Where the standard G 650 GS is a soft-roader with some off-road aspirations, the Sertao makes no excuses for its existence. Replacing the well-loved Dakar, it has a big responsibility to sell up a storm and introduce new riders to the BMW brand. We live with it for a week to see if it can transform a simple ride into a holiday…
Styling
Styling-wise the bike is very similar to the standard G 650 GS but with wire wheels, a 21 inch front rim and a higher stance it is decidedly more off-road orientated. Factor in the subtle black trimmings on fenders and it’s fair to say that the small GS is a good-looking machine.
Powertrain
The Sertao makes use of the well-known, single-cylinder Rotax unit which delivers 55 kW of power and 60 N.m of torque through a 5-speed gearbox. It’s certainly not a powerhouse but reliability has been proven to the point of earning it the “bullet proof” label.
Riding
Climbing aboard can be a bit tricky if you are vertically challenged due to the lofty seating position. Once aboard, the familiar clean binnacle layout, dominated by a large LCD screen, looks clean and modern. Starting up the engine is easily done via the electric start button and the single cylinder settles into a rhythmic idle.
The engine does transmit quite a lot of vibration to the rest of the bike and some riders might find it bit annoying, but many will see this trait as a distinctive characteristic of the bike. During the daily commute the bike felt light and nimble –as the GS 650 did. Care needs to be taken when cornering as the knobblies would not offer as much lateral grip as the road-biased tyres fitted to its aforementioned stable mate.
Motorways are not the Sertao’s favourite environment as the engine feels a bit stressed at the national limit (and above) and the less-than-aerodynamic shape can lead to slight instabilities at speed. Slow down a bit and all is fine again. If you want to cover continents at speed, rather save up for the GS 1200…
On one particular run I spotted a turn-off between Stellenbosch and Franschoek and decided to investigate. The tar road snaked through the mountainous area and eventually gave way to a heavily rutted dirt road, but the Sertao remained composed and took the change of conditions in its stride. Everything started to make sense as the bike was running effortlessly at 40-80 km/h over various dirt surfaces; the suspension soaking up everything thrown at it and the rider enjoying the scenic beauty. Work stress and the like begin to fade away and the holiday feeling sets in…
Summary
BMW played it safe in the segment where it looks to attract new customers and sell in volume. Why change a winning formula? If you ride within the bike’s on-road limitations then it may just be your perfect travel companion.
Specification
Engine: 652 cm3, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, four-valves, DOHC
Power: 35 kW at 6 500 r/min
Torque: 60 Nm at 5 000 r/min
Transmission: five-speed
Top speed: ± 170 km/h
Suspension front: 41 mm telescopic fork, fork stabiliser
Suspension rear: Box-section steel dual swing arm, central spring strut operated by lever system, spring pre-load hydraulically adjustable
Fuel capacity: 14 litres
Fuel consumption: 3,2 – 4,3 l/100 km
Dry weight: 193 kg
Price: R80 950
Special thanks to BMW Motorrad Cape Town for the use of this test bike.
