Yes nice article and I couldn't agree more. I recognized myself in the 'lane splitting in LA' for which it is narrow enough. What surprised me about that lane splitting is the large number of car/truck/SUV drivers that make a real effort to make room for you, when they see you approach in their rear-view mirror, sitting still, wondering when the queue is going to nudge forward again. Really very considerate, although almost never necessary.
Back to the article, the only thing I find not quite on the mark, for me at least, is that it's still tiring to ride longer distances. I've done a few longer stints, From Venice to San Diego or Palmdale, and by the time I arrived I was ready to stretch my legs and take a long break from the fun.
Also, on the highway my Sport windscreen does not protect me as much from the wind as the article suggests. Perhaps it's because I touch 6 foot 2 but when I really want to take a break from the wind I have to crouch quite low. For the windnoise, on the highway runs I always wear ear plugs.
Sadly, the rave review does not appear to have resulted in a very big sales success for BMW. I can recall having seen another 650 only once in the past 4 years, even in scooter-heavenly-conditions of congested but always comfortably-heated Southern California.
