BMW F650GS Farkle Fest

[Gypsyangel]

Woo Hoo, this week was like Christmas. Got the Beemer some accessories for the upcoming touring season.

Got some luggage racks. Found these Moto-Sport racks online. They were used and abused, bent and rewelded in several spots. But the owner said they'd still work and since I couldn't resist the awesome deal he was offering them at, I snatched them up. They had no mounting points, just your basic rack, so I enlisted the help Benny who's very handy with steel. He straightened the bent one up quite a bit and welded tabs to mount Givi mounts to. I got them back and gave em a fresh coat of Krylon black paint.

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/My-Motorcycles/F650GS/BMW-Farkles-43010/1002472/853403996_yKKPN-M.jpg

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/My-Motorcycles/F650GS/BMW-Farkles-43010/1002470/853403472_QeGcS-M.jpg

The welded tabs:

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/My-Motorcycles/F650GS/BMW-Farkles-43010/1002474/853404287_TEMkW-M.jpg

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/My-Motorcycles/F650GS/BMW-Farkles-43010/1002475/853404681_oXC5H-M.jpg

On the bike.

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/My-Motorcycles/F650GS/BMW-Farkles-43010/1002478/853405777_krd6h-M.jpg

The left one was bent, can't tell now though unless you're looking for it:

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/My-Motorcycles/F650GS/BMW-Farkles-43010/1002480/853406529_zCgJN-M.jpg

[Gypsyangel]

Then the funniest thing happened. I was second in line for some Givi E21's awhile back on another forum. But the first guy went through with the purchase, so I hadn't thought any more about them. Well, he contacts me to see if I'm still interested. I guess they were smaller than he thought. Of course I snatched those up too and they arrived this week .

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/My-Motorcycles/F650GS/BMW-Farkles-43010/1002467/853402474_94UUR-M.jpg

And you can't have Christmas without decorations, so I ordered some. The Glacier and Yellowstone stickers are from our trip out west we took last year:

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/My-Motorcycles/F650GS/BMW-Farkles-43010/1002482/853407276_2j27w-M.jpg

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/My-Motorcycles/F650GS/BMW-Farkles-43010/1002485/853408223_vPtPh-M.jpg

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/My-Motorcycles/F650GS/BMW-Farkles-43010/1002489/853409676_fh5bM-M.jpg

More pics. Just cause :p:

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/My-Motorcycles/F650GS/BMW-Farkles-43010/1002488/853409299_pPMGD-M.jpg

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/My-Motorcycles/F650GS/BMW-Farkles-43010/1002491/853410307_yya4M-M.jpg

Map before:

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/My-Motorcycles/F650GS/BMW-Farkles-43010/1002469/853403179_WeKiF-M.jpg

Map After. Whoo, I get around!:

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/My-Motorcycles/F650GS/BMW-Farkles-43010/1002501/853413857_S6JPA-M.jpg

And the final icing:

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/My-Motorcycles/F650GS/BMW-Farkles-43010/1002486/853408541_YaHEB-M.jpg

[BlueLghtning]

BTW, I got a chance to really get impressed with this bike even though its been impressing me all along since we've owned it. I've taken a few short rides on it, but not spent a whole lot of time on it since we bought it. I know Sarah is loving it, so its not like I get to borrow it very often! She's become pretty possessive of her new found love! LOL

This past Friday, my Dad had sold his C50T, so the 3 of us rode down on our own bikes to Columbus to deliver his bike to the new owner. On the way back, I let my Dad ride my Strom while Sarah and I went 2 up on the Beemer. Now it definitely wasn't roomy and that orange seat is cut very low so I was squished up against the tank, but the little thumper is seriously impressive engine wise.

I've said before that I just didn't care for my KLR on the interstate, but that Rotax single has been done right. It was getting late, and we were ready to get home, so we just jumped on the interstate and I kept it at 85mph indicated from Columbus to Hogansville before I backed off a bit. That bike never missed a beat and sat there and carried the 2 of us 2up with no issues and without vibrating us to death. I was quite impressed to say the least. I was also impressed my Dad hung with us on the Strom. He's usually not quite the speed demon. I guess it wasn't his bike, so he didn't mind! :lol:

I haven't checked yet to see how bad that little high speed run affected our fuel mileage, but that's been another impressive aspect of the F650. Sarah is regularly seeing 70mpg+ on that bike with spurts up into the 80's, and she likes to keep the revs up when she rides. I think that bike might actually get better fuel mileage then a Ninja 250. We've done numerous trips where her mileage is consistently between 70-75mpg. She can easily see 250+ miles between fuel stops even though the tank isn't quite as big as my Vstrom tank, she's got just as much distance as I have. And of course with the tank being under the seat, she's loving the way the weight is so slow and easy to handle. This bike has really transformed her riding and raised her comfort level significantly!

I'd be really hard pressed not to recommend the F650GS for females and other smaller riders that don't want or can't handle something say as big as a Vstrom or big GS. That little thumper has it going on!

