Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128149
World's Brian Catterson for a couple of brief dirt-road excursions, but was F650CS proves to be remarkably adaptable, as our six-foot-plus tester never complained once on the day-long ride of leg-cramping. Details worth mentioning include the heated grips (which are welcome even on mild days), the vertical fueltank filler hole (like a car's - wellsuited for gas-pump nozzles) and the storage area (the soft bag is nicelooking and holds more than you'd imagine). R1150GS ADVENTURE The Adventure is based on the standard version of the venerable R 1150GS, which was preceded long ago (in 1981, to be precise) by the R80GS (a bike called to mind by the new model's optional, old-school black-and-yellow paint scheme). Perhaps somewhat of a novelty in the U.S. (it was used in the torch relay for the recent Winter Olympics). the the bike can easily cruise well above best. Even with the lower sixth gear, ture-bike ride that we'll cover in a Boxer GS is extremely popular in Europe, helping to make it the second-highest-selling BMW model in the world. Compared to the standard GS, the Adventure is intended a bit more for its namesake, for which it gets a few capability-extending updates. Among them are slightly longer suspension travel (and seat height), added fuel capacity (for a total of nearly eight gallons!), different gearing (lower first and sixth gears, for better off-road going), bigger engine nerf-bars, a skid plate, and chunky block-knobby tires. With the good comes a bit of bad, as the Adventure also weighs eight pounds more and costs an additional $700 (it should be in dealers as you read this, as should the CS). As soon as you climb aboard the Adventure (actually, as soon as you look at it), you feel the coming on of an intense appetite for long, grueling stints in the saddle, an appetite that wasn't about to be satiated by our single-day, nearly all-tarmac pressintro route. (Our tester joined Cycle Tt-~I. l1~lrer RttSOCiS ADVENTURE • Innovative, progressive dampin9 design on rear shock • Upgraded EVO brakes wI stainless-steel lines & ABS (can be switched off for off-road) • Block-tread tires • Fuel-injection wI 2nd map for low-octane fuel • 7.9-gallon fuel tank • Heated handgrips • Handlebar crossbar pad f, plastic handguards • Removable, reshaped 3-position adjustable windshield • Anodized wheels w/ cross-spoke pattem for maximum strength • Saddlebag mounting brackets • Extended front fender • 2 power sockets for electric suit, GPS, etc. • Larger rear rack wI cast-alloy hand-hold loops • Larger engine-cylinder protection bars (shown) • Heavy-duty skidplate • Longer center and side stands (for increased travel) wI larger pads (for parking in soft dirt) • One-piece seat • Lower first f, sixth gears for improved off-road going • 3-year, 36,OOO-mile limited warranty. incl. BMW Roadside Assistance Plan • Options - Aluminum saddlebags & matching topbox - Anti-theft alarm system • Lower saddle drops seat height to 33.8 in. - Safety grid to protect headlight - Pair of fog lights wI grids the speed limit, and its comfortable future issue). On the short bits of dirt • Dry-sump lubrication design w/ oil in frame spars • BMW MSC engine-management system ensures optimum air-fuel ratios f, clean exhaust • Twin-spar perimeter frame design w/ removable subframe • Center-mounted rear shock • Narrow handlebar f, slim seat • New ellipsoid headlight design • Translucent blue windshield • Heated handgrips • Fuel tank situated below seat • Rear luggage rack • Stainless-steel silencer • 3-spoke aluminum wheels • I-sided swingarm w/ eccentric-cam hub • Low-maintenance belt-drive system (unique among bikes w/ one-sided swingarms) • Innovative body design w/ new storage-pace concept (soft tank bag standard) • 3-year, 36,OOO-mile limited warranty, incl. BMW Roadside Assistance Plan • Options - ABS braking system - Cut-down seat f, low-profile tire for lower seat height - Storage-compartment accessories, incl. helmet f, luggage rack, hard case (shown) f, stereo audio system - Rear luggage bags - Center stand 650. And while its fit is not intimidating for the vertically challenged (with the exception of its long-reach, nonadjustable hand-levers), the F650CS lating, and that's what the GS does still