Greetings to All Horizons Unlimited Members,

My name is Goran from Croatia and I am a New Member here.

I am planing a Trip Around the World on The BMW GS 650ccm Dakar.

What do You think is this Bike a good choice to purchase for a Beginner ?



It has 17.000 Km and was build in 2003.
Asking Price is 5000 Euro

Any Suggestions are welcomed...

Route Plans from members who already done it would be Highly Appreciated especially if they went trough Asia .

My Start point is Croatia and I would love to integrate Asia in my Tour so any suggestions on how to get to Bangkok ( And bypass The Iraq,Iran and Afghanistan Story ) would be great.

Is it true that I cant drive trough China ?

Anyway so many Questions and I really hope to find some answers here.

Thanks in Advance

Regards
Goran

Good luck with your trip , 5000 euros would nearly buy a new one in the Uk might be worth a look over here . I paid £2000 for an 03 with 1800 miles on it just a thought

__________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

Hi there Trix,

Yep I know that but After importing it to Croatia and Paying Tax,Vat etc I would end up paying cca 8.000 - 9.000 Euros.

So for me the best option is to purchase a GS right here in Croatia.

Question:
Is the GS 650 a weak Bike for a World Tour and how satisfied are you with your GS 650 ?

Thanks in advance
Goran

My wife's F650GS (2000 model) has about 100,000 km on it and is perfectly reliable. Would head around the world again in a heartbeat. You can check out our website for photos of it in Africa.

The only way to realistically avoid Iran is to go north through the 'Stans and then China to either Laos or Pakistan. You can ride in China but you'll need a guide which can be expensive. Lots of threads on sharing guide costs on the HUBB.

Have fun!

__________________
Ekke Kok

'84 R100RT 141,000 km (Dad's!)
'89 R100GS 250,000 km (and ready for another continent)
'07 R1200GS Adventure 100,000 km (just finished Circumnavigating Asia)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

www.ekke-audrey.ca

Regarding the bike, people have written whole books about buying second-hand motorcycles, or at least they have written longish articles in bike magazines.
My point is that you should do some research about this particular machinc - no one online can tell you much about it, in truth.
The mileage/km run are low for the year which is fine IF the odometer is correct - don't know about Croatia but Odo's don't necessarily tell the truth in the UK!
The 650GS is a good bike IMO, but sooner or later those who say otherwise will chime in; there will even be those who have never owned one, so it is a matter of you making a judgement of when informed opinion becomes prejudice, or worse (I am not sure what is worse than prejudice ).

While to the HUBB is appropriate, I would say that your post covers a whole host of subject matter within the HUBB; I would suggest that you move on into the various fora and see what is there:-
BMW tech, about those bikes
Route planning
Trip Paperwork
China!! = Asia, probably "north", maybe "south", there is no central Asia, here

You get the idea; when you have read into those discussions for a while, you will have a 100 more questions.

Good luck with your trip planning (oh yes, that is another forum in here).

By the way, did I mention the "which bike" forum? There is also discussion in there about the 650GS.
ps The later twin spark model, from around 2005, should be worth a bit more than the earlier engine design - it is a bit more economical with the fuel, but neither are thirsty bikes and that is worth a lot nowadays (around 13-15 miiles/litre is quite achievable).

__________________
Dave

There are a lot of stories here on the HUBB about people doing a TRW on a F650GS

Chris and Erin for example did a RTW with their BMW's. They are in the guiness book of records with the longest motorcycle ride by a team:
http://www.ultimatejourney.com/home.html

I had a F650GS myself. I sold it last year to buy a GoldWing but I am sorry I sold it. I miss that bike.
I went to the NorthCape with that bike ( http://jkrijt.home.xs4all.nl/trips/n2g/index.shtml ) and to Millau in France ( http://jkrijt.home.xs4all.nl/trips/m...08/index.shtml ) and last year I went to Germany and Austria ( http://jkrijt.home.xs4all.nl/trips/ns2011/index.shtml )

If I would do a RTW, I would want an F650GS again.

