New BMW G 650 Xmoto, sheer riding pleasure on country roads

The Xmoto Street Moto is powered by a single-cylinder engine. © BMW Motorrad. Presented at the Intermot Show, the Street Moto offers a very impressive active riding qualities thanks to its small 17-inch wheels, an aluminium handlebar fastened in position by extra-short mounting clamps, the front wheel cover complete with its colour-highlighted tube protectors fitted close to the tyre, as well as the headlight fairing finished in twin-tone Graphitane metallic matt and Red that gives the G 650 Xmoto an even more muscular and athletic look in the new BMW X line-up, even though many of the fairing components as well as the asymmetrically designed headlight are the same as on the Hard Enduro.

The Street Moto nevertheless stands out significantly from its “sister models” in terms of its suspension set-up, with the smaller cast-aluminium 17-inch wheels running on sports tyres with very good grip ensuring optimised handling in every respect. Measuring 120/70 at the front and 160/60 at the rear, the tyres reflect the muscular look and character of the machine, allowing use of the latest sports tyres on the rims measuring 3.5 and, respectively, 4.5 inches in width.

Apart from lower gyro-forces on the front wheel, the shorter camber also enhances the motorcycle's handling and agility on the road.
The forward-leaning seating position also helps to make long and winding bends as well as serpentines a truly outstanding pleasure on two wheels, optimum directional stability on straight passages in between again leaving nothing to be desired.

One of the improvements made to optimise the motorcycle's suspension geometry is the opening for the front axle moved further back, again in the interest of almost playful but nevertheless safe handling for significant benefits also in city traffic.
Both the springs and dampers are specifically tailored to the Street Moto with its particular requirements and riding qualities. While the upside-down telescopic fork offers 270 millimetres or 10.6´´ spring travel like on the Hard Enduro, the fork is even firmer and tauter all round in its inbound and rebound motion. Particularly the sporting rider will be happy to enjoy the sensitive, incremental adjustment of the damper in both directions, ensuring an individual, personalised set-up at all times.

Rear-wheel suspension, in turn, is firmer and shorter, with spring travel at the rear of 245 millimetres or 9.65´´.

The Street Moto boasts the most powerful brake system of all models in the G 650 X line-up: At the front a four-piston fixed calliper interacts with a 320-millimetre (12.60´´) brake disc in floating arrangement, interacting with high-grip radial tyres for exceptional deceleration benefiting in particular from the very high torsional stability of the USD telescopic fork with its main tubes measuring 45 millimetres or 1.77´´ in diameter.
With its 240-millimetre (9.45´´) brake disc and floating-calliper configuration, the rear-wheel brake is the same as on the other two models.

Final drive on the G 650 X Moto conceived for road use comes with a ratio of 16 : 47 teeth, that is somewhat “longer” than on the Enduro version.

Most important features of the new G 650 X model series:

• Sporting and emotional design characterised in particular by lightweight features.
• Fast-revving single-cylinder power unit developing maximum output of 39 kW (53 hp) at 7,000 rpm and peak torque of 60 Nm (44 lb-ft) at 5,250 rpm.
• Crankshaft running in anti-friction bearings and an even lighter alternator reducing free mass forces.
• DOHC valve drive with cup tappets and four valves.
• Liquid cooling with an aluminium radiator.
• Electronic BMS-C II engine management with intake manifold injection and dual ignition.
• Stainless-steel exhaust system with three-way catalytic converter and oxygen sensor.
• Dry sump lubrication with the oil tank positioned appropriately for an ideal centre of gravity.
• Close-increment five-speed gearbox with secondary chain drive.
• High-quality running gear components, eloxy-plated aluminium attachments.
• Torsionally-rigid tubular bridge frame with bolted-on aluminium rear frame.
• Stable upside-down telescopic fork, fixed-position tube measuring 45 millimetres (1.77´´) in diameter.
• Light and highly stable two-unit cast-aluminium swing arm.
• Top-quality spring struts at the rear.
• Low unladen weight between 156 and 160 kg (344 and 353 lb).
• Conified aluminium tubular handlebar.
• Foot brake and gearshift levers made of forged aluminium.
• Fuel tank positioned beneath the seat for an ideal centre of gravity, with good access to the filler pipe.
• High-performance brake system with on-demand ABS as an option.
• Model-specific range of accessories and optional features.

(BMW Motorrad)

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