BMW F650 funduro

As is fairly common, I'm starting this before I even have the bike in my possession...

The bike in question is a 1997 BMW F650 funduro!  It has 32k on the clock, and supposedly has been sitting for close to 20 years!  It's in really nice shape from the pictures I received, and come with the original top case.  It has the pannier racks, but no mention of cases for them.  Luckily it has been stored all this time in a climate controlled garage, so rust shouldn't be an issue.  Obviously all rubber bits, and fluids will be replaced, hoping to only need to clean/rebuild the carbs.  Anything else I should really be looking for?

You need to join this site: https://www.advrider.com/f/

In reply to ddavidv :

I've been told that a couple of times.  Between my SWM super dual X and not this bike, I may have to.

Congratulations! That's a single like the G650GS I was playing with, right?

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/build-projects-and-project-cars/budget-adventure-bike-2009-bmw-g650gs/192442/page1/

In reply to Tom Suddard :

Yes, I believe what you had was the newer version of it.  650CC thumper Rotax engine.  I couldn't help but laugh at the first description I found for this bike.  "A BMW built by Aprilia with an Austrian Rotax engine"

I guess I can throw these in here.  These are the pics I received that made me decide to buy it.

Well this ended quickly.  A couple days before I was supposed to pick up/pay for the bike, the price over doubled.  I had to respectfully decline.  I'll just keep an eye out for something else.

In reply to de80q :

You were already in discussion with the seller and they jacked up the price? Wow. I bet they got a ton of interest and I bet the bike doesn't sell and he's sitting on it next year.

In reply to gunner (Forum Supporter) :

Apparently the owner(father of who I was talking to, and in a home) wasn't happy with the price.  His "counter offer" took me by surprise.

Ok, so here is the short now.  Shortly after Thanksgiving, the owner of the bike passed away.  Shortly there after I got a call saying if I still wanted the bike, it was mine as soon as the paperwork was ready, for the original price.  So on Friday, I picked it up.  Did an oil change(that was nasty after 20 years) and hooked up a jump pack to get it cranking.  It took a while, but the oil light finally went off, and it seemed happy.  The throttle is stuck, so I'll have to take that all apart, and it wouldn't fire off of gas, or either.  Now to take the carbs off, and make them right.

Oh!  And as a surprise! 

A nice little upgrade, and found out that it is lowered.  After I get it back on the road, I may look into putting it back up to it proper height.  I thought it seemed a little short...  At least it was done properly!  Lowering links, shorter side and center stand, and front fork pushed up 50mm above the top clamp.  

​​

Carbs are rebuilt, and installed.  I managed to brake the plastic choke cable retainer, so I ordered and installed an aluminum one.  Put everything back together with a nice fresh battery and it started up very easily!  Cranked maybe 3 times before firing off and running very smoothly!  I'm quite excited now!  I ordered the fork reseal kit, and will be ordering tires and tubes shortly.

Any reason (other than maybe rust) I should be concerned about the 20+ year old brake pads?

de80q said:

Carbs are rebuilt, and installed.  I managed to brake the plastic choke cable retainer, so I ordered and installed an aluminum one.  Put everything back together with a nice fresh battery and it started up very easily!  Cranked maybe 3 times before firing off and running very smoothly!  I'm quite excited now!  I ordered the fork reseal kit, and will be ordering tires and tubes shortly.

 

Any reason (other than maybe rust) I should be concerned about the 20+ year old brake pads?

There's only one way to find out!  Ha. 

Nice bike, should treat you well for a long time! 

We will see how I like it.  I'm used to a much taller bike.  This bike normally sits about 4" lower than my other bike, and this being a factory lowered bike, I think it's closer to 6" lower.  When I get it back on the road, if I don't like it, I'm sure I can find someone who will.

As for the brakes, I'm trying to figure out if I should go with organic pads, or sinthered pads.  This will actually be the first time I've ever had to put brakes on!

Carbs all fixed up and installed.  Bike fires easily And runs smoothly.  Hopefully this weekend I'll have the coolant changed, brake fluid changed and forks rebuilt.  Then it's just the waiting game on the tires.  Unfortunately, the front tire I ordered was out of stock, and back ordered until the end of March.  Oh well, time to make sure everything is right I guess.