BikeTest: BMW G650 X: Even though it happened all of 13 years ago, some BMW enthusiasts still haven't recovered from the shock of the launch of the BMW F650 Funduro, a 650cc single-cylinder machine then built by Aprilia and powered by an Austrian Rotax engine. Seven years later it was upgraded, given fuel injection and new styling, and is today's F650 GS.
For a brief period there was a belt-driven CS variant, aimed at the urban market, and there still is, of course, the Dakar variant for those who like desert storming.
The F650 GS has been hugely popular and undoubtedly has brought many more, and importantly much younger riders into the BMW fold. Over the years, precisely as intended, a goodly few have progressed to larger and more expensive BMW models.
But it would be a mistake to regard the current F650 GS, which remains in production at least for 2007 and we sincerely hope for much longer, as just an entry level machine. Indeed we regard it as, in terms of price and performance, right at the top of BMW's value chain.
And now, further emphasising the importance of relatively modest priced machines within the budget and skill levels of younger and new riders come three new 650cc machines, the G650X's Xchallenge, Xcountry and Xmoto. All similar in many respects, for example the engines are identical, but sufficiently different to appeal to different sectors of the market.
The Xchallenge is the Hard Enduro machine aimed at the off-road enthusiast. It is uncompromising, has the essential long travel suspension and carries not one gram of superfluous weight. It has a 40° steering lock, the suspension is easily and quickly adjusted for virtually any conditions and spoked wheels carry the advantage of better elasticity and lower weight.
The front wheel is a pothole defeating 21" and the 18" rear wheel permits the use of specialised off-road tyres. The cross-drilled Wave brakes have superior self-cleaning properties to ordinary disks. The gearing, a 15-tooth pinion and 47-tooth sprocket results in a shorter final drive ratio than the other models.
Given the huge experience BMW has gained in truly arduous and hugely demanding competitions and enduro rides - although no one has yet had the chance to ride one - we can be pretty certain this one will do the business.
The Xcountry is meant to be a modern interpretation of the scrambler, a road-going motorcycle suitable for off-road use. In this respect it has much in common with the familiar F650GS, but with rather more enduro ability.
The looks are intended to be classic scrambler rather than out-and-out enduro. The suspension, controls and seating position are designed to ensure a casual, relaxed ride. Use of wire wheels makes it more suitable for off-road use. It has the same final drive ratio as the Street Moto. All in all, it is rather more dual-purpose than its GS 650 ancestor.
When we come to the Xmoto aka, in BMW-speak, the Street Moto, we find a machine focused on sheer riding pleasure on country roads. This is designed to be a "canyon carver" sans pareil. It stands out from its sister models in terms of the suspension set-up, smaller cast-alloy 17" wheels running on grippy sports tyres.
The forward-leaning seating position should help make long and winding bends and serpentines an outstanding pleasure, without detracting from directional stability. It should also have the edge in city traffic.
Fork travel is the same as on the enduro model, but the springing is even firmer. The braking system is the most powerful in the G650X range, gearing with a 16:47 ratio is slightly longer than the enduro version.
Now, more than ever, prospective purchasers are genuinely spoiled for choice throughout the entire BMW range, which has been widened and expanded almost beyond measure in recent years, whilst still paying more than passing respect to what many of us felt were traditional BMW values, not least in respect of innovation, quality, reliability and modest depreciation.
All the models in the range can be restricted to bring power output down to the utterly nonsensical and virtually unenforceable 25kw maximum, which now applies for the first two years after passing the Driving Test.
As with all the BMW range, the list of optional extras is huge, all of which, with the exception of ABS, can be dealer fitted. Low seats, windshield (Xcountry only) luggage rack, luggage systems and heaps of add-on protectors for just about every part of the machine top the list.
As was reported in Motors several weeks ago, BMW Motorrad Ireland is arranging its own insurance and we expect that the official launch is imminent. This would mean dealer restricted machines would be re-grouped to reflect the actual power output and premiums would take into account ABS and rider-training.
Tech spec
ENGINE: 652cc; Liquid cooled, four stroke, single cylinder, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder; bore and stroke - 100 x 83mm; 53 hp (39 KW) @ 7,000 rpm; 60 Nm 6 kg-m @ 5,250 rpm
VERSIONS Xchallenge Xcountry Xmoto
CHASSIS Wheelbase mm 1,500 1,498 1,500
DIMENSIONS Seat height mm 930 840-870 920
DRY WEIGHT KG 144 148 147
PERFORMANCE: 0-60 km/h 4.01 4.01 4.03
TOP SPEED km/h 165 170 170
PRICE €10,300 €9,800 €10,900