The BMW F650CS was a

standard Standard may refer to: Symbols * Colours, standards and guidons, kinds of military signs * Standard (emblem), a type of a large symbol or emblem used for identification Norms, conventions or requirements * Standard (metrology), an object th ...

motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...

made by

BMW Motorrad BMW Motorrad is the motorcycle brand of BMW, part of its Corporate and Brand Development division. It has produced motorcycles since 1923, and achieved record sales for the fifth year in succession in 2015. With a total of 136,963 vehicles sold i ...

from 2001 to 2005. CS stood for city/street, as it was aimed at urban commuters and it was also known as the Scarver, a

portmanteau A portmanteau word, or portmanteau (, ) is a blend of wordsF650 single series, after the 1993–2001 F650, and 2000–7 F650GS. It was known for its offbeat styling intended to attract new motorcyclists.

Design

The F650CS was designed by American

David Robb David Robb (born 23 August 1947) is a Scottish actor. Early life Born in London, the son of David Robb and Elsie Tilley, Robb grew up in Edinburgh and was educated there at the Royal High School, where he played Henry II in a school product ...

, Vice President of BMW Motorrad Design from 1993 to 2012, and designer of the

R1100RT R11, R-11, Meaning R11 - Rhyll Anthony, R11.ID Automobiles * BMW R 11, a German motorcycle * R-11 Refueler a military truck of the United States Air Force * Renault 11, a French family car Vessels * , a submarine of the Royal Navy * , a des ...

, K1200RS, R1200C, R1100S and K1200LT. The bike was the result of a partnership between BMW and Aprilia. BMW F650CS cockpit

Many elements of the design, such as the striking colors used for the coordinated body panels, the Space Age instrument panel, translucent passenger grab handles, and slickly serviceable storage compartment had a consumer appliance feel and appearance, "remind ngyou of current computer peripherals such as HP ScanJet printers." Its small transparent wind screen seemed "

iMac iMac is a family of all-in-one Mac desktop computers designed and built by Apple Inc. It has been the primary part of Apple's consumer desktop offerings since its debut in August 1998, and has evolved through seven distinct forms. In it ...

-inspired", and the use of translucent polycarbonate elsewhere hinted at

Apple An apple is an edible fruit produced by an apple tree (''Malus domestica''). Apple trees are cultivated worldwide and are the most widely grown species in the genus ''Malus''. The tree originated in Central Asia, where its wild ancestor, ' ...

's style at the time. The addition of superfluous oblong slots with incongruous rubber inserts along the sides of the aluminum frame led '' Rider'' magazine to quip that it was "overstyled". BMW "ripped a page from the strategy book of Apple Computer Inc" with its three "youth-oriented" color choices, azure blue metallic, golden orange metallic and beluga blue. BMW F650 CS storage bag

To help attract the fashion conscious buyer, the F650CS had special color options for the side panels, either to match the other body panels or in aluminum, and a choice of two seat colors, for a total of 24 permutations. This modularity extended to the multi-use top storage compartment, which came with a small removable soft bag, and was used for an optional larger soft shoulder bag, or a hard plastic case which could have added an audio system with a CD player. The ignition key matched all three different locking compartment options, and the audio system was integrated with the speedometer so that it automatically increased the music volume at higher speeds and increased the bass at low speed. While the F650CS was similar to the GS released in 2000, it had several unique features including a

single-sided swingarm A swingarm, or "swinging arm" (UK), originally known as a swing fork or pivoted fork, is a single or double sided mechanical device which attaches the rear wheel of a motorcycle to its body, allowing it to pivot vertically. The main component of ...

, toothed belt drive, modular soft case baggage, and a storage area in what would traditionally be the top tank of the bike. The fuel tank was instead placed underneath the rear half of the seat, with the fuel filler cap on the right hand side of the rear of the bike. BMW F650CS belt drive

Traditionally, BMW has favored shaft drive, but for the first time chose belt drive for this application for its advantages in cost and weight over shaft drive, and because it did not require the frequent cleaning, lubrication, and adjustment of roller chain drive, as well as lasting longer than a chain and running quieter. Using belt drive was consistent with the intent to attract new motorcyclists who might not be comfortable with the mechanical chores normally associated with motorcycling. Though belt drives have greater power loss than chains, which are typical of high-performance motorcycles, they do not suffer from chain lash, since chains must be kept slightly loose but belts remain tight at all times, meaning the responsiveness of the

drivetrain A drivetrain (also frequently spelled as drive train or sometimes drive-train) is the group of components that deliver mechanical power from the prime mover to the driven components. In automotive engineering, the drivetrain is the components o ...

is comparable to a heavier and more costly shaft drive.

