XTreme Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 The day arrived to take the Strom to Granada (160kms/100 miles) for part exchange.......left at 10AM and it was a bit bloody nippy. Even had to wear a jumper! It was basically all motorway then getting round a city centre with a lot of traffic and a lot of people. Lot of Covid too! Not my ideal environment but it had to be done! Got there 11.45.......left at 12.30.....home by 2.30. So what's the G650GS like compared to the Strom because they're always classed in the same group for magazine reviews? The reality is they're poles apart. Apples and oranges! The Strom is a road bike with a very limited degree of offroad ability, while the GS is a Dualsport/Enduro......simple as that. Sure it's not a hardcore offroad machine because compromises have been made in order to make it useable on the road. And it certainly is......it really surprised me how competent it was. It's physically a lot smaller and about 70lbs lighter than the Strom, with a much lower centre of gravity due to the underseat tank. And you can feel the difference straight away. You can literally turn it on the spot it's just so easy to ride. I pulled away and it was like being back on XT's......but much, much more refined. Usual Beemer crunch going into first and second, but after that it was very slick. It really amazed me on the motorway.......because I thought it would be a bit of a slog. But it's not. I stuck it at 120kph and it was quite happy with it......took it up to 140kph......and it was quite happy with that as well. As usual with BMW the handling, brakes, and suspension were excellent. It was actually a much more comfortable ride home on it, than the earlier journey up on the Strom. Put it like this......I couldn't wait for the journey up there on the Strom to end! Coming back on the Beemer I didn't want the journey to end because I was enjoying it so much. And I got off much fresher than I expected. In fact I was ready for more! Obviously motorways are not really the perfect environment for it......but it handled it superbly! And returned over 70mpg! Seriously, if it's this good on the main roads, I'm interested to see how good it's going to be on the back roads and trails which is more it's natural environment. To sum up.....I absolutely love it! It feels to me so much like the XT's......but considerably more refined. It's still early days with it......but all I can say at the moment is this thing could well be the perfect fit for me! Here's a vid and some pics......including inside the dealer! And yes.....I know I'm going the wrong way up a one way street......and on the pavement. But I'm from Swansea......and I'm a Pensioner! So it's too late in the day now for rational thinking! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 Nice one, Pete, glad you like the new bike! Bet you're looking forward for some smaller roads now. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTreme Posted October 5, 2020 Author Share Posted October 5, 2020 Just now, Pedro said: Nice one, Pete, glad you like the new bike! Bet you're looking forward for some smaller roads now. Absolutely Pedro! Got to give it a really good clean up this week.......try and get all the metal shining again. Lazy Dago obviously never kept on top of that element......cos polishing is too much like hard work for them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tym Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 Cant wait to see what before/after Pete pics look like, still sad to see the v/twin go. Tammy had words of praise for that motor. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTreme Posted October 5, 2020 Author Share Posted October 5, 2020 2 minutes ago, Tym said: Cant wait to see what before/after Pete pics look like, still sad to see the v/twin go. Tammy had words of praise for that motor. Stroms have brilliant engines........the 650 V-Twin is one of the best motors ever made. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboneleg Posted October 5, 2020 Share Posted October 5, 2020 Has it got the engine with the twin plug head Pete ? My Dakar had that engine, I rode it to the Pyrenees then did a two-day rally there and rode it back home. Even with two days of trail-riding it did 71mpg. I'm surprised that your bike hasn't got wire spoked wheels. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTreme Posted October 5, 2020 Author Share Posted October 5, 2020 19 minutes ago, boboneleg said: Has it got the engine with the twin plug head Pete ? My Dakar had that engine, I rode it to the Pyrenees then did a two-day rally there and rode it back home. Even with two days of trail-riding it did 71mpg. I'm surprised that your bike hasn't got wire spoked wheels. Yes......twin plugs Bob! All the later models of these that I've seen have mag wheels......apart from the Sertao. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Specs Posted October 7, 2020 Share Posted October 7, 2020 Nice bike and great video. Hope it gives you hours of pleasure not only riding but polishing as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTreme Posted October 7, 2020 Author Share Posted October 7, 2020 9 hours ago, Specs said: Nice bike and great video. Hope it gives you hours of pleasure not only riding but polishing as well. Aching like fuck after yesterday Alan. Still a lot more polishing of the pipes to do.......but it'll take time. Polish.....ride a week or two so they get hot......then repolish! I'm going to need more Solvol by the look of it. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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