F650 - help please

Hi All

I have been lurking here for yonks and know there are several BMW owners
here and others with a wealth of experience. I could really do with a
bit of help!

I have been thinking about getting myself a bike to commute on - 20
miles each way on the almost stationary A14 through Cambridgeshire (

I had thought about an Enfield 500 but second hand they make for than I
h8ave available. Then I saw this advert here in Cambridge

............................................................

Red 1994 BMW F650
MOT June 09, tax end Nov 08
22,000 miles
Very good condition
Continental Escape tyres
Recent new clutch
BMW top box included

800 pounds


photos at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22636097@N05/with/2865910030/

............................................................





Don't know much about BMWs except that some models are rated - I'd guess
this isn't one of them? Assuming it has no major vices - is it worth
looking at? Is the F650 a lemon that I would never be able to get rid
of or will cost me a fortune to keep it going?

All guidance would be welcome!

I suppose i should also point out that I am the wrong side of 45, 6 foot
tall, 130 kgs (yes 130kgs), don't have the time to be stripping a bike
down every weekend to keep the damned thing running, need something
reliable, handles well and not prone to bad behaviour on the road!

I am not looking for anything quick or racey - chug a lug is ok (hence
considering an Enfield!) A decent MPG would also be a definite bonus!

I don't think I am ready to get an old Honda C90 just yet!



regards


Dudley

 

No, they're good bikes. Really. This is an early one, so built in Italy
rather than Germany and with electrics that are slightly prone to
corosion (as one might expect).

Very tough, performs very well for a single...

That said, don't expect much performance with 130kg on the seat.

 

What he said ....

I have a 95 F650 Funduro and it's a pleasant bike. As is common with 650
singles with light cranks it doesn't like slogging under 3000 rpm, but use
the gear box to keep it spinning above that and it's really nice. It'll bop
along nicely around 75 ish. Motorway use is OK but they're not the best
motorway tool. My commute to the office is about 20 miles of quiet A and B
roads and one dual carriageway It copes excellently.

Top speed is about 100 - 105. I get around 50 mpg.

What I like about them is, being a single, the thump thump thump power
delivery feels really pleasant. Handling is very good, I use Avon
Distanzia's found them better than Conti Escapes.

www.f650.com
and
www.f650.co.uk

are useful owners sites

The one in your ad looks a good price with low mileage.


--
Steve Parry
BMW R80RS, BMW R45, 03 BMW R1100S Boxercup, 07 K1200GT SE
95 BMW F650, 87 Yamaha FS1, Sukida SK90PY, 91 Kawasaki AR50,
07 VW Passat SE Estate for comfort
www.gwynfryn.co.uk

 

So a GS500 would do the job just as well or better then.
Hmmmm ....

 

Thanks for the replies.

So on the whole it sounds as though it would be just the thing for me.

Apart from the wiring corrosion issue is there anything else to watch
out for? Any other gotchas??


regards


Dudley

 

one other thing - its been a while since I have had bike insurance and
then it was classic insurance through Carole Nash and cost me all of
about 80 quid a year for my old BSA. So where do I go to get cheap bike
insurance from nowdays?

 

 So where do I go to get cheap bike

Go for the BMW, get BMW insurance from your nearest dealer.

I am 51, live in the West Mids have 5+ years NCB and pay £109 pa to
fully comp cover a 2003 F650GS and an 83 R80RT. If you do buy the BMW
fit a scottoiler for the chain ASAP

Boxerboy

 

as would a load of other machines but that wasn't what was asked was it?

--
Steve Parry
BMW R80RS, BMW R45, 03 BMW R1100S Boxercup, 07 K1200GT SE
95 BMW F650, 87 Yamaha FS1, Sukida SK90PY, 91 Kawasaki AR50,
07 VW Passat SE Estate for comfort
www.gwynfryn.co.uk

 

Mine's with Devitt. dunno how competitve it is, mind.

 

The message <>

 

I could be tempted by something else but it would have to fit into my
criteria -

well behaved frame
reliable
economical on fuel
easy for parts and fairly cheap
inexpensive to insure
riding position has to be more upright than prone - ie like the F650 or
an Enfield etc - I am getting (or at least feeling) too old and stiff to
do drop bars, racing seats and high pegs!


I often see people here talking about the latest someting or other they
have bought for 50p with a years MOT and another three bikes in boxes
for spares (ok so thats a slight exaggeration) but I guess you need to
move in the right circles to get wind of these bikes when they come up
for sale - and to keep your head down when your latest fleabay
aquisition turns out to be a crock )


regards


Dudley

 

Just had a quote from Carole Nash


Norwich Union
F/Comp
46 years old
no convictions/points etc
unlimited mileage
class 1 - multiple places of work etc
no NCD available to bring to this policy
rider is type 2 diabetic

also included in price, policy not available without them though
Axa breakdown cover - inc homestart
legal protection

£169 policy
£250 excess


I'd hoped to get it cheaper but the dedicated bike breakdown cover is
quite attractive and I would think costs no less than £40 or £50 to buy
separately.

I'll give the CIS and Devitt a ring and see what they can do.


regards




Dudley

 

I'd say give Footman James a call as well.

 

Considering you've got no NCB, it doesn't sound bad at all.

Depends where you live, of course. It sounds cheap for my neck of SW
London, but if you live on Stornaway it might be considered pricey.

 

Here are the 3 quotes so far

Carole Nash

Devitt
NIG
details as above except no breakdown

£114.81 with £250 excess (£350 for theft)
£162.25 with £100 excess and 3rd party cover on any other bike not owned
by me

breakdown cover is extra
Green Flag standard - no homestart £49
Green Flag (next level up) with Homestart and European £69




BMW owners scheme
NIG via Devitt
£175 excess
upto 4 bikes - all BMW
legal protection
£5k death cover
unlimited genuine BMW accessories
NO breakdown

£230

seems a bit off that Devitt can do the policy so much cheaper to me as
Joe Public than they can via the BMW owners scheme.




CO OP

details as above

This one is an absolute doozy

fully comp £100 excess
with breakdown and legal £691
without breakdown and legal £637


mmmmm - don't think CO OP are really looking for my business. The bod
at the call centre couldn't see any particualr reason why the policy was
so high and i gave all the same answers to the CO OP as i did to the
other insurers



I'll try and wander in WH Smiths at lunch time and thumb through to see
who else might be able to offer insurance

 

Cambridgeshire, well Huntingdon (twin town with Purgatory) to be precise

 

Just given Footman James a ring

again with NIG
£250 excess
breakdown cover but not homestart
legal protection
unlimited mileage
£108.60

which looks pretty good to me - just need to check out that breakdown
cover to be sure it doesn't have any other major exclusions other than
not having homestart



regards


Dudley

 

My wife has used the recovery with her Footman James policy without a
hitch.
I've not needed mine yet but I did need recovered twice when I was still
insured with Carole Nash.
First time was with a puncture just off the M6 and the recovery was
prompt & useful - picked us up & phoned round the Carlisle bike shop
till he found one which could sort us out.
The second time was after a shunt in the Netherlands and they were 'kin
useless - the recovery company decided my Laverda was beyond economic
repair & therefore refused to repatriate it, they hadn't even taken it
to the Dutch bike shop they had told me it was been taken to so if it
wasn't for a helpful bloke from the Dutch Laverda club I may never have
seen that bike again. Had to hire a van and go recover it myself. Carole
Nash's call centre staff told a fair few lies to me about that claim as
well.

 

Which is precisely why I mentioned the GS500. Ticks all the boxes.

 

ah but the thing is - where is there one for sale local to me,
reasonably priced, low mileage and in excellent nick?