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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
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I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



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  #1  
Old 30 Nov 2012
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BMW G650 GS or KAWA VERSYS 650 to travel for SouthAmerica?

Hey all,
I would like to know your opinions about some dilemma that I've had in the last days, starting to plan my ride around southAmerica....A BMW G650GS or KAWASAKI VERSYS 650? I know that are very different motorcycles, and even if the versys seems to me most of the time "more motorcylce" thinking about the trip and the unexpected conditions on some areas, I don't know which model could be more convenient...
Thanks for your opinions!
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Old 5 Dec 2012
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Sth America

The Kawa would be cheaper in the parts department & possible easier to fix,
but I would go for the Beemer as they seem to have that model down pat, I just rode the 800 thru Africa & apart from the fuel pump 30,000 trouble free klm. Having said that I am not taking it to South America as I have decided to ride a Royal Enfield instead.
Cheers
Paul
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Old 5 Dec 2012
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I rode the F650GS for a few years and I have the Versys 650 at present.
There is some feedback about the latter in this thread:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...s-thread-65709
And there is an amount of comment on the F650GS in the BMW tech thread, but not a lot, so far, about the G50GS.

You probably know that the G650GS has gone back to the roots of the F series after a few years when BMW did not produce a single cyl engined bike.
So, that engine is extremely well proven.

Either of your short list will do a good job, so a lot of your decision comes down to the usual factors of where and how you intend to ride and the other factors, such as "which one you like better".
+ do you prefer a twin or a single cyl? Choices to be made eh!
Try to get hold of each and take it for a ride - the longer the better!
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