Why do you consider the F650GS/F700GS a newbie or girl bike?

I know most of you will say to just ride what you want and don't worry about what everybody else thinks but...

I get the impression that unless you are at least on a F800, you are settling on a inferior bike.

What I really don't understand is that the Vstrom DL650 is considered a perfectly respectable bike but has a smaller motor than the F650. How does that make any logical sense.

Is the F650/700 to BMW what a sportster is to HD? Will calling it a F700GS change the mindset?

You are correct; ride what you like and don't worry about it. I just went from a KTM 450 EXCR (Considered one of the best hardcore street legal trail bikes) to a pair of KLX 250s. Honestly I have more fun on the pair of KLX's. The BMW F650GS has a low seat height and that is why it is utilized by women.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80741546@N07/7833910680/" title="Untitled by TheDouble-D, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8438/7833910680_df4c52a467.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Untitled"></a>

Sort answer... no... way to heavy... awkwardly long wheelbase for a noob

It's rather obvious when you sit the F650GS and the F800GS next to each other that one has a much more aggressive look, I guess you could call it masculine. The side panels with the big air intakes, the beak, the twin discs, the bigger spoked wheels and the thicker USD fork legs etc all contribute to that. I personally think the F650GS looks pretty ugly stock, that's why I modded mine.

On the new 2013s the difference is much less noticeable, and the F700GS is improved a lot. Still prefer the old F800GS bodywork over the newer models, though.

One non-rider told me that this bike (F800 in Kalamatta versus Sertao) looks more manly because of the color.

"That bike looks better than your last bike."
"Why?"
"It looks more manly"
"Really, in what way?"
"Well for one the color..."

I get compliments on the looks, particularly the aggressive styling and the size/height. Throw some knobbies on it and it will look even better.

The only reason I thought my F650 was a n00b bike was the dealer said so. While trying to sell me a R1200GS. I was told that the F650 was for people looking for their first bike, not so much as a second or beyond.

I "downgraded" from a Speed Triple to the F700.

Aside from the fact that I don't give a rat's ass about what other people say (since I'm the one who's riding the bike, not them), the reason why I did it, is because I needed a bike that was easier and more relaxing to ride.

The Triple was a powerful bike, kinda jumpy and definitely targeted to high-power, high-performance type of riding. Fun, but in the end, I didn't want to deal with the stress of keeping the bike under surveillance every second.

With the F700 I feel that I can relax more.

It's still a motorcycle and while the engine is not the most powerful out there, it's got quite a kick to it, so the F700 still demands that the rider pays attention and gives it the appropriate amount of respect.

That being said, having "less" bike to deal with, makes riding much more fun.

Plus it's lighter than the 1200 ... which means that offroad, with the appropriate tires, would be less challenging to negotiate around rough terrain.

This is one case where I feel that less is more.

And again, I couldn't care less about what other people think..

Good point about the DL650, and while it's very valid I still feel like a dork riding my wife's F698 while my F8 is out of commission. Maybe it's the fact that my knees are up around my shoulders, or at least it feels like it.

It's still a great bike to ride though, in fact I like it equally on pavement. And her mileage is phenomenal.

Well in this case I can confirm that it is 100% your imagination, as long as they have the same seats on them the seat to peg distance is exactly the same. :huh

I passed my driving licence in france on a F650GS twin. It was amazing and I loved it. After that I bought a F650GS single and now I have a F800GS. I don't think that the F650GS twin is an inferior bike. It's smooth and I don't think that the +14 (or somewhat) hp you get more from the F8GS is relevant. I took the 8GS because I wanted spoked wheels and a 6th gear for the highway. Since the F650GS twin is coming without the spoked wheels I got the F800GS (and honestly I dig the design of the 8GS). But anyway I don't think that I'd be unhappy with a 658gs. It's comfy, smooth, has all the options I like and a farkle list as long as my arm.

Hers is lowered, with a lowered "low" seat . It's not my imagination, the ground's a lot closer.

Forks.

Well, you can call it a girls bike, or a beginners bike, but I'm neither and I love my 658. Does it have it's faults? Certainly. I wish the front forks were better and that the rear suspension was better (I'm starting to work on that), but I chased one of the best riders I know thru the back roads of Vermont a few weeks ago and he didn't loose me even on stock suspension. Now, my R1200RT has Wilbers suspension front and rear so it's no slouch in the handling department, but I still prefer to ride the 658 unless I'm headed for somewhere "far - far" away where I know I'll be riding a lot of slab and thru a lot of weather to get there.

The 658's combination of reasonably low weight and reasonable power makes it ideal for the back roads of New England. And when you find that one of those back roads turns to dirt, it's no big deal, you just keep on motoring along. The only performance change I've made so far was dropping to a 16 tooth front sprocket (with the stock 41 tooth rear) and to my mind that really helped it on the back roads. It probably hurt it on the slab, but it didn't appear to hurt my gas milage, it gave me a usable 5th & 6th gear, and it helped it's low speed dirt road performance.

Are there better "speciality" bikes (touring, sport, off-road, etc)? Absolutely! But if what you want is one bike that is just as happy commuting to work as it is headed out onto the back roads for a week, you'd be hard pressed to find a better bike and I imagine the F700 is just as good.

I don't. Its the same engine, only my 650 doesn't require premium. I originally went in to test an F700, but the local dealer had sold both that morning. They did have a demo 650 though... several days later I took her home. The extra 2k+ for a little extra power and slightly worse gearing and wheels for slab made the decision easy. I have no illusions of spending much, if any, time offroad, I just loved the ergo's and powerplant. Its been 3 weeks now and I have zero regrets! This machine blows my old ninja 650 and Bonneville out of the water, at everything. Now my boss wants to get a 700 because he is jealous, whoops

I've ridden all sizes and never felt bad about riding smaller bikes. In college I had a series of old Japanese bikes. One of the ones I had the longest was a KZ400. It was fun and would break the ton as they say in England but I had lots of people (who weren't riding by the way) say that they wouldn't ride anything smaller than a 750.

I think it's like big trucks. The bigger your truck or the more CCs you have the smaller your dick. Before you get too mad, I drive a Dodge Ram and have an 1100 GS.

Chad

+1

76 R90S first bmw followed by 1150GS, 1300GT, 1200GSA and now a 2012 F650GS The R90S was a kick. The next three were good bikes. Now, the kick is back. The 650 runs and shifts great. Has a 525 lb payload and gets 60mpg + on the road. Is 125 lbs lighter than the 1200 GSA and does handle different. But the 650 is a kick to ride I have close to, if not over, 100,000 miles on beemers so I guess I am no longer a noob. Hell, if you like a 34 cc turnpike rocket with a web seat enjoy it!!!! I met a 6' 2" + 650 rider on my 8500 mile ride this summer and he has about 100K on his 650. Carries hs dog with him. He thinks tyhe 1200 GS bikes are nice, but his 650 is a hoot. critics go easy please.

Having been riding 36 years, I have come to a conclusion, and here we go!
Ten (not top ten) reasons people pick a bike:
1. It is available
2. They can afford it
3. It is what they "think" they want
4. They believe it will be Awesome!
5. "It's not too Big..Small...etc..."
6. My wife won't care ;-)
7. Women will think it's cool
8. My buddies will think it's cool
9. Everyone will think I'm awesome!
10. I can sell it later and make $$ lol
11. (No, I can't count) I've done research, talked to a lot of people, ridden numerous bikes, thought about it at length, and made a decision that myself and my wife are happy with.
All of these reasons are real. Numbers 1-10 are from one of my friends. 11 is from me. Ride the bike you like! If someone wants you to ride another bike, invite them to buy one for you, and not to be disappointed if it sits a lot. I tend to buy things I fully expect to keep for a while and I take care of them as well. I ride hard, drive hard, play hard and I still maintain my things. Good luck!

IMO pick the bike that fits you and what you ride best. I may even joke that the F series is a his and her bike, but it is a good bike. I picked the 800 because I'm 6'5" and 250lbs, I ride more aggressive off road so the higher suspension is needed and 21" frount tire. My girlfriend picked the 650 and loves it but rides mostly forest service road. So I feel it's what fits you and what you ride.

I don't. It stands on its own merits.

Fred