SOLD: 2001 BMW F650gs $3,100 (GONE!!!)

[Mad Mac]

Originally Posted by leekellerking

How is it at highway speeds?

My experience was that the upright ergonomics make it great for urban combat, it thrives on twisty Farm to Market roads and is fast enough to stay out of trouble at highway speeds. I did not actually use mine off road much. It seemed a bit heavy for me.

It would not be my first choice for highway touring, but many owners have ridden vast distances here and around the world. There is a huge owners forum to provide support at The F650 Chaingang.

One motorcycle magazine scribe referred to the F650GS as the Swiss Army Knife of motorcycles. A single motorcycle that could do it all. I should have kept mine. I think you'll like it.

[BexarWolf]

Well, first we'd need to define "highway speeds".

Like any other single cylinder thumper, it's buzzy but not so much that it's unbearable. I rode it from Austin to North Texas and back one weekend (up there, spent the night, rode back the next day)......a total of about 560 miles and survived. That was before I added the Ztechnik windscreen.

It ain't a Goldwing but I know M38A1 rode a '99 model to Alaska and back.

[leekellerking]

Now all I need is a few good clients.

[BexarWolf]

Originally Posted by Mad Mac

My experience was that the upright ergonomics make it great for urban combat, it thrives on twisty Farm to Market roads and is fast enough to stay out of trouble at highway speeds. I did not actually use mine off road much. It seemed a bit heavy for me.

It would not be my first choice for highway touring, but many owners have ridden vast distances here and around the world. There is a huge owners forum to provide support at The F650 Chaingang.

One motorcycle magazine scribe referred to the F650GS as the Swiss Army Knife of motorcycles. A single motorcycle that could do it all. I should have kept mine. I think you'll like it.

Since the 1st day I rode it, I've characterized it as a Swiss Army Knife. It's good at a LOT of things but it's not GREAT at anything (probably not something I should post about a bike I'm trying to sell but I'm about full disclosure ). It loves an urban environment. I can dip and dodge cars and potholes with ease. I've abandoned the highway for the ditch to get off the road when traffic backed up because someone saw a shiny object on the shoulder........it's just a fun bike to flick around.

Off-road......it's capable. No, I wouldn't want to fling it around in the woods all day but some can and do it.

Highway........again, it's capable. I've had it on a couple of 100 mile rides plus the 500 mile round-trip two day run. It's not a Goldwing but it's comfortable enough for my 50 year old bones.

The upright seating is delicious (did I just say that?) in city traffic. Eye to eye with full size pickups makes you hard to miss and being able to see over regular cars while in traffic is nice.

I'm going to mess around and talk myself out of selling. I'll get it all cleaned up on my days off and post some glamour shots.

[SwampFox]

Originally Posted by leekellerking

How is it at highway speeds?

FWIW, my friend Brandon had one of the original F650 "Funduro"'s back in the late '90's. He tagged along with 5 Goldwings from Louisiana to Colorado and back without issue, running 80mph across the expanses of Northwest Texas. I recall arriving in Pagosa Springs one evening too tired from riding & altitude to barely hold up the GL1500 'Wing: After finding lodging, Brandon takes off for another hour+ ride up area gravel roads and comes back telling of sights of elk, etc. So yes, the F650 bikes are very capable -- like a Swiss army knife. Keep in mind Brandon was a young 26 years at the time.

Epilogue: I ended up with this same F650 after Brandon traded it for a family oriented ATV. Then, in short order, I proceeded to total it in a crash in on the Talimena road in eastern Oklahoma (and almost totaled me -- helmet & gear are why I'm still around). Rats, my garage is full -- as I type this I'm thinking I might like another F650.

[photoryder]

Originally Posted by BexarWolf

... I'm looking for something along the line of the Vstrom or a Connie. Something more passenger-friendly that SWMBO can enjoy with me.

I happen to have both of those . I'd probably not be getting rid of my strom, but the connie could be an option, just depends on which one you are looking for. I have the C-10. It's actually the one on my avatar pic. If you are interested in that model, I can send you more pics.

[Robert K]

My Dakar has been as far as Montana and it's now my primary touring bike. It's got a sweet spot at 5000 rpm which is just below 80. It will stay there all day long. I have driven one on the autobahans from Innsbruck to Munich at redline in 5th gear which translates into 105 mph. But it really likes 80 to 90 or so.

