BMW F 650 GS reviews

I picked up a GS in February 2009 after trading in an RT. I was hit head on in March by a driver who was interested in texting more than driving. I suffered a minor concussion and the bike was totaled (you should have seen the car!). Thought I would try out a different brand. I lasted about two weeks on that bike before I realized what I had done. I sold that bike and went back to the R1200GS. It truly is the best in its class and better than bikes in most other classes. It is a jack of all trades, and depending on how you look at it, a master of quite a few. I got the new bike on April 30 and already have 5500 miles logged. I will log another 3K this week, heading up the coast and taking a few forest roads along the way. It is one of the most well-balanced bikes I have ever ridden. I can keep up with most sportbike riders on Palomar Mt. and the bike rips up the track (I didn't even have stickies on)! The bike seems to glide over gravel and sand alike. The suspension when off road has to be experienced to be believed. I teach a sportbike riders course on this bike and you should see the faces of all those squids when I demo the course with all cases on. I would shill for this company for no money. Wait, I AM shilling for no money! Great company and a truly amazing riding experience. Next stop: Baja and then Latin America. 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

Great bike! Handles any type of riding conditions. Does anything it is asked to do. 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

Love the bike. Handles very well. Great communter bike. Looking forward to a long relationship. Show less

Rode dirt bikes as a kid, bought my G650GS three weeks ago. Not a lot of power, but that is good for now. Keeps everything in perspective. If you do any amount of off-road riding, even on fire roads, get a good enduro tire. The stock tires are really for asphalt roads only. 5 or 6 pounds less psi in both tires helps a little off road, but not much. On the road it is fantastic. Riding through the mountains is where this bike comes to life. If 90% or more of your riding is on the street, check this bike out. If you can afford it you will buy it. Show less

Could a 64 year old guy re-enter street riding after thirty years afoot? Perhaps with the right ride. It would have to provide smooth substantial power, be a nimble turner; feature powerful brakes; have a comfortable riding position and be techy enough to please the picky ex-engineer. Enter the F800ST. I found a fine a pre-owned '07 in April of '08 at a friendly NC BMW dealer. I loved it at my first somewhat awkward ride. I still do. This bike is a natural. A perfect re-entry machine. It does all things well. Power - It can seem oh-so-modest in the torque department with a gentle right hand but still blast off at stoplights with equal ease. Twisties - Face it, motorcycling is all about turning and this bike has it down; precise turn entry, ease of lean, stability over bumps with silky roll-on at turn exits. It loves transitions. This is confidence inspiring and even forgiving to the relative newbie. Stopping - Front brakes feel a bit squishy under the right hand even after bleeding, but are powerful with smooth progressiveness both on and off. Easy to modulate which is essential to avoid evil lockup or ABS operation on hard stops. Some nose dive, yes, but entirely manageable even for a retread rider like me. Rear brake twitters the ABS in hard stops occasionally but no grief in that regard. Comfort - For me just the right combo of upright seating position with forward lean to balance the wind lift at speed. By straightening my (long) arms a bit I can ride upright if I choose, but the forward lean feels natural. Windscreen could be a bit taller for wind protection and may face an aftermarket switcheroo. My knee positions pick up engine heat on cold days. Hot days in stop and go can warm the legs a bit but not uncomfortably so. Not much wiggle room on this seat but still for an hour or two between stops not a problem. Techy - yes! Light alloy abounds; the instruments charm; the belt drive is quiet; the engine is just smooth enough for comfort but sends the right vibes into the bike to let you know it's there; the fit and finish are precisely what one might expect from BMW, perfect. In sum, this bike fits my needs for around town and reasonable length fun rides perfectly. Sons (younger w/Ducati 1000S2R & older with BMW R1200ST) drooled over it, and that alone would surely make an old guy smile! Show less