TR650 Test Ride...

[Coffee]

The ones here are fine, but they are a couple of sentences. If you Google for reviews only Cycle World has a review where they actually spent time with it. All the others I found were pretty much press releases saying what is coming out. I was hoping for more depth and reviews from people who don't normally ride a dual sport. We all know and accept the tradeoffs of having one of these machines. I like hearing about complaints from people who don't have any idea what they might be giving up.

So...

• More comprehensive / in depth information
• From people that know the motorcycles market - across all (or at least most) brands/types, and preferably
• Someone who is unbiased - especially regarding brands.

Sounds like those types of things are indeed missing from discussion sites typical input. As strange as it may sound, your feedback helped me tremendously.

 

[Motosportz]

I saw it at SixDays in Germany on friday and I have to say it is the ugliest motorcycle I have ever seen. I'm glad it rides better than it looks...

Well duh, it's a BMW, what did you expect, something attractive?

I think it is very good looking much like my TE511. Different strokes for different folks i guess...

I like it WAY better than this...

And like it a lot more than it's brother as well...

 

[Motosportz]

I like it...

I will not be doing this to mine :>)

Clean looking setup...

Will be building fat bar mounts ASAP...

Looks like a saw and welder will be required to deCAT. Or better yet replace the whole mess, add 8 hp and loose 20 pounds. Dual exhaust for sale.

 

[mattomoto]

I like it... Looks like a saw and welder will be required to deCAT. Or better yet replace the whole mess, add 8 hp and loose 20 pounds. Dual exhaust for sale.

Ha ha, all good points as many of us have done with our F bikes... A little snip here a little cutting there. Oh and some suspension work... I want one of these too!!! Will be replacing my aging Dakar.

Matto

 

[mxbundy]

Kelly, did you get it yet? Need a seat tester ASAP****************************************!

 

[RDTCU]

Ha ha, all good points as many of us have done with our F bikes... A little snip here a little cutting there. Oh and some suspension work... I want one of these too!!! Will be replacing my aging Dakar.

I like it...

I will not be doing this to mine :>)

Clean looking setup...

Will be building fat bar mounts ASAP...

Looks like a saw and welder will be required to deCAT. Or better yet replace the whole mess, add 8 hp and loose 20 pounds. Dual exhaust for sale.

Matto

Well the fat bar mounts could be milled from the existing mounts, just clamp them up with a shim between them and run a properly sized end mill through them.

I've got TIG access, I wonder how difficult those cans are to gut compared to the 630's I've done? More welding and less riveting, obviously.

I'm still not a fan of the increased weight, and I just hate that they went to a 19" front for the Strada...

And good lord, I can't stand the triple-tier tail, I would be hacking it off and stuffing some low-profile indicators under the rear rack...

 

[Muddy Waters]

Everything Mr. Motosportz just said in the two last posts =

 

[mattomoto]

Something else I have noticed being an F guy, this bike has the same wheels and brake rotors. Nothing wrong with mostly (bearings are pretty robust), but maybe there is lighter options. I doubt there are Excel rims on the Husky- look the same as the F's which are SOFT. Fine for most riding, but if it is going to get into rocks and such, some better rims maybe in order. Rotors are very heavy all steel construction and hopefully there are ss brake lines on the Husky. BM's are not that great. Just observations I have made having owned one of the F's for 8 years and 50K miles.

 

[Travis Shrey]

I want to know how they managed to gain 80 lbs. Is the GS motor that much heavier? I'm guessing a beefier subframe and you get the built in rear rack, but 80 freaking pounds? I still might pull the trigger if the engine is smoother and it really gets 60 mpg doing 75 mph as they stated. That would give me almost twice the range I get from my 630.

 

[Travis Shrey]

The more I look at it the more I can answer my own question. The rear swingarm is so thin it must be steel instead of aluminum. The rotors look heavy (the rear especially looks stupid, like something off a first generation Ninja) and the hubs/rims don't look like the quality of the ones the TE's came with.

 

[johngil]

Looks like a true Italian KLR to me. I'm sure that's what the suits were aiming for. Hard to dispute the following of the Japanese "dual sports" like the KLR, DR and XRL's. These bikes hold their own in the market. Maybe not the Honda compared to the other two, but...
I don't care for Japanese bikes, and the Husky (if I were in the market) would be a great choice.

That said, I'm sure glad I snagged my 630 when I did. While not perfect, it's a better choice for my riding needs than the new 650. I do look forward to seeng the new 650's in person. Maybe I'll even get a test ride if there any demos at Tri-County.

 

[Motosportz]

Kelly, did you get it yet? Need a seat tester ASAP!

Picking it up today, send seat NOW. All my bike have your seats, LOVE it.

 

[Motosportz]

Well the fat bar mounts could be milled from the existing mounts, just clamp them up with a shim between them and run a properly sized end mill through them.

I have looked at this on other bikes and often times there is not enough room between the mounting bolts to bore it far enough, we will see.

 

[Motosportz]

Something else I have noticed being an F guy, this bike has the same wheels and brake rotors. Nothing wrong with mostly (bearings are pretty robust), but maybe there is lighter options. I doubt there are Excel rims on the Husky- look the same as the F's which are SOFT. Fine for most riding, but if it is going to get into rocks and such, some better rims maybe in order. Rotors are very heavy all steel construction and hopefully there are ss brake lines on the Husky. BM's are not that great. Just observations I have made having owned one of the F's for 8 years and 50K miles.

Are the BMW's brembos? Was glad to see that and not some no name stuff.

 

[Motosportz]

The more I look at it the more I can answer my own question. The rear swingarm is so thin it must be steel instead of aluminum. The rotors look heavy (the rear especially looks stupid, like something off a first generation Ninja) and the hubs/rims don't look like the quality of the ones the TE's came with.

Exactly. Built for longevity and cost. Thats what you get.

Same thing with the 320 plus pound CRF250L honda, steel stuff...

 

[RDTCU]

I have looked at this on other bikes and often times there is not enough room between the mounting bolts to bore it far enough, we will see.

Looking at the picture of the bar clamps up the page, you may be good to go...

 

[Motosportz]

Looks like a true Italian KLR to me. I'm sure that's what the suits were aiming for. Hard to dispute the following of the Japanese "dual sports" like the KLR, DR and XRL's. These bikes hold their own in the market. Maybe not the Honda compared to the other two, but...
I don't care for Japanese bikes, and the Husky (if I were in the market) would be a great choice.

That said, I'm sure glad I snagged my 630 when I did. While not perfect, it's a better choice for my riding needs than the new 650. I do look forward to seeng the new 650's in person. Maybe I'll even get a test ride if there any demos at Tri-County.

IMHO they should keep the 630 in the lineup as these are not apples and apples to me. The 570/610/630 is a good all around DS bike where this is a light weight adventure bike. Street and gravel roads and some EZ trail. If you do a good bit of trail the 630 is going to be the bike you need, if not the TR650 is the mount to have. I am buying it to replace my street bike and have an adventure bike. I have seen guys take F650's to some silly places, it can be done but not the ideal mount. Then again i have seen guys off road race KTM 950/990's ****************************************!

did a ride a long while back with some dude from ADV, guy in the F650 was trail riding and jumping that beast. We traded off some. His was a far better road and gravel bike and my 610 was better off road.

 

[mattomoto]

Are the BMW's brembos? Was glad to see that and not some no name stuff.

yes, Brembos. Work very well with the addition of SS lines. I will say I have never warped one of those rotors and they have lasted forever.

 

[krieg]

I love the looks of it. For the price, it's a steal. Must resist urge. Must resist... Must.....

 

[Clete]

I love the looks of it. For the price, it's a steal. Must resist urge. Must resist... Must.....

I agree. Never have seen pics of the tail section, I like the look, especially the dual cans (although not practical)

The triple tree/bar area doesn't look all that great. There needs to be an anodized set of bar mounts to go with anodized bars