View Full Version : BMW F650CS - Should I?
People of the 'org - I need a little advice...
I have been offered the chance to buy a fire damaged 2004 BMW F650CS - its a Belgian registered machine that was under a cover that was set fire to whilst waiting to be registered - the fire damage appears to be mainly superficial although it has melted some of the wiring so it doesnt currently run
but has only covered 2,500kms - a friend has put me onto it and reckons it could go for pennies - I have pictures but wont post them just yet - I was thinking a quick tidy up and streetfighter job and its a cheap hack - worth a punt do you think?
Similar to this...
http://www.motorbike-tours.ch/images/F650CS_03.jpg
:confused:
If its cheap enough and will cost only pennies to repair then I dont see why not...
+1
Why you waiting to post the real pics?
+1
Why you waiting to post the real pics?
Dunno really! :confused: :lol:
Here they are....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/skip665/f6503.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/skip665/f6502.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/skip665/f6501.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/skip665/f650.jpg
kwak zzr
25-07-07, 11:05 AM
that damage can and will run into alot of money.
Yup, almost everything is affected. How's the frame, doubt it's weakened as probably a short & not very intensive fire.
I doubt it's a popular bike to have tons of parts on ebay.
But for, say, £300? you can't go wrong ( even if you end up just parting out the engine etc.)
Warthog
25-07-07, 11:28 AM
If you want it back looking nice, don't bother. If you are just going to scrub it a bit and get it going, then its probably a bargain. As a cheap winter hack, yes possibly a good buy.
Yup, almost everything is affected. How's the frame, doubt it's weakened as probably a short & not very intensive fire.
I doubt it's a popular bike to have tons of parts on ebay.
But for, say, £300? you can't go wrong ( even if you end up just parting out the engine etc.)
Thats my plan to offer next to nothing for it (after an inspection) - it wasnt insured as he didnt realise you could insure it on the chassis number and also he inherited it anyway so he is not out of pocket in any way...
Going to phone him at lunch to arrange a viewing...
that damage can and will run into alot of money.
Agreed.
I'll usually buy anything that will turn a profit, but that is beyond what I'd want to repair, there won't be any money in it.
It's a BMW and the market for the F650 is limited at best. BMW buyers are very discerning, like to buy from dealers and will want their new bike to be a shining example of the breed (personally, I think all BMWs are highly overpriced and over-rated rubbish). So unless you can make it 100%, have a definite buyer lined up and there's no HPI History then go ahead, but I think you'll have trouble selling it.
Avoid like the plague is my advice.
Warthog
25-07-07, 11:47 AM
But I think he intends to use it himself rather than sell it on.
But I think he intends to use it himself rather than sell it on.
If he can buy it and put it back on the road for under a grand then it's a cheap hack, otherwise I wouldn't bother.
If you do need any bits then its going to cost, though things like switches you can probably mod from any bike. If things need replacing then your going to need to be careful, and make sure your clear on what it is and try to get a idea of its cost. Maybe have a watch on ebay to see what things go for.
Might be a idea to try to direct connect to the start and see if it turns over, as the false tank looks stuffed and theres rather alot of mess on the rad. Might be a big job to me.
gettin2dizzy
25-07-07, 12:17 PM
would not go close to that thing! everything has melted! All the wires will be shorting out so i doubt you'll get it started!
ASM-Forever
25-07-07, 12:20 PM
If you can get it for next to nothing(under £100) and have a van/trailer then it could be worth a punt. As others have said i doubt it will start, but why would you want it to start infront of the seller...surely better to take it as a non-runner pile of junk for cheap.
I don't want it to start, just want to see if it turns over and if the starter is stuffed.
gettin2dizzy
25-07-07, 12:33 PM
I don't want it to start, just want to see if it turns over and if the starter is stuffed.
:thumbsup:
(i read it properly this time :))
I seem to rember they have a plastic tank under a surround (or that may just be the 1200s?), so thats a new tank too.
Plus BMW's funky electronics (again, im not sure if the 650 had abs, but that doesnt like being played with).
I'd stay away from it to be honest, unless it was very very cheep, then I would only part it out for major parts engine, forks, yokes, etc maybe the frame if its ok.
Dan
It does have ABS which is a shame - the petrol tank is under the seat and apparently is ok - still its only 10 minutes from my house so I am going to have a peek at it tomorrow night - the guy isnt a biker and has no idea what to do with it....
Had a look on eBay and a 2002 GS650 (the enduro version) can be had for under £2000 so it needs to be proper proper cheap to be worth even considering...
