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Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
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  #1  
Old 27 Jul 2012
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Buying an F650
Hello all!

I am currently in Germany and am about to take the plunge and purchase an F650 to ride around the Caucasus, and was wondering if anyone had any tips/recommendations about what to look for, or weird F650 specific problems that I may not notice when buying it.

I am looking at the pre 2000 carb models because from what I've read they seem a bit more reliable and of course easier to fix (is this true?).

I am fairly mechanically minded and generally do most of the work on my bikes/cars at home so the usual things that one looks for (chain/sprocket wear, oil/hose condition, strange sounds etc etc) are OK.

Are there any things that are specific to the F650 that I should be wary of?

Thanks very much!

Marty
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  #2  
Old 27 Jul 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by underscore_ View Post
...
I am looking at the pre 2000 carb models because from what I've read they seem a bit more reliable and of course easier to fix (is this true?).

...
No, not in my experience. The pre-2000 models are more likely to have waterpump or reg/rec issues. The carbs are horribly complex things with many tiny bits of rubber while the FI is never a big concern. The only advantage is if you can pick one up with the 27 litre tank.

These are trainer bikes made to a budget that are now well past their time. The later F650GS and Dakar are newer, lower mileage and at least made after BMW stopped thinking you'd trade for an R1100 once you lost any license restrictions.

If the only thing that will stop the voices in your head is Rotax powered with a blue and white badge I'd suggest just to buy the newest, lowest mileage one you can. Inspect the oil, learn about the water pump and reg/rec, find the photos of cracked forks so you know what to look for and become very well acquainted with the old info on the chain gang website. You should also look at the tyres, they came with standard spoked rims and tubeless tyres. You can't plug a puncture from the outside, you can't get the tyre off to patch the tube.

Personally, I don't want another walk across Morocco and if I only had the budget for a carbed F650 would buy Japanese.

Andy
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  #3  
Old 27 Jul 2012
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I can second the reg/rec issue on these!!

My wife had a F650 Funduro and it had a nice melted area under the seat from a reg/rec that went pfffffffffffff. Looked very funny her sitting there with smoke coming out from under here backside.

Check that the key switch will stop the engine. If it doesnt then reg/rec has been replaced but hooked up incorrectly and only the kill switch will stop the engine. It was an easy fix, just swapped two wires over but I have seen 3 that were replaced by 3 different auto sparkies and they were all the same.

Cheers
Marty
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Old 28 Jul 2012
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There have been a few cases of front fork failure on early 650's , all denied by BMW of course .
Now it seems the later G650Gs are experiencing problems

F650GS Fork Failures

It would be best to research and decide for yourself .
I did .
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Old 28 Jul 2012
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f650
Friend had a carbed f650.....a complete parcel of dung,broke down more times than i can remember for numerous reasons,engine was pretty good when it ran but that wasnt often.take the advice of previous posts and go japenese.xt600 is your best bet particularly if its been kitted out.i got myself an xt660z tenere and cant say enough good things about it but whatever you chose don't chose the f650..
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  #6  
Old 28 Jul 2012
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f650
Friend had a carbed f650.....a complete parcel of dung,broke down more times than i can remember for numerous reasons,engine was pretty good when it ran but that wasnt often.take the advice of previous posts and go japenese.xt600 is your best bet particularly if its been kitted out.i got myself an xt660z tenere and cant say enough good things about it but whatever you chose don't chose the f650..
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