F650GS Twin - tell me

[Magnet]

You're a tart JB ....

Strange, that's exactly what I said...

 

[skywalker]

Don't bother JB. What you need is that new G650GS Single - the chinese one.
Believe or not I actually like riding it. Its heaps better than the old ones.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Don't bother JB. What you need is that new F650GS Single - the chinese one.
Believe or not I actually like riding it. Its heaps better than the old ones.

So what;s different (apart from 2bhp) - I'd sooner stick to the XChallenge

 

[skywalker]

Carburates better. If they did it with spoke wheels it would look pukka, Any way I'm on the look out for an XR400 at sensible money around 2005 year. Me old mukka Agent Smith at Motorrad East has got one all tricked up and it looks fab.

 

[Micky]

Strange, that's exactly what I said...

So what;s different (apart from 2bhp) - I'd sooner stick to the XChallenge

Different clothes, looks more like its bigger brothers, less horse power as you say but a far sweeter engine, smaller tank but still the same tank range, crap ally wheels ... yeah, you're better off with the XChallenge, or maybe a XCountry

.... Any way I'm on the look out for an XR400 at sensible money around 2005 year. Me old mukka Agent Smith at Motorrad East has got one all tricked up and it looks fab.

So you're on the look out for a 'bike are ya

Sausage rolls in the morning ....

 

[babybluehornet]

I love my GS but..............................

Before you read this, please note, I love my bike........

I will be as brief and as to the point as possible. BMW UK Motorcycle customer
service is lousy. In fact, as far as I am concerned the words BMW, customer and service do not even belong in the same sentence or on the same page.
It all began with a premature failure of the rear wheel bearing on the way to
Portsmouth this August. The bike has only done 16500 and according to the BMW bike gurus the wheel bearings do not even figure in the 18000 mile, pre holiday service at BMW Benham (Wolverhampton), that I had done before I went to France in August. So they were not checked.

Thirteen miles outside of Portsmouth the rear wheel bearing fails and it is only
a matter of the greatest fortune that I was on a B road and not a motorway doing 70 miles an hour. I might not be here to tell the tale.

The bearing was fixed, but not at BMW, since none could be found in the
proximity of Portsmouth. I went on holiday and had a thoroughly jolly time, with a view to contacting BMW UK about this issue on our return.

This is really where my story really begins. What do we expect from a Customer Services system?

We set out our plan for what we would like the company to do to assist,
especially in such a case where the premature failure of such a vital component on a motorbike takes place. In this case all I wanted was for BMW to have the bike checked over and to replace the old clip and spacer that unfortunately could not be matched when the bearing was fitted. I did not ask £1000 in used notes and make a promise to keep quiet about this horrific failure of the machine.

The outcome......................

Nothing but insults and accusations: I was accused of taking the bike off road
and getting grit in the bearing, which would be enough to cause its
degeneration. The bike is an F650 GS. It is used for road purposes; it does not have off road tyres. I am no Hercules. I am 5ft 2 inches, and strong as I might be, I am not able to pick the bike up from the floor on my own. Off
Road.......they must be mad. You ask my husband; I ride like a girl; squared off tyres to match.

I was accused of abusing the bike; riding it beyond it's capabilities. I cannot afford to abuse a bike. I work too hard to keep it on the road.

I do have an off road bike, but it weighs less than 100 kilos and I can pick it
up. It also has off road tyres.

I was also accused of abusing the bike and not keeping up the maintenance. The temerity of it. I can honestly say that I was shocked beyond belief. How insulting and rude......................

Where does this leave a 5 ft 2 inch lady rider, who has a limited range of bikes
to choose from when it comes to the time that I should change my bike? Who
knows.

Until that moment, my vow is this. The bike will only see the BMW service
persons if absolutely necessary. From now on, my poor husband will have to
maintain this bike, as I have completely lost my faith in BMW servicing. How good I ask, is a warranty, a promise of customer care that fails to respect the
customer? BMW customer care – it does not exist. It is a complete fallacy.
Yours faithfully

Jacquiey Atkinson (just in case any of you BMW bods get to read this and think
that I might be too cowardly to sign my name.)

 

[Tim Cullis]

Sorry to hear of your experience Jacquiey. I've never heard of BMW Benham; it sounds like they are going nowhere.

I also had a rear wheel bearing fail, see here.

I've taken the liberty of copying your post onto that thread, hope you don't mind.

Tim

 

[Sharik]

I am suspicious that the accusation of using the machine off road is the cause of problems with the 650GS. My ‘bike suffered a rear brake failure when less than two years old. I took it to the dealers to be repaired (bleeding the system apparently rectified the fault) but was told it was not covered by warranty. BMW claimed I had either been using it off road or maintaining pressure on the rear brake pedal whilst riding. Neither scenario was true. I wrote to BMW and their replies were unsatisfactory. Yes, it would be good to have the £45 reimbursed, more importantly the reason for the brake failure has never been properly established - it could occur again and the fault may affect other 650 machines.

The blurb from the BMW website describes the 650 thus: “The BMW F 650 GS is a real all -rounder, with real power. Compact and lightweight, practical and well-balanced, it is equally at home around town, on gravel trails, or for a weekend away with a passenger on the back. The F 650 GS is a bike which can perform in any situation.” Maybe this should be amended prior to being taken to task under the Trades Descriptions Act.

Sadly, like Jacquiey, I believe the F650 is a good little ‘bike and it is regrettable the build quality is not up to the standard I had expected from BMW.

