BMW F650 GS vs. Kawasaki Versys

If I say BMW, what do you think of? Most think of rock solid machines at a premium price. The mention of Kawasaki conjures up images of high performance motorcycles dating back to the Kawasaki Z1 in 1972. But BMW makes affordable bikes, and Kawasaki makes practical bikes. The Beemer 650 and the Kawasaki Versys are where fun, reliability and affordability come together in one package.

At a price tag of about $7K, the Versys is certainly affordable. It's hard to get your hands on one of these machines. Dealers sell them as soon as they can get them. This 2008 motorcycle of the year is perfect for zipping around town, daytrips to the next county, and riding back roads with fishing tackle strapped on the way to catch your dinner. It is comfortable on the highway, back roads, dirt roads. The smooth tread OEM tires don't really inspire off-road riding, but graded non-pavement roads are a snap. The Kawasaki isn't really billed as an off-road bike. It is better suited to urban riding, IMHO.



With a base price of about $9K, the BMW F 650 GS is the premium priced choice of these two. BWM offers lots of options that I am not sure you can get easily for the Kawasaki, such as lowered suspension, heated grips, abs, on board computer, anti-theft alarm and others. With these options, the price can rise to over $11K. The OEM tires on the BMW are better suited for off road riding. If you plan to do a lot of riding off pavement, the BMW is probably the better choice.

Nomad by the Ocean

Nomad by the Ocean, originally uploaded by bikerphoto.

I rode the Nomad from Baltimore to Daytona Beach for Bike Week. 2096.1 miles in all. During this trip I took lots of pictures that will be the first content posted on bikerphoto.net. The site will be a resource where people who love to attend major motorcycle rallies can pla their travel, reserve hotel rooms, and find links to riding gear and accessories for their bikes.

I will be attending Myrtle Beach Bike Week and also Ocean City Maryland Bike Week later this year. Bikerphoto.net will have many high quality photos, both posed and candid of people at these events. The target for getting the site online with the pictures from Daytona is March 15.

I will continue to post to this blog all along the journey, telling readers what I am learning about web design, my successes and my failures, as I build bikerphoto.net.

First Railway in the US

Nomad with the Train, originally uploaded by bikerphoto.

This picture is by the first railway that was built in the US. The train is crossing a pre-civil war era bridge made of stone over the Patapsco River near Baltimore. I haven't researched it myself, but I have been told that this railway between Baltimore and Washington was built by B&O railroad. This railway was used to transport Union troops during the civil war. Today it is a main line for CSX, with dozens of trains passing by each day.

Now about the picture. It was taken with an old Minolta 35mm film camera that belonged to my father-in-law. In 1987, this was one of the most advanced 35mm cameras that brough the ability to do photography to everyday people. However, I am not satisfied with the color. The rear portion of the motorcycle is too light red, and the red on the gas tank is too dark, looking almost crimson. I'm not sure if the fault is with the camera, the film, or the photographer (me). If any photographers with more experience that I know what the problem might be, please leave me a comment.

High on a Mountain Top

High on a Mountain Top, originally uploaded by bikerphoto.

Going back in time to 2006, this is a picture from an 8-day trip. We touched Maryland, WV, VA, NC, and TN.. It was a 2000 mile trip with lots of varied riding on freeways, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and in the urban area of Charlotte. The best part was the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you have never ridden it, you should.

Eight days, and only one day of rain -- the last day on the final ride getting home. It POURED all day. Luckily I had dropped my wife in WV, and she was driving her car. I rode that last 300 miles in heavy rain.

On the day I took this photo, it was about 65 degrees at this elevation. Later that day, we ended up in Charlotte, NC where it was 95. When on the Blue Ridge Parkway it seems that the world is not overcrowded. There is never much traffic up there. I think the BRP is a well kept secret. Shhh....let's not tell anyone, so we can have it all to ourselves.

Mike on Kawasaki Nomad 1500

Mike on Kawasaki Nomad 1500, originally uploaded by bikerphoto.

This is me. It was a cold October day in the Blue Ridge Parkway.

If you would like to join me and make money while you ride your motorcycle, I can show you how it is done. email bikerphoto