I'm really interested in one of these, they seem to be only available in Germany? I've checked out the links but only one of them seems to have these bikes available, and they seem to be from private individuals rather than a shop--anybody know a reputable dealer I could deal with?

Check this link: mil Suchergebnisse: Motorräder bei mobile.de

Two merchants (Hagenow and Niebüll) currently offering. The one in Niebüll usually has a lot of bikes to choose from, despite the fact that he puts up only one ad. He also sells conversions with 640 engines swapped in at a higher price (less reliable but a lot more power). As I wrote before, these guys are KTM dealers and usually give the bike a full service, justifiying a slightly higher price.

The "new" one for nearly 6k is overpriced, but the other two seem to be in very good condition if the description is true (pics look good too).

Thanks Sirakor, very helpful, I am checking these out now.

How can you tell that the one for 6k is new? Also, what does the HU and AU mean in the description?

Well, it isn't new, but the seller claims to have bought the bike new, and that it has only 930 real km on the clock. In principle the price is not soo bad, as brand new ones go for around 6-6.5k EUR, but if you take it RTW it'll end up with plenty of scratches anyways, so why waste more money than neccessary. In contrast, all the other bikes are ex-service bikes that suffered more or less abuse through conscripts and alike.

HU = Hauptuntersuchung, colloquially known as TÜV, which is the German equivalent of the british MOT, ie. a road safety/road worthiness test. Required every two years and more stringent than many other countries, BUT it only concerns safety (e.g. brakes etc) and various other crap such as lights and indicators conforming to endless §§§. It has nothing to do with reliability, and little with good mechanical condition, although of course a bike in horrid condition won't pass.

AU = Abgasuntersuchung, ie whether the bike conforms to emission restrictions etc, also required every two years. Usually never an issue with OEM exhausts.

unfortunately both of the dealers seem to have sold theirs (called them this morning). will have to keep my eyes open...

Well some how I scored a "Bediengungsanleitung2004"... Which I am pretty sure translates into Service Manual... but it is in German...

Here are a few more spec's on the bike that I don't think have been mentioned up to now:

Seat Height: 890mm
Dry Weight: 148 kg
Max speed: 130km/h
Clearance: 290mm
Front suspension: 220mm
Rear suspension: 240mm
Max total load (including rider): 232 kg

and the unexpected thing they say is max Load for the
big top case: 5 kg
right side case: 10 kg
left side case: 10kg

I would have thought I could have piled more into that top case...

Also if anyone has the Service Manual in ENGLISH... CAN YOU PLEASE PM me!? or if you know how I can find the English version.

Also what is the difference in thes Military bikes 2004 v. 2006?

I had another few nice rides this weekend... question tho for you KTM owners... does a KTM engine have a metalic rattle / crackle when you let off on the gas?

I know Ducati's have this and is doesn't mean anything is wrong... but I thought I should ask instead of ignoring the sound.

When I am at idle, accelerating or maintaining speed the sound isn't there... but letting off the gas or decelerating it is.

ideas?

Just out of curiosity ... what is a BMW 650 GS military model?

How many have been built and how different is it to standard?

Not sure whether they really produced a proper military model, my guess would be that they painted one green and expected to win the bid because it is a BMW and the Germany army would buy a bike produced in Germany.

To complete the irony word has it that the Austrian army went for the F650 GS ... :D

But I've never seen one, nor their specs

hahahah ... mind you, I bet the German Army contract was bigger :cool4:

Peer is more ore less right, only changes to the standard model are a engine crash-bar, panniers, black color AND an additional headlight on top of the front fender!! :eek3:
This model already competed against the KTM in 2001, but was -back then- only purchased by the Danish and Swiss army (seemingly).

[URL="http://engele.net/pageID_9050373.html"]

Maybe nowadays the 2-cylinder GS is in discussion, does anybody knows more details???

Greets
Jörn ---still a KTM freak---

I like it, at least as a more road biased ride. Probably better for Western Europe than the KTM, although I'd prefer the latter on anything but tarmac. The additional light is the coolest one I'ver seen! Can you buy these bikes anywhere? If so, maybe you should start a thread on it in the Beemer section. Would still keep my KTM though...

....Swiss Army ordered the F 650 GS also....

:oops2:

I want that extra light on my KTM! That's one of the biggest griefs of the little machine. Been trying to come up with a good solution for quite some time now ...