Performance

The

Rotax Rotax is the brand name for a range of internal combustion engines developed and manufactured by the Austrian company BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG (until 2016 BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co. KG), in turn owned by the Canadian Bombardier Recreational Produc ...

single-cylinder engine A single-cylinder engine, sometimes called a thumper, is a piston engine with one cylinder. This engine is often used for motorcycles, motor scooters, go-karts, all-terrain vehicles, radio-controlled vehicles, portable tools and garden machinery ...

was low-powered compared to the liter class superbikes that could be had for the same price at the time, but considered on its own merits the bike's (rear wheel) was more than adequate for spirited riding in an urban setting, and the rear wheel torque allowed for easy acceleration when maneuvering in traffic. Testers found the handling light and quick, and surprisingly enjoyable in low-speed twisties and canyon curves. Acceleration was tested at in 4.72 to 5.47 seconds and 13.07 seconds to the ¼ mile at . Braking was .

Sales

Initial press reaction among motorcycle critics was uniformly positive, particularly praising BMW for taking a bold and innovative risk, and for their willingness to break traditional molds and entice consumers other than the typical motorcycle rider, though they worried that the cachet of the BMW label would not be enough to justify the premium price. It appeared at a time when most motorcycles were increasing in horsepower and specialization, and the F650CS went against those marketing trends, aimed instead at urban commuters, non-traditional riders, new motorcyclists, women, and shorter riders. The model was one example of BMW's efforts to combat becoming too much of an "old man's brand", and expand beyond their famous touring machines into new markets. The bike's designer David Robb said that, "If we want to offer something to new people we have to offer something new." The large storage space and ease of use suggested the F650CS could attract scooter commuters as well as motorcyclists. BMW estimated 40% of sales would come from non-motorcyclists. It was BMW's first entry-level motorcycle since the R65 of 1978–1984. The F650CS was derived from the dual-sport F650GS single, which was BMW's top selling model worldwide in 2001. In its Canadian advertising campaign, the bike was tied with images of

extreme sport Action sports, adventure sports or extreme sports are activities perceived as involving a high degree of risk. These activities often involve speed, height, a high level of physical exertion and highly specialized gear. Extreme tourism overl ...

s in unlikely locales, like snowboarding down Mount Everest and windsurfing whitecaps in the Pacific Ocean, accompanied by lines such as "You feel the urge to windsurf across the Pacific Ocean... but what you really need is a ride on the new F650CS." Hendrik von Kuenheim, president and CEO of BMW Group explained that, "These riders want a bike that expresses their individuality and expands on their already exciting lifestyle." Ads were placed in lifestyle magazines rather than specialty motorcycle magazines. But for the year 2002, ''

Motorcyclist Motorcycling is the act of riding a motorcycle. For some people, motorcycling may be the only affordable form of individual motorized transportation, and small- displacement motorcycles are the most common motor vehicle in the most populous c ...

'' magazine described the F650CS's sales as an "unmitigated flop", which languished alongside other lightweight European motorcycles that consumers found too expensive outside their home markets. Three years later, in 2005, the F650CS was discontinued, and the F800 series was introduced in 2006, but it was a different class of motorcycle, aimed at the middleweight sport bike segment, for riders looking to upgrade from their first bike, or return to motorcycling, rather than the beginning motorcyclist market. The F800 had a

straight-twin engine A straight-twin engine, also known as an inline-twin, vertical-twin, or parallel-twin, is a two-cylinder piston engine whose cylinders are arranged in a line along a common crankshaft. Straight-twin engines are primarily used in motorcycles; ot ...

, not a single, and though it shared belt drive with the F650CS and boasted its own technical innovations, it did not push the design envelope with the kind of unusual features found on the CS, nor did it elicit commentary for the polarizing nontraditional styling the CS was noted for.

Notes

{{BMW motorcycles F650CS Belt drive motorcycles Standard motorcycles Motorcycles introduced in 2001

Design

Performance

Sales

See also

Notes