2001 Bmw F650GS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
14,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 14 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 7 | 50.0% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 21.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 7.1% |
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 System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 3 |
| Suspension:Front | 3 |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 3; Suspension:Front: 3; Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Other: 1; Structure: 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 | 2 |
| 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: 2; 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). 8 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 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
2001: 2; 2002: 3; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
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 10030496 · 2003-07-31 (July 31, 2003)
MIRROR ON 2001 BMW F650 GS MOTORCYCLE FOLDS BACK. STARTED ON HOT DAY. NOW FOLDS BACK AT 20 MPH. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030496 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 10052125 · 2004-01-23 (January 23, 2004)
WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED IT WOULD PERFORM PROPERLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NM WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED A STRONG SMELL OF GAS WAS PRESENT. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052125 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 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 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 10280426 · 2009-08-14 (August 14, 2009)
I WAS INVOLVED IN A LOW SPEED <=45 MPH MOTORCYCLE CRASH WITH A MEDIUM SIZED DOG (APPROX 50 LBS) BACK IN THE FALL OF 2005. I WAS RIDING A 2001 BMW F650 WHEN THE DOG RAN OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND I COULDN'T AVOID HITTING IT. I APPROXIMATE THE SPEED OF IMPACT AROUND 45 MPH. I SUBSEQUENTLY LOST CONTROL OF THE BIKE AND SLIDE ALONG THE PAVEMENT FOR APPROX 300 FT. THE DAMAGE TO THE BIKE CONSISTED OF A BROKEN FRONT FORK AND BENT FRONT WHEEL RIM. I HAD THE BIKE REPAIRED AND INSURANCE COVERED MOST OF THE DAMAGES TO THE BIKE. I DID SUFFER A KNEE INJURY …
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280426 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V267000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 2000-09-12 (September 12, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE FUEL TANK IS EQUIPPED WITH A CARBON CANISTER WHICH HELPS CONTROL EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM. THIS CANISTER IS MOUNTED TO A METAL INSERT THAT IS INTEGRATED INTO THE TANK. DURING THE PRODUCTION PROCESS, THE THICKNESS OF THE FUEL TANK MATERIAL IN THE AREA OF THE INSERT MAY BE LESS THAN INTENDED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS SUCH AS VIBRATION, HIGH TEMPERATURE, ETC., COULD RESULT IN THE FUEL TANK DEVELOPING A CRACK IN THE AREA OF THE INSERT.
Consequence: THE FUEL TANK COULD LEAK DURING REFUELING, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK.
NHTSA campaign record ↗