BMW F 650 CS reviews

I just got this 2007 F650GS a week ago. I've been riding every day and taken some short trips. I averaged 69.2 mpg the first tank. (WOW). I added a taller windshield, and a trunk for now. I also have a 2008 650 Suzuki Brugman, and have had many other bikes in the past. This BMW is way too much fun, with great mileage. Show less

This bike is excellent but single cylinder bikes are not as popular here as in Europe. If you buy one as many people have bought and traded in the past, give the bike a chance and put some miles on it before you decide. I hated mine at first but after a few thousand miles of getting to know it, it's awesome. It's a great all-around bike that can do it all. The only thing is that on this bike I didn't like was the headlight when there are not street lights. It also should have come with fork tube gaitors and a rear shock gaitor. Keep your chain lubed a lot. Show less

I recently bought an F800GS and love it. I had intended to sell my faithful thumper but every time I clean it up and take if for a ride I decide to keep it. It is a wonderful all around bike that will take you anywhere in the world on either tarmac or dirt roads. I especially love it on the roads of Baja. The 60 to 70 MPG it gets isn't bad either. Unless a really good friend comes along that will appreciate and love this bike like I do, I think I'll just keep it and use it for city runs in traffic.... I can't part with it! Show less

I had done all my research on this bike before purchase and still couldn't believe its abilities. I live in the big city and love the country aspect so I decided on the enduro and I couldn't have been happier. The suspension system is pure excellence with the ease of adjustment on the right side within seconds. The power is more than one needs for your average to experienced rider. It's been a while since I rode the "dirt bike" style but I've been on bikes all my life from dirt bikes as a kid, rockets in my twenties, custom choppers, to my last harley streetglide and I can honestly say this is most FUN bike I ever owned. Comfortable to ride-the only downfall is being so light and tall profiled you really feel the wind on windy days but that's to be expected. I constantly get looks and compliments. The only WARNING I have is don't underestimate the power of this machine expecially with its light weight. As my buddies say "that's not a birt bike-that's a dirt bike on STEROIDS!!" All in all, I've already put a couple of scratches on it after two days and my other half said you could've waited a month or two. But how else do you test a dirt bike if you never take it off road? I STRONGLY SUGGEST getting it with the knobbies since you never know when you might find that adventure; besides they handle pretty good on the road as well. Good safe riding---ED P.S. Center stand worth it for maintenance and winter storage Show less

I bought my '09 ST in late January of 2009 after starting to ride with an '01 F650GS about 7 months earlier (it was a great bike to start with). I've found it is a great bike to continue the learning process with. It has enough power, is light, quick and comfortable. I've put about 7500 miles on since I purchased it. I'm located near in an area where I can go to the Sierra foothills in about 20 minutes - and then to the coast in a couple of hours. The bike is the best for these great California roads. Show less

The perfect all around bike. Nice looking, lightweight, low seat height, fuel injection, low center of gravity, and BMW's expandable side cases make this bike perfect within town and out on the highway. Enough power overall without getting yourself in trouble. The cons are: not be most fun to ride (lacks character), front end is not as balanced when coming to a stop, combination trip/odometer defaults at odometer at startup, and the rear seat rack is plastic. It is one bike that can easily do all. Show less

