Seventy F650 owners took the time to fill in our online survey this month. Strengths: Ease of ownership, economy, long service intervals, quite versatile. The bike is light at 450 lbs, nimble around town, and relatively stable at highway speeds. The Ohlins rear shock installed gives a very solid ride! The bike may have been named the Funduro, but this winter ride was no fun at all. Roomier for circus freaks like me and a more flexible engine which has proven itself durable. In fact my only real complaint with the motor is its occasional tendency to cut out at low speed, generally when I was trickling through traffic on cold mornings.
Serious dirt riding is not perhaps what the F650 was built for. Rotax's dry-sump lubrication and single-piece connecting rod were retained but the engine's roller bearings were changed to low-friction plain bearings in the interests of longer life and reduced mechanical noise. Easy to carry a passenger on. The bike is at it's best short-shifting whilst flipping from side to side through bends on country roads. But faced with mud, water, sand or big bumps, it would inevitably be outclassed by bikes with serious suspension travel and grippier tyres. Plastic quality and ham fistedness is the cause.
A square-section steel frame carries engine oil in its top tube and uses the engine as a stressed-member to increase rigidity. Now the memories are coming back. The Michelin tires have plenty of tread left. I couldn't be happier with this deal. Bmw f650 funduro front wheel very cute and for 125. Around town the upright riding position helps with viewing the traffic, especially if there are alot of truck, vans and suv's around.
Background Being a company particularly wedded to the idea of selling a certain kind of bike to a certain type of customer, the F650 was unusual in that its appearance was all about targeting and breaking into a brand new market for the Munich company. The chassis is derived from that of the Pegaso, based around a steel, single-downtube frame which incorporates the oil tank in its main spine. Super fun, easy if you are learning, easy if you are old school. While engine vibration makes some dual-sport singles a chore to ride at freeway speeds, the F650 is as smooth as many multis. The vertical, rising-rate monoshock can be adjusted for rebound damping, with a conventional screw at the bottom of the unit, and for spring preload using a remote knob on the left of the bike. The F650 motor also differs in having a plain-bearing rather than roller-bearing crankshaft, a gear-driven balancer shaft and a new stainless steel exhaust system. The Aprilia is a different bike that does share several key components but rides very differently.
That may be the weak point. Don't let anybody tell you that a ride on knobbies will shake your teeth loose! These Rotax engines are known for their bulletproof design and go for well over 150,000 miles and with only 30,000 miles currently on the bikes you have many years of enjoyment. Chassis design is fairly straightforward. No F650 is complete without a membership in the online F650 group called The Chain Gang. The valves were recently adjusted and the exhaust has been modified for improved low-end performance and power. And have to keep a bit of throttle to keep it running. The dealer keeps on claiming it is my fault.
This is a practical roadster that you could ride around town in the week, and load up with a passenger and luggage for a longer trip at the weekend. Finally they gave it a daft name. Water pump weep from spindle seal. Race Tech Fork Springs Reinforced springs in the front forks for serious on-off road, as well as the protective boots. Photos are the winning images from over 600 entries in the! Aftermarket exhausts are rare with just 18% having had one fitted. A twin-piston caliper grabbing a 10.
It was available in a lowered model with lower seat height from a shorter rear shock, a standard model, and a taller more off-road oriented 'Dakar' model. The heart of its appeal is the simple, easygoing nature of the Rotax derived single cylinder engine, which makes it an ideal bike for beginners, or those who just ride for relaxing fun. Similarly, exhaust gases are carried out by a pair of headers through twin ports. In each case I'd ridden only a few miles, but the engine had warmed up enough to idle without choke. The most expensive fix was when the chain broke in Carlsbad New Mexico. The bike has a legendary following and support by the chaingang, where you can find out anything you want to know about the bike. Seat comfort is good, allowing several hundred miles to pass without complaint.
There are a few scratches and scuffs here and there, consistent with a bit over 45k miles, but it looks very nice overall. Like many singles, the F650 can stall out annoyingly at idle when for example the lights go green and you open the throttle signalling a trip to the public halls of motorcycling shame. Great in traffic, very comfortable for touring, 60mpg most of the time, holds it's price, good supply of cheap parts new and used available'Motorworks'. That does sound really good. Front mudguard mounts can seize in fork legs. Some updates been done last year,new chain , sprockets and battery ,all fluids ,and tires got only 200 mi. One highlight was hooking up with some Dutch guys in 4x4s.
More importantly, the F650 radiates thoughtful design from the moment you ease yourself into a seat which, at 810mm, is both low and wide by the standards of big dual-purpose bikes most of whose seats are higher by 40mm or more. Should I plan to spend a lot of time working on the bike? It's what i was told. It's agile and powerful to ride, even two-up! Handguards are also popular and cheap. It also handled excellently in corners. Its loads smoother and doesn't cut out like my Honda used to. You must wonder why I'm selling it than? Shortened side and centerstands are included with the kit.