2001 BMW F 650 Gs Owner Complaints

2001 BMW F650GS FRONT FORK FAILURE - WHILE RIDING ON SMOOTH ASPHALT MY MOTORCYCLE SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FORK FAILURE DURING DECELERATION - BRAKING CAUSING THE AXLE TO SEPARATE FROM THE FORK AND CAUSING A ONE VEHICLE COLLISION RIDING IT INTO THE ESPLANADE - WHERE THE AXLE RETAINER BOLT SECURES THE AXLE. REPAIRS COMPLETED - REPLACE BOTH UPPER FORK TUBES / RIGHT SIDE LOWER AND REBUILD COST $800 CDN OLD LOWER - FAILURE IS AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10285955

Incident

Jun 30, 2003

Mileage

14,000 mi

I WAS INVOLVED IN A LOW SPEED <=45 MPH MOTORCYCLE CRASH WITH A MEDIUM SIZED DOG (APPROX 50 LBS) BACK IN THE FALL OF 2005. I WAS RIDING A 2001 BMW F650 WHEN THE DOG RAN OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I COULDN'T AVOID HITTING IT. I APPROXIMATE THE SPEED OF IMPACT AROUND 45 MPH. I SUBSEQUENTLY LOST CONTROL OF THE BIKE AND SLIDE ALONG THE PAVEMENT FOR APPROX 300 FT. THE DAMAGE TO THE BIKE CONSISTED OF A BROKEN FRONT FORK AND BENT FRONT WHEEL RIM. I HAD THE BIKE REPAIRED AND INSURANCE COVERED MOST OF THE DAMAGES TO THE BIKE. I DID SUFFER A KNEE INJURY IN THE CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10280426

Incident

Sep 25, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi

-MOTORCYCLE -BMW 2001 F650GS -SUNNY DAY -STRAIGHT, RURAL CITY STREET -35MPH -CROSSED RAILROAD TRACKS -60FT LATER FELT BRAKING FROM FRONT TIRE, THEN BIKE SLID OVER TO LEFT, ME TO RIGHT -PERSONAL INJURY: BROKEN COLLAR BONE, BRUISES, MEDIUM ROAD RASH, 10 HOURS AT HOSPITAL -FRONT FORK AXLE FLANGE WAS BROKEN, INTACT, FROM MAIN CYLINDRICAL SHOCK HOUSE, AS IF SOMEONE CUT THE FLANGE OUT OF THE CYLINDRICAL SHOCK. -NEW FRONT SHOCK WAS PURCHASED, AND NEW SHOCK HAS DESIGN CHANGE THAT INCLUDES A STRESS RELIEVING GUSSET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10252808

Incident

Jul 1, 2002

Mileage

1,400 mi

MY WIFE'S MOTORCYCLE, A BMW F650GS SEEMED TO BE SMELLING OF GASOLINE WHILE RUNNING IT. THE LEAK WAS NOT EVIDENT IN DRIPS OR A PUDDLE SO I BEGAN TO INVESTIGATE THE BIKE WHILE CONSEQUENTLY DOING OTHER MAINTENANCE. I FOUND A PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDER THE SEAT, ON TOP OF THE FUEL SENDING UNIT AREA. UPON CLOSER INVESTIGATION I FOUND A PIN HOLE SIZED LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK ITSELF, FROM WHICH FUEL WAS SPRAYING IN A STREAM. INVESTIGATING CLOSER I FOUND THAT THERE ARE MINUTE CRACKS ON THE TOP OF THE SAME AREA, AND FUEL WAS COMING UP THROUGH THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236289

Incident

Jul 26, 2008

Mileage

44,261 mi

I BOUGHT A BMW MOTORCYCLE ABOUT 3 1/2 YEARS AGO. IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. IT WAS RECALLED FOR FAULTY REAR BRAKE, SEVERAL FUEL INJECTION SOFTWARE UPGRAGES DUE TO HORRIBLE STALLING PROBLEMS, AND ON THE MESSAGE BOARD DEVOTED TO THE BMW 650 GS, I HEAR OF A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL FAILINGS. MINE STALLED SINCE NEW, I'VE BEEN THROUGH THEIR SOFTWAR UPGRADES THAT SOMETIMES MADE THINGS BETTER AND SOMETIMES NOT. NOW IT STALLS VERY BADLY AGAIN, BUT IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO I WOULD BE FORCED TO PAY BMW'S OUTRAGEIOUS SHOP RATES TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND FIXED. BY THE WAY, EVEN WHEN BMW WAS COMING OUT WITH SEVERAL SOFTWARE UPGRADES, THEY CONTINTUALLY DENIED THE PROBLEM. MY BIKE STALLS SO BADLY THAT I AM AFRAID TO RIDE IT FOR FEAR IT WILL STALL AT A TIME WHEN MY SAFETY WILL BE PUT IN JEOPARDY. SO, AT 3 1/2 YEARS OLD, IT HAS ONLY 4,000 MILES ON IT. THE WORST THING I HAVE HEARD OF LATE IS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE '01 MODELS (WHICH I HAVE) LEAKING GAS! WHAT'S NEXT?! ALL THE BIKES SHOULD BE RECALLED TO BOTH FIX THE DANGEROUS GAS LEAKS AND THE DANGEROUS STALLING PROBLEM. THE WAY MOST OWNERS ARE DEALING WITH THE STALLING IS TO DISCONNECT EMISSION CONTROL DEVICES, WHICH GREATLY IMPROVES DRIVEABILITY, BUT OF COURES THEN IT PRODUCES A LOT MORE, PROBABLY VIOLATING ALL THE POLLUTION STANDARDS. I HAVE REFUSED TO DO THAT, SO I AM STILL STUCK WITH A VIRTUALLY UNDRIVABLE MOTORCYCLE BECAUSE I WILL NOT DISCONNECT THE 02 SENSOR OR THE CHARCOAL CANNISTER JUST TO MAKE IT RUN. YET THESE ARE ABOUT THE ONLY TYPES OF FIXES THAT SEEM TO WORK. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. YOU CAN FIND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT BMW'S DEFECTS, AND THEIR LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS IN DEALING WITH THEM BY VISITING A MESSAGE BOARD AT F650.COM. THESE BIKES ARE A HAZARD TO BOTH THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO THE SAFETY OF THEIR RIDERS.*MR

