Dual-sport a GS500E ??

[madjak30]

Congrats on the new toy...I think you will be much happier with that one, since it will have a better suspension to "deal" with our Canadian frost heaved roads and also the off hiway riding you will be doing...no one mentioned the CBF600SA because it isn't available in the states...and I'm not that familiar with the bike...

That BMW is definately not on the suggested beginner list...F650GS, but it has a 800cc parallel twin engine (not sure why they didn't call it the F800GS??)...nice bike though...

I'm trying to sell my GS500 too...glad yours went to a good home 

Later.

[Bluesmudge]

Yeah, I'm confused. If the "F650GS" uses the same engine as the F800, what is the difference between the two? Suspension? Who the heck got to name these things 

I thought the F650 was the terrible pregnant looking one, but I guess they restyled it to look like an F800...which makes sense...since it uses the same engine....

[karatechop5000]

650 is single and 800 is twin. Both are made by Rotax.

[5thAve]

BMW Canada site currently lists the following models:
MSRP Cdn$  8,800     G650GS is a single-cylinder 650cc enduro (48bhp).
MSRP Cdn$ 9,850      F650GS is a parallel-twin 800cc  enduro (71bhp -- derated version of below).
MSRP Cdn$12,750     F800GS is a parallel-twin 800cc enduro (85bhp).

Oh, and the F800 is a couple inches taller than the F650.  I guess you pay the extra bucks, you wanna feel like you've got a bigger bike.

Makes ya wonder.   

[Ken in Regina]

5thAve has it right.  My F650GS is the 800cc twin. It's lighter and less power than the F800GS.  The horsepower is more like a good 600 or 650 and so is the weight. It's actually lighter than the Honda CBF600 and roughly the same horsepower.  A nice combination.

The F800GS is a very tall and heavy bike. It's pretty close to the same dimensions as the old 1100GS and not a lot smaller/lighter than the 1200GS. 

It actually all makes sense when you view the variety of different sized people who are all attracted to mid-displacement bikes.

The F650 is for those of us who want a smaller bike to fit us but with good mid-displacement performance. The factory lowering and low seat, the lower weight and the lower center of gravity from the fuel tank under the seat make this a really accessable bike for anyone of smaller stature. It's actually a better fit for smaller folks than, for instance, the Ninja 250. Or the GS500. It really competes in the 600 - 750cc class because of both its power and weight. It fits a really broad range of folks because you can go from the standard height with tall seat at about 820mm (32.3in) seat height down to the lowered version with low seat at 752mm (29.6in).

The F800 is for bigger riders who also want mid-displacement performance but who need a larger machine to fit them properly. It's not just the overall dimensions. It's things like the relationship between the seat and the bars and the seat and the pegs.

...ken...

[Manaenrc]

Not to beat a dead thread but I thought it would be good to add my build link to this thread since it is relevant to this concept (and people searching for it)

Here's my GS500 Adventure Project