 

[Dean]

sorry to here of your problems Sharik,

But there should be no problem in the Ideal world the F650 and F800 share the same Rear brake and components to suggest one is stronger than another is just wrong.

BMW Motorrad have changed tact some what in there advertising but when I purhased mine almost 3 years ago I kept the brochure which states and I quote from it.

Printed in Germany 02/2008

"UNSTOPPABLE
THE NEW BMW F 650 GS

The BMW F650 GS- the most UNSTOPPABLE (yes its in capitals and now not on there webb site current description) bike in its class.And its equally at home on city streets, country roads and rough Terrain. 100 per cent BMW. 100 per sent UNSTOPPABLE"
I do not think they have made the newer ones weaker, just maybe changing some marketing strategy, then again the F800 GS is no mud plugger

So I'm going to to carry on riding ist nice and gentle through the small puddles and just having a great deal of Fun

Unless BMW want to give me a full 100% refund and on all the bitts I have added and I will get myself one of those 1200 GS triple blacks Triple Drool

21,500 Miles to date no Major issues, (fingers crossed) and mine is a keeper thank you BMW

 

[Sharik]

But there should be no problem in the Ideal world the F650 and F800 share the same Rear brake and components to suggest one is stronger than another is just wrong.

Slightly confused now; who was suggesting the 800 brake components are of a higher standard than the 650? Why should taking the 650 off road on "gravel trails", should the owner wish to do so, risk rendering the rear brake unserviceable and for this to be used as a poor excuse as to shirk responsibility?

The 650 is basically a good machine which I enjoy riding although I would be reluctant to purchase another BMW until I had been convinced that the quality of the finished product had improved significantly. That may have an effect on the OTR price; so be it, I do not object to paying for what, until recently, I had assumed is what the customer received when purchasing a BMW product.

My 650 has required a replacement chain, steering head bearings, replacement front disc fittings and rear brake failure in little over two years of ownership. Prior to this I have ridden Japanese machines over a period of thirty years; the only manufacturing “problems” encountered have been the fitting of a brake hose clip as a precaution and poor quality paint on a shaft housing, neither of which caused the ‘bikes to leave me stranded or in a dangerous condition. BMW's image is somewhat tarnished in my view.

 

[Dean]

I am suspicious that the accusation of using the machine off road is the cause of problems with the 650GS. My ‘bike suffered a rear brake failure when less than two years old. I took it to the dealers to be repaired (bleeding the system apparently rectified the fault) but was told it was not covered by warranty. BMW claimed I had either been using it off road or maintaining pressure on the rear brake pedal whilst riding. Neither scenario was true. I wrote to BMW and their replies were unsatisfactory. Yes, it would be good to have the £45 reimbursed, more importantly the reason for the brake failure has never been properly established - it could occur again and the fault may affect other 650 machines.

The blurb from the BMW website describes the 650 thus: “The BMW F 650 GS is a real all -rounder, with real power. Compact and lightweight, practical and well-balanced, it is equally at home around town, on gravel trails, or for a weekend away with a passenger on the back. The F 650 GS is a bike which can perform in any situation.” Maybe this should be amended prior to being taken to task under the Trades Descriptions Act.

Sadly, like Jacquiey, I believe the F650 is a good little ‘bike and it is regrettable the build quality is not up to the standard I had expected from BMW.

Slightly confused now; who was suggesting the 800 brake components are of a higher standard than the 650? Why should taking the 650 off road on "gravel trails", should the owner wish to do so, risk rendering the rear brake unserviceable and for this to be used as a poor excuse as to shirk responsibility?

The 650 is basically a good machine which I enjoy riding although I would be reluctant to purchase another BMW until I had been convinced that the quality of the finished product had improved significantly. That may have an effect on the OTR price; so be it, I do not object to paying for what, until recently, I had assumed is what the customer received when purchasing a BMW product.

My 650 has required a replacement chain, steering head bearings, replacement front disc fittings and rear brake failure in little over two years of ownership. Prior to this I have ridden Japanese machines over a period of thirty years; the only manufacturing “problems” encountered have been the fitting of a brake hose clip as a precaution and poor quality paint on a shaft housing, neither of which caused the ‘bikes to leave me stranded or in a dangerous condition. BMW's image is somewhat tarnished in my view.

Hi Sharik,

Sorry to cause confusion but was trying to point out that BMW have altered the advertising in there sale of the F650 GS possibly in an attempt to make the F650 and F800 apear so different to buyers (hence some the wording as I highlighted in blue are not used in the sale of the F650GS on the motorrad website and probably there brochure Today)

where as the F800Gs on the website states :

"BMW F 800 GS

Everything about this bike is Unstoppable. Its state-of-the-art twin-cylinder engine delivers awesome off-road power and incredible responsiveness. Its weight-optimized construction makes it unbelievably agile and easy to handle. And its outstanding c*hassis performs superbly both on and off-road.


The perfectly balanced suspension is extremely sturdy, yet sensitive enough to absorb every last bump. So on or off-road, on tarmac, gravel or dirt, on the F 800 GS you're always in control of the situation."


So I'm accusing BMW of throwing a curved ball at a sticky wicket in trying to state that the F650 is now for not off road. And I'm saying "so what if you have taken it off road

unless its a new one as BMW do not state that it can go off road"

I'm also pointing out the obvious in that the F800GS and F650GS 798 twins share same parts not stronger or weaker on or off Road same components and BMW marketing of the F650 GS is today different from when I purchased mine in September 2008

UNSTOPPABLE