Beamer F650?

[Lumbee]

...watching this on EBay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220032851425

..seems cheap for a BMW..Vstroms are going for this much. What gives? I figured the BMW would be much more expensive...

[MWM]

The used F650's are usually running half as much as the used 1150's and I think they're a lot of bang for the buck. Especially when you get one with ABS and heated grips.

[Lumbee]

...so they solid DS bikes?

...however am I right is thinking its not going to run with sport bikes like the Vstrom would?

[Juice]

This might help (http://www.dualsportridersoflouisiana.com/forums/showthread.php?t=748&highlight=boilerman)

[Lumbee]

...thanx juice, good thread...I must say I'm lusting after the Vstrom...whats up with the "Wee" strom stuff...is it that much of a snail???

[Juice]

Come out to the cathouse tonight on Jefferson. I will be there on the 1000 and Scootertrash will be there on his 650. I have never ridden the 650 but I have heard nothing but good things about it. Maybe Keven or Craig will chime in and give us there thoughts.







...thanx juice, good thread...I must say I'm lusting after the Vstrom...whats up with the "Wee" strom stuff...is it that much of a snail???

[Ritten]

...thanx juice, good thread...I must say I'm lusting after the Vstrom...whats up with the "Wee" strom stuff...is it that much of a snail???


The only reason we refer to it as a "wee-strom" is cause it's smaller than the 1000. It's the same awesome motor that's in the SV650 and is by NO means down on power! Any V-twin that likes to rev and still puts out a linear power delivery is a blast to ride.

[scootertrash]

The DL Six Fiddy is no slouch! That lil bike will scoot, and it tracks in corners like a dream. I road my Wee Strom to Lafayette bike night and I had no problems chaseing a rocket around, now on the top end it won't do allot over 110..... but I am still breaking mine in. Other than that, the lil 650 Mill is a tourquey lil bastard, and never leaves me without power. Smooth range of pull over the complete spectrum of RPM's. I hit some corners coming home last night, and it seemed very comfortable and only wanted more. And I run about 50 mph on the gravel road going to my house and although you get the floating feeling like on any bike on gravel it handles rather well. I have to give this little trooper two thumbs up, and it is comfortable to ride.... not much buffetting from the wind with the windshield either. I would take the DL 650 over a BMW 650, not knockin the BMW but it is a thumper and that extra cyclinder smooths things out.... that comes from my experience with the KLR.... Either way, for bang for the buck the DL 6 fiddy aka Wee STrom is hard to beat! Hope this little rant helps.
Good day!


Come out to the cathouse tonight on Jefferson. I will be there on the 1000 and Scootertrash will be there on his 650. I have never ridden the 650 but I have heard nothing but good things about it. Maybe Keven or Craig will chime in and give us there thoughts.

[iridefar]

...watching this on EBay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220032851425

..seems cheap for a BMW..Vstroms are going for this much. What gives? I figured the BMW would be much more expensive...

I don't want to start the typical "my bike is better than yours" thread, but I can tell you the F650 is a great combination of street and dirt. It rides the road much better than a KLR650 and handles the dirt better than a V-Strom. I have owned many bikes (I usually buy a new bike every year), and I have never been as impressed with a bike as I was with the BMW. No, it is not the best bike in the world, but no other manufacturer in the world puts that much effort/quality into a 650cc machine.

I rode mine last year across Canada and up to Yukon. On the same trip, I went to Moab, UT and did some off-raod riding. Any bike that you can do that with is a good bike to have.

As with all thumpers, there is some vibration but it has a counter balance which minimizes the vibration.

BMW dropped the price of the F650 this year. That may be why you are seeing the lower prices. I will give BMW props. When they dropped the price on the F650GS, they sent me a voucher for $500 to off-set the drop in my resale value for my 2005. I didn't get anything from Honda in 2005 when they started selling the VTX1800 for less than the blue book on my 2003 model. I took it in the shorts when I traded that bike in on the Goldwing.

Bottom line - if you want a dirt bike, don't buy the F650. If you want a sport bike that goes fast, don't buy the F650. But if you want a good compromise between street and dirt that you can ride across the country, I would recommend the F650.

And yes, you will be required to hang out at the BMW shop. :)

[iridefar]

...watching this on EBay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220032851425

..seems cheap for a BMW..Vstroms are going for this much. What gives? I figured the BMW would be much more expensive...

I noticed this is a 2001 on eBay. Some of those have surging problems. I would stick with the twin-spark models (2005 and on).

I forgot a couple of other points about the F650GS that make it a great choice:
1. Heated handgrips
2. ABS (wet road + knobbies + hard braking = ouch)
3. Fuel Injection (can you say altitude changes?)
4. Aux Power Plug (heated vest, GPS, iPod, etc.)

[Lumbee]

...thanx for the replies...all good info, sorry I couldn't make it out thursday night, was on my way up to a ralley in N. Arkansas. Interesting weekend to say the least, blew a hole in the valve cover of my 750 on the way up. Didn't leave me stranded though, a little JB weld and I was back on the road!!! :)

[Juice]

What year is that? Do you got any pics of the bike?



...thanx for the replies...all good info, sorry I couldn't make it out thursday night, was on my way up to a ralley in N. Arkansas. Interesting weekend to say the least, blew a hole in the valve cover of my 750 on the way up. Didn't leave me stranded though, a little JB weld and I was back on the road!!! :)

[Lumbee]

...the motor is a 78 CB750...heres a pic..

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/marklocklear/detail?.dir=8c67&.dnm=d68dre2.jpg&.src=ph

...I also kept a blog on the build at sohc.blogspot.com

[Juice]

CB 750 Build (http://sohc.blogspot.com/)



I just scrolled through the blog due to time restraints while here at the office. I can't wait to get home and read it from day one. Wow, very impressive. Nice Job Mark.





...the motor is a 78 CB750...heres a pic..

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/marklocklear/detail?.dir=8c67&.dnm=d68dre2.jpg&.src=ph

...I also kept a blog on the build at sohc.blogspot.com

[Rocky]

That is so freaking cool. Props to ya man.


...the motor is a 78 CB750...heres a pic..

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/marklocklear/detail?.dir=8c67&.dnm=d68dre2.jpg&.src=ph

...I also kept a blog on the build at sohc.blogspot.com

[Lumbee]

...thanx for the compliments, the chop is a big mess after this weekend. Not only oil blowing all over the place, but the ralley was down a dirt road about a mile long! No sweat though, I was planning on tearing it down this fall for some fresh paint. Maybe I can ride it out to one of you guys meets one night.

[Juice]

I would love to check it out in the flesh. So whats the verdict? BMW? One would think that making a decision on what Dual sport to buy would be a easy one. It's not like there are 100's of different models to choose from, like in the other markets. I kicked around many different ideas before I finally pulled the trigger on the strom. Good luck in your search.




...thanx for the compliments, the chop is a big mess after this weekend. Not only oil blowing all over the place, but the ralley was down a dirt road about a mile long! No sweat though, I was planning on tearing it down this fall for some fresh paint. Maybe I can ride it out to one of you guys meets one night.

[Save-the-Manatee]

Cool Blog Lumbee. Cool12 Cool12

[Lumbee]

I havn't decided to buy yet, but I'm leaning toward the 650 strom...I like the look/stance. I looks like it would be a little more comfortable for the long haul, and I yet to hear any bad reviews on it...