Oh and if the belt is damaged thats £175 inc VAT from BMW.... and the nearest Motoraad dealer to me is Peterborough! :eek:
Insure it, and claim for it.
Who said that? Not me, no sir! :D:
Warthog
25-07-07, 05:03 PM
offer £10 and a bag of pork scratchings
Moffatt666
25-07-07, 05:43 PM
offer £10 and a bag of pork scratchings
Pfffft. £7.50 and a bag of ready salted.
DanAbnormal
25-07-07, 07:54 PM
Wouldn't go near it personally, looks like a big expensive job. If you want a cheap hack, buy one.
Probably the best thing you can do to a BMW bike anyway.:cool:
the white rabbit
25-07-07, 08:00 PM
What Dan said, find a nice little traillie, DR or something as a project. Horrid bike even when unburned :lol:
scorpion
26-07-07, 07:46 AM
Run away. Far away. Or give it to Tracy Emin, she'll make some crazy statement with it and sell it for 500k!
If he's short of buyers then I'd offer to take it off his hands on the understanding that IF you make any money on it you'll split that with him.
Not going to make my mind up until I have seen how bad it is - if any of the engine parts show signs of heat or are melted then its an instant no-no - but like I said I wont know until tonight when I go to take a look...
Jelster
26-07-07, 08:21 AM
Too much melted plastic for my liking, and I even if you did get it to run, I wouldn't even consider NOT putting a new belt on it, you don't know if the heat has damaged its strength.
For a little money you can find a 7 year old Bandit which is much cheaper to look after...
.
get it & paint it matt black weld some daggers to the front forks and mount a melted barbies head on the headlight wrap some barbed wire round the swing arm then put some netting over the tank and paint over that with matt black and chuck some moss and seaweed oh and dirt and youve got one wild ride. i quite like the melted plastic though
Warthog
26-07-07, 09:36 AM
get it & paint it matt black weld some daggers to the front forks and mount a melted barbies head on the headlight wrap some barbed wire round the swing arm then put some netting over the tank and paint over that with matt black and chuck some moss and seaweed oh and dirt and youve got one wild ride. i quite like the melted plastic though
Haha I actually like the sound of that. Turn it into a Mad Max bike!
hehe - that was one of the ideas I had - although not to that extreme! :lol:
With a single 100mm piston I would imagine it sounds quite throaty with an open exhaust...:smt077
Too much melted plastic for my liking, and I even if you did get it to run, I wouldn't even consider NOT putting a new belt on it, you don't know if the heat has damaged its strength.
For a little money you can find a 7 year old Bandit which is much cheaper to look after...
.
IMHO!!!! I would run it til the belt failed (unless there was obvious damage) what's the worst that could happen? you could lose all power at an inopportune moment,(it's not as if the engine would sieze to a stop) you could say that you should ride as if that was a possibility anyway, & I'd take a flailing belt over a flailing chain any day.
I reckon you should find out how much you can sell the engine for on it's own, offer that & then there is only an up side for you.
Jelster
26-07-07, 12:41 PM
IMHO!!!! I would run it til the belt failed (unless there was obvious damage) what's the worst that could happen?
You could be miles from anywhere when it goes "twang"..... Fine if you like being stuck outside when it's pouring with rain and waiting for the AA/RAC to pick you up....
IMPO I just wouldn't touch it, the only thing worse than a BMW is a crap BMW.. :)
.
caz650s
26-07-07, 12:53 PM
I agree with Jelster....run away as fast as possible :D
So if I go for it I will be very silly according to most of you lot! :lol:
Hey ho - only a couple of hours to go and I will make my own mind up... :)
But not all of us :lol:
I love that first photo you posted, but the agree the others are quite far removed from it.
Have you had a look at it yet?
I was going to go after work last night but we had a small monsoon here in Norwich and the bike is outside so I put it off until today (nothing can happen yet anyway as he is still waiting for the customs papers so he can register it)
Its a beautiful day today and I am going after work :)
Well I went and looked at it tonight - its a quirky little thing and quite a smart bike I thought! Heat has damaged the frame though and there are quite a few parts that would need replacing just to make it ridable - so you will be pleased to hear I walked away! :lol:
caz650s
28-07-07, 02:17 PM
Well I went and looked at it tonight - its a quirky little thing and quite a smart bike I thought! Heat has damaged the frame though and there are quite a few parts that would need replacing just to make it ridable - so you will be pleased to hear I walked away! :lol:
:D Smart move...was worth a look though I guess.
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