BMW F650GS & G650GS 650 / 800 Year Confusion
Discussion
I'm confused but not as much as everyone else seems to be... I've googled and looked at ads but cant work out who's right.
It seems to be that the F 650 is a 650 single and the G 650 is an 800 twin
But equally I've seen F650 described as a twin from 2008
I've been offered a 2011 F650 GS that is a single was this just 2008 old stock or could F650s be both 650 and 800 at the same time OR are all F650 650 and only G650 are 800
It seems to be that the F 650 is a 650 single and the G 650 is an 800 twin
But equally I've seen F650 described as a twin from 2008
I've been offered a 2011 F650 GS that is a single was this just 2008 old stock or could F650s be both 650 and 800 at the same time OR are all F650 650 and only G650 are 800
There are a number of things that could be causing your confusion, one of which is an incorrect model designation. Checking the engine and chassis numbers would be a way to confirm that the bike really is the model you've been told it is and not "standard" bike that a previous owner has decided to fit some off road tyres to and call a GS. But hey, it's your money!
The single was a bit too low power for my liking, also a friend had issues with the decompression mechanism on his - https://www.f650.co.uk/forums/archive/index.php/t-... .
Recommend taking it out and make sure you are happy with the potential overtaking performance.
Recommend taking it out and make sure you are happy with the potential overtaking performance.
V8RX7 said:
I'm confused but not as much as everyone else seems to be... I've googled and looked at ads but cant work out who's right.
It seems to be that the F 650 is a 650 single and the G 650 is an 800 twin
But equally I've seen F650 described as a twin from 2008
I've been offered a 2011 F650 GS that is a single was this just 2008 old stock or could F650s be both 650 and 800 at the same time OR are all F650 650 and only G650 are 800
The F650GS was the successor to the ‘Funduro’. It used a 650 Rotax single badged as BMW. Ran up to about 2006 I think. Same engine as the F650CS. Decent bike, but feels very old and dated now. It seems to be that the F 650 is a 650 single and the G 650 is an 800 twin
But equally I've seen F650 described as a twin from 2008
I've been offered a 2011 F650 GS that is a single was this just 2008 old stock or could F650s be both 650 and 800 at the same time OR are all F650 650 and only G650 are 800
The G650GS is a 650 single from about 2008. Engine made by Loncin in China. That ran until 2016. Not bad, but a bit cheap. Peppy engine but slow. ‘G’ designation refers to BMW singles.
From 2008 to 2013 BMW had the F650GS, which was basically a lower-powered F800GS, with lower, cheaper suspension and a right-way up fork. No 21inch front wheel. This was a twin rather than a single. Never ridden this one.
This was replaced in 2013 by the F700GS, which was just an updated version. Tiny bit more power, more electronics.
F800GS ran from 2008-17ish. 21inch front wheel, upside down forks, tall suspension and all electronics available as an option.
NorthernSky said:
All I can tell you, OP, is the Austrian Rotax engine F800 series is a parallel twin and it is an outstanding motor, ultra reliable and powerful enough. I have a 2008 GS and it is now well over 60,000 miles with no indications of failure.
But do be mindful if going the 800 way that the earlier years, up to maybe 08, could suffer from piston slap, due to something similar to nikasil perhaps, I forget. Mine had it (57 plate, diagnosed worthless by BMW in 2012) and became worthless. Was quite a thing, America got new engines because America. UK got "sorry" a lot. GriffoDP said:
But do be mindful if going the 800 way that the earlier years, up to maybe 08, could suffer from piston slap, due to something similar to nikasil perhaps, I forget. Mine had it (57 plate, diagnosed worthless by BMW in 2012) and became worthless. Was quite a thing, America got new engines because America. UK got "sorry" a lot.
Nikasil liners were great. The problem was fuel contamination with Sulphur, which is no longer possible.TT1138 said:
The F650GS was the successor to the ‘Funduro’. It used a 650 Rotax single badged as BMW. Ran up to about 2006 I think. Same engine as the F650CS. Decent bike, but feels very old and dated now.
The G650GS is a 650 single from about 2008. Engine made by Loncin in China. That ran until 2016. Not bad, but a bit cheap. Peppy engine but slow. ‘G’ designation refers to BMW singles.
From 2008 to 2013 BMW had the F650GS, which was basically a lower-powered F800GS, with lower, cheaper suspension and a right-way up fork. No 21inch front wheel. This was a twin rather than a single. Never ridden this one.
This was replaced in 2013 by the F700GS, which was just an updated version. Tiny bit more power, more electronics.
F800GS ran from 2008-17ish. 21inch front wheel, upside down forks, tall suspension and all electronics available as an option.
Thanks - it seems that most sellers - including the big dealers are getting their ads wrong.The G650GS is a 650 single from about 2008. Engine made by Loncin in China. That ran until 2016. Not bad, but a bit cheap. Peppy engine but slow. ‘G’ designation refers to BMW singles.
From 2008 to 2013 BMW had the F650GS, which was basically a lower-powered F800GS, with lower, cheaper suspension and a right-way up fork. No 21inch front wheel. This was a twin rather than a single. Never ridden this one.
This was replaced in 2013 by the F700GS, which was just an updated version. Tiny bit more power, more electronics.
F800GS ran from 2008-17ish. 21inch front wheel, upside down forks, tall suspension and all electronics available as an option.
Now I know what to look for, it seems that some are deliberately trying to mislead buyers
I took the PX (I was more confused than I thought, it was a G650GS) and sold it in 5 hours - probably too cheap but I didn't want to risk holding it for months
Ho Lee Kau said:
Got a chance to ride F650GS as a loner.
It looked s
t, I also felt 20 years older, and it was the worst riding experience ever.
The heated grips get really hot though, too hot.
Fuel consumption was also really low, but that is it for positives.
That’s probably a little harsh. They’re perfectly decent bikes, provided you remember that it’s an underpowered single cylinder engine from the early 90s, fairly simple fuel injection and a chassis that is meant to be able to handle on and off road, but before BMW really knew how to balance this properly. It looked s
t, I also felt 20 years older, and it was the worst riding experience ever.The heated grips get really hot though, too hot.
Fuel consumption was also really low, but that is it for positives.
V8RX7 said:
Thanks - it seems that most sellers - including the big dealers are getting their ads wrong.
Now I know what to look for, it seems that some are deliberately trying to mislead buyers
I took the PX (I was more confused than I thought, it was a G650GS) and sold it in 5 hours - probably too cheap but I didn't want to risk holding it for months
I think it’s more that dealers (non BMW) see that it has a GS badge and think ‘people lap them up, we’ll price that at a premium’. Now I know what to look for, it seems that some are deliberately trying to mislead buyers
I took the PX (I was more confused than I thought, it was a G650GS) and sold it in 5 hours - probably too cheap but I didn't want to risk holding it for months
Trouble is that actually only the ‘real’ F800GS and the R series GS bikes command any sort of used market premium over your average Japanese bike.
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