__________________
Jan Krijtenburg

My bikes are a Honda GoldWing GL1200 and a Harley-Davidson FXD Dyna Super Glide

My personal homepage with trip reports: https://www.krijtenburg.nl/
YouTube channel (that I do together with one of my sons): motormobilist.nl

Thanks Ekke,Walkabout and jkrijt for Your comments,

Regarding the purchase of a used Motorcycle I have the Best Repair Shop Guy in Croatia who will inspect the Bike for me before handing out the Money and of Course we will also check the Odo's count because the manipulation of the count is regular everywhere not just in the UK.

So no worries about that...

Regarding the twin spark model I am also looking at a 2007 Model of the GS 650 and will talk to my mechanic/repair Guy about that topic and let him talk me in to either to throw in some extra cash if he thinks that the newer model is "much better" or he will suggest the cheaper 2003 Dakar model if he thinks that the difference is not worth the Price Difference.

Anyway I am good covered on that part and I wont for sure purchase a Cat in the Bag.

I noticed myself that there are a lot of people doing a RTW on a F650GS.
I also checked this Guy driving almost everywhere on his GS 650 and it was very interesting to watch how the bike is performing trough almost every kind of terrain Brainrotting: Episode 1 - California to Colorado BMW F650 GS adventure motorcycle motorcycles - YouTube Very interesting Journey and you should check this out the Bike Performed quite well.

And of course thanks for the Links especially the ULTIMATE JOURNEY.COM -- an around-the-world mortorcycle adventure where the cost of traveling is displayed...It can help a lot to get a rough idea about the Travel costs.

Anyway...I am looking forward to make this Trip and of course to find other Hubb-ers who will maybe ride along on some parts of my Journey

So far my choice is the GS 650 Dakar but who knows maybe I grab a GS 800 instead if the price is right because in my opinion that is the perfect bike for a RTW because its "almost" the same as the GS 1200 Model but much lighter, and better compared to the GS 650 Model.

Thanks everyone,I will post a picture after the purchase of the Bike and some pics of the preparations for the trip...

Looking forward to become motorized.

Regards
Goran

The new BMW Sertao gets a write up in a UK bike magazine; they are running long termish economy tests of lots of bikes over a period of time; so far, the new Sertao (the replacement for the Dakar) has come out on top with a figure of 76.0 MPG (that's UK gallons).
As far as I know this is exactly the same twin spark engine that was fitted in the F series single cyl bike.
I get this kind of fuel economy out of my standard 2005 650GS when I don't wring it's neck on the major highways.

In those test, the new Honda NC700X is next best with 75.7 MPG.

Food for thought.

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Dave

If you think about buying the newer 2 cilinder 800GS, make a testride on both the F650GS and the F800GS.
I liked the F650GS (that has a 2 cil 800 engine too) more then the F800GS.

You should also read this:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-morocco-63897
A very interesting article about a real world test of the new F650GS.

__________________
Jan Krijtenburg

My bikes are a Honda GoldWing GL1200 and a Harley-Davidson FXD Dyna Super Glide

My personal homepage with trip reports: https://www.krijtenburg.nl/
YouTube channel (that I do together with one of my sons): motormobilist.nl

Thanks for the Comments folks,

Love to hear that the F650 GS has a low Fuel consumption.

I don't wanna spend all my Money on Fuel

After reading so many posts I think that the Best choice for me ( a Beginner ) would be the F650 GS.

I am also looking at the 2008 Model of F650GS with the parallel-twin 800ccm machine.

Anyway So far I am very close to purchase a 2003 F650 GS DAKAR mostly because I love the design and the Colors and after all its a proven bike !! Mostly for the Road and light Off Road terrains and that is just what I need.

Here is the Route I am planing...



After Singapore I am planing a small Indonesia Tour to Jakarta & Bali. Indonesia is Easy accessible trough a Ferry from Singapore

After that I would go back to Singapore where I would Ship the Bike to the States.

So this is my Plan...

I am also looking for People who would share the costs to pass China.

Any Suggestions/Maps for the American Continents would be Highly Appreciated.

+ What is the best time of the Year to hit the road ?

