Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

Noob here , was looking for my next bike- Sold my Concours C-10 and Honda Shadow 1100 (both good bikes)
Originally looking for a 4/5 model of the Concours, it was nice but a heavy pig. Crashed it and put in the heavier springs and a fork brace, finally it handled OK but I had to move. The 10,500 redline was intoxicating.
Anyway, the GS500F was on my list but I think it's too small for long tours. But its air cooling gets extra points.
Ninja 250 or 500- The 250 seems a little small.
Versys- maybe
Yamaha- don't see any touring bikes there, the Fijjer costs too much for me.
Honda- Nah, had one, ran OK but parts were ridiculous. Also hard to work on.

Is the GSX650F a sport bike? The Gixxers would send me to the chiropractor.
Is the GSX650F a touring bike? I suppose you could add a seat bag (I don't ride 2-up anymore).
Does it use regular gas?
What MPG do you get?
The valve adjust seems to be a pain though?
Can you fit a taller windscreen? Or is the stock one good enough?

Thanks! Any comments welcome.

Sorry, meant to put this in the forum
Can moderator move it please?

The gsx650f is a sport touring bike. Not as sporty as a gsxr, not as toury as a concourse. It weighs in at about 500 lbs, but a very well balanced 500 lbs.

It uses regular gas. I run 87 in mine always.

Best mpg I have ever gotten is 51mpg on a long interstate trip, the worst, when ridden hard in town is 36

The valve adjust is probably a non issue since it is done so infrequently and could easily be handled by a Suzuki shop (every 14000 miles or so)

There are plenty of aftermarket screens out there. Many people on this site have fitted them, search around, plenty of pics to be seen

I love this bike and many other owners feel the same way. It won sport tourer of the year from Motorcycle News in the UK. You really can't go wrong with this bike, IMHO.

let us not forget it won sport touring bike of the year!!

"The valve adjust is probably a non issue since it is done so infrequently and could easily be handled by a Suzuki shop (every 14000 miles or so)"

True enough. BUT whether the dealer can handle it isn't my real concern.

If it is complicated or time-consuming, YOU will pay in the end, through increased shop hours. And your wasted free time at the dealer. Whereas I can do the work at home when I have spare time.

I have always believed that designers should better consider the end user.
My Concours was a pain as far as valve adjusting, there was a lot of interference removing parts (especially the valve cover v. frame clearance) all of which could have been fixed years ago. Although the actual adjustment was stem and nut (easy).

Valve adjusts that require removal of camshafts are added and unnecessary work and a less-than-optimal configuration. The GSX650F seems like a nice size, powerful enough, good ergos, decent economy, but the valve adjust might make it a poor choice for the long term.

Thanks

fair point mike1nw.

My mechanic did curse the valve check a bit and said the big issue is the coolant hose going over the valve cover. If it was half an inch longer, it would be possible to take the cover off, but as it is the coolant has to be drained first and the hose disconnected to get the valve cover off.
Otherwise it's no big deal. Of course a lot of fairing dismantling etc but that's true for any bike of similar configuration.