Motorcycles · BMW · Adventure & touring
IllustrationIllustration (AI-generated) of a 2021 BMW F 650 / 700 / 800 / 850 / 900 GS, not a photo of a specific motorcycle. Free to use under CC BY 4.0: credit The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Download and credit text
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 2001 to 2023 models.
23 of 55 describe the engine stalling or cutting out.
11 mention the fuel tank cracking.
After 2009, no model year drew more than 13.
Fewest complaints on file: 2008 (1), 2019 (1), 2021 (1). Few complaints is not a clean bill of health, just fewer owners filing.
What each year's complaints describe comes from reading their text. These are counts, not rates: there are no sales figures per motorcycle model year. A complaint is not proof of a defect.
Popular years get more complaints just because more were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect them. There are no U.S. sales figures by motorcycle model year, so these are counts, not rates.
When equipped with the optional aluminum luggage cases, the rear reflex reflectors may be partially blocked.
Water may enter the side-stand switch preventing the motorcycle from starting or potentially shutting off the motorcycle while it is being ridden.
The side-stand switch that prevents the engine from running while the side-stand is down may become damaged allowing the engine to run with the side-stand down.
A washer may interfere with the front disc brake fasteners' torque.
The drive chains may not have been produced to specification.
During engine operation, a vacuum is created in order to draw fresh air into the canister.
The axle shaft wall thickness may not have been manufactured according to specifications.
The tightening of the chain sprocket fasteners may have resulted in various levels of torque being applied.
On certain motorcycles, the clamping blocks and the top fork bridge were not manufactured according to specifications.
On certain motorcycles, the weld between the side stand and the frame bottom section was not positioned properly.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific bike's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
~90 (F 850 GS) hpClaimed crank figure
From the makers' U.S. spec sheets (the EU sheet for horsepower where the U.S. one leaves it out), checked against a sample on Nov 11; years and versions differ.
Filed as: F800 GS, F 800 GS, F650 GS, F650GS, F 650 GS US. Source: NHTSA owner complaints (model years 2000-2026) and recalls. Every motorcycle
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