Thanks in Advance to everyone...

Regards
Goran

Hi Goran!

I just started rtw 2 months ago from Germany and am now in italy! I will pass Croatia in let's say 1 1/2 months because I want to go the same way that your are looking into. Down to Greece and Turkey and then iran, pak. .....

I have the excat same bik, then you are looking into and i really love it!!! i would bye again, every time!!! It's just great!
Once I has a 360° rollover sidewards down a hill with all my equipment, amd it just broke the mirrors! Unbelievable!
Afterwards I thought! "If my bike handles this so though, it's the right one to go everywhere!

If you feel like, we can meet when I'm in Croatia on my way down!??

Ciao and take care

Alex

Hi dakaralex,

Thanks for Your Comment !
Great to hear more positive feedback about the 650 GS Dakar

So far so good...It looks like the perfect bike for me.

Good luck with Your RTW Tour and of course contact me via PM when You arrive to Croatia. I am in Zadar - Dalmatian and here are many Germans during the Summer including myself .

Ich bin in Deutschland aufgewachsen...In Mayen !!

Also wir waren ja fast nachbarn...lol



Have a save trip...

Regards
Goran

Any info on How to prepare the Bike for a Long Distance Trip is welcomed !!

I will travel "extremely" Light and will sleep in cheap Hotels I Found on Agoda.com for all the locations below and pay cca 15 - 20 Euro Per Night.

So there will be no need for a Tent or Sleeping Bag etc.

Here is my Driving Route For Stage 1 ( Euro - Asia ) :

1) Croatia - Budapest .......................630 Km
2) Budapest - Lviv ...........................615 Km
3) Lviv - Kiev ..................................540 Km
4) Kiev - Bryansk .............................515 Km
5) Bryansk - Moscow.........................385 Km
6) Moscow - Nizhniy Novgorod............420 Km
7) Nizhniy Novgorod - Kazan..............400 Km
8) Kazan - Ufa..................................530 Km
9) Ufa - Chelyabinsk..........................415 Km
10) Chelyabinsk - Kurgan...................270 Km
11) Kurgan - Petropavl.......................280 Km
12) Petropavl - Kökshetau..................190 Km
13) Kökshetau - Astana.......................310 Km
14) Astana - Karaganda......................225 Km
15) Karaganda - Balqash.....................385 Km
16) Balqash - Almaty..........................640 Km
17) Almaty - Yining............................450 Km
18) Yining - Ürümqi............................600 Km
19) Ürümqi - Hami.............................600 Km
20) Hami - Yumen..............................570 Km
21) Yumen - Xining............................630 Km
22) Xining - Chengdu.........................1100 Km
23) Chengdu - Kunming......................850 Km
24) Kunming - Hanoi..........................700 Km

After arriving to Vietnam I will continue along the Coast to the City of Ho Chi Minh and later move on to Cambodia,Thailand,Malaysia and END my Euro - Asia Journey in Singapore where my Friends from a Shipping Company would ship the Bike to the States.

Questions:
1) How to prepare the Bike for this?
2) What Should I take with me except 2 Spare Tires & Tools ?
3) What cost can i expect for the China Guide and all Documents needed and How long do I have to wait them ?
4) What is the Best month to Start my Journey ?

Any Info is Appreciated

Regards
Goran

goran im happy to see you want this trip done, and you chosen a good bike for that , about reliability dont worry a guy from my country went around the world , bbefore that to nordcapp before that podgorica moscow entire scandinavian penninsula and europe and many more trip still work as a new bike if any help try reading theridearound2010.me in serbian about preparation and trip and see some gs650 experience , cheers from montenegro

I have the Sertao and enjoy it. I like that it is small and manageable. Also I hope to carry less stuff than I would on a 1200. You don't need the extra stuff. Also if you look at couples that ride the lady usually is riding the 650 but she rides the same roads and just as far as her mate. Sounds like the G650GS will do the trick. Next year I will be taking it on the US Contiential Divide dirt route. 2700 of dirt roads, should be fun. I sold my Harley Road King for this this bike, very different animals. The Dakar will work, enjoy.