Okay buckle up folks, time to talk about my experience with the BMW G650X. Wanted to see if this adventure-looking thing could actually be my everyday ride.
Finding the Thing First
Needed a bike after my old one basically blew up. Always kind of liked the way the BMW G650X looked – tough, kinda different, not some shiny plastic spaceship. Saw one pop up locally, looked decent in the pictures, price wasn’t scary. Figured “screw it, let’s find out.”
Getting My Hands Dirty
Went to see it. Guy selling it seemed honest, mostly. Bike looked… well-used, but solid. Kicked it over (yes, it has a kickstart!), listened to the motor. Thumped okay, nothing sounded broken. Brakes worked, suspension wasn’t totally soggy. Deal seemed fair, papers checked out. Paid the man, wrestled it onto the trailer. My new daily experiment was home.
Living With It – The Ugly, Bad, and Good
So, started actually riding this thing every single day. Rain, shine, grocery runs, commuting, the whole boring deal.
- First Impressions Sitting On It: Tall. Dammit, it’s tall. Takes a minute to get used to swinging a leg over, especially when tired. But once up? Feels light and kinda narrow. Easy to push around, way easier than you’d think looking at it.
- Making It Move: Fires up easy with the button (or the kick if your battery’s tired). Single-cylinder motor, right? Don’t expect smooth. It shakes! Especially sitting at traffic lights, your mirrors become blurry messes. Takes some getting used to, feels raw. Power? It builds, not explosive, but it pulls. Actually pretty good for getting away from lights or passing slower stuff. Feels strong low down.
- Handling the Daily Grind: Here’s the surprise winner. This bike is WAY more fun to chuck around than any daily bike has a right to be. Suspension? Soaks up crap roads like a champ – potholes, rough patches, laughable. Feels tough, solid. Takes corners way better than you expect too.
- Running Errands Reality: Okay, luggage? Forget fancy bags built-in. Strapped a duffel to the back, bungied stuff to the rack. Works, but it ain’t pretty. Seat? Firm. Like, really firm. Did about an hour trip and yeah… butt was complaining loud. Maybe okay for shorter hops.
- Petrol Stops and Maintenance: Gas mileage? Pretty decent actually! Didn’t feel like I was constantly at the pump. Simplicity is a blessing. Air-cooled single cylinder. Basic stuff is dead easy. Checked the oil, kicked the tires, adjusted the chain… straightforward for the most part. Felt like I wasn’t dealing with some fragile exotic.
- Getting Stuck In Traffic: The shaking motor gets old in stop-and-go. And that engine heat? On a hot day, crawling through city streets, you feel it roasting your right leg. Genuinely uncomfortable. Also, mirrors are small and fuzzy when vibrating. Keeping track of traffic isn’t ideal.
The Final Tally – Would I Recommend It?
So, is the G650X a good daily? Depends totally on what you put up with.
Love: The handling? Fantastic for tackling any road surface, fun in corners, surprisingly light feel in town. Simplicity for basic fixes. Tough as nails feeling. Good fuel stops.
Hate: The constant buzzzzz. Engine heat roasting your leg. Tall seat (tough if you’re short). Firm seat for distance. Basically zero weather protection, you get soaked.
For me? It was good enough, mostly. The toughness and sheer fun of riding a tractor that handles was worth the buzz and the leg roast most days. I wouldn’t buy it if I had a long highway commute or needed comfort or luggage space, no way. But for mixing city stuff and rough backroads? Absolutely nails it. It’s a simple, solid, characterful tool that gets the job done, just not always quietly or comfortably. If you like that vibe, yeah, it can work.
