[AncientIslander]

Rode all manner of 2-wheeed motorized vehicles since age 11. Was a motorcycle courier in downtown Washington, DC from 1969-through 1985, full and part-time. Opened The Right Track Motorcycle Driver Training School in Silver Spring, MD in summer of '73. Consulted with MSF on development of original curriculum. Have owned four BMW's, countless Japanese bikes of all brands and have recently stopped riding off-road. The Duke is as much as 80-90 lbs lighter than my BMW F 650 GS, has an aftermarket exhaust, and has the same or better p/w ratio, so I'm very satisfied with power, braking and handling.

 

[Binettasteve]

Welcome , I too have a f700gs ( same as F650gs) the weight difference and manoeuvrability around tight spaces is striking. Probably only trading away 20 bhp but dropping 90lbs = happiness

 

[AncientIslander]

Not sure how much weight it lost, but the stock exhaust canister and 'cat' the previous owner gave me together must weigh at least ten lbs. Am also fairly sure the BMW only has 50 bhp, while the KTM has something close to 40 from everything I've read so far. In any case, the little rascal really scats.

 

[Binettasteve]

Not sure how much weight it lost, but the stock exhaust canister and 'cat' the previous owner gave me together must weigh at least ten lbs. Am also fairly sure the BMW only has 50 bhp, while the KTM has something close to 40 from everything I've read so far. In any case, the little rascal really scats.

If you had the F650 single then yes its 50 bhp, I thought you had the F650GS which is a twin ( Rotax manufactured) 65 hp. My F700 is 70 bhp.

 

[AncientIslander]

If you had the F650 single then yes its 50 bhp, I thought you had the F650GS which is a twin ( Rotax manufactured) 65 hp. My F700 is 70 bhp.

Yes, my F 650 GS is actually a 650 Rotax single twinspark. Go figure. Gotta wonder about BMW marketing that twin with the identical name🙃