Transalp 600 vs 650

[raymo]

Second everything thats been said.. 600 is a good bike.. not had a 650.. but those I have seen /ridden with look comparable to the 600..

600 is easy to maintain.. but as they are now aging you will need to have a few skills or your saving on getting an old work horse will go on vet bills

They are bullet proof.. but take care sellecting the right one as they are very usable so get used

in my wee hands the 600 will do everything an AT could do

its cheaper and more reliable ( no fuel pump )

down side.. tank range.. ( sorted with a 5 lt can )


front brake ( braided hose has improved this )

thats it really..

so guess its down to what you see first... a good 650 or a good 600

But the 1994 600 is the real nice one

[will]

Thanks guys had cast off leg today so walking on my own its been bloody long 6 months got 12 weeks of physio now but nearly there ,right it looks like either then , i will just go for best condition see what i can find , was offered bmw r1100gs today not sure about that will have think

[raymo]

Thanks guys had cast off leg today so walking on my own its been bloody long 6 months got 12 weeks of physio now but nearly there ,right it looks like either then , i will just go for best condition see what i can find , was offered bmw r1100gs today not sure about that will have think

1100gs goos solid lump Ta is no light weight but you will need two good legs with the bemma whale

[pdsquire]

Well now.

I had an early 600 which were known for having a soft output shaft so that the front sprocket would strip the splines and have to be welded on. That was sorted from about 1990.

Apart from that, it was absolutely unbustable. It would just get to 100 (a teeny bit faster than the 650) and it picks up immediately whereas the 650 has more restricted breathing and hesitates for an instant when you crack the throttle open at mid revs.

The 600 had no HISS so theoretically there was nothing to go wrong (not that I have ever heard of a HISS going wrong - it's just the staggering expense if you lose the last key) the 600 is slightly easier to work on but the OEM reg-recs on Hondas in the late 80s weren't great. Do check wheels: I'm not sure the old and new are any different, but the 600s are older so more likely to have been deteriorated. They are expensive to replace.

The bikes are about the same weight and both are superbly manouevrable on the road. Off road I found the 600 a little easier to handle and it felt a little better put together. I'd certainly be less worried about dropping the 600 than the 650 (though bars are ESSENTIAL) Neither is an XR but they do more than they should: the difference between the two is less than arises from tyres, luggage, centre-stand etc.

This is to say the very worst about the bikes that I can. Can I suggest you look at this: I love my Alp That BMW you are thinking about is a good bike. An Alp is a lovely bike. If you get the chance of a test ride, ride it harder than you think it'll take and it'll just smile back at you. No-one can explain what it is about an Alp, but even if you move on later you'll be happy to have owned one.

As has been written above, go for a late 600 or if you can't find one, a cheap early 650. If you want to go off road avoid a centre stand. You MUST have engine bars as the plastics are brittle and sometimes expensive.

Finally, you don't need to justify ANY Alp as they will all be utterly reliable and spectacularly usable. About the most helpful comment I can offer is that the 600 has a bigger character than the 650, but the 650 still warms your heart much more than anything else I've ridden.

Good luck!

[will]

Thanks again there is nice late 600 with twin disc's on ebay but its in edinburgh i'm cheltenham so probably best part of 800 mile trip only had cast off leg on tuesday don't think i'm up to that sort of trip yet , otherwise i think that would be the one have been looking at your post "i love my alp " good stuff

[StumpyFingers]

Thanks again there is nice late 600 with twin disc's on ebay but its in edinburgh i'm cheltenham so probably best part of 800 mile trip only had cast off leg on tuesday don't think i'm up to that sort of trip yet , otherwise i think that would be the one have been looking at your post "i love my alp " good stuff

That is only in your mind.
The bike will handle that journey with ease.
You need a nice long trip like that to get your confidence back, the Transalp will do that for you.

[jarl]

But 800 miles is a long way to go to find out that it's a dog....

[will]

But 800 miles is a long way to go to find out that it's a dog....

Exactly and he was selling for friend could be genuine but bit to far away for me having job to walk let alone ride 400 miles