The G650 GS Thread

[tattoogunman]

Noob question(s) -

Found someone reasonably close to me that has a 2001 F650GS for sale. I've tried skimming this forum and some other threads and it's just confused me. I've read some posts claiming that early F650GS (i.e. 2001) are now referred to as just the regular G650 - true??? I also found a thread where someone said that this F650GS is really an 800cc bike, but all of the specs I can find say it's a 650 (which makes sense) - true?? I've never had a fuel injected bike, is there something you can buy to do your own FI work/tuning so that it doesn't have to go a BMW dealer for everything? Lastly, I've read about some issues with this model year having front fork issues and water pump seal issues - something about having to change water pump seals every 30,000 kms/miles or something? The one I'm looking at has just over 31K on it.

Any other known issues on these? Everything I've read seems to indicate they are pretty reliable and that's one of the reasons why I started looking at them.

Thanks in advance for maybe answering something that's already been asked a million times

[guavadude]

Originally Posted by bugga

anybody had problems with frontsprocket crankseal leaking 2010 model only 11000 ks. is it a big fix?

My 2009 G650gs crank seal was leaking at about 15k. Was replaced under warranty.

[trrt]

Originally Posted by tattoogunman

Noob question(s) -

Found someone reasonably close to me that has a 2001 F650GS for sale. I've tried skimming this forum and some other threads and it's just confused me. I've read some posts claiming that early F650GS (i.e. 2001) are now referred to as just the regular G650 - true??? I also found a thread where someone said that this F650GS is really an 800cc bike, but all of the specs I can find say it's a 650 (which makes sense) - true??

BMW made a single cylinder bike called the F650GS up until about 2007. They stopped production briefly (2007 I believe) and then in about 2009 brought essentially the same 650 single bike back to market, but re-named it the G650GS. The G got a styling update in 2011 (that's the one I have), but it's still essentially the same 650 single bike as the 2007 F650GS. At around the same time as they changed the name of the 650 single to the G650GS, they brought out two new models based on an 800cc twin engine - one is an enduro they called the F800GS and the other is a semi-enduro and in their wisdom (that is beyond most of us) BMW called that one the F650GS. So the confusion that arises on this issue is very understandable to all except, it seems, the BMW marketing department.

[Skelt]

Confused now? Wait till the F700 GS gets in the mix. That will make three bikes with the same 800 engine but three different F designations. BMW must have been out of letters

[bugga]

Originally Posted by guavadude

My 2009 G650gs crank seal was leaking at about 15k. Was replaced under warranty.

thanks guavdude , dont think the bike is under warranty as i bought at auction, with great regret i will ring bmw to find how much to fix

[bugga]

Originally Posted by gus

It looks like my '12 Sertao is leaking there. I need to verify it for sure and take it in for a warrenty repair. Hopefully its just a seal problem. Many things can cause a lip seal to leak.

thanks gus ,hopefully yours isnt leaking but if it is ...would be interested to know how you go and what the fix was.

cheers bugga

[Davidc83]

Originally Posted by tattoogunman

Noob question(s) -

Found someone reasonably close to me that has a 2001 F650GS for sale. I've tried skimming this forum and some other threads and it's just confused me. I've read some posts claiming that early F650GS (i.e. 2001) are now referred to as just the regular G650 - true??? I also found a thread where someone said that this F650GS is really an 800cc bike, but all of the specs I can find say it's a 650 (which makes sense) - true?? I've never had a fuel injected bike, is there something you can buy to do your own FI work/tuning so that it doesn't have to go a BMW dealer for everything? Lastly, I've read about some issues with this model year having front fork issues and water pump seal issues - something about having to change water pump seals every 30,000 kms/miles or something? The one I'm looking at has just over 31K on it.

Any other known issues on these? Everything I've read seems to indicate they are pretty reliable and that's one of the reasons why I started looking at them.

Thanks in advance for maybe answering something that's already been asked a million times

A 2001 F650gs is a single. The F650gs twin did not come into effect until 2008.
From 2007 and earlier, F650gs were singles.
In 2008, BMW did not import/build a 650 single.
In 2008, The F650gs became a 800 cc engine (same engine as the F800, only de-tuned).
In 2009, BMW once again decided to import/build a 650 single, which is now know as the G650gs.
To make it even more complicated, for 2013, the F650gs twin is going to be called the F700gs (with a 800 cc engine).
I have the 2009 G650gs (with the single) with 28,000+ miles on it with no issues.

