MotoBrief

BMW dealers now have the new F 800 GS in stock — no, wait, it’s the F 650 GS, but it’s using a new twin-cylinder engine based on the F 800 GS engine, and it displaces 798 cc. But it only puts out 71 hp versus the F 800 GS’s 85 hp.

Confused yet? Me, too. I’m not certain why BMW has chosen to keep the “650″ moniker while significantly increasing displacement (I guess F 800 GS Lite sounds lame), but there’s no question that the specs are a welcome upgrade from the previous single-cylinder model. I can’t wait to try one of these out.

BMW Press Release:

The 2009 F 650 GS Arrives At U.S. BMW Motorrad Dealers

BMW’s All-New Entry Level Model Makes its Debut with a Twin-Cylinder Engine

Tame the urban jungle or take the road less traveled! After much anticipation, BMW’s sophisticated new addition to its entry level model lineup — the 2009 BMW F 650 GS — has arrived at U.S. BMW Motorrad dealers.

With its 71 hp, torquey twin-cylinder engine, the all-new 2009 F 650 GS offers more power and sophistication than its single-cylinder predecessor. Ideal for on- or off-road riding, urban commuting and any rider looking for a fun, efficient and reliable motorcycle, the middleweight twin tackles anything the ambitious motorcyclist could throw at it. Its rigid steel tube trellis frame, double-sided swing arm and chain drive offer reliability. A low seat height and narrow design make navigation through the worst traffic a breeze. Cast aluminum wheels and telescopic forks keep the ride smooth and precise at all times.

The 2009 F 650 GS has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $8,255 (excluding freight). The Standard Package, offered at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $9,760, (excluding freight) includes heated hand grips, Anti-Lock Brakes, an on-board computer, and white turn signals. The 2009 F 650 GS is available in three colors — Flame Red, Iceberg Silver Metallic, and Azur Blue Metallic.

The F 650 GS is the newest addition to BMW’s dual-sport line up. It follows in the footsteps of the highly acclaimed R 1200 GS – which traces its roots back to the early 1980s when BMW won the grueling Paris-Dakar rally four times with its trailblazing dual-purpose R 80 GS. Since their debut in 2004, the versatile R 1200 GS and its rugged companion, the R 1200 GS Adventure, have earned praise from motorcycle enthusiasts and the press for their exceptional performance both on and off the road.

The R 1200 GS has earned award after award, including Cycle World’s Best Open Class Street Bike and the International Journalist’s Panel “Best Bike in the World.” The R 1200 GS Adventure was named “Best Adventure Bike” three years in a row by editors of Motorcyclist Magazine.

I see GlobeRiders has another DVD on adventure touring and on-the-road maintenance, this time for the R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure. GlobeRiders has done a great job with these videos — I have the F650GS video myself — and think that they’re a good introduction to gear and basic maintenance.

There’s more than 4 hours of info here. As usual, it’s hosted by Helge Pedersen, GlobeRiders founder, photographer and world traveler.

If you’re not familiar with the guy, you should probably check out his awesome book, 10 Years on 2 Wheels [affiliate link] if you can find it. It’s out of print and the copies on Amazon can get pricey. You might also try eBay, where it shows up occasionally. GlobeRiders has said they hope to reprint the book sometime this year.

BMW Motorcycles of America is offering a promotion through the end of 2008 to active members of the U.S. armed forces. The deal applies to all branches — Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, National Guard, and Navy — and anyone who is active or was active within the last six months.

The promotion allows $500 off on K-bikes, $400 on R-bikes, and $250 on G and F bikes and appears to apply only to new motorcycles.

Discovery Turbo has launched Twist the Throttle. It’s awesome stuff. There’s more than four hours of video here as father/son team Milt and Dylan Weiss explore eight famous motorcycle brands.

The show looks inside each marque, covering its history, looking at how the bikes are designed and built, and then taking them for rides in some awe-inspiring locations. The high-definition video looks gorgeous and the Weiss’ commentary is spot on. I love this show.

For many years, BMW has offered training at the Enduro Park in Hechlingen for those willing to make the pilgrimage to Germany. I’ve never had the opportunity to go. But it looks like it’s gotten a bit easier for those of us in the U.S. They’re now conducting on-road and off-road classes at the BMW Performance Center in South Carolina, where they’ve done automobile driving courses since 1999.

Courses start at $480 if you’re bringing your own BMW motorcycle, or BMW will provide an F650GS ($550), a G650 Xchallenge ($600) or an R1200GS ($650). Interestingly enough, BMW uses the F650GS and R1200GS in the on-road classes, too — you can’t choose from any of BMW’s street-oriented motorcycles. That’s disappointing. As big a fan as I am of the GS line, if I was going to take the on-road class I’d want to be using the new F800S.

There’s no mention of the courses on the Performance Center website, so you’ll need to call them to get more information. It looks like there are at least two of each course scheduled every month through the end of the year.

I had a discussion with a brand snob recently and apparently one of my motorcycles isn’t “real.” I was reminded of this exchange today when I saw an article on the AMA website about the 2008 Buell 1125R.

It appears that Buell, a subsidiary of Harley-Davidson, was allowed to look elsewhere for a powerplant for its newest sportbike. The bike uses a liquid-cooled V-twin designed by Rotax and looks very interesting. In addition to the excellent write-up on the bike, AMA has a great interview with Erik Buell about the bike’s development.

I doubt that this bike will spark any great controversy, given that people have wondered for years when Buell would get around to building a sportbike that’s not powered by an air-cooled XL Sportster engine. So while it’s a big step for Buell, I expect this bike to be a beloved addition to the family.

Not so my BMW F650GS, also powered by a Rotax engine, which was recently scorned by some fellow as not being a “real” BMW. “BMW never made a 650,” he sneered.

So what makes a motorcycle a true example of the marque? Does every part need to roll off a company assembly line? BMW doesn’t make my tires, either — does that matter?

There’s no argument that the engine is the heart of a motorcycle but does it have to be built in-house? Do Aprilia Mille or KTM owners have to put up with this?

I recognize that there will be some motorcycles that will never be considered genuine. Would anyone consider the short-lived revival of Excelsior-Henderson related in any way to the classic American motorcycle introduced by William and Tom Henderson in 1911? It was just a pricey cruiser that didn’t offer anything particularly special, and it’s not an Excelsior-Henderson no matter what the badge said.

But the BMW F650? This bike has been sold by BMW for more than a decade and built by BMW since 2000. It appeared on the BMW factory team in the Dakar Rally. It’s not some orphaned model thrown together to make a quick buck — it’s been revised over the years and has led to the new G series of BMW 650s.

I guess this is more about bike snobbery than about motorcycles. Some people would like to forget BMW made anything after the airhead twin. I imagine every brand has built a motorcycle than someone, somewhere, deems unworthy to be considered “real.”

I don’t think I’m going to worry about those people. I love my fake BMW.