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F650 GS vs F650 GS Dakar whats the difference F650 GS vs F650 GS Dakar whats the difference
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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 2 Feb 2006
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F650 GS vs F650 GS Dakar whats the difference
Well like the title says, what is the difference between the bmw f650gs and the F650gs dakar. I am pretty sure that they did more than just paint the name dakar on there, because it costs more than 2000US more brand new.

If you know the diffrences between these please let me know, it is a long drive to my bmw dealer to ask
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  #2  
Old 2 Feb 2006
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21" front wheel, more suspension travel, higher seat

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Old 9 Feb 2006
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thanks for the info man!!!


but just on the side, why did you put the dommie up there. i was just wondering, i mean more info is always cool with me, but do you own a dommie or something????
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Old 9 Feb 2006
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Dakar seat the same height as a Dommie? doesn't seem right to me.....
Dommie with 3 inches more ground clearance than Dakar?.......
Where did you get this chart, it seems wrong to me...

[This message has been edited by Bill Holland (edited 09 February 2006).]
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Old 9 Feb 2006
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The chart is for the original NX by the looks of it - later ones where heavier than that. Also had 16 ltr tanks rather than the peanut size on the first ones. As with nearly every manufacturer, bikes get more road oriented and heavier as the production continues....

Still, it makes you realise how good the first ones were.

Stig

[This message has been edited by LordStig (edited 09 February 2006).]
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Old 9 Feb 2006
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If you want more techy info, the Dakar has a longer inner fork leg, spring and cartridge. The rear is higher because the shaft of rear shock is longer but this is a non-servicable item so changing this would be difficult. On the front wheel the spokes and rim are different but hub the same. Practically everything else is the same for both F650s. The old Funduro had a 17t front sprocket instead of 16t so it was good for 185km/h rather than 165km/h, but you can change to this if you want. The 'lowered' F650GS is by way of a shorter fork cartridge and fork spring spacer and the 2 parallel suspension linkages are longer.
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Old 10 Feb 2006
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Quote: "and the 2 parallel suspension linkages are longer. "

Do you mean stronger in the GS or in Dakar?

Thanks
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Old 14 Feb 2006
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No, he did mean longer. Part of the lowering kits includes longer parallel links (often called "dogbones") which allow the wheel to move closer to the bike before compressing the spring.
Regards
Nigel in NZ

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Old 25 Feb 2006
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Further difference: Windshield (interchangeable) The GS's one is pretty useless and most people go for the quite pricey and higher one from the DAKAR although I found it very irritating as it creates turbulences.
The GS's center stand does not fit the Dakar (it's too short) and makes chain service on the Dakar a pain as you can't tilt the Dakar over the side stand clearing the rear wheel off the ground to spray on lube. (Stand sits in DWC of bike and the bike will pivot around the stand if you try)
The only advantage of the Dakar is the 21" front wheel which allows to fit good and reasonably priced tires (Kings KT 966 Claw Action worked like a charm on my Dakars)
The Dakar pays for the 21" front with a quite scary seat height. The GS looks what it is (cafe & club racer - up and down Camps Bay Victoria Road).
The Dakar looks like a decent dual sport but the suspensions are as hard and overdampened as the GS. At least they both don't wobble at top gear flat out on tarmac like almost every dual sport on knobblies - BMW - what should I say.
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Old 25 Feb 2006
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A centre-stand for the Dakar is available from Touratech. A bit pricey, but it sure make any chain work/rear wheel removal a lot easier. But once you have one, you will wonder how you managed to survive without it.
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Old 1 Mar 2006
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bill Holland:
Dakar seat the same height as a Dommie? doesn't seem right to me.....
Dommie with 3 inches more ground clearance than Dakar?.......
Where did you get this chart, it seems wrong to me...
Yeah, I have a Dommie - it was just a comparison chart I made up when I was thinking about changing it.

The figures came from a '98 Dominator brochure and the BMW stuff from the US BMW site.

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