[tattoogunman]

Originally Posted by Davidc83

A 2001 F650gs is a single. The F650gs twin did not come into effect until 2008.
From 2007 and earlier, F650gs were singles.
In 2008, BMW did not import/build a 650 single.
In 2008, The F650gs became a 800 cc engine (same engine as the F800, only de-tuned).
In 2009, BMW once again decided to import/build a 650 single, which is now know as the G650gs.
To make it even more complicated, for 2013, the F650gs twin is going to be called the F700gs (with a 800 cc engine).
I have the 2009 G650gs (with the single) with 28,000+ miles on it with no issues.

Thanks!

[gus]

Originally Posted by gus

It looks like my '12 Sertao is leaking there. I need to verify it for sure and take it in for a warrenty repair. Hopefully its just a seal problem. Many things can cause a lip seal to leak.

On closer inspection the CS seal is dry. I found a case bolt below the oil filter cover loose with oil puddled around it. I snugged it up and will watch it.

[bajafrenzy]

So, for anyone looking for an oil plug that doesn't strip and is capable of practical field oil changes after water submersions, etc. I went with the one that Kainic asked about when I initially asked everyone in this forum. It was about a 1/16-1/8 of an inch longer than the stock G650GS plug for 2009, but it still fit with room to clear the oil screen. I ground down the magnet to match the stock length of the original oil plug and ended up with the perfect plug using a light weight (compared to a 24mm socket) 10mm allen wrench in my tool kit. This is way less likely to strip should I need to do a future oil change in the field! Here's the picture of the plug compared to the original one after I ground down the magnet. The original is on the left and the new one (P/N 11137708604) is on the right.
[IMG][/IMG]
The marks on the thread are from vice grips after taking off the 23mm socket I hammered on to take out the original plug after I stripped it in the field with a crescent wrench (it was all I had). Needless to say, I ended up using the return tube to drain the oil. I totally subscribe to the idea of, "clean oil, is better than dirty oil, is better than no oil" idea, but when your oil's done, it's done. To start a new storm....I'm using Delo 400 15W40...available at every gas station I've ever been to...even in Africa! So I'll be able to do an oil change wherever I go! And no, my clutch doesn't slip. Granted I only have about 1000 miles using this oil so far, but no complaints yet.

[bajafrenzy]

Here's a picture of the new fairing guards I put on. I'm not Kubiak, so I didn't make them in 20 minutes with spare steel I had laying around. I cheated, they're from Wunderlich, but they beat the heck out of the TT guards. They actually bolt to the bike in three different spots and can be used as tie down points (epic since I have to tie down my bike to the deck of the ferry when I leave town). For those of you that can Kubiak some fairing guards, these are the ones to copy! Kubiak, if you read this, I say this with the utmost respect...you have some serious skills, and yes, I just turned your name into a verb, I hope that's ok.

[twinrider]

Originally Posted by bajafrenzy

Here's a picture of the new fairing guards I put on. I'm not Kubiak, so I didn't make them in 20 minutes with spare steel I had laying around. I cheated, they're from Wunderlich, but they beat the heck out of the TT guards. They actually bolt to the bike in three different spots and can be used as tie down points (epic since I have to tie down my bike to the deck of the ferry when I leave town).

Those look pretty good, similar to the Holan guards. Can the fairing side panels be removed with the the guards in place?

[bajafrenzy]

Originally Posted by twinrider

Those look pretty good, similar to the Holan guards. Can the fairing side panels be removed with the the guards in place?

Yes they can. Looking over the bike, it looks like I'll be able to do all my basic maintenance without needing to remove them. I did have to do a bit of grinding on the stock engine crash bars to get them to play nice together. It was easy enough though, and'll stay primered until this winter. I'm gonna paint the engine bars black after the roads ice up to match the fairing bars.

[studioe6]

Originally Posted by 4NoNo

The ultimate in princess parking!

I dont have a garage and asked my wife if my GS could be in the living room for the winter... No deal. Im still working on it :)

[studioe6]

Originally Posted by psychopompos

Has anyone else experienced clutch drag when the bike gets hot? I was sitting in horrendous NYC traffic yesterday and at one point no matter how hard i pulled the clutch it wouldn't fully disengage. It eventually stalled, I managed to get into neutral and restart and it seemed fine. An hour later, after some more creeping up on an on-ramp it did the same thing - luckily at that point things were opening up so I just released, sped up and had no problems with the subsequent upshifts. This is a brand new 2011 g650gs, hasn't had the first oil change yet. I've also had a bit of trouble getting it to neutral - is that something other people have seen?

I've had a hard time getting it into neutral too but I've had that issue on many different bikes... some times just rolling the bike a few inches helps.