- This topic has 2 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 10 months ago by Matt.
Test rode a 2008 BMW F650GS
-
AuthorPosts
-
June 4, 2008 at 8:06 pm #1474MattParticipant
So, BMW brought their big trailer of test bikes into town, and my Dad and I had to go take a look see. I signed up to spend an hour test riding an F650GS (read a proper review here: http://onewheeldrive.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=797&Itemid=1 )
First thing you need to know is that this is not an intro to motorcycles type bike, it is an intro to BMW motorcycles. Just as BMW doesn’t expect you to learn how to drive a car in a 328i, they don’t expect you to learn how to ride on the F650, even if it is their entry level road bike.
The second thing you need to know is that is isn’t actually a 650cc bike. It is an 800. They took the 800cc parallel twin from the F800S, F800ST, and F800GS and then de tuned it by 14 hp and 4 foot pounds of torque. Of course, that still leaves it with 71 hp and 55 foot pounds.
I’ve always considered the 650GS to be an ugly bike. The “ bwah?” headlights don’t do it for me, nor does the big nose sticking out over the front wheel.
In person it is actually kind of charming. It looks sleek and fast, even though it is really tall. And once you are sitting on it, it does look nice.Getting onto it however, is not the easiest thing for everyone. I am 6 foot and 180 pounds, and I can flat foot on the standard setup bike. Two other riders rode the 650 on that ride, and we chatted about it afterwards a great deal. The taller of the two was a guy, maybe 5’4”ish who had the lowered seat. He was tip toeing it. His girl friend, who was 5’2”ish had the lowered suspension version and she could still barely touch her toes. He normally rides a GS500F, and she a ZZR-250. Neither are brand new riders, and both felt okay balancing the bike even with the poor footing.
Really, what matters though, is how was it to drive?
The first thing I noticed was the clutch was light, with a wide engagement point that made it very easy to modulate. In fact, “Light” the is overall word for the bike. Despite weighing 400 pounds dry, it handles, even at very slow speeds, very easily.Too easily for me. I’m used to having to think about applying pressure to the handlebars, or the foot pegs to turn a bike. Not so with this, I look at where I want to go, and the bike is already turning. In fact, giving it a smooth solid input makes it turn much faster and harder than I want. For an experienced rider, I can see this being an absolute joy. For someone still learning, not so much.
The feeling of lightness is reinforced by the throttle. The throttle is very light, and engages very quickly. The bike makes a lot of low down torque. At 3000rpm (which is what you are at any time you are moving, because it bogs below that) the torque is more than enough to kick you in the pants and shoot you forward.
Acceleration is pretty darned swift at any time.
In one particular moment I was behind the main group by a few hundred meters. It was a 60km/h road, and I figured I’d hit up to 80 and catch up. I twisted the throttle, clicked up a gear, and then noticed I was gaining way too fast and had to use the brakes. Just before I hit the brakes I checked my speedo. I was doing 110km/h (50 over in Ontario is now considered Street Racing and gets your license temporarily revoked and your vehicle impounded… eek).Which leads me to the brakes. They will stop you in a hurry. A big hurry. They stop much faster than my ZZRs. But, like everything else with the bike, do it in a smooth effortless way that belies just how much speed you shed and in how shot a distance. We were warned before the ride, only use two fingers on the brakes. Grabbing a fistful would be a very bad move.
We did some mostly-straight country high ways, we did some freeway riding (above the posted limit…), we did a little bit of city riding. We didn’t do any nice twisty bits.
My over all impression was that the bike was a smooth and fast bike. But for my experience level (MSF course, one season of occasional riding, and now two months of daily riding) the bike was still too much bike. It expects the rider to have all the muscle-memory ingrained. The bike is too quick on the throttle, too quick on the brakes, and far too easily turned to be mistake tolerant. Over corrections and snap movements (as new riders are prone to do) could lead to serious problems very very quickly on this bike.
So, in my mind, great second bike; dangerous first bike.
June 4, 2008 at 9:48 pm #7001RydRyParticipanthow much were they asking?
June 5, 2008 at 12:25 pm #7046MattParticipantPrice in Canada is $8900(ish).
That puts it about a grand and a half more than a Versys (also on my “To Try” list) and about a grand less than the Ducati Monster 695.
It is less than most 600cc Supersports. -
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.