F650 - help please
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From: Dudley Simons on 22 Sep 2008 05:42 Hi All I have been lurking here for yonks and know there are several BMW owners here and others with a wealth of experience. I could really do with a bit of help! I have been thinking about getting myself a bike to commute on - 20 miles each way on the almost stationary A14 through Cambridgeshire :o( I had thought about an Enfield 500 but second hand they make for than I h8ave available. Then I saw this advert here in Cambridge ............................................................ Red 1994 BMW F650 MOT June 09, tax end Nov 08 22,000 miles Very good condition Continental Escape tyres Recent new clutch BMW top box included 800 pounds photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/22636097(a)N05/with/2865910030/ ............................................................ Don't know much about BMWs except that some models are rated - I'd guess this isn't one of them? Assuming it has no major vices - is it worth looking at? Is the F650 a lemon that I would never be able to get rid of or will cost me a fortune to keep it going? All guidance would be welcome! I suppose i should also point out that I am the wrong side of 45, 6 foot tall, 130 kgs (yes 130kgs), don't have the time to be stripping a bike down every weekend to keep the damned thing running, need something reliable, handles well and not prone to bad behaviour on the road! I am not looking for anything quick or racey - chug a lug is ok (hence considering an Enfield!) A decent MPG would also be a definite bonus! I don't think I am ready to get an old Honda C90 just yet! regards Dudley
From: The Older Gentleman on 22 Sep 2008 06:09 Dudley Simons <drs1005(a)esc.cam.ac.uk> wrote: > Don't know much about BMWs except that some models are rated - I'd guess > this isn't one of them? Assuming it has no major vices - is it worth > looking at? Is the F650 a lemon that I would never be able to get rid > of or will cost me a fortune to keep it going? No, they're good bikes. Really. This is an early one, so built in Italy rather than Germany and with electrics that are slightly prone to corosion (as one might expect). Very tough, performs very well for a single... That said, don't expect much performance with 130kg on the seat. -- BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Yamaha XT600E Honda CB400F & SH50 GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 The bells, the bells.....
From: Steve Parry on 22 Sep 2008 08:17 "The Older Gentleman" <totallydeadmailbox(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message news:1ino1k6.1hw4uej3obalwN%totallydeadmailbox(a)yahoo.co.uk... > Dudley Simons <drs1005(a)esc.cam.ac.uk> wrote: > >> Don't know much about BMWs except that some models are rated - I'd guess >> this isn't one of them? Assuming it has no major vices - is it worth >> looking at? Is the F650 a lemon that I would never be able to get rid >> of or will cost me a fortune to keep it going? > > No, they're good bikes. Really. This is an early one, so built in Italy > rather than Germany and with electrics that are slightly prone to > corosion (as one might expect). > > Very tough, performs very well for a single... > > That said, don't expect much performance with 130kg on the seat. > > > What he said .... I have a 95 F650 Funduro and it's a pleasant bike. As is common with 650 singles with light cranks it doesn't like slogging under 3000 rpm, but use the gear box to keep it spinning above that and it's really nice. It'll bop along nicely around 75 ish. Motorway use is OK but they're not the best motorway tool. My commute to the office is about 20 miles of quiet A and B roads and one dual carriageway It copes excellently. Top speed is about 100 - 105. I get around 50 mpg. What I like about them is, being a single, the thump thump thump power delivery feels really pleasant. Handling is very good, I use Avon Distanzia's found them better than Conti Escapes. www.f650.com and www.f650.co.uk are useful owners sites The one in your ad looks a good price with low mileage. -- Steve Parry BMW R80RS, BMW R45, 03 BMW R1100S Boxercup, 07 K1200GT SE 95 BMW F650, 87 Yamaha FS1, Sukida SK90PY, 91 Kawasaki AR50, 07 VW Passat SE Estate for comfort www.gwynfryn.co.uk
From: crn on 22 Sep 2008 09:11 Steve Parry <k100rs_1990removethis(a)hotmail.com> wrote: > > What he said .... > > I have a 95 F650 Funduro and it's a pleasant bike. As is common with 650 > singles with light cranks it doesn't like slogging under 3000 rpm, but use > the gear box to keep it spinning above that and it's really nice. It'll bop > along nicely around 75 ish. Motorway use is OK but they're not the best > motorway tool. My commute to the office is about 20 miles of quiet A and B > roads and one dual carriageway It copes excellently. > > Top speed is about 100 - 105. I get around 50 mpg. > > What I like about them is, being a single, the thump thump thump power > delivery feels really pleasant. Handling is very good, I use Avon > Distanzia's found them better than Conti Escapes. So a GS500 would do the job just as well or better then. Hmmmm ....
From: Dudley Simons on 22 Sep 2008 11:19
Thanks for the replies. So on the whole it sounds as though it would be just the thing for me. Apart from the wiring corrosion issue is there anything else to watch out for? Any other gotchas?? regards Dudley |