hungry enough for more that we've arranged a multi-day adven- Te~h l1~lt.er case-dragging than mileage-accumu- seat, heated grips and plastic hand- that we did encounter, we found the Beemer to be just fine, as long as the guards will make life more pleasurable in the mean·time. In fact, when rider remembers to choose smooth routes and adjust speed to the condi- you're not heading up to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the GS makes a great tions - after all, this is a 530-pound machine. Obviously, it's not a dirt commuter bike, as our editorial staff has proven over the years. And in its bike, and it's safe to say the GS Adventure rendition, you'll find your- would be a handful on tight cowtrails, self searching the map for dirt roads especially for riders under six feet tall. It's also too heavy to perform with which to link your stretches of pavement. well in the sand, but we were able to While the Adventure is just as keep up a good clip on graded dirt good in relatively tame applications roads. The Adventure also performs as its standard GS predecessor, you'll find that its burly look and feel inspire admirably on the street, holding its own in the twisties despite its knobby-esque tires (which are surprisingly the imagination during slogs to and from work, and as you split lanes smooth and quiet on the pavement). (minus the hard bags, preferably) In fact, toward ride's end, both Catterson and David Robb (the American who heads up BMW's German design down the 405, you'll periodically be next cross-country (or around-the- department) attained sport-bike-Iike world, if you can arrange enough speeds on the famous curves of Angeles Forest Highway. you never actually pull off such a trip, Still, the "Adventure" in this bike's name is meant to have less to do with are worth the price of admission. lost in a daydream as you plan your vacation time) expedition. Even if the Adventure-inspired reveries alone AI SpedficatlODS F&50CS ENGINE: Watercooled, single-cylinder 4-stroke w/4-tappet-actuated valves, 2 upper camshafts & dry-sump lubrication DISPlACEMENT: 652cc BORE x STROKE: _......•..............•.•..•...........1OOmm x 83mm COMPRESSION RATIO: 11.5:1 CARBURETlON: ................•......•........Programmable fuel injection CLUTCH: 8 friction discs coupling in oil bath TRAl'ISMlSSION: 5 speed Belt FINAL ORNE: FUEL CAPACITY: ....•..............................3.9 gal, incl. I-gal res. FRONT SUSPENSION: Hydraulically dampened telescopic 41mm fork (4.9 in. travel) REAR SUSPENSION: Needle-mounted swingarm w/ prog. lever system, central strut f, cam adj., hydraulic shock (4.7 in. travel) 11 0/70 x 17 FRONT TIRE: REAR TIRE: 160/60 x 17 (opt. low-seat 150/60 x 17) FRONT BRAKE: Hydraulic, wI ABS (1 300mm disc w/2-piston floating caliper) REAR BRAKE: Hydraulic, wI ABS (1 240mm disc w/l·piston floating caliper) OVERALL LEl'IGTH: 85.7 in. WHEELBASE: _ 59.7 in. SEAT HEIGHT: 31.2 in. RAKE: ................................•.••••••...................62.1° CJ..AIMED DRY WEIGHT: .......•......•... _.........•.......•...412Ibs. SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: ...............•........•$8690 ($9190 wI ABS) R 1 1 SaGS Adventure ENGll'IE: ...........•.•...................Air/oil-cooled, twin-cylinder 4-stroke 113Occ DISPlACEMENT: ...........•............... _ 101 mm x 70.5mm BORE x STROKE: COMPRESSION RATIO: 10.3:1 Fuel-injection & electronic ignition CARBORETlON: .. _ CLUTCH: 165mm dry. single plate w/ diaphragm spring TRANSMISSION: 6-speed FINAL DRIVE: Shaft FUEL CAPACITY: 7.9 gal. incl. 2-gal. res. FRONT SUSPENSION: Telelever w/ central spring strut. linear-rate coil spring & gas shock, 5-pos. preload (8.3 in. travel) REAR SUSPENSION: Patented BMW Paralever; gas shock w/ variable rebound damping & 40-pos. preload (8.7 in. travel) FRONT TIRE: 110/80 x 19 REAR TIRE: 150/70 x 17 FRONT BRAKE: BMW hydraulic ASS, partially integrated (2 320mm floating discs w/4-piston calipers) REAR BRAKE: BMW hydraulic ABS, partially integrated (1 277mm fixed disc w/2-piston caliper) OVERALL LENGTH: 86.2 in. WHEELBASE: 58.9 in. SEAT HEIGHT: 35.4 in. RAKE: 62.9° CJ..AIMED DRY WEIGHT: ...................•..•.................530 Ibs. SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE: $15.200 a U c •• n e _ S • APRil 10, 2002 9