2002 BMW F 650 Gs Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 BMW F 650 Gs, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Suspension228.6%
- Driver assistance114.3%
- Fuel system114.3%
- Other / unspecified114.3%
- Steering114.3%
- Visibility114.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. "WOBBLE" IN THE FRONT FORKS OF MY F650GS FOR ABOUT 1 WEEK. THEN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FORK CASTING FROM THE WHEEL HUB OF THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF MY 2002 F650GS. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THROUGH A ROUND-ABOUT IN WOODINVILLE, WA WHEN IT FAILED. 2. AFTER COMING OUT OF A ROUND ABOUT NORTH BOUND ON THE WOODINVILLE-REDMOND ROAD IN WOODINVILLE, WA GOING ABOUT 10 MPH. THE CASTING FAILED. SO FAR, THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE BIKE, MY HELMET, MY GLOVES, MY RIDING JACKET (WITH BODY ARMOUR), AND DISLOCATED SHOULDER TO MY PERSON WITH POTENTIAL TENDON AND LIGAMENT DAMAGE TO MY SHOULDER. 3. SO FAR THE BIKE IS IN THE LOCAL BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIP (RIDE WEST SEATTLE) AND IS WAITING FOR THE ESTIMATES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW F650GS. WHILE RIDING AT 65 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE, WOBBLED, AND PROCEEDED TO THROW THE CONTACT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE HANDLE BARS DISCONNECTED AND NO LONGER CONTROLLED THE STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS THROWN FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT, BUT THE VEHICLE SLID ACROSS THE ASPHALT AND THE ENTIRE FRONT WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FRACTURES TO HER LEFT FOREARM AND HAND. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. SHE WAS AIRLIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. UPDATED 10/28/08 *BF UPDATED 10/30/08. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FUEL TANK PROBLEM IS A DEFECT OR SMALL CRACK IN THE PLASTIC. FUEL SEEPS OUT AND PUDDLES UNDER THE SEAT. I PLAN TO SAVE THE OLD PART WHEN THE DEALER FIXES TEH PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. ON AN INTERNET DISCUSSION SITE I SAW TWO OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE AND YEAR. THE ENGINE/FUEL INJECTION PROBLEM IS STALLING. MOTORCYCLE WILL RUN FINE FOR MANY WEEKS AND THEN IT WILL STALL AT ANY SPEED INTERMITTENTLY. ONCE THE MOTORCYCLE IS SHUT OFF (KEY IN OFF POSITION) AND TURNED BACK ON IT WILL START AND RUN FINE. THERE IS SLIGHT SURGING PROBLEM TOO. THIS SURGING PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE NOT KEEPING A CONSTANT SPEED WHEN THE THROTTLE IS HELD IN A FIXED POSITION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FUEL TANK PROBLEM IS A DEFECT OR SMALL CRACK IN THE PLASTIC. FUEL SEEPS OUT AND PUDDLES UNDER THE SEAT. I PLAN TO SAVE THE OLD PART WHEN THE DEALER FIXES TEH PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY. ON AN INTERNET DISCUSSION SITE I SAW TWO OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE AND YEAR. THE ENGINE/FUEL INJECTION PROBLEM IS STALLING. MOTORCYCLE WILL RUN FINE FOR MANY WEEKS AND THEN IT WILL STALL AT ANY SPEED INTERMITTENTLY. ONCE THE MOTORCYCLE IS SHUT OFF (KEY IN OFF POSITION) AND TURNED BACK ON IT WILL START AND RUN FINE. THERE IS SLIGHT SURGING PROBLEM TOO. THIS SURGING PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE NOT KEEPING A CONSTANT SPEED WHEN THE THROTTLE IS HELD IN A FIXED POSITION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW F650GS. WHILE RIDING AT 65 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE, WOBBLED, AND PROCEEDED TO THROW THE CONTACT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE HANDLE BARS DISCONNECTED AND NO LONGER CONTROLLED THE STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS THROWN FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT, BUT THE VEHICLE SLID ACROSS THE ASPHALT AND THE ENTIRE FRONT WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FRACTURES TO HER LEFT FOREARM AND HAND. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. SHE WAS AIRLIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. UPDATED 10/28/08 *BF UPDATED 10/30/08. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW F650GS. WHILE RIDING AT 65 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE, WOBBLED, AND PROCEEDED TO THROW THE CONTACT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE HANDLE BARS DISCONNECTED AND NO LONGER CONTROLLED THE STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS THROWN FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT, BUT THE VEHICLE SLID ACROSS THE ASPHALT AND THE ENTIRE FRONT WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FRACTURES TO HER LEFT FOREARM AND HAND. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. SHE WAS AIRLIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. UPDATED 10/28/08 *BF UPDATED 10/30/08. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR VIEW MIRRORS OF BMW F650GS MOTORCYCLE FOLD BACK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN TEMPERATURES ABOVE 85 DEGREES. THIS CAUSES LOSS OF ABILITY TO SEE BEHIND VEHICLE. MIRRORS WILL NOT STAY ADJUSTED.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .