THE NEW F650GS

[Nny]

I stopped by my local BMW dealership today and the sales manager hadn't heard about the new F650 but she had heard about the F800GS coming in (in a few weeks most likely) so I'm guessing the new F650 is not coming here.  Not that sales managers are the most well informed people, but I'd imagine they know what's coming in to their shop pretty well.  

[Joey Stalin]

it look,s better in these video,s than it does in the pictures, i think .  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVTzhzoh4WA

I could go faster than that on that trail on my RT! Methinks they're doing something intentionally in these videos and the 800GS videos. One is slow on road/fast off and one is fast on road/slow off.

[Mastros2]

Why did BMW remove the 650 single?  That was a great, reliable engine.  Also, great on gas.  I would'ove thought that BMW would keep it for their "beginner's" bike line.  Love the looks of the f800gs though.  

[Nny]

Well, the engine is still in the x moto, x country, and the x challenge...

[mr moto]

Why did BMW remove the 650 single?  That was a great, reliable engine.  Also, great on gas.  I would'ove thought that BMW would keep it for their "beginner's" bike line.  Love the looks of the f800gs though.  
[/quote
i had a 650 dakar for a while , and it was a great bike but..... i dont know how many times i wished for a little more go from the engine , and a lot less vibes at motorway/freeway speeds .here in the uk the new twin engined 650 will cost only £100.00 more than the old single cylinder engined bike , but it will have around 20 horsepower more than the old single cylinder , and possibly even better fuel economy ! it,s just what i want and need from an all round do it all bike . i think this bike could go on to be even more successful than the old 650 single .
also BMW have said that from now on all it,s 650 single cylinder engines will be built under licence in china .
 with china,s record  of poor quality control in a lot of it,s product,s i do not see myself paying BMW prices for something...made in china .

[Oilhed]

my insurance company asks me for the displacement, so i can tell them it's 650cc.  i think, in legal terms, that's called fraud.  

definitely a stupid model designation.    

I agree.  I think it's a Euro thing.  Under XXXcc or under XXhp and noobs can ride it.  So they call it a 650 and it is detuned enough.  Then you can open it up later.  I do like the trellis frame and mags.  Dumb name.

[jsanford]

My understanding is that it's not coming to the US until 2009, if at all.

I'm rather peeved about it since the X-bikes aren't practical learners (freeway wind blast, anyone?) as the F650GS was.

[Nny]

Eh... the wind screen on the F650 didn't do much anyway..  

I've heard good things about the Xcountry.  I sat on one last year at a motorcycle show and it was pretty comfy.

[Mastros2]

Well, the engine is still in the x moto, x country, and the x challenge...

Yeah, realized this about 2hrs after I posted.  Thanks though.