transalp vs bmw f650 thingy

[jabba]

Still lookin for a good transalp for a swop with my vara but came across the trail bmw 650 thingy anyone owned one which is best??
They certainly have a look all there own will grant you that?
Seen plenty of transalps but never ridden one has anyone gone from a vara to a tranny???opinions??

[Wee Jack]

I had a test ride on a F650GS before I bought my Transalp.

Some observations ..........

Performance of both bike is about the same.
The BMW is lighter and has better fuel economy (some owners claim 60-70mpg!!) Transalp 50 - 55 mpg.
The transalp has better weather / wind protection.
The transalp has a better front mudguard - the beamer front is **** and you get covered in whatever is on the road you are driving on.

If you do mostly towns/urban commuting the beamer is better , if you do more open road/ distance the Transalp is better.

They "feel" much the same to ride despite the BM being a single. the centre of gravity on the beamer is nice and low , the tank is under the seat.

The BMW servicing costs are cheaper (every 6k miles Vs Honda 4k miles).

I opted for the TA because of better weather protection.

And you should have no problems going from a Vara to an Alp , I went from a Pan Euro to an Alp. Sometimes miss the 100 hp grunt but not often enough to want another Pan !!!

[jabba]

Shame I cant test ride a transalp without the gear mods.
Not too fussed about power either rarely take the vara above 80 its really wasted on me am afraid. I just tootle about these days green lanes and if I do throw in a tour I take my time. jesus be smokin a pipe next.
I get a bit fed up of man handleing the vara aswell use it everyday at the mo and in and out of town ect is getting tiresome.

[Rubberchicken]

F650 is getting quite well known for its "italian" electrical system...

Also they look quite offroad ready but it can't live up to it. Friend had one, and used it offroad, said he did get square wheels after a while.

[barryw33]

had a f650 strada, i would rather go off road on that then my @ as they are fairly light and loads of low down grunt. Top out at about 85 - 90 but mine was a shed, great fun thou and would have another one tommorow

[GW_elder]

I had a week on a F650GS, and did my test on it, but bought the TA 'cos didn't like the single thumper on the Beemer. Think the V-Twin on the Alp more easy to live with, always felt the F650GS would give me a headache over a touring distance.

[Grendel]

Just a quick question what are the pro's and Con's of the F650Fundero or what ever it is called compared to TA. Since my main riding will be in town commuting in 30-50 zone's would the BMW be easier to live with? Bearing in mind my buying limit is £1200 so cant afford the GS version..

[Mervinh]

F650 is getting quite well known for its "italian" electrical system...

does that mean it has the old aprilia tin snuff box switch like the sixtys and seventies italian mopeds then, and the clocks are about as accurate as stonehenge at predicting your speed. i remember a side by side road test of a guzzi lemans, R90 bmw and a Z900 quacker back in the seventies, they said the guzzis speedo was so inaccurate if it had a clock like the beemer it would stretch 20 hours to last the day to make up for ther speedo discrepancy

[sproggy]

If you do any two-up riding forget the F650 - I bought one a few years ago but traded it back in after a few weeks because it just wouldn't pull up hill two-up and was hard work on the motorway. That was a GS Dakar but the engines are all the same. The TA has a far more flexible engine even though they look similar on paper and as someone else said the TA has a much better screen/fairing.

For solo use away from motorways I'd say the BM probably has the edge, being more fun to ride, but overall the TA beats it.