Why four C650 GT's? Here's the story for those who love to read about this wonderful machine ....
1.
2016 C650 GT. My first love. White metallic paint and 832 miles on the odometer when I bought it on my birthday in September, 2018 for only $5,000. White is still my favorite color GT. The seller was a grandmother who drove it three miles a day to see her ailing mom in a nursing home. When the mom passed away, the owner couldn't bear to ride it again. I took a train from South Florida 320 miles north to Jacksonville, bought it and rode it home on US-1. There was an unfortunate "Oh, by the way" in that she dropped it in her gravel driveway and one of the fairings was scratched pretty good. The photos didn't show that and she didn't mention it. After traversing Florida and leaving myself with no other way home -- and looking at the best motorcycle deal I ever made -- I kept the grumbling to myself and bought it anyway. Another downside: It had salty corrosion on the engine block from being in a carport in a very humid climate for three years. Also had a maddening issue with the Check Oil warning light -- the dreaded yellow pyramid. It came on repeatedly. I must have checked the oil ten times on the ride home; it was always perfect. Had to be a faulty sensor. Ultimately, between the scratches and corrosion and faulty warnings, I had enough and sold it to a man in Fort Lauderdale who bought it for his partner (who had never ridden a mile) for $6,500.
2.
2017 C650 GT. Black Storm Metallic. This one was flawless. Not a hint of a scratch with 2,232 miles for $7,000. I bought it from a physician in Fort Myers, Florida, which is on the left coast of the state (I'm on the Atlantic side). Got a ride there and rode home 180 miles across the wide open spaces of Central Florida -- a pretty blend of sprawling ranches and sugar cane fields. After six months, I decided to treat myself to the luxury of two bikes in the garage and picked up a gorgeous, matte black, 2016 Burgman 650 from an ex-cop in Bradenton, south of Tampa. Each day, I had my pick of riding motorcycle-style on the BMW or cruising on the super-smooth Burgman. Eventually I noticed I was routinely picking the Burgman. That SECVT transmission with the sound of a commercial jet is so enjoyable -- and reliable, always 3,000 rpm's at 50 mph. After half a year I figured I'd stick with the Suzuki and sold the BMW to a guy in Delaware for $7,000. I was wrong but didn't know it at the time. The Burgman's transmission beats the GT's, but the BMW has TPMS, bigger tires, beefier suspension, much better handling and motorcycle-like ride. It's also way easier to push around a parking lot or garage and the design doesn't resemble an old-time bathtub on wheels. We live, we learn, right?
3.
2013 C650 GT. Platinum Bronze Metallic Vomit. Hated the color of this bike from the get-go. That was a major reason why it's now for sale. This was a rehab project and I fell in love with this bike over time, at least mechanically. Found it in a dark corner of the garage at a Ducati dealership in Pompano Beach. Beyond the $100,000, 100% carbon fiber Ducati's capable of 200 mph was this GT, literally with cobwebs. It was a trade-in and the dealer didn't seem to know what to do with it (on the other hand, they sure knew how to deliver a bike: mine was delivered to my driveway, no charge -- kudos to you, Two Wheels World). This GT had a GRP exhaust, IMG stickers everywhere and the rear tire pressure sensor wasn't working. I imagined the owner was a devotee of "ride it like you stole it." Took it for a test ride and it felt solid, so I bought it for $3,900 with 15,100 miles. Invested $500 to update battery, belt, rollers, oil and filter, plugs, brake fluid and pads, air and CVT filters, chain rail and chain oil and coolant, and lo and behold, the GT responded like an abused dog adopted by a loving family. It felt like a new bike ready for tens of thousands more miles. I figured I'd keep it for years, but the color kept nagging at me. Somebody is going to get a well-tuned machine when they buy it.
4.
2015 C650 GT. Black Storm Metallic redux. Bought this for $5,900 with 2,600 miles on the odometer when I rolled out of a very exclusive driveway on the barrier island of Tierra Verde, south of St. Petersburg on the Gulf. I wasn't really in the market for another GT but saw this one on CycleTrader. The owner never had it on the freeway and used it to ride two miles to the beach. He said he didn't have a motorcycle license, so that might explain his low key riding habits. Not a lot to do on this but enjoy it. I'll update the brake fluid and coolant. A Utopia backrest for the 2013 is on the way. I bought it for the 2013 and it fits this 2015. My Nelson-Rigg Route One seat bag will attach nicely to the backrest; that will add a ton of storage because I can use the bag AND the under seat storage. Previously, I had to attach the bag to the grab rails, which meant you had to take off the bag to get under the seat, a PITA. Soon I can lift up the seat with the bag still on it. I rode the 2015 to the beach today to feed my birds. Definitely similar to the '13 but feels more solid, more tight, probably because it hasn't been rolled over 21,000+ miles like the 2013. It was very enjoyable to look at the black bike in public and think, "Man, that looks sharp!" rather than, "Well, it's solid mechanically, but oy, that color." (2013).
God willing and the creek don't rise, my next GT will be another Gen. 2.0 model (2016+). The updated GT is faster off the line and has a "growlier" exhaust sound that mimics a BMW motorcycle. Even thought BMW stopped making GT's, they produced them through 2020, so there will be low mileage GT's in pristine condition for years to come. And I will have my eyes open for them. I love this machine.
As for the 2013 for sale, I found a buyer for $3,900, but when I hit that price point I had cash buyers crawling out of the woodwork, which tells me the price is too low. Original MSRP was $9,990. Average retail today is $4,985. So I am putting a price of $4,600 on it and I'll see what happens. That feels more like a fair price for a fully updated bike.
