BMW F 650 CS

[Scott58]

Although my Rebel is a cruiser I push it more toward the touring end of the spectrum and love long trips. When it's just me I'm statisfied with how my Rebel performs on and off the interstate, however my girlfriend wants to start going with me and 2-up for 2000 miles is going to stress that bike way beyond it's limits. I've been looking around the internet for a bike that will meet a few of my specifications and I keep coming back to the BMW F 650CS. The main criteria is the weight (it's about 434 lbs) and i want the lightest bike I can find to still do the job. It has a lowering option which I will go for and i'll be adding luggage and a rear trunk with a back rest. the only reveiws I can find (if you can call them that) is about what a street fighter it is, which I don't care much about. How is this bike for long hauls? What kind of MPG does it get. It's a single cylinder which also concerns me. The 50hp should be adequate I think, but it won't be as smooth as multiple cylinders. Anyone ride one of these bikes or know someone who can give some insight? I'm planning to buy new or close to it. Depends on what I can find out or if i see something else that may work around 450lbs. Put simply i want a 450 lbs GoldWing wanna be. Thanks

[old-n-slow]

http://www.sport-touring.net/cgi-bin/ms ... 18;t=31126

http://f650.com/website/Content/NewItem ... NoSum=true

http://f650.com/forums/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=14

Have a look at some of these links.

[Toyuzu]

Have a look here - http://totalmotorcycle.com/BBS/viewtopic.php?t=1311

Keysman is one of our moderators, and he ride the F 650 CS. He'll probably give you some good info.

[Scott58]

Thanks for the links. Alot of good info

[RideOn]

What you might want to look at if you are going to do alot of 2up would be a used r1200c classic or r1200c Montauk. The dry weight is around 525-540, but the ride for 2up would be great on a trip if you don't want to big of a bike.
I would suggest the Montauk because it has the frontend of the 1200cl, which I have and it would be a better handling bike, smoother ride for the road, plus the ABS is a great feature.

These links will have the specs if you want to look at them. Although I think the F650 is a great little get around bike, I don't think you would have a good 2up long distance ride.

http://www.bobsbmw.com/motorcycles/R1200C.html

http://www.bobsbmw.com/motorcycles/R1200C_Montauk.html

[Scott58]

That's out of the weight range. I want to stay under 500lbs fully dressed. I weigh 140lbs and my girlfriend around 115lbs. i'm hoping that won't be to much for a Light 600 or 650. I'm even considering a geared down sport bike at this point. There is almost nothing out there that fits my exact needs. Yamaha makes a 650 (YZF?) that gets close, but I need to drop an inch or 2 in the seat height. Looks like whatever I end up with it's going to have some custom work to meet my specs. Just need a good donor bike. Want new or as close to new as possible.

[old-n-slow]

If you want a low seat height, you won't get that with a f650cs.

[Scott58]

The new CS has a lowering option (according to their website). 29.5 seat height should be just about right for my 32" inseam.

[TechTMW]

The Moto Guzzi Breva 750 weighs in at 400 lbs dry.

Similar power band to the f650 and has a seat height of 30".

http://www.motoguzzi-us.com/bikes/breva/

[High_Side]

It sounds like you are a bit smaller in stature so this might not be a problem, but I found the riding position on the F650 extremely confining. It would be nice to test ride one before you buy if you can.