2011 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 2011 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
- Powertrain (other)240.0%
- Electrical120.0%
- Engine120.0%
- Exterior lighting120.0%
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
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
DATE AND MILEAGE ARE VERY APPROXIMATE. IT WAS SOMETIME DURING SUMMER 2011. CLUTCH CABLE END APPARENTLY SLIPPED OUT OF THE LEVER END ON THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO REMAIN ENGAGED TO ENGINE. I STOPPED THE BIKE BY STALLING IT, ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY LOCK TO PREVENT A CLUTCH CABLE END FROM COMING OUT OF THE CLUTCH ACTUATION LEVER THAT IS LOCATED ON THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
THE MAY 18TH DATE IS A ROUGH GUESS. THE ENGINE HAS DIED TWO TIMES BETWEEN SHIFTS FROM SECOND TO FIRST, VERY SLOW SPEED, COMING TO STOPS. ONE TIME WAS IN LIGHT RAIN. MOST RECENT WAS NOVEMBER 29, 2011 AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES OF RIDING IN LIGHT RAIN. *TR IN MEDIUM TO HEAVY RAIN, ENGINE BEGINS TO SPUTTER WHILE RIDING (UNDER POWER) AND FREQUENTLY ALMOST STALLS AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MILES. SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO KEEP ENGINE GOING. THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE 2008-2010 F650GS (TWIN-CYLINDER ENGINE). IT APPEARS TO STILL BE A PROBLEM. IT IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. NOT SURE IF THIS RELATED, BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH RECENTLY SHORTED OUT, COMPLETELY DISABLING THE MOTORCYCLE, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE MAY 18TH DATE IS A ROUGH GUESS. THE ENGINE HAS DIED TWO TIMES BETWEEN SHIFTS FROM SECOND TO FIRST, VERY SLOW SPEED, COMING TO STOPS. ONE TIME WAS IN LIGHT RAIN. MOST RECENT WAS NOVEMBER 29, 2011 AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES OF RIDING IN LIGHT RAIN. *TR IN MEDIUM TO HEAVY RAIN, ENGINE BEGINS TO SPUTTER WHILE RIDING (UNDER POWER) AND FREQUENTLY ALMOST STALLS AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MILES. SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO KEEP ENGINE GOING. THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE 2008-2010 F650GS (TWIN-CYLINDER ENGINE). IT APPEARS TO STILL BE A PROBLEM. IT IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. NOT SURE IF THIS RELATED, BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH RECENTLY SHORTED OUT, COMPLETELY DISABLING THE MOTORCYCLE, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE MAY 18TH DATE IS A ROUGH GUESS. THE ENGINE HAS DIED TWO TIMES BETWEEN SHIFTS FROM SECOND TO FIRST, VERY SLOW SPEED, COMING TO STOPS. ONE TIME WAS IN LIGHT RAIN. MOST RECENT WAS NOVEMBER 29, 2011 AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES OF RIDING IN LIGHT RAIN. *TR IN MEDIUM TO HEAVY RAIN, ENGINE BEGINS TO SPUTTER WHILE RIDING (UNDER POWER) AND FREQUENTLY ALMOST STALLS AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MILES. SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO KEEP ENGINE GOING. THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE 2008-2010 F650GS (TWIN-CYLINDER ENGINE). IT APPEARS TO STILL BE A PROBLEM. IT IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. NOT SURE IF THIS RELATED, BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH RECENTLY SHORTED OUT, COMPLETELY DISABLING THE MOTORCYCLE, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE SILVER REFLECTING COATING BEHIND THE HEADLIGHT BULB IS BURNING OFF. THIS REDUCES MY LIGHT VISIBILITY TO ME AND ONCOMING VEHICLES.
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 .