Sport-Touring.Net - Impressions of a GSX650F

I've been thinking of selling my GSXR1000 and buying something a bit more user friendly. I like the look of the 1250 Bandit, but don't like the costs associated with it, mainly rear tires, and insurance.

My local dealership has a demo GSX650F, so yesterday I decided to ask them if I could take it for a test ride. Seeing as I am a grey haired, overly mature looking, and was standing next to my GSXR, I guess they thought maybe I could handle the power.

GSX650F
Firstly, I don't mind the look of the bike, but think I prefer the look of the regular 650 more. What I did like was the riding position while sitting on it in the showroom.

Riding out of the lot I immediately noticed that the engine was very smooth. The ride was firm and balanced. The riding position, now that I was on the bike, gave me plenty of legroom, but now for some reason I found the bend in the bars annoying, and the riding position because of it, was not to my liking. I would fit different bars if I were ever to buy one.

On the open road the bike cruised nicely. At 6000 rpm it was doing around 120k (74 mph). It did this quite effortlessly. I stayed in 6th gear and coasted down to 3000 rpm. I then gave it a handful and it had no problem going up a slight slope without lugging. This is a very torquey engine!

I took it through some twisties and the handling was stable. On a twisty road where you cannot use the power of a GSXR, a good rider on this bike would have no trouble staying with one.

The brakes were (bike only had 150k on it) were very good, but slightly grabby.

There was a slight buzziness on the left side of the gas tank, that was not felt through the rest of the bike. Other than that, as I have said, very smooth. The only glitch in the FI on this particular bike was if you closed the throttle quickly and then opened it fairly sharply, there was a slight hesitation, and it did not come in smoothly initially.

As a commuter bike, I think this machine would be ideal!

Any downsides? Not really, other than the fact that it felt a bit generic, did everything very well, but not great. I guess that is a compliment in a way, isn't that what a lot of people say about Honda's?

After the ride I got back on my GSXR. I have Heli's on it so it is not quite as hunched over as some. Initially, first mile, the ride felt slightly harsh, but very shortly after that I became used to it again. Loved the taughtness of the bike, the instant grunt (gotta do something about the too high footpegs) the feel of the engine. Nothing generic about this bike.

I like big motors, so I don't see this bike as a first bike for me. If the 1250's ride and handling is as good as the GSX650F, then I could see buying one of them, throw on some Givv's, and go touring.

Topic: Impressions of a GSX650F (Read 814 times)