BMW F650GS

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MicheleZ-

If i wasn't planning long trips 1000+ miles I would have gone for this bike over the vstrom 650. However, it's taller than the klr 650 in a stock configuration. Or at least bluemonkie99 could get her toes down on the klr but barely touch teh floor on the bmw at the dc bike show. All bikes can be lowered to some degree though.

Great bike all around (literall), i just wouldn't want it for long rides.

What's your riding style? What kind of riding are you looking at?

-Ste

[safety-boy]

...it being a F650 board, of course most all of them LOVE their bikes...

They say once you ride a BeeMer, you'll never ride anything else... They (meaning BeeMer riders) say BMW means "Best Motorcycles in the World" - which could be true, considering how many ancient BMWs I see at a weekly biker breakfast near where I live

If it is the right height (or can be), you could probably do a lot worse... and it is only a few grand more expensive than the Kawasaki (which are typically the lowest priced of the big four Japanese).

--Dave

[MicheleZ]

MicheleZ-

If i wasn't planning long trips 1000+ miles I would have gone for this bike over the vstrom 650. However, it's taller than the klr 650 in a stock configuration. Or at least bluemonkie99 could get her toes down on the klr but barely touch teh floor on the bmw at the dc bike show. All bikes can be lowered to some degree though.

Great bike all around (literall), i just wouldn't want it for long rides.

What's your riding style? What kind of riding are you looking at?

-Ste

I mainly ride country roads in the hills (I do mean hills, not mountains), where I live. Mostly weekend riding for 2-3 hours on Sat. and again on Sun. Occassionally I will ride to work - again mainly on back roads, sometimes on interstate. My current ride (Honda VLX) does fine on the interstate so I can't see this one not doing at least as good - a bit lighter so I might get blown around more but that doesn't currently bother me. I would like the capability of going off road because we have a lot of gravel and dirt around here - don't know how much of it I would actually do, but this bike fits all of my other criteria - light, nimble, fits me (lowered factory version will no doubt fit me), isn't a cruiser (I have become disenchanted with cruisers). I looked at some of the other BMW's (R1200R for example) but I am not really wanting anything that large right now (if ever). I would rather grow into something like that a couple of years from now (if ever). I don't feel I really need something that large because I don't do long rides. I think the most I have ever put in on a weekend is 600 miles.

[MicheleZ]

...it being a F650 board, of course most all of them LOVE their bikes...

They say once you ride a BeeMer, you'll never ride anything else... They (meaning BeeMer riders) say BMW means "Best Motorcycles in the World" - which could be true, considering how many ancient BMWs I see at a weekly biker breakfast near where I live

If it is the right height (or can be), you could probably do a lot worse... and it is only a few grand more expensive than the Kawasaki (which are typically the lowest priced of the big four Japanese).

--Dave

Well that is encouraging . I do admit the BWM's look so fantastic - they are just stunning to look at - even the F650GS has a lot of character and I have also been reading that they just about last forever.

[sharpmagna]

MicheleZ - If you don't mind me asking, how tall are you and what is the lowest that you can get the 650GS lowered from the factory? I'm a pretty short myself and I've always liked the idea of the 650GS myself but haven't really done much research on it as I really like my current bike.

Also out of curiousity, what has turned you off on the cruiser type bikes?

[MicheleZ]

MicheleZ - If you don't mind me asking, how tall are you and what is the lowest that you can get the 650GS lowered from the factory? I'm a pretty short myself and I've always liked the idea of the 650GS myself but haven't really done much research on it as I really like my current bike.

Also out of curiousity, what has turned you off on the cruiser type bikes?

I have a 28.5 inch inseam - measured correctly, not by simply looking at my jeans. Here is a link to the directions: http://www.precisiontandems.com/inseam.htm

I believe the factory lowered F650GS would be 29.5 inches - this is with the BMW low seat. Wunderlich makes a seat even lower that would put the factory lowered F650GS at 28.34 inches. I have yet to go sit on the regular sized F650, will do that this weekend. However, the BMW owner that I talked to said that a 28.5 inseam is right at the limit to where I might be able to get away with not getting the factory lowered version - I might fit on the regular version. I got all this information at the following website:

http://faq.f650.com/GSFAQs/Lowering_Kit_FAQ-GS.htm

There is a wealth of info there!

Okay, this is MY personal opinion on how *I* feel about cruisers. I am not stating that they are like this to everyone - they are like this to ME.

I don't like cruisers because (to me) they are usually heavy, not nimble, and they don't do slow moves as well as the standard sized, lighter, smaller bikes - I LOVE practicing slow moves (twisted I know) and even my little VLX isn't going to hold a candle to a light, small standard when it comes to those types of moves. I also like leaning the bike - much easier on a standard than a cruiser. I have sat on about 30 cruisers and I just didn't like the feel of any of them - they are usually WIDE so even if the seat height is listed as being reasonably low - they wont' fit me because I have to fight to get my little stubby legs over the belt drive on one side and the damned mufflers on the other - and the seats are usually wide also. Just not my type of bike. I rode the Buell Blast at my Rider's Edge course and really enjoyed that type of bike - though I don't want a Blast. Picky ain't I?

[safety-boy]

Width is a problem with cruisers. If your legs are spread too wide when stopped, it is no better than one-legging a taller bike. I am 5' 11", but my cruiser had a sissybar, so I wound up slinging my leg over the tank rather than the back of the bike.

Nimbleness and cruisers typically don't mix. My wife had a Boulevard S-40 which was fairly nimble, but for the most part I HATED it.

Riding off pavement will make you want nobby tires, and if you get to where you are riding street only, you can always outfit a dual purpose as a Super Moto with street tires.

Sounds like the BMW is the bike for you. I say go for it.

--Dave

[MicheleZ]

Dave - thanks . I believe this bike will work very well for me. I was already considering switching out the tires for street if I found myself not riding off road. Us inseam challenged folks have a hell of a time finding bikes that fit well. It just figures that my hubby got me into riding and that doesn't treat stubby legged people well . I am sure as my experience racks up I will eventually feel more comfortable on a taller bike - but I will always be pretty limited. My only ray of hope is that motorcycle manufacturers are finally realizing that women are starting to buy bikes and women are for the most part shorter than men so maybe more choices will start becoming available in 5 years.

Oh yea, I also have a problem with clutch lever distance on most cruisers. I already had to have the VLX clutch lever bent in order for my stubby little fingers to reach it. I believe most (if not all) BMWs have adjustable clutch and break levers so I was pretty happy about that.

[safety-boy]

Most Kawasakis have adjustable clutch and/or break levers.

If you every get into street riding only, you might look into getting a sportbike lowered professionally. Many argue that you hurt the performance that way, but is the average rider really taking corners at a pro racing pace?

--Dave

[Ninja Geoff]

Michele, don't forget, when you sit on the bike, the suspension compresses, efectivly making the bike sit a bit lower. May save you the trouble of having to purchase an aftermarket seat, just something to consider.