That last question is impossible to answer, as you never know how well a bike is maintained by listening to their owners.

I would agree with some of your mods. Being the radiator guard for which chicken wire (the stuff with the fine holes) works well so far, and the foam between the frame and the radiator is tested and works well.
The clips are easily done and I did that one because I didn’t like the look of the OEM ones. But really, when would you have to take them off.
There are a few options on the chain gang forum on the oil return line. Depending on how much money you want to throw at it, it can be taken care of.
I agree on the subframe bolts, but haven’t seen any issues with the side stand bolt. But in saying that, I never felt that I could sit on the bike while on the side stand, so this could be something I should have a look at. Thanks for the tip.
I also agree on it being not such a bad idea to take a lot of stuff off to do the valve check. Because it’s a good excuse to change oil properly, clean the filter and check the battery fluid level (if you have one of those batteries). It’s still is a bit of a pain though.
The waterpump issue sucks but is well know.
As for the electrical issue I agree with the loosening of the battery bolt and also the side stand switch, but other bikes also have this as I experienced myself. The voltage regulater has also failed on some F’s.

The others I’m not sure about. The steering head bearing thing is hard to judge for me as most people (I reckon) don’t grease them up when they get the bike. Same for the swing arm bearings. This is something that got pointed out to me when I did a maintenance course. I added heaps of grease on my brand new one, and they were not very greasy at all when I looked at them. I’ll bring some spares, but will be interested to find out the mileage of the OEM ones. As for the tool for this. I didn’t use one greasing the bearing, and while scanning the FAQ on the chain gang on this topic didn’t see a mention of it. Do you mean the socket with the 2 prongs on it?
Similar for the fuel regulator that has the filter integrated. I added a separate fuel filter just before it and will be interested to see if that will keep all the crut out of the regulator. Can only find out.
Also for the seals. I’ve put some sealsavers on them and am interested to see how long the seals will last. I’m still taking some though. Honda do them as well apparently.
Don’t think you can call the shim thing a problem. Just comes with the valve design. Most people from what I read don’t have to change them often.

I quite liked doing a ‘few’ mods (which I would have done on any bike I would have bought for an overland trip) as it’s a good opportunity to get familiar with the bike. Something I didn’t do on the last trip which turned out to be unnecessarily ‘interesting’. I might have done things reducing the longevity of the bike. But that’s someone else’s problem now.

Other mod I have done are:
Removing the possum scraper, oil drain valve, bar risers, centre stand (thrown in by dealer), bash plate extension guard, centre stand bash plate, engine guard, fairing guard, NB’s crap flap, luggage racks (only fitted the rear one so far), battery upgrade, Fastway foot pegs, Stebel horn, spotties, volt meter, mirror upgrade (FAR hinged ones), stainless steel oil filter, foam air filter, headlight protector, front sprocket cover, fork spring and emulator, an 8 circuit accessories wiring loom, tool tube in front of the bash plate, Philips xtreme headlight (keeping the stock ones as spares. Need spares anyway, might as well get some better ones and fit them).

Mods still on the list are: flexible indicators, shocks, flexible oil return hose, maybe handlebars but probably can’t be bothered.
I would have done the big stuff in any case but wouldn’t have done if I wouldn’t have bought this bike for an overland trip. But than again, I probably wouldn’t have gone this bike either.
Parts out of the ordinary that I’m taking other than some I mentioned above are a spare oil pressure sensor, valve and some engine side cover gasgets just in case. Needed them on the last trip.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Yes the Socket with 2 prongs for the Head Bearings.

Shims could be a problem if you dont take spares. I will check mine before I leave and take a few suitable sizes.

Will add a regulator to my list.

You don't need it. Read at the bottom of here
It's only to use the correct torque but on every other bike you just use feel.

As for the valves. It's good to have a look to see what's in your bike even when you're not going on a new trip. Good check on torques and all that.

Personally I'm not going to take the voltage regulator/ rectifier as it's quite large. Instead I'll check with the dealers in the UK to see if it's a stocked item. They're not cheap either. And I don't think it a that regulare failure like the waterpump.
Dave Lambeth told me to take magneto coils. Expensive and large, but he said they have been known to fail. We put quite a bit of heat on it on both XT's and they were fine. But with the XT they're not readily available. Hence the check on the F. I'll have a few parts packaged at home ready to be send out. Haven't worked out a list for that yet though.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

You are correct, the tool for the steering head bearings is probably excessive but I may take one. I worked as an engineer for a company producing 'Tightening Systems' for the automotive industry and learnt good practice of ensuring all bolts are correctly torqued. I will take a small torque wrench on my trip.
What ever spares you take you wont need, something else will fail....
Why ? because thats the nature of adventure, to test you and help you grow. A great test is bike failure and the inherent problems and solutions needed to resolve it.

Back on topic.

Where are all the F650GS riders ? We would value your opinions....

Exactly!

The recent information about prepping the F650 has been good, and is relevant enough to the original question - no other bike, or rider, sets off for a long trip without dealing with the known problems.

I am as bad as anyone for going but there have to be some more F650 riders out there right now who can tell us how their bike is performing.

