12 Jan 2010
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Well yes, its 50 kgs heavier and uses 20% more fuel, but if you are into that ...
Yeah yeah - don't get me started Walt' x

Oh, ok then - steel subframe (that is actually the main frame), decent pillion provision, comfy seat, luggage capacity, 23 litre tank, fairing & screen, twin headlights, twin front discs, cush-drive rear hub, and an engine that is every bit as frugal as the G650...

Basically everything that you've fitted to yours, as standard... and it's 30Kg more, not 50Kg... and have you weighed yours will all those extra bits on?

I'm just saying there are other bikes out there that will do the same job...

Jen xx

ps. changing that front sprocket then... how long? x

pps. I love Walt, I love his bike, and I love what he's done with it and on it - he knows this is gentle ribbing x
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Old 12 Jan 2010
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Originally Posted by JMo (& piglet) View Post
Yeah yeah - don't get me started Walt' x

Oh, ok then - steel subframe (that is actually the main frame), decent pillion provision, comfy seat, luggage capacity, 23 litre tank, fairing & screen, twin headlights, twin front discs, cush-drive rear hub, and an engine that is every bit as frugal as the G650...

Basically everything that you've fitted to yours, as standard... and it's 30Kg more, not 50Kg... and have you weighed yours will all those extra bits on?

I'm just saying there are other bikes out there that will do the same job...

Jen xx

ps. changing that front sprocket then... how long? x

pps. I love Walt, I love his bike, and I love what he's done with it and on it - he knows this is gentle ribbing x
Ahem ... X-Challenge comes with a cush drive rear hub ...

Now look here young lady ... as for fuel consumption, I rode a month with an 07 XT660R (I assume same engine) and it drank 17 litres when I drank 14, drank 21 litres when I drank 17. That's more than 20% worse consumption for same speed, same roads. Admittedly on good roads (fast gravel or asphalt) the consumption and range penalty on the XT was only 5-10%, but it was 20-25% on tougher roads! By Yamaha's own admission, they have used a very "simple" FI system on that engine. They built it "cheap".

To be fair (and you know I am a very fair man Jen) I will give you the fact that it is cheap, solid and probably pretty reliable. But I wouldn't trade my X for two of them! I think as long as you have that bike, you should consider renaming yourself to JMo and the Elephant.

Is there an anti knock sensor in the XT engine? Will it run on 76 / 80 octane fuel? (sorry i should clarify ... thats actually a serious question )

PS... love what you did with your front end.
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