flash412
05-07-2008, 03:06 PM
To critical acclaim and consumer enthusiasm, BMW released its first chain drive motorcycle in 1994, the venerable F650 Funduro. The bike was designed and produced by Aprilia in Noale, Italy. The F650 Funduro is very similar to the Aprilia Pegaso, but not at all identical. While both use the same Rotax single cylinder water cooled engine, the F650 has four valves and two spark plug where as the Pegaso has five valves and one spark plug. The cams have different profiles. There are many other differences.
Unfortunately, Americans had to wait until 1997 to be able to purchase one of these wonderful motorcycles. BMW made a style change for introduction to the New World. While there were other minor changes, that style change was the only major difference between the 1994-1996 carbureted F650 Funduros and the 1997-2000 carbureted F650 Funduros and F650STs.
BMW realized that their biggest selling model (at that time) was being built by Aprilia under contract. In an effort to pocket a larger share of the profits, BMW took the bike "in-house" to be produced in the plant in the Berlin suburb of Spandau. BMW redesigned the bike at that time, changing over to fuel injection. Some say that BMW destroyed the ease of service feature of the original Aprilia design. After all, how many vehicles have instructions to change the oil that begin with, "First, remove the turn signals..."
The last Funduro rolled off Aprilia's assembly line in the year 2000. The last ORIGINAL F650, the one before the restyling, rolled off in 1996. Here is the difference...
The BLACK BIKE represents the earlier, 1994-1996 model. The white bike represents the later Funduro model, 1997-2000.
The FAIRING is the majority of the difference between the 94-96 Funduros which were NOT IMPORTED INTO THE USA and the 97-2000 Funduros which were.
Pay particular attention to the front TURN SIGNAL. See how the the turn signal was integrated into the fairing of the earlier model.<br>
<br>The BLACK BIKE is the early model. The white bike is the later model.
<img src="http://flash412ebay.home.comcast.net/96F650-Front_2907b.JPG"> <img src="http://flash412ebay.home.comcast.net/98F650b.jpg"><br>
<br>Here is a detail photo of the front turn signal from the ultra rare (in the USA) 1996 Funduro.<br><img src="http://flash412ebay.home.comcast.net/96F650-TS_2908b.JPG"><br>
<br>In addition to the turn signal, notice how the small fairing bits, the "engine covers," were redesigned.
The BLACK BIKE is the early model. The white bike is the later model.
<br><img src="http://flash412ebay.home.comcast.net/96F650-Side_2909b.JPG"> <img src="http://flash412ebay.home.comcast.net/98F650_1397b.jpg"><br>
For some reason I cannot change my .sig to say 96 instead of 98 without losing the COLOR. So I'll mention that while MOST Americans cannot have the original F650, ONE person can. I have the black bike with a legal Colorado title and it happens to be for sale (http://flash412ebay.home.comcast.net/Bikes4Sale.htm).
Unfortunately, Americans had to wait until 1997 to be able to purchase one of these wonderful motorcycles. BMW made a style change for introduction to the New World. While there were other minor changes, that style change was the only major difference between the 1994-1996 carbureted F650 Funduros and the 1997-2000 carbureted F650 Funduros and F650STs.
BMW realized that their biggest selling model (at that time) was being built by Aprilia under contract. In an effort to pocket a larger share of the profits, BMW took the bike "in-house" to be produced in the plant in the Berlin suburb of Spandau. BMW redesigned the bike at that time, changing over to fuel injection. Some say that BMW destroyed the ease of service feature of the original Aprilia design. After all, how many vehicles have instructions to change the oil that begin with, "First, remove the turn signals..."
The last Funduro rolled off Aprilia's assembly line in the year 2000. The last ORIGINAL F650, the one before the restyling, rolled off in 1996. Here is the difference...
The BLACK BIKE represents the earlier, 1994-1996 model. The white bike represents the later Funduro model, 1997-2000.
The FAIRING is the majority of the difference between the 94-96 Funduros which were NOT IMPORTED INTO THE USA and the 97-2000 Funduros which were.
Pay particular attention to the front TURN SIGNAL. See how the the turn signal was integrated into the fairing of the earlier model.<br>
<br>The BLACK BIKE is the early model. The white bike is the later model.
<img src="http://flash412ebay.home.comcast.net/96F650-Front_2907b.JPG"> <img src="http://flash412ebay.home.comcast.net/98F650b.jpg"><br>
<br>Here is a detail photo of the front turn signal from the ultra rare (in the USA) 1996 Funduro.<br><img src="http://flash412ebay.home.comcast.net/96F650-TS_2908b.JPG"><br>
<br>In addition to the turn signal, notice how the small fairing bits, the "engine covers," were redesigned.
The BLACK BIKE is the early model. The white bike is the later model.
<br><img src="http://flash412ebay.home.comcast.net/96F650-Side_2909b.JPG"> <img src="http://flash412ebay.home.comcast.net/98F650_1397b.jpg"><br>
For some reason I cannot change my .sig to say 96 instead of 98 without losing the COLOR. So I'll mention that while MOST Americans cannot have the original F650, ONE person can. I have the black bike with a legal Colorado title and it happens to be for sale (http://flash412ebay.home.comcast.net/Bikes4Sale.htm).