2009 BMW G650GS Review

[seruzawa]

Originally Posted by acecycleins

Isn't Kymco the 650 builder? If so, Kymco actually has products that don't suck. The scooters are pretty tough and they are building small dispacement motorcycles that are filtering through customs as we speak. BMW could have picked a much worse partner.

Taiwan China is most emphatically NOT Red China. It was my favorite liberty port in the far east. The people are enterprising and building a world class economy. Up until a few years back they had a larger GNP than Red China. I expect to see more serious scooter/bike competition from them.

[Pete_Brissette]

BMW has recently cleared up some confusion about the 2009 G650GS with respect to its seat/suspension configurations as delivered for the model intro.

From BMW 12-17-08:

"The bikes ... were considered the 'standard' model and are produced for the US market with a "low" seat as standard. So, the bikes had a bit of both - standard suspension and low seat height.

The G 650 GS can also be ordered with the low suspension option; which also comes with the 'low' seat.

... if you want the 'standard' model, but would like the taller seat, this must be ordered as an accessory (part number 52 53 2 345 735) through an authorized BMW Motorrad dealer."

The taller accessory seat with standard suspension equates to an 820mm (roughly 32.2") seat height.

Dimensions for the standard and low remain as mentioned in the article (30.7" and 29.5").

Hope this additional info helps. --Pete

[mscuddy]

Yeah well Taiwan will be part of Red China real soon...just you wait. After our military and intel network are emasculated and left to rot like last time, the Mao boys will jump on Taiwan like a catfish on a june bug. And what will we do about it? Maybe a few sanctions, boycot the next olympics or some other weak response. Old MacArthur had it right, shoulda nuked 'em when we had the chance. Oops, time for my meds...sorry...

[anrajala]

Originally Posted by longride

So it's unsurpassed German engineering combined with superior Chinese assembly?

No its unsurpassed Austrian engineering under Canadian ownership originally copied by Germans and produced by the Chinese.

- cruiz-euro

[anrajala]

Originally Posted by Buzglyd

I talked to Gabe a few weeks ago. CW eliminated his position so he's free lance again.

I have an original Che Gabevara t-shirt, must be collector's item now. He sent it after I claimed I liked the scooter story better than watching porn. OK so I was drunk at the time.

- cruiz-euro

[Pete_Brissette]

Originally Posted by anrajala

No its unsurpassed Austrian engineering under Canadian ownership originally copied by Germans and produced by the Chinese.

- cruiz-euro

Could it be more succinct?

[anrajala]

Originally Posted by mscuddy

Yeah well Taiwan will be part of Red China real soon...

Too true. But then, Red China is not too red any more. Its more capitalistic than the States. Minimum salary? Forget it.

- cruiz-euro

[Dr_Sprocket]

Originally Posted by longride

That job was not a good fit for Gabe. He was way too loose for that tight-a$$ed bunch over at CW. I'm sure they tried to make him toe the line, but he kept picking the Honda for last.

It's amazing how life takes you down different roads. Bummer that it didn't work out for Gabe, but it's probably for the better.

[sfcdjevans]

Originally Posted by anrajala

I have an original Che Gabevara t-shirt, must be collector's item now. He sent it after I claimed I liked the scooter story better than watching porn. OK so I was drunk at the time.

- cruiz-euro

Envy,envy, I am smitten with envy.