[BexarWolf]

Originally Posted by photoryder

I happen to have both of those . I'd probably not be getting rid of my strom, but the connie could be an option, just depends on which one you are looking for. I have the C-10. It's actually the one on my avatar pic. If you are interested in that model, I can send you more pics.

PM incoming.

[photoryder]

Replied

[euromedic]

Ive had my Dakar since 2005 and just love the thing. Several other bikes have come and gone to tempt me to stray, but the F650's versatility and relative simplicity to maintain is what keeps it attractive. Let alone the huge support of f650.com. It helps that its paid for too 106,000 miles and counting... GLWS

[M38A1]

Originally Posted by BexarWolf

It ain't a Goldwing but I know M38A1 rode a '99 model to Alaska and back.

Yep.... And I believe we've had several other members ride F650 variants to AK and back from Tejas. A very capable bike. Heck, I did my first documented SS1K on it.


.

[BexarWolf]

I cleaned her up and took her for a 100 mile round trip to San Marcos yesterday utilizing the toll road. 85mph going both ways without an issue.

I replaced an air sensor in the intake snorkel (it's up in the air whether its an air flow sensor or a temp sensor) because the old one's tip had deteriorated. What's odd, I've found the part on a parts fiche but the part number isn't listed. I'd asked a couple of different vendors of BMW parts and both found the part but neither could find a part number. One of them told me "I guess the part's been discontinued. I guess that means you don't need it".

This is the part replaced pointing out the tip which had deteriorated on mine. Below is the part in a parts fiche.

[BexarWolf]

New NGK spark plug installed.

Oil & filter changed with Rotella 15w40.

Reinstalled the original injector to see if there's a change.

And I learned a lot the past few days.

1) BMW has changed the drain plug design. The original was kinda buggered up and I ended up using vice grips to get it off. So I ordered a new one from Lone Star BMW. When it came in, I thought there was a mistake. The original looked like this:



The new one looks like this (Just like the low profile one from Touratech)



2) One of the chain lubes I'd been using had clumped up inside the sprocket cover so I've had some cleaning to do.

3) (the biggie) A single cylinder bike with one spark plug runs MUCH better when the spark plug cap is firmly attached to that one spark plug, the bike runs much better. It's now running nice and smooth (as smooth as a thumper can run) with no issue of dying at red lights. I'm pleasantly pleased.

[BexarWolf]

Ok. How can I sweeten the pot to make this more appealing to the motoring public on TwTex? I have a fella off of CL interested in trading me his R1100gs but I don't know if it's a straight trade or if he wants $ plus my bike. I'll know more Tuesday. But my heart is set on a sweet Concours.

Would a price drop to $3,100 help? How about free delivery within a reasonable distance?

[euromedic]

Would you like for me to post it on F650.com?

[BexarWolf]

Originally Posted by euromedic

Would you like for me to post it on F650.com?

That'd be awesome! I thought The Chain Gang went down in flames though? Have they been resurrected? Last time I looked (months ago) there were some talks of closure, changes, etc.

[Mad Mac]

The hex wrench oil drain plug is brilliant. The original design was easily mangled. For mine, like many other riders, I bought the popular 15/16 6-point socket that had been milled flat on the rim.

This is a sweet deal. For you precision sized riders out there, it has the lowest seat height of any dual sport (except maybe the TW200) and lowering dog bones are available.

[BexarWolf]

Originally Posted by Mad Mac

The hex wrench oil drain plug is brilliant. The original design was easily mangled. For mine, like many other riders, I bought the popular 15/16 6-point socket that had been milled flat on the rim.

This is a sweet deal. For you precision sized riders out there, it has the lowest seat height of any dual sport (except maybe the TW200) and lowering dog bones are available.

Thanks for the support. The original plug was serviceable but the corners had gotten a little rounded off. I figured was long as I had it off, I might as well replace it. I didn't realize they'd gone to the low-profile style but was pleasantly pleased.

As for seat height.....I even have a spotless low seat that'll go with the bike.

[gixxerjasen]

Pot is super sweet. I just still am broke.

As for that drain plug...hrm, looks a lot like my MINI Cooper drain plug, also a BMW product. hmmmmm.....

[euromedic]

Yes. Had some turmoil but site and people alive and kicking. Will post it tonight.