2009 BMW G650GS Motorcycle Review

[njd2389]

@BillieBobSmith It's a thumper.

[CrazyHorseRunningBat]

I was talking to the BMW salesman and when he told me the price I farted.

Really loud.

[cealtun]

@CrazyHorseRunningBat than sell ur mum to buy it u poor bastard.

[Pyr0Maniac01]

Looks like I buy one next summer

[PeteyK473]

WOW ,read all the comments,questions,and confusion...The BMW F 650 gs shown is the single cyl. machine that I happen to own,with 54000 km its never had any issues,the service is expensive ,yes.But do you go to your car dealership for every oil change? The seat height fits any-one, from 5.5 ft to 6ft 2.The reason is you can order a short,med, or tall seat ,and they can also shorten it by shock link change.This may cost 200 bucks,I dont know,but haggle with the dealer.Harley can TRY ,keep it home

[pacrat90]

Would anyone really think that BMW, would leave the engines they put on their bikes to a bad quality chinese assembler? No. Exactly, BMW must have faith in the Chinese Assembler then. Which means they must be good, people, this is BMW.

[jackpizzo1]

thats not a review its an advertisement

[flakoooo12]

looks like a power ranger bike

[sirhcskoorb]

How heavy is it?

Is the weight,is it another 400-500# er?

Even a Harley could be ridden down the occasional dirt road, and ABS isn't going to pick the bike up out of the mud when I'm 100miles from cell service.

I understand that a dual sport of any brand will be a compromise, but what you compromise makes the difference.

I don't think heated grips will make me feel better after 10 miles of foot deep sand.

Is BMW going to make guys like me a bike at some point?

[ssm80taurus]

Lowered clearence - is it ok on off-road?

[tonimariechen]

its called f 650 gs

[TheCloudhopper]

@tonimariechen

While you aren't entirely wrong, you aren't right either. I'll explain :)

The bike reviewed here is the 2009 US version of the G650 GS, which is indeed a kind of "re-release" of the old F650 GS. It's called G650 GS, because the F650 GS is now the twin version. But essentially you are right, that bike in the review has been called F650GS from 2000 till 2008.

Wonder if Akrapovic will release an exhaust for the G650GS, so that i can fit it to my Dakar :-)

[fungus1977]

Have had mine for about a month now and its amazing. Couldnt be happier. So glad they brought them back. I have no fear of the chinese engine. By the way its only assembed in china with components made in Austria.  loncin, the company that does the assembly have a great reuputation and I wouldnt be surprised if other known manufactures use them for their assembly. Rumour has it that it saves us, the end user, about a thousand dollars.

[AlucardNosferatu666]

I bought mine today and the engine is infact made in china but assembed in germany and is shipped from their to the other countrys...

[fungus1977]

Yeah, thats what i mean. the engine parts are all made in austria, then shipped to china, loncin, for assembly, then the completed engine is shipped back to germany for fitment to the bike.

[simon44]

This bike was discontinued in 2006/07 was it not? Or was that just in europe. Theres the newer F650GS now.

[thefrostflyer]

Why do people think that Chinese are not capable of building a motor? The quality control agents on the assembly line are from BMW. Any way given the proper equipment and opportunity a Chinese worker is as capable and probably more willing to build a damn fine motor than some malcontent from the UAW or any German union. SO =p

My 09 G650 GS is running fine and I like it a lot. 7,000 on the odometer!

[redouane2803]

Hi all,

i m facinated by this bike ! easy to domainate as i m novice in the moto world, good looking...notanle brand...

Can u tell me if it will suit my physical shape as i m 1m 68 tall (5'6") ?

Thanks for your advice

[thefrostflyer]

Hi redouane2803

I would say that if you are five feet six inches tall this would be a perfect bike for a novice. I am five feet four inches tall and I find the bike very easy and comfortable to ride. I have ridden the bike comfortable at 90mph on the highway and then gone off road for some sight seeing. I like the G650GS a lot. I am getting 70 mpg in combination ridding city/highway.

