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Change a f650gs for Dakar? Change a f650gs for Dakar?
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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.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 6 Mar 2011
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Change a f650gs for Dakar?
Hi all, myself and a good friend have been planning a RTW trip of the Northern hemisphere for this time next year, across US/ Canada into Russia and back through Mongolia and Easter Europe. We have been around the block and back trying to choose a bike and at present we both own f650gs with various farkles and luggage racks etc. As such it makes sense to do it on these bikes but what I'm wondering is whether or not it would be advisable to try and trade our two f650gs for two f650gs dakar bikes.

Is the 21" front hoop and extra suspension travel worth the hassle of having to trade in our bikes that we've both owned since new. Both are low mileage i.e. under 5k.

Would really appreciate any info or endorsements from people who have been through rough terrain on the regular 19" f650gs.

Thanks in advance.
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  #2  
Old 6 Mar 2011
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Have you considered uprating the suspension and either getting a new front wheel or having a bigger one built on the same hub? This way you get the benefits of knowing what the bikes been through/quirks etc and when you get back you can go back to the original setup, a decent engine service or overhaul and hey presto back to a good-as-new bike?
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Old 6 Mar 2011
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I'll stick to the topic and not mention water pumps

I did a fair bit of sand and gravel on my 19-inch front wheeled F650. No complaints here. I rode a Dakar briefly and couldn't tell the difference. My main experience of 21-inchers is a post-waterpump event XT600E which was better off-road not so good on-road, but obviously different in many ways. I wouldn't rush to change the wheel, you can buy 19-inch TCK-80's for most of your route and there is a lot of tarmac to cover. Spend your money on waterpump kits

Go for it and have fun.

Andy
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  #4  
Old 6 Mar 2011
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Thanks for the response folks, the waterpump has been accounted for in the contingency budget alright, I believe it's the chief culprit in causing headaches with these bikes along with their chunky weight for a single.

I've considered the fork upgrade/ replacement as well as adding a 21" hoop upfront but again I wonder whether or not this is money well spent for an additional 2" travel and an extra 2" on the wheel? Considering this is the chief difference I wonder if it will have a worthwhile impact on the types of roads we will cover given they are going to be predominantly sealed roads? Having said that I'd rather have the extra bit of support / suitability when things do get tough in the east?
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  #5  
Old 7 Mar 2011
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consider that if you go up to 21" it will be slightly better off road but if you stick to what you have it will be slightly better on the road. You'll probably be spending most of your time on some kind of paved roads. For my money, I'd leave it just as it is.
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  #6  
Old 7 Mar 2011
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If you're not actively hunting out the dirt then the only place on your itinerary likely to give you grief is Mongolia. The price you will pay in losing some road handling probably won't be noticeable and at the same time the benefits although noticeable in w. Mongolia shouldn't make the difference between being able to do it and not being able to.

I met a couple from Rotherham who went through central asia and mongolia, she was on a funduro and he was on the 650 dakar. Neither of them had major suspension failure or anything like that but the heat generated from a lot of off-road did manage to blue the metal on the legs and subsequently knack an oil seal. They had more problems with gearbox selector shaft seals by the sounds of it.

In short I have no useful advice to offer whatsoever! It's six of one and half a dozen of the other.

Do your bikes have oil-in-frame. I know this caused premature headstock bearing failure on the earlier F650s, spares are small!
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