Help......I cant decide

[Kendo]

Hi Folks,

Right. I have an 04 F650GS and its a great bike but i am finding more and more that it just does'nt feel comfortable on the motorway at 80 - 85 doing nearly 6k revs and it gets pretty vibby. So i am toying with the idea of changing to either an f650 (800) twin or an f800GS. Now my heart says F800 but the head is saying F650. F650's seem to be as cheap as 4k but f800's seem to be around 6k. So the reason for my post is which to choose? or do i just change the sprockets and keep the f650gs single?

Any advice would be appreciated like any experience on revs/vibbs at 80-85 on either of the twins to start with.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Buz]

I wanted the 800 but being a novice and short in the leg i plumped for the 650. Its a great bike but as I wanted the 800 i've never been over the moon with it, guess its sort of settling for what i feel as 2nd best (even though i never test rode an 800, didn't feel comfortable at the time sat on it in the showroom)
In June i rode it down the M6 at about 85 MPH most of the way and it felt ok, bit of wind buffeting but didnt feel too vibey, kept up with my mate on his 1150 no problem (dont think he was pushing it mind)

Since then i had a 2010 1200 as a loan bike and that was it......1200 it will be, probably in a couple of years though

My advice is go and test ride both and then decide
(dont test the 1200 though, unless you have the money )

 

[ILMV]

(dont test the 1200 though, unless you have the money )

Balls to that, my dealer (CWs) mentioned he liked loaning 1200s out as people come back and load the credit card with one... I bloody hated it, and would rather be loaned a rabid badger for transportation*.

*Slight exaggeration used for the purpose of humour

 

[Jaq]

F650GS Twin......cracking bike.......

 

[Dean]

Hi Folks,

Right. I have an 04 F650GS and its a great bike but i am finding more and more that it just does'nt feel comfortable on the motorway at 80 - 85 doing nearly 6k revs and it gets pretty vibby. So i am toying with the idea of changing to either an f650 (800) twin or an f800GS. Now my heart says F800 but the head is saying F650. F650's seem to be as cheap as 4k but f800's seem to be around 6k. So the reason for my post is which to choose? or do i just change the sprockets and keep the f650gs single?

Any advice would be appreciated like any experience on revs/vibbs at 80-85 on either of the twins to start with.

Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve,

cost between the two is more like 1K to 1.5K quite often, the 6K for the 8 you mention I assume was the one you was looking drool) at here and it at a few bits to boot. I dont doubt you can get 4k and 5k bikes but to them you will add a fair bit on to

If your reason for changing is just the motorway, you will find the twin so smooth. I would suggest a long test ride of both, but the test bikes probably wont have the creature comforts and add ons that make a huge difference. (screen, seat, rorty exhaust etc , etc, etc which can and does add to a completely different feel from the bike that you could never imagine)

It only seems a couple of months since you was pondering as Dakar or not to Dakar

Good luck on ytour choice what ever it may be

 

[alphadog]

hi
if your only reason for changing is the vibey feel at 85mph, change the sprockets.
sounds like your bike is revving a little high anyway,sure you havent got a 15 tooth front sprocket on there !
make sure you have the 16 tooth on front and a 43 tooth on the rear,[i traveled all of south africa with that set up,its perfect.]

the 650 is a great bike and if thats the only issue you have with the bike keep it.

 

[SERVDAVE]

hi
if your only reason for changing is the vibey feel at 85mph, change the sprockets.
sounds like your bike is revving a little high anyway,sure you havent got a 15 tooth front sprocket on there !
make sure you have the 16 tooth on front and a 43 tooth on the rear,[i traveled all of south africa with that set up,its perfect.]

the 650 is a great bike and if thats the only issue you have with the bike keep it.

Sound bit of adive that!

If you do decide to change up, go for the one you WANT, not the one you feel like you should go for! I went for the 650gs, but I prefered it over the 800!

 

[GunZenBomZ]

F800, I'm bound to say this!

 

[v8legend]

So i am toying with the idea of changing to either an f650 (800) twin or an f800GS. Now my heart says F800 but the head is saying F650.Steve

I went from a F650GS (single) to an F800GS, and love it. You won't believe how quick and smooth it is compared to yours. You won't match your fuel consumption though!

Unless this is a commuter hack, then you always buy bikes with your heart. If you let the head win, then you'll never be happy.

 

[Kendo]

Hi Steve,

cost between the two is more like 1K to 1.5K quite often, the 6K for the 8 you mention I assume was the one you was looking drool) at here and it at a few bits to boot. I dont doubt you can get 4k and 5k bikes but to them you will add a fair bit on to

If your reason for changing is just the motorway, you will find the twin so smooth. I would suggest a long test ride of both, but the test bikes probably wont have the creature comforts and add ons that make a huge difference. (screen, seat, rorty exhaust etc , etc, etc which can and does add to a completely different feel from the bike that you could never imagine)

It only seems a couple of months since you was pondering as Dakar or not to Dakar

Good luck on ytour choice what ever it may be

yep it was only a couple of months and went for the GS instead of the dakar due to cost again and i dont think the dakar would be any better on the motorway. I originaly bought it for commuting to and from work but as time has gone on i am using the bike for more long distance work instead of my navara as its a f**k sight cheaper to run. I also intend to do some serious miles over the next couple of years and although i doubt the single would complain i dont want to risk screaming the ass of it all the time.

