[Closed] BMW 650GS Motorbike?

Yes, I have an old and tired 2000 model. Still ticks along nicely. Cheap to run and spares aren't too bad. Not good off road, or for long motorway trips though. They make ideal commuters.
Look for heated grips and the factory luggage, don't bother with ABS, it is very crude and means it has to be dealer serviced....
Mine is pushing 40,000 miles and has been developing a few issues recently, but all fairly easily fixed.

Thanks Dakar, my commute is 130 mile round trip, would it be any good for that? I am currently riding a 2002 Bonneville and it is not good for the commute! Will it happily cruise at Motorway speeds?

I currently do a 75 mile round trip, mixed A and B roads and it is fine. It will cruise at 80mph plus, but it gets tiring as you are running in the top 10% of the rev range. the vibration is not too bad, but it is a big single after all! Some people have success with a larger front sprocket to gear it down. Handling is good, I regularly scrape the pegs in the dry and with the right tyres it can be hustled along nicely. Your best bet is to try one and see, as you will find it is less relaxed than your Triumph on the motorways.

Thanks for your advice, I may go and try one out.

they're 800cc now arn't they? MCN tested one against the new trumpet, good mpg

My school had one on loan ( '10 ) and it was a lovely bike, comfy and the position good for town work. I found it a little gutless for motorway work, like it ran out of steam around 90. If you're budget runs to it, try an 800gs...

What about an old Blackbird?

I bought one a few years ago for my commute of just under 100 miles a day, it's fantastic. Will cruise on the motorway at low revs, has a turbine smooth motor and a bit of poke should you want to 'make progress'.

rapidman,

What about a new Triumph 800 Adventure [url= http://www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk/motorcycles/range/adventure/3256 ]Here[/url]? You can stick to the brand then, if you want to that is!

Regards,
Matt.

For commuting, comfort is king, and apart from a lack of fairing, Bonneville over gs650. At least a paralell twin might be less vibey than a single.

To be honest, if your talking about commuting, and a decent distance, you want a fairing, and an engine thats il4 smooth (possibly).

An older VFR would be better. Comfier, less windy, less "tiring" and built for what you actually want to do. OR perhaps get a SV1000, cheap, can be got fully faired, still a twin but at least has the cc for the motorway, and a semi sporty position.

Is this the 2008-2011 650GS or the pre-2008 GS?

One is a 650 single, one is a 800 twin.

I had a 2001 F650GS. Bloody brilliant bike for Devon, fitted continental TKC80 knobblies on it and took it greenlaning, Went back to the factory tyres and wore the hero strips off the edges. Hilarious fun around town, great on country A-roads surprisingly capable off road even with the OEM tyres. Tedious on the motorway, but it could sit at 85 all day if required. (obviously I never ever exceeded 70, or tried to see if it could go past an indicated 105 on UK roads, oh no)

Heated grips are a must. ABS saved my life at least once, but if I could go round again, I wouldn't buy it - it cost me over 800earth currency units when it broke...

I used it pretty much every day for 7 years, the longest time I've ever kept a motorbike.

The 800 is a very different engine, but that is absolutely AWESOME! I'd recommend one of those as even better than the 650

5thnb elephant: the 650 is still available, but now has a twin spark head.

I would definitely be looking at an older 650 circa 2000-2005 probably, am really wanting that style of bike now and really don't want a sportsbike but do want something that will happily cruise at 80-85 if needed, and they seem to go on for ever and not lose much money pricewise.

Any other ideas?

My brother has a 2009 650gs and never shuts up about how good it is.

He mainly commutes through London on it. He has all the boxes for his camping trips.

He wants the 1100 now for a bit of motorway oomphh.

MM