Bmw F650 Gs
BMW F650 GS
Quick Ride
Singular synergy
CHANGE IS GOOD, ESPEcially where it Concerns BMW'S F650 Funduro. The single-cylinder dual-pur-pose bike set all sorts of sales records when it debuted in Europe in the early Nineties. Stateside, though, the beginnerfriendly machine met with less success, likely due to its lofty suggested retail, which rivals the asking prices of much faster, more powerful 600cc sportbikes.
Now comes a different desig nation, F650 GS, plus a host of amendments to both engine and chassis. These include a new BMW Motorsports-tweaked four-valve cylinder head, elec tronic fuel injection, more rigid frame and swingarm, and restyled plastic secured with theft-thwarting Torx fittings. What's more, with the airbox and oil reservoir stealing the space normally reserved for fuel, a 4.5-gallon molded-plastic
gas tank is located under the seat. An aircraft-type filler cap is positioned. BMW automobile like, on the right-side flank, requiring the rider to dismount for refueling.
Equally interesting is the ex haust. A single, large-diameter header pipe runs down the liq
uid-cooled cylinder and up the left side of the bike into a highmount stainless-steel pre-muf fler. From there, spent gases make a 90-degree left turn, fol lowed 6 inches later by a 90-de-
gree right into a second silencer. The point is to provide the nec essary volume without deviating to a much bigger-and less aes thetically appealing-solo-muf fler setup.
Just like BMW's twinand four-cylinder models, the F650 GS is offered with anti-lock
brakes, though our unit was not so equipped. Said to be lighter and simpler than the current ABS II, the new system adds $500 to the bike’s $8100 suggested retail price. Also noncompulsory are a 31 -liter top box, expanding (!) saddlebags, engine guards, additional instrumentation and heated handgrips.
Pressing the starter button brings the 652cc Single to life, and the engine settles into a comfortable idle within a minute or so. At 42 horsepower, peak output is identical to the previous version, but a flat-asKansas torque curve makes for brisk acceleration; just stay clear of R1150GSs.
Steering is nicely neutral, and there’s plenty of leverage courtesy of the wide, crossbarequipped handlebar. The suspension, which consists of a non-adjustable 41mm fork and preload/damping-adjustable shock, is a carryover from the original Funduro. Ditto the spoked 19and 17-inch wheels, gummy bias-ply Metzeler tires and excellent Brembo brakes. Overall, it’s a solid, easy-to-ride package that should appeal to both novices and old hands.
Still to come, of course, is the F650 GS Dakar with its 21-inch front wheel and knobby tires. And then there’s the highly anticipated F650 Rallye, a 370pound street-legal desert racer...
-Matthew Miles
