After several years and 36,000 K (6 countries) over 10% off road, 20% rough to very
rough
and 70% paved roads in South America on my 2001 Honda NX 400 Falcon
single which I bought new in Buenos Aires, Argentina for $5,000.00 USD,
(2011 price new = $7,000 +USD ),
fitted out with custom made luggage frame/racks and
authentic horse saddlebags later to be Cortex 3 piece soft luggage, wind
screen, cubremanos (hand guards) , and tank bag....,
I just bought, in northern Spain, a brand new 2011 BMW G 650 GS single ,
with panniers, bash plate + engine protector, cubremanos, heated
grips, waterproof BMW stuff bag (as tail bag) touring wind screen, tank bag,
for a little over $9,000.00 Euros.
So far, 2000 K on paved roads) I am very pleased with my G650 GS and
will be riding out to Turkey and beyond next month.
In 34,000 K, I replaced the chain 3 times on the Honda NX400, the clutch
once, but it never let me down, never refused to start, even under extreme
heat, cold, rain and altitude.
The BMW G650 GS handles much better, has a fantastic 1st gear ratio for off
road and loaded tops out at over 160 k per hour. The Honda NX400, on a
good day, loaded, might top out at 130, maybe.
Speed limits in Spain have been reduced to 110k max - and the Honda would
have done well, but the BMW can easily cruise at 130 all day and night.
The BMW vibration issue seems not as bad as I had suspected and much less
than the Honda.
Elisa did the same 34,000 K in South America, 12,000K on her new Honda
XR250 Tornado (purchase price in Buenos Aires today + $5,000 USD) and
24,000 K on her own new Honda NX400 Falcon. She also bought a new BMW
G650 GS here in northern Spain. She liked the XR250 off road better than
the NX400 but liked the NX400 better for highway riding. She likes the BMW
G650 GS off road and on....better than either Honda.
WE WILL REPORT to this thread during our upcoming tour to
Turkey and beyond.
Photos:
2001 Honda NX400 Falcon (Argentina)
2 BMW G650 GS singles Loaded + BMW F650/800 GS (Spain)
Elisa and her G650 GS (Spain)
1986 Harley Davidson 883/1200 Sportster (Argentina)
I included a photo of my Harley as we have only recently become
"B M u-b-istas" and surprisingly the Harley, once bored out and made new....
did very well in Argentina, on and off road.....!!!!
xfiltrate