Go for it have fun.

[allah211]

@thefrostflyer hey that helps a ton cuz i couldnt find fuel economy for this bike but i was wondering if a taller person like myself (6 foot 1) could ride this bike comfortably? i have only ridden mopeds and dirtbikes and this is the coolest looking and most suitable bike out their for me, just wanted to know if id fit it ok, thanks.

[onefugowie]

look into it people..Rotax Motor but Mfg in China...

[simon44]

@onefugowie I thought Rotax were built in Austria?

[onefugowie]

parts are...but put together now in China

[hankgs]

I have had a 1100GS, 1150RT, 1200GS and now a HP2 1200 Megamoto... I test rode this latest 650GS and thought it was a blast! A perfect first bike, second bike or primary all around bike for experienced riders... Very entertaining to ride- had a smile on my face the entire time.

[arapro]

I just got one, its bloody great !

[apollofsx]

I'm just starting out on motorcycles. Would you recommend this for a new rider?

[arapro]

@apollofsx I just got mine, maybe 3 weeks ago, and I can tell you it is fantastic. I am in Australia and it is my first bike too ( here it is a Learner Legal bike ) and after a lot of research I went for it. It is light and easy to handle, tall and pretty powerful (for the city and commuting, and little trips) Its got ABS and heated hand grips, which makes it safe and comfortable. It also comes with 24 months of warranty and road side assistance. To me, it was a done deal !

[apollofsx]

Thanks for getting back so soon and giving me some excellent info. I'm in Adelaide, so I've been schmoozing around BMW on Glen Osmond Rd drooling. Just got to get the wife to give the final ok. Cheers for your comments mate.

[NtheNow]

BMW's are way over priced. They are expensive to maintain. There are a lot of metric bikes out there with 650 v-twins that are more affordable and less costly to maintain than a BMW. I have a buddy with a 2004 1150 Rockster R with only 4999 miles on it and he is selling it for $6900 (MSRP was $11,800) and no one will buy it because it is no longer under warranty. Great bike but no one is willing to pay $140 per hour to a BMW tech not including parts. Metrics do it all in a budget.

[vectrofil]

bmw 650 gs = aprillia 650 pegasso

[inagod]

I want one,nice bike

[Towervu]

More from Towervu: But who knows? Maybe the Taiwan/China (I think it's Taiwan) engine will be a good one. But as a proud owner of 4 BMWs including an original F650, it's troubling that BMW is outsourcing to Taiwan. I guess times are tough for everyone, and BMW wants to make a bike more people can afford.

[Towervu]

This is the G bike, not the F bike. The F650 (F, ST, GS, and Dakar) models were introduced in 1993, and were a BMW design, but made in the Aprilia factory in Italy, using a Rotax single engine made in Austria! They had chains, and later switched to belts, than back to chains. The NEW F650GS is a 2-cylinder bike with an actual displacement of 800 cc like it's brother the ST. Confusing to call an 800 a 650? Yes it is. But this new G650 has it's engine made in Taiwan or China. :(

[vanhammer67]

Rode one of these for a couple of days in Morocco, it is awesome :) Picking one up in the spring I think....

[guitaristwagner]

bmw should make sport bikes to compete with honda and kawasaki's etc.

[7ru]

The S1000RR will be available 2010.

[guitaristwagner]

do you have a link on that bike?

[ericssson]

then get a Ducati they win everything on the race track

[farmer003]

I'm 6 foot 4 inches and can ride an F650 GS it's a vastly underated bike!

[johnlaingballs]

cool bike. Wonder if I would fit it as I am 6 feet tall

[germanhoth]

The 2009 BMW f650GS is with 2 cilinders and change the instruments an they made some changes on the bodie, the one that you present on this video is another model maybe 2008.

thanks.

[jcdenton7]

germanhoth, the motorcycle in the video is the G650GS and has 1 cylinder. The F650GS has 2 cylinders.