NHTSA ID

10073256

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED IT WOULD PERFORM PROPERLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NM WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS WAS PRESENT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10052125

Incident

Dec 30, 2003

Mileage

500 mi

YEAR 2001 BMW F650GS MOTORCYCLE. FOR NO IDENTIFIABLE REASON, THE ENGINE IDLE DROPS TO ZERO AND THE ENGINE STALLS. IF YOU KNOW TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN, THE IDLE WILL BE RESTORED WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS STARTED.

NHTSA ID

10051378

Incident

Dec 29, 2003

Mileage

14,000 mi

MIRROR ON 2001 BMW F650 GS MOTORCYCLE FOLDS BACK. STARTED ON HOT DAY. NOW FOLDS BACK AT 20 MPH. *PH

NHTSA ID

10030496

Incident

Jun 15, 2002

BMW F650GSA SURGES AND STALLS. YOU CAN NEVER TELL WHEN IT'S GOING TO DO EITHER. ONE TIME I WAS IN THE REDWOOD FOREST OUT BY BOGEDA BAY CALIFORNIA AND BEFORE I KNEW IT I WAS A SURGING SO HARD I THOUGTH I WAS GOING TO BE BUCKED OFF. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SAYS THERE'S NOTHING WRONG. IF YOU KEEP AFTER THEM THEY WILL SAY TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE IN VERY HIGH RPM'S. I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE OR SOUNDS LIKE WHEN I'M DOING 25MPH AT 6000 RPMS WHICH IS JUST BELOW THE REDLINE LIMIT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10021172

Incident

Jun 6, 2003

MOTORCYCLE STALLS AT STOPS AND THIS HAS PRESENTED SEVERAL DANGEROUS MOMENTS. MR

NHTSA ID

768489

Incident

Oct 12, 2002

THE TWO REARVIEW MIRRORS CONTINUALLY MOVED AND TURNED INWARD RENDERING THEM USELESS AFTER REACHING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NO INDICATION OF MANUFACTURER CORRECTION. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO RETURN FOR A NEW PAIR IF THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURS AT MY OWN LOSS OF TIME AND IN-CONVENIENCE. CONDITION PRESENTED A DANGEROUS SITUATION ONE DAY WHILE RIDING IN HEAVY WIND AND I HAD TO CONSTANTLY WATCH OVER MY SHOULDER WHERE TRAFFIC WAS DURING THIS DIFFICULT CONDITION.*AK

NHTSA ID

762573

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

BOTH MIRRORS MOVE AT BALL JOINT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE HOTTER THE WEATHER THE MORE THEY MOVE. THIS BRINGS FOR DANGEROUS RIDING WHEN TRAVELLING WITH OTHER CARS BECAUSE THE MIRRORS MOVE OUT OF ADJUSTMENT FAST AND YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLLY REAJUST THEM. I HAVE HAD THEM REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY AND THE REPLACEMENT MIRRORS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD FROM NUMEROUSE OTHER BIKERS WITH THE SAME MODEL BIKE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT.*AK

NHTSA ID

761894

Incident

Jul 1, 2001

MOTORCYCLE STALLS OUT WHEN AT INTERSECTIONS OR WHEN MOTOR COMES TO AN IDLE. WHEN RIDING IT BACKFIRES ALLOT WHEN ACCELERATING OR SLOWING DOWN. FRONT RIM BUCKELED WHERE THE RIM IS WELDED TOGETHER FRONT THE WELDING PROCESS .HEATING AND COOLING OF THE RIM CAUSED THIS

NHTSA ID

750872

Incident

Jul 23, 2001

INTERMITTENTLY MOTORCYCCLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING. BUT, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID

889885

Incident

Jun 6, 2001