Myself and my partner are looking at these bikes for our first travelling bikes. Can anyone give some opinions good or bad on these bikes please

Your help will be most helpful.

Ghostbat

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HAVE BIKE WILL TRAVEL

take the SAME bike

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I’m not afraid to go fast, it’s the crash and burn part that sucks.

lighter is better.

If you both ride your own bike, two F650GS'es is better because it is cheaper to buy, cheaper with insurance and cheaper on fuel (and with the fuel prices we have to pay today, that makes a different.) Money you can spend on preparation of the bikes and for your trip.

I have a F650GS myself and it is a great bike but I did buy some extra's like panniers, a topbox, a Touratech tankbag with side bags, a Touratech seat, hand protectors, heated grips and a Dakar windshield. I just did a 8000 km Northcape trip on it.

Off road and on dirt roads, when you are not a very experienced off-roader, a lighter and smaller bike is much easier to ride.

With two bikes, it makes sense to have the same bike. Only one workshop manual, one bike to learn to work on, the same parts and tires etc.

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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

Hi Ghostbat,

well I've owned both the R1200GS and the F650GS, so I'm in a position to give my opinions on both machines.

So we'll start off with the basics, two similar bikes make sense from the aspect of spares, refueling schedules, maintenance inspections etc, so decide on the bike and get two (if the funds will allow).

Onto the bikes.

Firstly the F650GS - I really rated this bike. I downsized from an R1100S and was worried that the lack of performance would let the bike down. How wrong could I be! It's cheap to run, sips fuel, gentle on tyres and can be ridden in a very spirited way. You can load it up with loads of kit and customise it in anyway that you see fit. OK it's a bit viby when cruising along motorways/freeways etc but you get the feeling it'll keep running forever! Mine never even blew a bulb! It's a simple honest machine that doesn't do anything spectacularily well but manages to everything in an efficient, Germanic manner. I toured Norway on this bike and had a wonderful trip.

Secondly the R1200GS - fabulous machine to ride, very comfy, handles like a dream and cruises at whatever speed you fancy. My own particular machine was an August 2004 model and suffered as a result! OK any bike can have a glitch here and there but I reckon that 3 ABS pumps (at over a grand each) is a little excessive! Not to mention 2 replacement instrument units and loads of other minor parts. The bike put me off BMW twins for life. I've had several twins in the past and each was very reliable but the GS was a dog. Mine wasn't the only one affected, as I was to discover later. The machine's just too complex for it's own good. If you were away from European type dealerships then I'd say keep away from one. If you plan to stick to Europe then dispose of it when the warranty expires then I'd say it's you choice. Talking of warranties BMW's renewal for the 1200GS was about £800 for a year, so how confident are they in the machine when charging that type of premium?

So for me it's a no brainer. F650GS's it is!

Regards

Reggie AKA The Cameraman

Ekke is right on the money with his post about two bikes. The only reason Chris Ratay went to a F650 was because his bike was constantly breaking down. There is no way I would make my partner ride a bike that was too big for her. Or me a bike that was too small. I have met many partners even on a 650 uncomfortable and nervous as soon as they are off the tarmac because the bike is too big and heavy for them. But the bloke thought it would be a good idea. They'll get used to it. I ride a Dominator and after 80 000 km's on it it's still a handfull especially with luggage in the soft stuff. Watch your partner try and pick one up for the 5th time that day!!!!!

All these spares that people carry I have no idea what they are? If you need it UPS it or the bloke at the local garage will make one. I met a guy on the Karakoram with a pick up shock welded into the back of his BMW by the local garage. No problem. I found a DID 520 chain link in Iran!

We are not racing full throttle when we travel and if you have to wait to fix something no biggy read a book meet the locals it can be fun.

Well the opinions are excellent and myself and my partner have had some really good discussions. We will be purchasing the bikes as new so they will be 2006 models. I have to wait for about 9 months for my 1200GSA.
We won't be travelling outside Australia for a few years as we wish to see our country first and get used to this motorbike travelling thing.
I have had some experience with bikes so I will be getting the GSA and my partner has already labelled it the "Camel". My partner is going for the 650GS as she is not that confident with a big bike.

I will still be reading for more opinions for some time

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HAVE BIKE WILL TRAVEL

Keep reading the various posts in the "which bike" forum. You'll find "same bike" repeated a lot. And here it is again - get the same bike!

We know a number of people who have headed off with different bikes - all have said it was a mistake. Some have even sold one part way and he has downsized so they're both on the same bike. See http://www.ultimatejourney.com for an example.

In reality, she needs more power and less weight - to keep up with you on the big bike easily. On a slower bike, she will have to ride hard to keep up with you, and put herself at risk. There is no benefit to you having a heavier big bike - and it will take both of you to pick it up! And maintenance etc is more of a hassle... etc etc...

Same bike...

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Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Thank you all for your informative information. Since I was dreaming of the GSA, and now being woken, all of your informative, commensense information has finally changed my stubborn mind to go for the 650GS. Much to the delight of my partner.

We will now spend the remainder of the money left over from the GSA dream an "BLING THE BUGGERY" out of 2 650GS's.

Thank you all very much

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HAVE BIKE WILL TRAVEL

One last suggestion:

Get only one R1200GSA for two of you and ride in turns... Or get two 650GS for each of you.

can ozcan

Well she won't pillion so it's going to have to be 2 bikes. She say's its boring.

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HAVE BIKE WILL TRAVEL