It's a good wee bike, isn't it....

[Schtum]

I dropped my 1200 off at Motorrad Central East today and came away on an F650GS loan bike. It's the first time I've really ridden a 650 apart from shuffling them to and from the showroom in another time and another place.

They're surprisingly good wee bikes and arguably better for the road than the 800; although they're a bit lacking in the braking department. It's hard to believe that the thing doing a good impression of a Kenwood mixer is actually an 800 cc engine down there. That's a bigger capacity than the original Norton Commando for heaven's sake. Hasn't bike design come a long way in the past 40 years....?

The other thing that impressed me was the ride quality. It's more plush than my ESA equipped 1200. I'm sure you'd quickly find the limitations of the suspension when pressing on but for the commute back from the dealerships on town streets, dual carriageway and the wee bit of twisty I took it on where it hit an indicated 90 quite readily, the suspension was next to perfect.

That's all.....

 

[Mr K]

I've had both the so called 650 and 800 as loan bikes and much preferred the 650.
The lower seat height and less frenetic feel endeared it to me.

 

[Schtum]

The lower seat height and less frenetic feel endeared it to me.

I see that Sir has moved on from "moistness" to a "less frenetic feel".....

I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes next.

 

[Micky]

 

[Schtum]

Thank Mick but it's not really a harship, I should get mine back tomorrow.

 

[Blind Lemon Ade]

I keeps tellin 'em, but they ain't listening: it's a cracker!

 

[ncpierce]

I've got one downstairs at the moment whilst my X-Challenge is in for a service and am pretty impressed with it.

If I needed a bike to commute on and was about 6inches shorter it would be perfect.

 

[Schtum]

Getting back onto my 1200 after dropping off the 650 was interesting. I think that the 650 feels eager because the throttle is very light, as is the handling. The gearchange snicks through easily without the clutch on the upshift. Also the relative absence of wind protection gives you a much greater sense of speed on the 650.

So it's all just another Bay Emm Vay con-trick.....