My first concerns with the use of the new F 650's for our expeditions was that they just didn't look robust enough for some of the terrain we cover out on the road, not that the rides are technical, it's just that there is rough gravel in places and countless miles between BMW servicing centres. My first encounter with the new look F 650 GS was at a motorcycle exhibition, I had a sit on the bike but was not able to ride it at the time. Once Compass Expeditions decided to go with the new twins for a number of reasons, I was there to pick up the first bike, so I thought I would take it through it's paces before shipping it off to South America. That is where the first of my surprises and quick change of mind begin. Riding it through the busy streets of Melbourne heading out of the city, the bike handled very well in the slow congested traffic and maneuvered lightly and accelerated rapidly when the chance arrived to scoot past a few cars, great! When I finally hit the highway and some more winding open country roads the bike really came into its own, responsive in the corners with easy handling, good smooth braking and excellent performance even with the added weight of my girlfriend on the back, I barely knew she was there. The bike passed the first test, however before sending them off to Chile we bought a number of accessories to beef the bikes up for the rigors of the expeditions to come. We purchased bark busters, radiator and headlight protectors and a sturdy bash plate to protect that exposed oil filter and cooler. The bikes now looked quite a bit more the robust touring type and I felt a little more at ease. The second test; Patagonia. On the first tour of the season, non of our passengers had ridden the new model before, but the first morning as they strolled out to the carpark their faces lit up as they saw the sparkling new machines lined up in the stunning summer sunshine. The passengers were certainly not disappointed as all of them rated the bikes highly, with 2 Ex-passengers actually purchasing new F 650 GS twins since returning to their home countries. One particular day on a Patagonian tour is one which I thought would be a good test for the 650's, that is the journey from Esquel in Argentina to Perito Moreno, a total distance of 590 kms. The first 460 kms are on reasonable bitumen with a few potholes and only one small section of about 10 kms of roadworks, this ride day heads into quite a remote region of the country. At the end of the bitumen we gathered our energy by having a coffee, snacks and a bit of a rest in the dry, windy town of Rio Mayo on the Patagonian Steppe. Once we left here it was about another 130 kms of quite challenging riding on gravel roads, and in my experience, it is always accompanied by strong winds. To make the ride a little more challenging they are currently doing a lot of roadworks on this section thus making the many rough detour tracks very draining. But the bikes handled this ride very well, given their responsiveness and relative lightness the riders are much less tired and more at ease on the challenging roads, seats are easier on the backside and the riding position is much more comfortable than riding the older, cramped single cylinder GS 650's. I recognize that the older models are good robust bikes, but in comparison to the new 650 twins they are slow and heavy and it seems to me as the changes are so huge that there has been 10 years between the 2 models instead of 1. I would liken the change from the old bike to the new, like going from driving a tractor to a car. So yes, once beefed up a little in the robust department two thumbs up from me for the new BMW F 650 GS twin, survived Patagonia should be adaptable to anywhere. Show less

I bought this baby in late April of '09 and haven't stopped riding it. I use it everyday for commuting into Manhattan from Brooklyn and the motorcycle handles like a dream. Potholes not a problem, tight squeezes thru traffic not a problem. It is very responsive and just right amount of power for my needs (de-tuned 798 cc). I have also tested it on the NJ Turnpike at high speeds and pulls like a demon, it is no race bike but it will make you smile and keep up with other bikes. It is very well designed machine. The gas tank is under the seat for a low C.o.G. I got the package with heated hand grips, center stand, on board computer with tire pressure monitor and alarm. They are all very very useful. In my honest opinion I think it is a much better engine that the single cylinder of the previous generation. Absolutely the best. Show less

In the time I have owned this motorcycle, it has never ceased to stop me from giggling. that's it. Giggling. It is so easy to ride. Accelerates well, stops quickly, predictable...I have used it for everything from riding to work, to the supermarket to load it full of groceries and frosty beverages...to riding down the highway for hours at a time, or zooming up and down mountain roads. The twistier the better. While all my friends are busy trying to find their shifter pedal, I just roll off and on the throttle. I don't think a better bike exists out there for me. Just ask my feeler pegs... Show less

Over the last year of owning the F800st and test riding at least a dozen other motocycles (just for fun), I've come to realize that every motorcycle has its place. From the giant luxury cruisers to the 175 horsepower sport bikes, I've come to appreciate the special attributes that each of the bikes I have ridden brings to the table, the road I mean. As such, I now understand the value and purpose of my F800st. This bike is a great commuter. What I mean is that it is a versatile enough bike to handle 80mph stretches of highway with no problem, it's easy to maneuver in town and in the parking lot, the luggage options are spacious enough to carry lunch, a gym bag, an extra set of work clothes, and a bag of groceries all at the same time. This machine is simply a non-nonsense workhorse. Well, almost no-nonsense. When the work week is through, it does like to venture out onto the windy roads less traveled (And I do mean windy). On its days off it likes to be ridden fast through as many twisties as you can find. It handles fantastically, but that is not to say it rides like a sport bike. It is way more comfortable than a sport bike. The engine is competent and powerful enough to get you in plenty of trouble with the law, but it's no K1300s. Overall, this is a great bike that can handle a variety of duties. If you like to ride to and from work everyday and still like to put on a couple of hundred miles on the weekends over long stretches of highway or through as many twisties as you can find, then this bike could be the bike for you. Show less