| Author | Message | ||
     Essthreetee |
My friend is trying to decide which to get. He is choosing between a 1000 V-Strom or a BMW F650 (??) He would like a dual purpose bike (only off road would be fire roads) but also wants good comfort and highway driveability. I told him to look at a Uly...he can't afford new... Here is the lowdown, He has a chance for an '02 V-Strom for $4300 or a used BMW for $6000. I don't know anything about either of these bikes...I would think that the V-strom would be more of a street bike...but I don't know. I told him I would ask the experts on here and let him know what the concensus was. So if all else were equal, which would you get...and why? Thanks in advance. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Wow, depends on what you mean by dual purpose. Two of the mainstays in this area, considering that your friend would want to do fire roads, would be the Kawasaki KLR 650 or the Suzuki DR650. They are both tried and true designs, affordable and capable machines. They lack a bit in the weather protection and amenities. The KLR is a bit superior in the suspension department but is also taller. I believe the DR brings a few more HP to the table. The F650's are fine machines, but a bit overpriced (surprise surprise). The V-Stroms's are really in the same category (I know I'm about to be assaulted here) as the Ulysses. I know the Ulysses is superior in almost every way to the V-Stroms, but their intended purpose is about the same. Both the Uly and the V-Strom are heavyweights compared to the KLR and DR. And the Uly and V are clearly intended for 95% on-road antics and as such are both superior to the DR and KLR for highway touring. I'm sure someone with more knowledge than me will chime in shortly. | ||
| Essthreetee |
OK...I re-read my post and wasn't very clear on the "Dual Purpose" thing. I asked him that very question...what/where/how would the majority of his riding be...his answer was MOSTLY highway/touring type...with some offroad. And the off road would only be Fire-Roads...He was concerned about the BMW being loaded for touring and not being comfortable enough for long trips. Maybe that helps...Again, I suggested the Uly to him, but he doesn't want to spend that much. He is looking for used. He aslo commented that a 950 KTM (?) would be great, but he can't find any used....and in the right price. | ||
| Aldaytona |
The F650 is the "red headed stepchild", if you will. BMW makes some of the finest motorcycles sold today and like Harley-Davidson, thousands of their old bikes live on today. With the F650, WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? | ||
| Rek |
I know several very happy VStrom owners who regularly take their bikes down gravel roads and/or ride all day long on the pavement w/ no complaints. Rob | ||
| Tramp |
the F650, while a fine scoot in it's own right, is not worth anywhere near 6k in even showroom trim.... As far as occasional 'fire-road' use, my s2 is out on logging trails regularly...your friend won't require an F650 for such occasional use. That 6k price tag is outrageous. He'd be far better to pay a third or a quarter of that for a nice used /6 bmw. | ||
| Essthreetee |
Thanks guys...I knew that I could get him some good advice on here. | ||
| Court |
Wow. . . . interesting thread. I actually own and ride an F650 and have logged TONS of miles on KLR's (I owned one, my riding partner currently owns 3) The F650 has been a fun bike. My Spousal Control Unit bought it on a whim becuse someone told her it could be lowered. It can, but the handling is on the verge of scary. I've ridden test bikes with teh frames modified to evaluate certain things and none were as scary as the lowered F650. My advise, if you get one, leave the suspension wheren it was designed. It's a well built bike and has something like a cult following (you'll soon learn about the "Chain Gang"  One thing you can (or at least could prior to the introduction of the Ulysses) that that it has TONS of luggage space and some high quality luggage. The F650 is a very capable bike. If you need one in NYC, my wife in on the pecipise of trading a 2000MY with less than 5K and it looks like it's like worth no more than $4K. The KLR is my "bike of choice" when economy and functionality have to meet on a middle ground. I bought a NEW, 3 year old 1995 KLR, put about a $500 front brake on it, headlight modulators, tons of electronic gizmos and red aircraft drash lighting, tossed on some Scorpions, sent the suspension off to be upgraded and frickin' ATTACKED NYC. I loved it! It's also the first bike I felt REALLY comfy raring up on the back wheel. It's kinda tough, at my skill level, to get excited about pointed the headlight into the trees on a $16K+ motorcycle. The KLR was fun, even for my lard •••, to just romp around on the rear wheel. Perfect bike for learning to wheelie. Move your butt back ", snap the throttle off and on and off you go! Gads. . . I'm not sure I have ever met a motorcycle I didn't like! P.S. - if you want to come to NYC to buy this F650, I'll give you a box full of BMW air cleaners, plugs, parts and stuff.  | ||
| Tramp |
"the F650, while a fine scoot in it's own right, is not worth anywhere near 6k in even showroom trim...." and listen to court re: leaving the suspension where it is. I tested these bastidges with bmw na in '97, and i came up with the same... | ||
| Bruce_bueller |
I bought a 96 F650s in 96 for right around $6000, put 25,000 mi on it and sold it in 98 for $5500. Mainly because I bought a 98 S3T in 97. I wanted a new bike but, couldn't bring a metric into the yard. BMW was really good to me. They had 2 models, one was mainly street and the other was aimed more at a dual sport. I had the street version. If memory serves me correctly there was the F650s and I think just F650 with more aggressive tires and higher suspension. |
