Bmw F650cs

BMW F650CS

NEW FOR'02

Sex and the City Single

BMW IS CONTINUING TO REFINE THE CONCEPT OF THE City Bike, as evidenced by the new-for-’02 F650CS, or “City Sports.”

Building on the success of the original Aprilia-built F650 Funduro and the follow-up F650GS (30,000 units produced in-house as of this summer), the German manufacturer has announced a further evolution of the single-cylinder streetbike designed for urban transport. Totally unique is the CS’s “tanktop” storage space (the actual fuel tank is under the seat), which consists of a pair of translucent plastic rails surrounding a hollow inside the central fairing. Into this space, the owner can fit parcels, a spare helmet, accessory soft or hard tankbag or even a stereo system with integral waterproof speakers. A standard rear luggage rack incorporates passenger grab handles, and accommodates an accessory softbag that connects to another that covers the passenger seat, allowing up to 62 liters of storage. The CS’s city intent is apparent in BMW’s contention that the bike “deliberately does without the touring cases otherwise so typical of BMW motorcycles.” They’d probably just get in the way while dodging inner-city traffic, anyway.

More than just an update of the GS, the CS boasts a number of new features, including an oil-carrying twin-spar steel frame, single-sided swingarm and belt drive, the latter a BMW first. As on the GS, the CS’s Rotax-built, 652cc liquid-cooled dohc Single is fuel-injected, and spent gases exit through a new low-mounted polished steel exhaust system with a catalytic converter. Changes to the airbox and exhaust have resulted in a slightly broader powerband, with the claimed 50 peak horsepower now coming higher in the rev range at 6800 rpm (rather than the GS’s 6500), and the peak torque of 46 foot-pounds arriving sooner at 5500 rpm (instead of 6000).

Shorter-travel suspension (4.9 inches front and 4.7 inches rear) and 17-inch three-spoke cast wheels shod with Metzeler MHZ3 radiais improve street handling while helping to reduce seat height to just 30.7 inches (a lower 29.5-inch-high scat is available as an option). Single disc brakes are fitted front and rear, with ABS available as an option (as well as on the ’02 F650GS Dakar, for which ABS was unavailable this year). Other options include heated handgrips, hazard warning flashers, an engine spoiler, on-board computer, accessory power socket and anti-theft warning system.

Capping off the CS’s range of options is its unique color treatment, which allows customers to choose between three base colors (Azur Blue Metallic, Golden Orange Metallic or Beluga Blue), two fairing inset colors (White Aluminum or Golden Orange) and two seat colors (Dark Blue or Sepia). If that doesn’t allow enough personalization, there’s also an optional chrome-trim package.

Suggested retail prices for the 2002 BMWs have yet to be announced, but the F650CS should be priced in the neighborhood of $8500. Unfortunately, BMW North America is lukewarm regarding the bike’s U.S. sales prospects, so is reportedly bringing in only 150 examples. If you want one, you’d better act fast! -Brian Catterson