I am having exactly the same debate, is he F650 big enough for a trip to India 2 - up. Just from reading the HUBB I am slowly coming to the conclusion that it is not quite enough.
I know its not much bigger but am looking at the Africa Twin as an alternative? Anybody any opinions on that?
Good luck!!!

It has been said elsewhere: let the passenger have a big say in what bike to ride two up! That's if you want to save the potential trouble and strife!
If the passenger is not happy at the start, it can only get worse later on.

As for the AT, others who own one will comment no doubt, but a V twin has to be a better option for two up riding than any single no matter how smooth it is (and the 650GS is smooth).

BTW, do a search for the bike in the HUBB using key words and you will find lots already written about it.

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Dave

sorry cant comment on the 650gs. i'm on my second AT at the moment and get on great with it. most of my travels are solo but when i'm 2'd up it's not bad at all but always remained on tarmac. make sure you have top box/case as far back as poss for more room and bob's your mother's brother! even using standard seat it's fine. carrying lots of weight 2'd up i find it plods on nicely. carries everything on mine! once rode south wales-south france with 4 campervan tyres on the back! for me it's a super bike but it does'nt mean it's good for everyone!
good luck..

Is a 650 single big enough for a big trip 2-up... I guess theres no direct answer, as it depends on your personal preferences & the way you like to travel.

Ive had many AfricaTwins over the years, and I really do love that bike. In my opinion it would beat any 1-cylinder dualsport/allround bike, if theres a need to load the bike up heavily, like when you go 2-up.

But then its also much heavier than, say, a 650GS or KLR, and if you do not have to be able to cover long distances on highways day in, day out, but would rather go smaller roads, then lighter bike could be better. Of course you wont be able to really ride "off-road" with such a heavy load, and as someone pointed out, your pillion will have to be comfortable on the back, too, otherwise there will be a problem. Africa Twins stock seat is quite far from perfect, Id try to find something made for 2 people, if I were to go really far away with it.

I´ve a friend whos ridden some 20 years with a XL250, to nearly all places imaginable.. but he likes to go slowly, take the smallest roads he can find, never the motorways, and admire the views. For his needs any 650 would probably be overkill, and way too heavy. Then again, fully loaded, any 650 single will probably feel underpowered, if you do go on the motorway.

I have experienced long distance 2up on the Aprilia Pegaso which is essentially the same bike as the earlier F650 (built by Aprilia), and to be honest i would not recommend it!

Although its a great bike the suspension is not comfortable with the weight when the road get rough and generally I found the bike too cramped for long distance as the passenger sits so tight up against you and helmet bashing is common, which is fine for a short ride but its the small things that can slowly get to you on a long trip, especially as you are tired and hungry on occassions which makes you irritable. I am 6'3" so that didnt help but my pillion was small :-)

Yes it has been done.....but I just found myself saying: "I wish I had chosen a bigger bike", or "I wish I had come alone" .

Trav

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Moto Guzzi California 1100i
Honda XR650R 2003

'Nothing is neither right nor wrong, but what thinking makes it so'

'Where is a desert when you need one?'

Id look at other big twins like the DL. I have a frend that traded his 1200gs for the DL 1000. He looks at the long term price of things more a biker should. Said that in 5 years he will be able to buy 3 DLs for the price of the 1 GS. He gets all the goodies add to his bikes and has the shop do all the work so thats where money go.

Still he may have a point.

I like the idea of 2 bikes but not at the price of the trip. If you can stay out for 2 years instead of gust 1 Go with 1 bike.

I dont know how you people go 2 up It drives me nuts. A few days and was ready to drop that complaining ex girlfriend off the tail.

Hi,
Having wondered off track with my RTW trip. I'm fired up again
Was intially planning to do it with a 1150, but as it will be a solo trip now the F650 is perfect.

I occassionally have a pillion on it in the city (without luggage) and it struggles, but mostly it becomes unstable and tricky especially at slow speeds and thats just on tarmac. The fuel consumption will also go up.
There are a lot of good bikes out there, but if your pockets are deep a 1150 GS is good enough for 2up.

Let the fun begin!!

JP

I'm contemplating picking up a pillion for at least part of my RTW on my '03 f650GS. I'd LIKE the suspension upgraded, but if we can stick to decent tarmac OR slow speeds, the bike will do just fine. Her and I have done some long days in the saddle, complete with gear and camping gear, and it's fine. I'm a welterwight, though, and she's featherweight. So there's not a lot of us crammed up against the drybag, but it works just fine. Sheepskin buttpads and heated vests for both!

It's hard to figure out a "good" RTW bike for two: lightweight, powerful, handles too much load with ease, etc. Stick more to the tarmac and pick a bigger bike; choose the less traveled paths and perhaps sacrifice a bit of comfort on Saddlesore Days with a smaller bike. Test ride and see what you both like.

Mitch

I am currently riding my F650GS from the Uk to Oz. So far I have had 2 friends come out and meet me for 3 week periods. On both occasions they have packed light but I think you will find the bike is to cramped for 2 up riding, I also found it was underpowered but that might just be me.

Whilst I have no issues in the times we were 2 up its not a bike I would use for 2 up touring on a permanent basis.

My 2 cents worth if it helps.

Jim