Is the 650 any good?

[gingerbeemer08]

Hello all,
Serious question here....is the 650 gs (twin) actually any good?
Ideally I'd love an 800 (which I tested and loved) but they're a bit pricey still!
The 650's seem to go for peanuts though, so.... are they any good in comparison?

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Proper bike, some say the motor is sweeter in 71bhp guise

Ride one and see for yourself

 

[Dean]

Hello all,
Serious question here....is the 650 gs (twin) actually any good?
Ideally I'd love an 800 (which I tested and loved) but they're a bit pricey still!
The 650's seem to go for peanuts though, so.... are they any good in comparison?

As an sole owner Rider of The BMW F650 GS twin 798cc 2008.5 Model

Actualy its better than Good :cool

Further to post 11 Here

I would add that supreme extra weight carrying ability could be more pants, more, fuel, more whatever But seriously and personaly If I was to take Pillion a lot more, rather than an 798 I would have an 11 or the 12 Hunner and them owners no what I'm Torque'ing about

But I dont and so for me the F650 GS twin is well its and It's a keeper

god luck what ever your choice

 

[Tim Cullis]

There's not much difference between the F650GS twin and the F800GS.

The handlebars are slightly different but otherwise the seating/footpegs/bars triangle is almost identical, so very tall riders might feel a bit cramped on either bike and both Givi and AdventureSpec crash bars can get in the way of the knees on both bikes.

The F650GS twin engine is sweeter and coupled with a higher gearing is more fuel efficient. Torque is pretty much the same, the BHP difference only becomes apparent over about 7000 revs which I rarely go to anyway.

Upside down vs conventional forks (neither bike is adjustable), small low screen vs almost non-existent screen, plastic sump guard vs none, the F800GS has a larger radiator. Twin vs single front brake setup.

The bike has a wide arse due to the underseat fuel tank which affects the size of panniers you can carry vs filtering.

 

[kazntone]

My Mrs swapped her 1000DS Multistrada for a 650, her idea was to have it until the Monster 800 became available second hand.

A year later try and get the keys off her!

I had one go on hers and traded my 955i tiger for the F800GS.

And 10 months later we still look forward to opening the garage door.

 

[chas820]

The bike has a wide arse due to the underseat fuel tank which affects the size of panniers you can carry vs filtering.

It`s such a design flaw,I have some Alpos panniers and i need a wide load sign on the back.On a recent trip to Normandy on the fast cat i couldn`t get down the side aisle to park and as for filtering forget it, I need a lane to myself

 

[Dean]

It`s such a design flaw,I have some Alpos panniers and i need a wide load sign on the back.On a recent trip to Normandy on the fast cat i couldn`t get down the side aisle to park and as for filtering forget it, I need a lane to myself

I have Jesse Luggage ali paniers and they are good

sit out less than 10mm more than my mirrors (but mirrors have TT extenders)

Filtering is no problem

 

[Blind Lemon Ade]

I refer m'learned friend to my reply in this thread:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=278162

Yes, it is good, but not SO good that it can't be improved, especially in the seat and screen areas... but as you say, it is cheap!

Get one with most of the BMW bells & whistles on: computer, ABS, heated grips, mainstand etc. I didn't bother with the tyre pressure sensors.

I put Stahlkoffer "City" Panniers on mine, they're also the same width as the bars, more or less.

 

[Smythson]

I think it's great. Re comparison - i can't really help as i've only got the 650 however it depends what you want the bike for? I use mine for touring and commuting but no proper off-roading. It fulfils these requirements perfectly.

I would disagree ever so slightly with the above in as much as get one with ABS, heated grips and centre stand but don't worry about the computer. The computer tells you engine temp, what gear you're in, has fuel gauge that is subject to some debate and some average stats. However if you do want one the computer it is one of the few things that cannot be retrofitted (unlike the OEM LED indicators that are great!). With seat - if you are not that tall, like me, get the lowered seat - it is shaped differently so i can do a 500 mile day with no aches. Screens seem to be something of a holy grail - i've done no screen, 650 stock, 800 stock, powerbronze / metal mule, wunderlich vario, slipscreenslimited (eBay) and the search continues...

Best of luck,

S

 

[wknight]

Fantastic bike

I just rode a 650 from south of Santiago to the bottom of South America. These bikes already had 60k on them but they were as from the factory apart from sump guards and off-road tyres. They took a hell of a battering on Ruta 40, over 1k of rough gravel. I won't say it was bumpy but it shook my expensive Nikon camera until it wouldn't work anymore and the friction made a hole in a water bottle in under 2 hrs!!

No problems with any of our GS at all, very, very impressed. Get a twin and you won't be disappointed

 

[StumpyFingers]

It`s such a design flaw,I have some Alpos panniers and i need a wide load sign on the back.On a recent trip to Normandy on the fast cat i couldn`t get down the side aisle to park and as for filtering forget it, I need a lane to myself

I use Alpos panniers on my 800.
31 Ltr on exhaust side and 41 Ltr on off side I do not have a problem with filtering.