{"id":22939,"date":"2012-12-01T11:07:53","date_gmt":"2012-12-01T16:07:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/motorcyclemojo.com\/?p=22939"},"modified":"2020-04-07T11:22:51","modified_gmt":"2020-04-07T15:22:51","slug":"sertao","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/motorcyclemojo.com\/2012\/12\/sertao\/","title":{"rendered":"The Next World Traveller?"},"content":{"rendered":"
BMW G650GS Sert\u00e3o<\/h3>\n
I was very excited when Editor Roberts asked me to test the new BMW G650GS Sert\u00e3o. First, I really wanted to ride the newer version of BMW\u2019s dual-sport single. It used to be available as the 652 cc, single-cylinder F650GS, but was then discontinued and replaced with the 798 cc, twin-cylinder F650GS for a couple of years before coming back as the G650GS single again (confused yet?). And secondly, I had hoped that the test was going to take place at some exotic off-road location like Morocco, the mountains of Spain or in the Sert\u00e3o region of Brazil, where its name came from. No such luck; I didn\u2019t need my passport to test the bike at our off-road school.<\/p>\n
My first impression of the Sert\u00e3o was that I loved it. It has neat graphics with its white, black and blue palette.[GR1] If you have ridden a BMW F650GS Dakar you will find the Sert\u00e3o has a very familiar look and feel; it is, after all, essentially the same machine. As soon as I swung a leg over it I noticed the taller seat height compared to the standard G650GS we have at the off-road school. The 21-inch front wheel, 17-inch rear wheel, taller suspension and 860 mm (33.9 in.) seat height meant I couldn\u2019t touch ground flat-footed despite my 34-inch inseam. If you\u2019re taller and still want more seat height, you can order a taller seat that\u2019ll raise your butt to 900 mm (35.4 in.) at no extra cost. The contoured seat is very comfortable, with room to move around. Even more important for off-road riding was the comfortable standing position, though I raised the bars by moving them forward to a spot where I found it better suited me whether I was seated or standing.<\/p>\n