Four stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
Capacity
652 cc / 39.8 cub. in.
Bore x Stroke
100 x 83mm
Compression Ratio
11.5:1
Lubrication
Dry sump
Cooling System
Liquid cooled
Induction
Fuel induction
Ignition
Capacitor Discharge Ignition system
Alternator
Three-phase alternator 400W
Battery
12V / 12Ah
Starting
Electric
Max Power
37.3 kW / 50 hp @ 6800 rpm
Max Torque
60 Nm / 6.12 kgf-m / 44.25 lb-ft.
@ 5200 rpm
Clutch
Multiple-disc clutch in oil bath, mechanically operated
Transmission
5 Speed
Final Drive
Chain
Frame
Bridge-type steel section frame with bolted-on rear
section
Front Suspension
41mm Telescopic fork with stabilizer
bridge
Front Wheel Travel
210 mm / 8.3 in.
Rear Suspension
Spring setting and rebound stage
damping continuously adjustable
Rear Wheel Travel
210 mm / 8.3 in.
Front Brakes
Single ∅300mm disc, 2 piston
caliper
Rear Brakes
Single ∅240mm disc, 1 piston caliper
Wheels
Wire spoke wheels
Rims, front
1.60 x 21
Rims, rear
3.00 x 17
Front Tyre
90/90 S21
Rear Tyre
130/80-17
Castor
123 mm / 4.8 in.
Steering Head Angle
60.8°
Dimensions
Length: 2189 mm / 86.2 in.
Width:
(incl. mirrors) 910 mm / 35.8 in.
Wheelbase
1479 mm / 58.2 in.
Seat Height
870 mm / 34.3 in
Dry Weight
176 kg / 388 lbs.
Wet Weight
191 kg / 421.1 lbs.
Fuel Capacity
17.3 Litres / 4.6 US gal.
Reserve
Approx. 4.5 Litres / 1.2 US gal.
Consumption Average
4.7 l/100 km / 60.5 mph
Tank Range
370.2 kms / 230 miles
Standing
¼ Mile
14.4 sec
Top Speed
172 km/h / 106.9 US mpg
.
OK so it is really a dirt bike. It is very tall,
has miles of suspension and runs on chunky nobblies. The very name "Dakar"
conjures up images of huge central European motocrossers storming across miles
of unforgiving desert tracks. You might be forgiven for thinking it would
therefore be a pretty compromised road bike. You'd be wrong. Very wrong.
The BMW F650 Dakar is one of the most versatile and competent road bikes it has
been my pleasure to take anywhere. It makes a fantastic town bike as you would
expect, our limited off road test (we like to give our test bikes back in one
piece!) confirmed its usability off road but incredibly, it would chug along
quite nicely for mile after mile of motorway too. All this and BMW reliability,
BMW engineering and of course, the BMW badge.
I must admit, I was pretty apprehensive before picking up this bike. Drop off a
full house BMW touring bike and bring back the Dakar down the same 200 odd miles
of the M1. Oh dear. What chance would this offroader stand with my first
impressions blighted so severely, or so I thought.
The first thing you notice as you swing your leg over 34" of seat is the five
inches of free space this leaves between your feet and the ground, that is of
course if you only have 29" of leg to swing. This fairly fundamental mismatch is
far less of a problem than less vertically challenged bikers might think. Most
tall bikes are crossers or supermoto and therefore pretty lightweight, a slight
angle and there's not so much tippy toeing. I have never been one to paddle a
bike around anyway and once you get your feet up this bike balances beautifully.
This particular bike was fitted with a Laser end can and started
up with a startling bark. Nice. Almost un-BMW-like but perfectly appropriate for
such an aggressively styled machine. The throttle doubles as a volume control
(!) and you can pretty much choose how much noise you make by being more or less
violent with it.
Immediately on pulling away you are struck by how balanced the bike is and how
much control this gives you. Good job too because the first thing I did on this
bike before joining the motorway was to test the handling on a lovely long
lefthander. Oops. The corner appears to tighten up as I drift wide with that
sinking feeling. But there's no fuss, no drama and the balance helps what might
have been a long graceful oversteer into the bushes is a gentle reminder that
only half of the rubber on this tyre is actually reaching the road. The chunky
enduro nobblies seem to walk across the tarmac but they don't really let go and
you soon get used to the slightly wider line.
And so onto the motorway. I do like big singles and I am a
confirmed short shifter by nature but in the interests of science, thrash this
bike up through the box. The exhaust note changes from a deep visceral bark to a
machine gun staccato and the engine spins up without complaint or, thankfully
any nasty vibration. No great surprises from the Rotax waterboiler in the power
department and no great alacrity in the resulting velocity curve but a very
pleasant surprise with the respectable pace at which this machine will
comfortably cruise.