Cheers for all the replys. Am going on a test ride wednesday on both!!

 

[Kendo]

I went from a F650GS (single) to an F800GS, and love it. You won't believe how quick and smooth it is compared to yours. You won't match your fuel consumption though!

Unless this is a commuter hack, then you always buy bikes with your heart. If you let the head win, then you'll never be happy.

What kind of fuel consumption do you get out of an 800 then? currently i am getting about 48ish out of my single!

 

[Buz]

What kind of fuel consumption do you get out of an 800 then? currently i am getting about 48ish out of my single!

My 650 twin averages about 65, that's mainly commuting A roads to/from work really. I think the 800 GS is in the mid-high 50's.

 

[alphadog]

hi
if your only reason for changing is the vibey feel at 85mph, change the sprockets.
sounds like your bike is revving a little high anyway,sure you havent got a 15 tooth front sprocket on there !
make sure you have the 16 tooth on front and a 43 tooth on the rear,[i traveled all of south africa with that set up,its perfect.]

the 650 is a great bike and if thats the only issue you have with the bike keep it.

That should read 45 rear sprocket,some reason i cant edit this post.

 

[Buz]

That should read 45 rear sprocket,some reason i cant edit this post.

I think you can edit/delete a post for 60 mins, then its locked

 

[Stop Stop]

I had a 650 twin 09 reg for 18 months and loved every turn of the wheel, prior to that I had a 650 single which was good but the 650 twin beat it hands down. The twin on the motorway running up and down the M6 was good (though I did have a 800 screen on it). you could always go for a bigger screen, check out other threads for that.
When I first got the twin I test rode the 650 & 800, but went for the 650 as I thought the 800 was a little too tall for me, however, after the 18 months I have upgraded to the 800 after taking one for a long test ride.
The 800 is a great great bike and I love it but I still feel it maybe just a tad bit tall for me but I am happy to deal with it.
The main reason I did go for the 800 was because I am planning to explore the world of off road.

My advice would be to have a good test ride side by side.

If you are looking for a good 650 twin that has never been off road, with full comfort package, 800 screen and side GS graphics (just like the 800) check out my old bike on southport super bikes used website. It is a great clean bike and I can vouch for every mile. mine is the red 650 (PE09 ZNX reg) If you want to view images of the bike check out the last page of photos of 650's and 800's on this site. Mine is the red 650 with black side GS graphics.
Plus if you have any questions regarding the bike, I can answer them all...

Good luck with the choice

Sorry but I've not posted links or photos here as I'm sending this from work on my iPhone.

 

[Coolie]

hi

I've had all sorts of bikes over the years, R6, CBR6, Fazer, Sv650. This year i swopped a Duc Monster 1100 for a F650GS (twin) - this might seem a strange swop, but i was tired of sore wrists and looking at the ground instead of the wide world. Thought hard about the F800 and F650 versions. i eventually went for the F650GS 30th anniversary. Decided this, based on the road bias of the F650 - which suits my needs (can't see me doing any off road stuff, so 21inch front wheel isn't a priority). I can report, really pleased with my F650GS. The handling is great, and it turns so naturally. The engine is sweet, nice and smooth, ?slightly less jerky than the F800 i tried on light throttle applications. More than enough power for me, and it's a joy to give the engine a good work out. do get blown around a bit on the m-way, but the F800 isn't any heavier - so doubt that would improve. i was worried about the braking power (coming off brembo equipment Monster 1100), it seems fine - abs kicks in over uneven ground when braking hard, which seems odd at first.

We'll pleased with my F650GS, and for the first time, feel like i'm settled with this bike for the longer term. very ridable bike, and makes going out really enjoyable - whatever the weather of application on the day (b roads, a road, m-way whatever). I think getting the right screen is probably the key to good/bad m-way experience.

Hope that helps, happy shopping

 

[Micky]

My advice would be to have a good test ride side by side.

Good luck with the choice

Now that would be very difficult Stop Stop

But we know what you meant

As Stop Stop says, try both bikes, a good dealer won't have a problem with you doing this. Personally I think that the F650GS (twin) is nicer to ride than the 800 in many respects, but I prefer the 800 for lots of reason....



.... and probably 'ego' has a lot to do with it

 

[SERVDAVE]

Now that would be very difficult Stop Stop

But we know what you meant

As Stop Stop says, try both bikes, a good dealer won't have a problem with you doing this. Personally I think that the F650GS (twin) is nicer to ride than the 800 in many respects, but I prefer the 800 for lots of reason....



.... and probably 'ego' has a lot to do with it

Finally an honest 800gs owner admitt the 650 is better!

 

[Kendo]

I must admit that the F650 will probably do all i ever want it to do but the 800 looks so much better. I hate the alloys on the f650 but should a set of wheels change my mind? I dunno. Will find out tomorrow morning.!!

 

[ILMV]

When are you ever going to see your wheels whilst your riding? That's right, when you check out your reflection in Debenhams window display!

For that reason get the 800, perfect logic imo