Hello everyone.
I've had my BMW G650GS for five or six years now, but I've decided to let it go.
Before the G650GS, I rode a Triumph Tiger Explorer.
The good things about the Tiger Explorer were its power, which made long-distance touring easy; shaft drive, so no chain maintenance; and a very rigid chassis that was very stable at all kinds of speeds.
But it was heavy (259 kg wet), and even heavier with full panniers. I had to psych myself up just to get on it. Turning it round in a car park was a struggle. And the engine heat was terrible. So I decided to change bikes.
After the Tiger Explorer, I looked for a bike of about 200 kg, adventure-style and easy to ride, and the G650GS matched perfectly.
I remember how much I enjoyed it just after the switch: it's light! It's easy to ride! It's a single, so it's slim!
But I also started to see the downsides: the jerkiness of a single, and only five gears.
So I made it my own by adjusting the fuelling, fitting a crankcase pressure control valve and changing the sprocket ratio.
With just these changes, it became a very comfortable bike for relaxed riding.
Not heavy, a riding position that suited me, not fast but not slow: everything about it was "just right".
But there were drawbacks: being a foreign bike in Japan, the parts were expensive and slow to arrive. For someone who does their own maintenance, that was a big disadvantage.
Also, perhaps because of my age, things like changing gear had started to feel like a chore. I've never been a very skilled rider, and I particularly struggled with uphill hairpins and controlling my speed with the rear brake.
So I thought I might switch to a scooter, and casually went to a bike shop to ask what they would pay for it. One thing led to another, and I sold it there and then.
I wondered if the shop had talked me into it, but another reason I let it go was that I felt surprisingly little reluctance. I think my wish to own it had faded.
So I've parted with my G650GS, but it is a really good bike!
If you get the chance to ride one, I recommend you try it!!
