spokie
Race Dog
Okay, don’t get me wrong – I love my Dakar, BMW builds awesome bikes and I’m lucky to own one. In my opinion the Dakar is the best Dual Sport (DS) bike, however I’m getting to understand the controversy regarding the commitment on BMW’s behalf in building proper DS bikes. The high percentage of these bikes, which never leave the asphalt of Europe, are the one of the reasons causing BMW to design a softer, more suited for the executive homo (nothing homosexual about homo 
), type of bike. Most of us who own a DS BMW will not have anything to complain about the 50% tar roads we do with them – I mean this is most probably the smoothest experience we’ll ever have on any DS bike, for that matter.
I have no problem with the Rotax singles and with what it delivers, agg… and the weight is not that much of a concern either – the GS Dakar is in the better part of the average weight-power ratio class regarding the DS-singles. The center of mass is situated low and getting it there was well thought out. The suspension can do with some progressive springs, at least or a total upgrade of it but this is something for later (if ever).
I am not an experienced rider at all, I drop my bike and crash in difficult terrains quite often – well, as soon as the opportunity makes itself available. The result, of me following the learning curve, is broken plastics after mostly every session of non boring tar. Probably all inexperienced F650GS riders (and those who got out of it with time) will know what I’m talking about.
This is nothing new, for time and again I read similar comments , on this forum and many others. My concern are those plastics, breaking, as soon as one sees the dust. I do not know about the other bikes or how their owners experience it, but I do know it’s the third time that I had to “plastic weld” an indicator together or fix a fractured panel in 2 weeks. It is annoying to say the least and to such an extend that I might consider selling the Dakar and get a Kawasaki (or stay away from riding a bit technicalities).
I really don’t mind riding a bike with “messed-up” or scratches panels, (neatly fixed) welded plastic parts and a subframe which is a bit bent. I know why/where she got each of her scars and she has crashbars on… it’s a fokon DS bike, for Pete’s sake! By the way, decant plastics can be kept somewhere safe until the day it’s necessary.
Learning to ride properly is the main concern! Besides that and during this period of eating dust, are there any tips on saving the indicators, panels, mirrors (or any other part I haven’t coincidently broken yet)? Maybe flexible aftermarket stuff or learning on a “cheaper” bike?
), type of bike. Most of us who own a DS BMW will not have anything to complain about the 50% tar roads we do with them – I mean this is most probably the smoothest experience we’ll ever have on any DS bike, for that matter. I have no problem with the Rotax singles and with what it delivers, agg… and the weight is not that much of a concern either – the GS Dakar is in the better part of the average weight-power ratio class regarding the DS-singles. The center of mass is situated low and getting it there was well thought out. The suspension can do with some progressive springs, at least or a total upgrade of it but this is something for later (if ever).
I am not an experienced rider at all, I drop my bike and crash in difficult terrains quite often – well, as soon as the opportunity makes itself available. The result, of me following the learning curve, is broken plastics after mostly every session of non boring tar. Probably all inexperienced F650GS riders (and those who got out of it with time) will know what I’m talking about.
This is nothing new, for time and again I read similar comments , on this forum and many others. My concern are those plastics, breaking, as soon as one sees the dust. I do not know about the other bikes or how their owners experience it, but I do know it’s the third time that I had to “plastic weld” an indicator together or fix a fractured panel in 2 weeks. It is annoying to say the least and to such an extend that I might consider selling the Dakar and get a Kawasaki (or stay away from riding a bit technicalities).
I really don’t mind riding a bike with “messed-up” or scratches panels, (neatly fixed) welded plastic parts and a subframe which is a bit bent. I know why/where she got each of her scars and she has crashbars on… it’s a fokon DS bike, for Pete’s sake! By the way, decant plastics can be kept somewhere safe until the day it’s necessary.
Learning to ride properly is the main concern! Besides that and during this period of eating dust, are there any tips on saving the indicators, panels, mirrors (or any other part I haven’t coincidently broken yet
)? Maybe flexible aftermarket stuff or learning on a “cheaper” bike?
