BMW F650 (1993-2007)

I bought this bike just because it was there and i wanted something slow to go back on the road after years of racing; it fitted the bill perfectly. As an avid 'fiddler', it was superb - I have never owned a bike that was so easy to work on. The handling is awful for road use though, so I fitted stiffer springs up front and some heavier fork oil; i should really have done something with the rear shock but I didn't want to spend any more on it and I found it pretty good after the forks were done. The engine is not quick, but I could fly through the twisties with aplomb once I did the forks. There are lots of negative comments about the brakes, but I think that's just down to the soft forks. I rode an 18 year old one for over 2000 miles through France in a week and was perfectly happy with it although my mates left me for dead on the national routes - I didn't care, I was more comfortable than them anyway. The only reason I sold it was because I got a Caponord for £1300 and the garage was too full. I think more people should ride this kind of bike and enjoy themselves rather than scaring the poop out of themselves on an R1! In a nutshell, a great bike with a slightly weak motor once you get past 70mph

I have riden this bike (06 650gs) for two years and +30k miles, have had good times but definitly not worth the pains. Have had almost everything brake from mud guards to tail light assambly to an engine noise that wont go away(started when i hit 30K), to other eninge and trim problems. My bike was in the dealership for half of Dec. and has been back 4 times this year with less then 3k miles put on. I have also had to fight with BMW every time to get anything done.

I have just traded in my CBF and could have cried when i rode this home. Totally different riding style, jerky set offs and clunky gear box. Obviously I had never ridden a single before and was used to twins but I thought I had made a massive mistake. Fast forward 3 days of constant use and I am smitten. How much fun can one bike be? Getting used to the bike was simply a matter of time and holy cow its worth a bit of patience. The single sounds great and even with knobblies on I appear to have doubled my cornering confidence over night. Motorways are a bit of a pain but at 70mph I can cruise all day with the comfy seat and riding position. Show it some twisty country lanes and even a bit of dirt and you will be having a ball and grinning like a cheshire cat. If like me you are so short you shop in mothercare for your troosers do not fear. You can pick up a lowered seat on ebay but to be honest the bike is so light and slim that the original saddle is perfect as it is. The leg room for longer distances is also kept comfortable with the original seat. I have just managed to get 60+ mpg riding at town and motorway speeds combined and this gives me almost 200 miles before the light comes on and another 50 miles in reserve. All in all I am hooked and I would recommend the F650 to anyone-although have a test ride if possible before you buy and ask to be out for a few hours. I'm off to Morocco for the weekend.

Have an original Funduro 98 Model with heated grips and higher screen... Great in traffic, very comfortable for touring, 60mpg most of the time, holds it's price, good supply of cheap parts new and used available'Motorworks' ..Built to last forever, easy to work on...Brilliant for green lane and gravel track use, not for serious off roading.. Funduro daft name but sums up the bike.. fun!

I went for the CS as it was on sticky rubber instead of knobblies, it handles brilliantly around town and the high riding postion helps with visability. Also the ABS adds peace of mind. Cheap to run, handles well, in short a joy.

I drive roughly 1000 kms every week (98 kms from home to work). No problems in the wet or dry, handles well,excellent mileage (3 litres to 100 km, around 73 mpg) in spite of high speeds (cruise at 120 km/h). Needs the Dakar windscreen though, that was a great improvement. Nimble in traffic, slalom in queue saves me at least half an hour each way, and the upright seating means you see over most cars. ABS and heated handles are a must in Norway! Likes gravel, too! Strengths: Reliability, driveability, comfort, dealer service, second-hand value and looks. Weaknesses:
Vibration in mirrors at speeds over 60 mph, checking oil level is complicated.

Got it for the girlfriend to learn on, but only kept it one month, then lost £1000 getting rid of it. The only good thing about it was it did a 3 point turn, handy for the test. Otherwise horrible. The engine needed constant attention as letting the reves drop too low resutled in juddering. Once the girlfriend had a go on my R1, I lost it. She has no idea what an R1 was, but it was so easy for her to drive after the BMW, even as a beginner. Still got a new Blade as a replacement. Strengths: Does 3 point turns, which are impossible on most sports bikes. Dealers like trying to sell them to girls who don't know any better. Weaknesses: Engine, handling, balance.

If you plan on a machine that is just about bullet proof, then you couldn't go wrong with one of these. Bought one and rode it 20,000 miles around Mexico without much of a hitch. I even rode it on extremely poor dirt tracks and the suspension just about held up. I'd suggest replacing the rear shock for a tougher one. Maintenance on the road is pretty easy and the engine is simple to service. Strengths: Reliabile. MPG Build. Surprisingly good round tight and twisty stuff. Cruises between 70 and 80. Weaknesses: Pogo stick front suspension. Goes like a tractor. Sounds like a tractor.

Bought for 1 hour winter commute to London, it's been an effective and reliable bike. Incredible visibility, like you're standing on the roof of a car! ABS excellent for pyscho pedestrian avoidance, love the heated grips. Soft power delivery makes for a relaxed ride but get frisky with the right hand and it's a good laugh. I probably would have been better off with the standard GS - I'm 5ft10 and it's taken a while to build up the confidence needed to chuck it about at slow speed. I've coated it head to foot in Waxoyl and am letting it get filthy for the winter, we'll see how it cleans up come the spring. I've got a Lubetronic on it which so far (2000mls) has meant no chain adjustment required. Get one! Also got Touratech engine/fairing bars in case I drop it, well they look the part don't they. I had the cutting out at junctions problem that seems quite common but was fixed by fuel map update. One of the plastic lugs that holds the headlight in has split, currently held on by gaffa. Strengths: Riding position/visibility, heated grips, ABS, easy to ride slow; amusing (just) to ride fast.
Weaknesses: Lack of ooomph for overtakes. It's tall but then I should've bought the standard GS shouldn't I!

I changed to the GS after a few years on sports bikes and have never regretted the move. The F 650GS is extremely economical, handles very well and has been very reliable during the 2 years of ownership to date. The bike is at it's best short-shifting whilst flipping from side to side through bends on country roads. Strengths: excellent fuel economy (70+ mpg), good handling, good build quality. Weaknesses: Servicing costs for a single cylinder via the BMW network. Could do with more power when overtaking on fast dual carriageways.