[Snafu484]

Man that thing is lookin good :) Seeing as how my R6S is my only transportation... which means 24/7 rain or shine, everyday commuting... you guys are really gettin me eyeballin that Beemer for my next bike when it comes time to trade in the Six :D

Oh.. and didnt I see u guys post somewhere (might have been Sarah's ride report comin back with the new bike)that that bike came with all the touring goodies already ? (Heated grips 'n such)

[BlueLghtning]

Man that thing is lookin good :) Seeing as how my R6S is my only transportation... which means 24/7 rain or shine, everyday commuting... you guys are really gettin me eyeballin that Beemer for my next bike when it comes time to trade in the Six :D

Oh.. and didnt I see u guys post somewhere (might have been Sarah's ride report comin back with the new bike)that that bike came with all the touring goodies already ? (Heated grips 'n such)

Yeah, heated grips and ABS (although not standard on all the F650GS), seem be found on most, especially later years. This one has a higher screen also. For a commuting bike, this thing would rock, much more then a sport bike for sure! The tires last a long longer too.

The top case she has on hers is the stock BMW top case also and opens with the same key as the ignition. There are stock side cases, but this bike didn't have them and too expensive to buy when they really aren't all that.

[Snafu484]

Yeah, heated grips and ABS (although not standard on all the F650GS), seem be found on most, especially later years. This one has a higher screen also. For a commuting bike, this thing would rock, much more then a sport bike for sure! The tires last a long longer too.

The top case she has on hers is the stock BMW top case also and opens with the same key as the ignition. There are stock side cases, but this bike didn't have them and too expensive to buy when they really aren't all that.

Yeah I jus got done lookin at the new 09 F650GS on BMW's website.. the new ones have that goofy (yet cool looking) headlight assembly. (Looks like this.. Oo ) lol.. Oh and as for tires, i've been running Dunlop RoadSmarts. Almost 8k on the rear and 4-5k on the front and nowhere near needing a new set yet :D

[Gamecock]

I'd love to go on a road adventure with ya'll some time on the VFR I just got! You guys always have the coolest trips. I just need to get some basic camping gear I can pack in the bike and I'm set.

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg142/Gamecock71/Motorcycles/2003%20Honda%20VFR800A/0bd91b81.jpg

[BlueLghtning]

Yeah I jus got done lookin at the new 09 F650GS on BMW's website.. the new ones have that goofy (yet cool looking) headlight assembly. (Looks like this.. Oo ) lol.. Oh and as for tires, i've been running Dunlop RoadSmarts. Almost 8k on the rear and 4-5k on the front and nowhere near needing a new set yet :D

You ready to be confused? :lol: First, go look up the 09 G650GS. That's the same bike Sarah has. Oh yeah and that 09 F650GS really isn't a 650 at all. Its an 800! :D

Here's how it breaks down.
pre 2000 F650GS = Funduro. Carbed Rotax engine with tank in normal spot (Dual spark) (that's summarized, but I'm not that familiar with everything pre 2000)
01-03 F650GS - Single Spark single cylinder Rotax
04-07 F650GS - Dual Spark single clinder Rotax motor
08 - Single clyinder F650GS is dropped and replaced with the 800cc twin version. Basically an F800GS with street tires and shorter suspension. Often called the F658 to distinguish from the single version. BMW decided they didn't want to loose the F650GS name and weren't sure the 650 single was going to still come to the states, but I guess enough people liked it, they brought it back in 09 under a new name.
09 - The old single F650GS is brought back as the G650GS. The F650GS twin continues along side its no bigger cousin the F800GS. Now all single cylinder BMW's start with G. F = twin, R = boxer, K = 4 cylinder bikes

Also check out the 01-04 F650 CS. This was called a "commuter sport" and instead of the 17/19" tires it rides on 17" sport bike tires for a more aggressive feel and has a belt drive instead of a chain. It still has the under seat tank and an option was a radio that sits where the stock tank is supposed to sit. This bike looks kind of funky, but would be an awesome commuter for sure.

[BlueLghtning]

I'd love to go on a road adventure with ya'll some time on the VFR I just got! You guys always have the coolest trips. I just need to get some basic camping gear I can pack in the bike and I'm set.

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg142/Gamecock71/Motorcycles/2003%20Honda%20VFR800A/0bd91b81.jpg

Keep an eye on this weekend if you are free. The Dbl K world tour to Memphis bight get re-routed to a different destination.

[MX Tuner]

all single cylinder BMW's start with G. F = twin, R = boxer, K = 4 cylinder bikes


Not quite. The K75 was a 3 cyl inline horizontal configuration. The K100 was the same motor with a 4th cylincer.

[BlueLghtning]

Not quite. The K75 was a 3 cyl inline horizontal configuration. The K100 was the same motor with a 4th cylincer.

I guess I should have phrased that as of 2009. :D

How far back do those bikes date? Even the F650GS didn't follow that logic until 2009.

[Snafu484]

Not quite. The K75 was a 3 cyl inline horizontal configuration. The K100 was the same motor with a 4th cylincer.

I believe he is refering to BMW's current lineup bikes when noting the designators. :) :up:

Edit: Didnt notice post #11... ima lil slow today :crackup: