2005 F650 GS German Built Version - Austrian Engine - 23,530 miles

A really nice example of this increasingly rare model that was used for errands long & short for my daily rider for the past (4) years. Cosmetics are an 8.5/10, and is mechanically PERFECT. I am the second owner having purchased the bike from Bob's BMW (Motorcycles) in Jessup, MD. My understanding is that the original owner used it for commuting in Manhattan for several years and then it went dormant when he moved to Washington D.C. for work.

When I took possession I went through the entire bike making sure everything worked as it should and surprisingly there was very little to do. It had about 10k on it when I purchased it, and the fuel system was clean and worked perfectly as the original owner had carefully mothballed the bike when it went into hibernation. And before putting it into daily service I made some small improvements to make it more suitable/safer for daily riding.

First I added a LiPO4 battery conversion and a 5000 lumen LED Headlight kit from SuperBright LEDs. For Winter ops I added heated grips and for phone obsessed car drivers I added a Denali Air horn with a separate fused relay circuit to feed it. The horn has been moved to its replacement (I bought a new leftover Moto Guzzi V85TT) and the switch to new iron was primarily because I need a bike with a bit more highway capability as I now use the daily rider for some longer business trips. But the original horn is still in place and functional, and I put another small 12 VDC horn (from the new Moto Guzzi) on the relay output so it has a dual horn setup currently. Adding another Denali Air horn would be very easy to do - they even have a bracket to fit this model! I highly recommend this horn to everyone - it is a lifesaver, literally.

Other upgrades include an LED strobing brake light kit (using the OEM light fixture) and an additional Denali strobing LED brake light which is very bright. The combination of the LED headlight and improved rear visibility additions make it suitable for serious night riding as some of my trips during the winter are after dark. The original owner added (2) H3 halogen driving lights, probably state of the art when he or she did so, and they are separately switched and fused. They do a little to light up the darkness peripherally, and they do make for superior frontal recognition - I ride with them on day or night. And I should mention I am an Electrical Engineer by training, so all the wiring and electrical improvements that I have done are Class A with appropriate fusing and solid soldered connections.
I used this bike for my daily business, and I needed it to be as reliable as an anvil - and it is. It is ready to go back into daily use if you so choose, or it can be an enjoyable BDR rider, or just a fun bike to putz around on. The 650 single is very torquey, and for an ADV type bike its street handling is truly noteworthy. If you are a sporting type it is safe and easy to wear off the chicken strips on a set of tires. Not long after I got it I realized why so many folks really love this model, it is just one of those nice, calm motorcycles that is fun to ride fast if you want to, but is also perfectly happy commuting in heavy traffic or riding a section of the BDR. And I did ride it on the section of the PA BDR-X loop from McElhattan to the New York border and back, and with the Trailmax tires on it it handled that trek with aplomb.

And for the F650 cognoscenti - as I learned when searching for this model there are many newer, less desirable, and (IMHO) less noteworthy incarnations of this model. Some have Chinese assembled engines with Austrian parts, some have all Chinese engines, some were assembled in Germany, and some were not. BMW even sold one version with the 850 twin engine it but still branded a 650 - go figure! However the bottom line is, the originals with the Austrian engine parts and Austrian assembled engines, that were assembled in Germany (like this one) are the ones that true aficionados of this model want. From what I have heard all the others are perfectly fine bikes, but the diehard fans want this version. Personally I am not that much of an F6450 snob, but as this one presented itself nearby, and I was lucky enough to recognize what it was, I jumped on it.

Of course I've also taken care of all maintenance items, replacing the chain and sprockets at 20,000 miles, and I have given the bike regular oil & filter changes at 4000 mile intervals as it was used for many short trips. I even 3D printed a special oil filter drain funnel that keeps the engine and frame clean when performing this task. This bike is a dry sump design with water cooling and a huge oil capacity, so my change interval is probably overkill but I wanted to preserve it. I am pretty sure one of these could go 100k plus if properly maintained. Both front fork seals have been replaced when one started weeping earlier this year, and all wheel bearings have been inspected and properly packed. Tires are carefully balanced, it is smooth at the ton with even wear. And naturally there have been several tire replacements while in my care, the latest set are Dunlop TrailMAX tires which I found are not only great on dirt roads but also handle better on the street (especially in the wet) than the previous Continental tires it had.

The bike comes with some spare parts (oil filter/air filter/drain plug washers) as well as a full Factory Shop Manual and Owners manual. It has the original OEM toolkit still in it, and it is in excellent condition. Filly licensed, and insured, and of course I have a clear Pennsylvania title. The bike recently passed PA State Inspection which is good until June of 2026

I also have a set of OEM BMW Paniers (expandable type) for the bike, it has the post type OEM mounts on it along with the Panier brackets. These paniers are available for additional cost.

The motorcycle starts, runs, rides, and handles perfectly, I would like to find it a good home with someone who appreciates it.

Cheers,
Fred