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Dakar or Tenere ? Dakar or Tenere ?
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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 Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 21 May 2009
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Dakar or Tenere ?
Hi please help me solve a quandary.

Currently own an XR25O for trail riding in The Lake District.

I am planning on buying a bigger adventure bike for more distant travels and less fun commuting..

Torn between two bikes and any advice would be great - I have found a 2005 BMW F650GS Dakar with low low miles and I have been offered an ex demonstrator new Yamaha XT660 Z Tenere.

The difference in price would be £1500 - £3200 for the Dakar or £4700 for the Tenere - I would need to sell the XR to plug the financial gap.

Obviously I would benefit with the Tenere having almost 2 years warranty but what would the more experienced recommend.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks,

Sean
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  #2  
Old 21 May 2009
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Cheaper option??
If it were me...
I would buy the cheaper one. Both those bikes will do just about anything you want them too. £1500 is a hell of a lot of money when you are on the road. Also with a more expensive bike you wont feel as comfortable bashing it down a dirt road or track. Ride them both and if you think having the XT is worth that bit extra and you have a money tree in your garden then go for it.
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  #3  
Old 21 May 2009
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I agree.

That is a lot of money. That £1500 odd, could kit your bike top to bottom and then some!!

If you are serious about the Ten, then test ride both and if the Dakar really does not do it for you then try the Ten, but if both do it for you., still go for the cheaper.

Remember that, unless you are lucky and you bike takes not one scratch on your trip, your bike's resale value will take a hammering so best it happens to a bike that did not cost just short of £5000!!

Failing that you could do what I did and prep the XR, although mine is a 400!!
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Old 21 May 2009
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dakar abs ?
Yes I think the Dakar too. Had a look at it tonight and it all seemed good apart from the fact the seller told me it only had rear ABS. This seemed strange to me and there is no details of rear ABS only systems on any forums ? The front wheel definitely had no ABS but seller insisted rear wheel does - any idea whats going on ?
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  #5  
Old 21 May 2009
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Hi, i hired a Dakar for 2 weeks trail riding around Bulgaria and found it to be an excellent road bike but a little hard work off road. i have now bought a Tenere which i prefer, especialy off road. BMW is more comfortable though.
£4700 is steep for the bike , i paid £4500 for a new 2008 bike in January from IAN BELL Motorcycles and they are now doing 0% deals (i should mention that i have no connection to this dealer apart from buying the Tenere). Andy
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  #6  
Old 21 May 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by yorkshiresurfer View Post
Yes I think the Dakar too. Had a look at it tonight and it all seemed good apart from the fact the seller told me it only had rear ABS. This seemed strange to me and there is no details of rear ABS only systems on any forums ? The front wheel definitely had no ABS but seller insisted rear wheel does - any idea whats going on ?

Sounds wierd to me: I would assume that it has no ABS...

If you did not see that sort of cog-like disc on the inside of the brake discs I would say it does not have ABS. Another give away (certainly on the boxer twins) is the ABS button on the switches...
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Old 22 May 2009
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Hi - the cog disc is missing from the front but present on the rear ??

Its really putting me off - apart from that the bike looks spot on !!

No ABS switch - but the seller is insistent it has rear abs
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Old 22 May 2009
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Hi
In this case the rear cog only works as the sensor for the speedometer.
The seller only is lying, for be an ABS version has to be a front disc cog, sensor, button and a massive box with wires and hoses between the engine and the rear shock….
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Old 22 May 2009
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Hi - thanks for the info..

Don't think he's lying he seems like a good chap

He was sold it last year and told it had ABS - I'm sure it's a genuine mistake

I was just confused as I was sure that you couldn't get retro fitted ABS - it wouldn't make any sense !!

So the cog on the rear wheel just operates the speedo ? Thanks for the info will try and lok at the bike again tomorrow.

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Old 22 May 2009
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I would ask your question in the appropriate section of ADVrider as well, lots of Dakar riders over there. Sounds a little strange to have only rear ABS...
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  #11  
Old 22 May 2009
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Another way to make sure is to figure out how much would the total costs if you include all the mods you will have/want to do on both bikes.
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  #12  
Old 23 May 2009
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Normally I'd say the Beemer, but considering the ABS BS stories, I'd go for the Tenere. Look up the LHS fork to see if the brake hose splits on a bracket. The ABS bike has 2 front brake hoses going into a splitter bracket with solid brake lines on it routed to the ABS pump located behind the motor. There should also be a ABS sensor coming off the LHS fork.
Doubtfull history at best. God forbit it might have even been serviced by the BM dealer.
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  #13  
Old 23 May 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by javkap View Post
Hi
In this case the rear cog only works as the sensor for the speedometer.
The seller only is lying, for be an ABS version has to be a front disc cog, sensor, button and a massive box with wires and hoses between the engine and the rear shock….
Exactly as javkap says. Non abs bikes have the ring on the rear for the speedo pickup. I wouldn't let this alone put you off the bike. If everything else is good and it is the bike you want you could try using it as a bargaining tool.

Since you do a bit of trailriding and are having to sell your lighter bike, have you thought what either of these bikes would be like on the trail? Both would be heavy and hard work on anything technical. I had this same dilema, a bike that is light enough for the trail but has the legs for regular road use. While I agree that the smaller bikes can do distance work they are very buzzy and not as comfortable as something a bit larger, while the larger bikes are not as good in the dirt. In the end I bought a g650 xchallenge, already scratched from off road use, for £3250. A lot lighter than either the dakar or tenere and better off road, but it still handles the road work in a degree of comfort. One of these, or perhaps a 640ktm, might be a better bike for your use if you intend to go trailriding.
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  #14  
Old 26 May 2009
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Look here: The BMW F650 Technical FAQs

More F650 info than you can shake a stick at.
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  #15  
Old 26 May 2009
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Tenere for me.
I had two F650's and then an old style Tenere. The BM's build quality is garbage. Both had engine paint fall off, both had electrical issues and the last one destroyed it's waterpump and timing gear with less than 40,000 miles on the clock. It's all about Rotax and BMW cutting corners to fleece people who want the badge.

The Yam was built to a price, but did everything you could ask. The only hassle was the rotting exhaust.

The new Tenere is a different generation of bike and everyone I've talked to about them raves about them.

The prices reflect this of course, but IMHO you are getting what you pay for.

Andy
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