Having been worried I
would be spoiled by the immediate experience of the BMW1150RS I had just dropped
off, I find I am actually much happier cruising on this machine at the same, if
not slightly higher speed. Bizarre. More to do with the speeds you can get away
with in the UK than any criticism of the bigger Boxer engined machine. A "barely
legal" (that will keep our search engine busy!) cruising speed on the Dakar is
more comfortable (and more fun) than it's bigger brother. The tall fly screen
works particularly well at keeping the windblast at bay while the engine just
feels indestructible without any intrusive vibration. A slight weave sets in at
90 plus, as you would expect given the aerodynamics of such a bike but things
never get out of hand. Two hundred miles later and I could turn around and do it
again. No numb bum, no vibration whitefinger and no complaints.
It is only when I start wheeling the bike into the garage I begin to notice the
size and weight of this machine. For a single cylinder four stroke, albseit
watercooled and all that, it is a heavy bike tipping the scales at 192kgs. The
figures don't lie but it is just a number and in motion the bike carries this
weight well. Fuel is carried low under the seat and the designers must have got
something right with the geometry because, well, it just doesn't feel heavy at
all.
Looking around the bike, you are
struck by the attention to detail and the build quality of the cycle parts. You
have to look pretty close though, in the same way that "money talks, wealth
whispers", the BMW doesn't shout at you with garish acronyms and loud logos. It
is the simplicity and elegance of construction that almost hides itself but
let's not forget, this bike is designed for reliability and durability. The
simpler the better. Controls, often a moot point with BMW bikes generally are
pretty good on this example. You get heated grips as standard and if you've
never experienced this on a bike, you are missing out big time. The warmth is
welcome on all but the sunniest of days, especially in the UK and creates a
whole new relationship with the bike. We digress.
Rear suspension is adjustable for preload from a chunky dial on the right hand
side of the bike and also for damping on the shock body. Cranking up preload
makes wheelies a doddle but the softer setting makes for a much more comfortable
ride. And the ride is comfortable. One of the advantages of a higher sprung
weight is the ability to soak up bumps without upsetting the rider. No bumpy,
flighty supermoto tendencies here, my only criticism of the comfort was that I
couldn't share it with a passenger. Our bike came with a single seat and hard
plastic compartment cover although the rear footrests were still fitted. I can't
really see the point of the single seat option and I would have to worry about
landing on the solid cover in the event of a forced landing. Right on the
coccyx.
The Dakar makes an excellent town bike, especially given the bumpy roads around
London.
Dirt bikes are the two
wheeled equivalent of the ubiquitous SUV (Sport Utility Vehicles aka shopping
trucks) and you get the same high and mighty feeling when riding such a tough
looking machine as this. The Dakar is in it's element dicing around town,
strafing errant motorists with a loud crack from the exhaust. This bike
encourages hooligan behaviour which contrasts wickedly with the erstwhile
sensibility of the BMW moniker. I find myself jumping speed bumps and
deliberately aiming at potholes, just because I can. The Dakar will soak up just
about anything you can throw at it.
Given BMW's excellent record in winning the gruelling and highly competitive
Paris-Dakar on bikes like this, it is almost heresy to suggest that the F650
Dakar is the perfect commuter. But it is, so shoot me. There is also a whole
host of optional accessory luggage and given the way this bike shrugs off its
weight, I would expect a fully loaded bike to behave with the same delicate
balance and sure footed agility.
The Dakar differs from it's closest
relative, the unfortunately titled "Funduro" not only with it's striking "Desert
Blue" paint job but an extra couple of inches of suspension travel at either end
and larger diameter 21" front wheel. ABS is not an option on the Dakar (unlike
the Funduro) but then I am personally not a fan of ABS on bikes, especially on
bumpy town roads or in heavy traffic, so no complaints here. For those of you
who haven't experienced ABS it feels like the bike shoots forwards just when you
really want it to stop. Heart stopping when it kicks in. The science is sound and
there are figures to prove ABS will stop you quicker but I'd rather feel the
tyre begin to slip rather than the brakes begin to go away...
So who should consider a bike like this? Well frankly, who shouldn't? The Dakar
does pretty much everything; on-road, off-road and everything in between. I must
admit I really missed the Dakar when I had to hand it back to BMW. More so than
any other bike I have been fortunate enough to test. It was just so easy to live
with. Reliable, comfortable, practical and the ideal vehicle for weekend outdoor
adventure and day to day traffic dodging.
Sure there are better enduro bikes but they are usually compromised for serious
road use. What about the current surge in Super Moto machinery? Well the best of
those are really competition bikes, hilarious for short trips but tiring on
longer journeys. You'd need a road bike too or a good proctologist. The closest
all rounder in this category has to be the Funduro of course but "Funduro"? Oh
dear. Great bike I'll bet but wouldn't you rather have a Dakar in your stable? I
would. In fact one of these days I rather hope I will.