Bmw F650 GS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
5,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 to 2012 model years. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 18 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 6 | 33.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 33.3% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 22.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 16.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Electrical System: 3; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Power Train: 2; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 4; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10711815 · 2015-04-20 (April 20, 2015)
MOST WIRES OUT OF IGNITION SWITCH, INSIDE HARNESS TUBING, ARE EXPOSED & THE MAIN WIRE BROKE. THIS RESULTED IN COMPLETE VEHICLE STALL DURING TURNS. NO ABRASIONS OR SIGNS OF FATIGUE ON OUTSIDE HARNESS COVER. VERY UNSAFE FOR A MOTORCYCLE TO STALL WHILE CORNERING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 51,867 miles reported. Look up ODI 10711815 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342947 · 2010-07-13 (July 13, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW R1200RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE CAM GEAR IN HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE TOOL NEEDED TO MAKE THE REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AVAILABLE YET WAS EXPECTING IT TO ARRIVE WITHIN TWO WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CON…
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342947 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10339245 · 2010-06-20 (June 20, 2010)
DURING NORMAL RIDING ON A VACATION TRIP I STOPPED TO REFUEL AND GAS WAS LEAKING ON THE GROUND. AFTER REMOVING THE SEAT I FOUND WHAT IS LISTED BELOW. ABOUT ONE HALF GALLON OF GAS LEAKED ON THE GROUND BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO USE EPOXY PUTTY TO STOP THE LEAK. A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP/FILTER ASSEMBLY "CAP" ON TOP OF THE TANK WHICH ALLOWS FUEL TO LEAK OUT OF THE TANK AND POOL UNDER THE SEAT CREATING A FIRE/EXPLOSION HAZARD. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM REFERRED TO IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V236000 REGARDING THE CS MODEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 27,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10339245 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10436885 · 2011-11-23 (November 23, 2011)
FUEL CAP UNDER SEAT WHERE FUEL PICKUP ENTERS FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED A HAIRLINE CRACK AND WEEPS SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF FUEL WHEN THE TANK IS FILLED UP. THIS IS THE SECOND BIKE OWNED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM-VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION INDEED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10436885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163562 · 2006-07-26 (July 26, 2006)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ELECTRICAL WIRING CONNECTIONS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH. THE CONTACT HAD A ELECTRICIAN LOOK AT THE WIRING AND THEY STATE THAT WIRING IS A GRADE CLASS C, WHICH IS A THIRD GRADE CATEGORY WIRING WHICH SHOULD NOT BE USED ON MOTORCYCLES. THIS HAS SHORTED OUT THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSING HEADLIGHTS, LOW AND HIGH BEAM AS WELL AS BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS NOT BEEN OVERLY EXPOSED TO WATER AND THE GRADE OF WIRING IS A SAFETY CONCERN IN BEING ABLE TO DRIVE THE MOTORCYCLE WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS AS WELL AS IT BEING A FIRE HAZARD.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10163562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10196110 · 2007-07-11 (July 11, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW F650 GS. WHILE DOWNSHIFTING, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND LOCKED UP THE ABS. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A SKID. AFTERWARDS, THE ABS UNLOCKED AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AT THIS TIME. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 550.
Owner-reported narrative. 550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196110 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10213885 · 2007-12-31 (December 31, 2007)
2007 BMW F650 WITH SCRATCHED SIDE PANELS AND SAFETY DEFECT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER NEVER RETURNED HIS PHONE CALL. HE THEN NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY WAS NOT MOUNTED IN THE RIGHT SPOT. SERIOUS THINGS COULD HAPPEN IF ACID WERE TO LEAK. *KB THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE BATTERY WAS MOUNTED HIGHER THAN THE HIS WAISTLINE. HE ALSO FOUND THAT THE BATTERY WAS MOUNTED FORWARD WHEN SITTING ON THE MOTORCYCLE. THE PLASTIC HOSE WHICH WAS MEANT TO VENT THE BATTERY WAS NOT CONNECTED. THE HOSE WAS LYING FORWARD OF THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT AND APPEARED NE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10213885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10438682 · 2011-12-05 (December 5, 2011)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10438682 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2003: 0; 2005: 0; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 1