Bmw F650GS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
14,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 18 complaints (27.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 8 | 44.4% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 16.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 11.1% |
| Steering behavior | 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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices | 2 |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
Suspension:Front: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices: 2; Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 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 (4). 11 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2001: 2; 2002: 5; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 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 10021172 · 2003-06-06 (June 6, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021172 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051378 · 2003-12-30 (December 30, 2003)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073256 · 2004-05-27 (May 27, 2004)
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 DIAG…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10252808 · 2008-12-26 (December 26, 2008)
-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
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10236289 · 2008-07-29 (July 29, 2008)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 44,261 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 765847 · 2002-08-19 (August 19, 2002)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 765847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10238415 · 2008-08-15 (August 15, 2008)
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. …
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238415 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 0 |
2001: 1; 2002: 0