Question on a bmw F650

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Hey guys,
I'm looking into buying a 1999 bmw F650. Any opinions or comments on these bikes? Any help would really be appreciated.

thanks

[Lukewarm Wilson]

I've ridden one and well if you call it that I have also raced against one main points
1. Much better suspension then a GS500 could ever have no matter what you did to it much more complient on the road its soft but tracks and reacts well BMW really got that right.
2. Performance wise just a tiny bit quicker then a GS but with exhaust and carby mods the GS would be a match or maybe quicker they are that close
3. Comfort is A+
4. Its a very good bike
But is it worth all the extra $$$ over a GS no its not. When you consider what else is out there for that price.

[MarkusN]

I have ridden one as a preparation for my riding test. (The GS has too little horsepower to qualify for the topmost motorcycle license here.)

Very much what LW said.

Personally I did not like the more upright riding position and the wide seat very much. But then, I don't like superbike bars on anything, and apparently most riders today would disagree with that.

It handles like a bicycle. Really.
Mine had ABS. Awesome brakes. If you have the opportunity to get it with that, do so. Worth every buck.

[gsmetal]

You can visit www.f650.com

Great site...more information than you'll ever need or want.

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It honestly felt very rough to me when i testdrove it. Granted the carbs on the bike probably need rebuilding/tuneup (it had 25k on it) but overall it was just very rough. Is this characteristic of single cylinders or did the bike just need a tuneup?

[MarkusN]

Part of it is it being a 1-cyl, yes. That also means that the powerband is not as wide as on the GS.

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yeah thats true..the 7k redline really bummed me out though..lol

I felt like i was in a car...not on a bike

[CirclesCenter]

Better suspension?

Maybe for those of us who don't like racing suspension.

I have the full race spec racetechs for my weight and they rock.

Yes I ride evevry day, no I don't live on a track LOL. I live in Reno, lots of ok roads, and a bunch of really horrible ones. I mean like bottom my .85kg 15w filled forks kind of bad. (And that's at 25 mph.)

I like my suspension, maybe for touring softer would be nice, but I tour anyways. If you are worried about comfort on a GS go for the seat first.

[MarkusN]

Better suspension as in more rigid frame / swingarm / fork. The bike gets nowhere near a wobbly as the GS in fast curves.

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Yes the suspension is much better me thinks. At low speeds it felt  very unstable at first (wide bars) but in faster speeds very stable and very "precise". Also i think at highway speeds the 650 is much more stable to buffeting and cross winds than the gs500...

All in all a good bike