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Dave

opcorn: (crap, that doesn't work. Ah well, you're getting the message)

Meanwhile. Aren't torque wrenches really sensitive to abuse? Sitting in the pannier can't be good for it possibly giving false torques, etc. I'm still not sure about bringing one.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

I had the 1999 funduro f650 ran well. Liked lower octane more than high. I got any where from 35 MPG to 70 MPG. Burned exhaust gaskets more than I liked. Getting the air box off was less than fun. Last problem I had was an electrical box under the seat. Service did such a poor job I traded the bike in. Not a bad bike but for the money there are better bikes that will do the job I need done.

But if you want to know about the F650 go to The Chain Gang

The source of all things F650. ALL THINGS. Want to know how to field strip the motor some one there will know, have done it, and have notes. Want the specks on a 1996 piston they will have it. How much torque to put on the left top water pump bolt of a 2004 GS they go it. How a GS handiles in the snow or sand or 13,000 feet. known octane problems? What brakes on the bikes? Just ask them, use there search first its been asked and answers more than one probably.

Still think BMW needs to remake the R80GS loose all the silly stuff that sells R1200GS to people on the showroom. The F800 a nice bike will be near the price of a R1200gs when the USA get them. Just a strong framed no frills bike. And own RTW/Adventure bikes.

Your right they dont like abuse. Going to do some research, It may be the case that mechanical ones suffer more from vibrations. Electric types using transducers should hold up better. Will pack it between my tent and sleeping bags.

Looks like the best way to find out how reliable the F650GS is will be to take one RTW.

If I take a.....
..Honda I will be expecting reliability, if it fails I will be sad
..BMW I expect it to fail frequently, I may be pleasantly surprised

Chain Gang and F650.co.uk dont give much detail about RTW problems. Travellers website give a better indication. One site I am following is this
The Statistics the stats are a great idea.

We´re put off by the title of the thread - the presumption being they are crap in the first place and we have to change other's (closed) minds.

Seems to me, all bikes are crap for anything more than 2 weeks away from home - just that their owners' don't know it.

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

If the 650GS is crap then the owners has to be real heroes!
Loads of people drive them on hard trips all over the world and the strange thing is that they seem to like it. Weird people…


Sidenote:
If you check the latest e-zine you will find that the 650GS is the most common bike, airheads come as number two..

Yes, got to agree that is how it struck me when I first read it and I was not greatly inclined to bother reading it, never mind putting finger to key.

But, I am glad that it is still active, because any casual reader would get the overall impression that the F650 does not work well, if at all, in South America but it is fine in the rest of the world - can this, in fact, be true?

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Dave

Assuming that something catastrophic doesn't happen (like you crash really hard and trash your carefully chosen pannier system two weeks into the four-year RTW) at some point after you take off, you realize you have way too much stuff - and start to appreciate what is really important. Also because you are plain tired of repacking useless crap.

I'll put down money that the steering head tools and torque wrench become ´the departed´at some point. Of course, if I put down too much money, you´ll prove me wrong.

One only needs to carry spare parts when one realizes the parts they are using are just about worn out in the first place. Why carry spares when you won't need them for another xx,000 kms? (like spare brake pads, when the ones you started with were new - or should have been). Its shortly before you get to xx that it makes sense to have them handy.

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quastdog
Chiang Mai, Thailand

Hi Ted, hope all is fine for you! Where are you?

As the very unhappy owner of a F650, 2004 model, that just had to be towed away yesterday....

As you know I´ve had my share of bike problems since my trip started with ABS, seals, electrics, speedo, master cilynder ... you name it...

Now yesterday while I spent 4 hours waiting for a tow truck to pick me up, 60km from Bariloche I had lots of time to think!
Seriously considering another bike for my next trip (London - Sydney). I am sick and tired of snobby BWM attitude and utter comtempt for their customers and also of the bad low quality gear that started desintegrating within weeks of buying them (2 santiago suits and 1 pair of boots boots... all awful!) .
Not helped by really bad attitude of BMW dealers and the incompetence of their workshop (See my blog to find more: entry "the day BWM tried to kill me" gives you an idea!)

By now I tell you I HATE BMW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And... I did not have notorious problems with my rear schock or water pump because I replaced them all before starting my trip! (Recommend White power shocks, superb!)

However, the Rotax engine is very good. No complaint there. For the rest I agree with Ted, something like a DR650 would be maybe a better choice.

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

I’m getting a little fatigued of the BMW bashing, model bashing, etc.

Look, not EVERY F650 is crap NOR is the DR650 the greatest bike in the world. Both bikes have been produced for long periods of time and they’ve had a variety of upgrades that make them fairly different every five years or so.

If you pick an F650 from 2002-2007, it will be different than an F650 from 1998-2002, etc. Do your research and don’t trust the sales/marketing guys…its your ass that will be on the side of the road waiting for a two truck…IF you happen to be lucky enough to have one available in the area you’re riding in.

No bike is perfect, but based on the trip(terrain, duration, etc) you’re taking…get to know your bike beforehand and be prepared to deal with minor issues along the way...part of the adventure!

Now if your final drive goes…that’s another thing! BUT I agree…the current BMW stuff and dealers are crap

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edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com

I especially like the "....what is really important"
part. You cannot be proved wrong ....you are clearly correct.

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!