BMW F 650 GS AND F 650 GS DAKAR FOR 2005

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - January 20, 2004 ... Narrowly focused sportbikes to the
left, massively overwrought tourers to the right...is there any place left for
the simple, do-it-all motorcycle? Sure there is, and far from becoming an
endangered species, the lightweight enduro - a kind of motorcycle that embodies
off-road capabilities alongside roadworthy manners tailored to please
experienced and beginning riders alike - has become immensely popular around
the world. Between 1995 and 2003, BMW has sold more than 110,000 F 650s, with
32 percent of the latest versions going to female riders worldwide). What's
more, some 21 percent of F 650 buyers were new riders. And now, for the 2005
model year, BMW's entry in the amazing category returns refined, refreshed and
ready to do business.

Crossing continents, crossing boundaries

No motorcycle can do everything, but the BMW F 650 GS and the F 650 GS Dakar
come close. Based on the fundamentally flexible "enduro" concept, the F 650
line has been carefully developed to meet a broad range of requirements, to
enable cross-country travel in comfort as well as jaunts across town with
consummate ease. For example, the Dakar, with dirt-spec tire sizes and
long-travel suspension, can truly be taken off road (unlike many similarly
concepted but differently equipped enduros on the market) and yet sacrifices
nothing in terms of on-road civility.

Central to this multi-role versatility is the F 650's relaxed, upright riding
position that is the ideal compromise between on-road comfort and off-road
control. For the new F 650 GS and F 650 GS Dakar, BMW has focused on improving
the bike's ergonomic profile and making it even kinder to beginning and
returning riders. To this end, a new clutch lever featuring incremental span
adjustments that provide riders with smaller hands improved control and comfort
(an adjustable brake lever continues as standard.) To accommodate riders of
different heights, several seat options are available for both the F 650 GS and
the F 650 GS Dakar. The GS comes standard with a 30.7-inch (780mm) seat height
with a low seat option, which further reduces it to 29.5 inches (750mm). In
addition, a high seat is available that provides taller riders with extra
legroom. For the GS Dakar, a lower dual seat is available that reduces seat
height by 0.8 inches (20mm).

The GS's overall compact dimensions are made possible by a slender engine and a
fuel tank located under the seat. Not only does this placement improve chassis
packaging, it dramatically reduces the bike's overall center of gravity, making
the GS feel smaller and lighter - considerations critical to the beginning
rider.

This year, the F 650 GS and F 650 GS Dakar have new bodywork placed upon the
strong and durable steel frame. A new clear-lens headlight puts more
illumination on the road and works with entirely new windscreens to improve
weather and wind protection. (Both screens may be removed for off-road use. In
addition, a clear version of the taller screen fitted to the Dakar is available
for the standard GS.) Revised inserts alongside what would normally be the fuel
tank distinguish the new model and improve cooling by allowing more air past
the oil cooler (the fuel cell is located under the rider's seat for lowered
center of gravity and improved handling.) Finally, the rear luggage rack has
been redesigned to accept an optional top case without an adapter plate, as
required in the past.

F Series- 2 Spark ignition for 2005

The F 650 is powered by a BMW-designed, single-cylinder engine embodying
technologies not seen on other "thumpers." For 2005, the engine's technological
resume stretches to include 2 Spark ignition for the four-valve cylinder head
and a new and advanced BMS-C II computerized engine-control unit that
dynamically manages spark and fuel delivery to suit any riding condition. With
these improvements, the liquid-cooled, 652cc engine produces fewer harmful
exhaust emissions, is more fuel efficient, and has a torque peak at 4800 rpm
instead of the previous model's 5000 rpm. In addition, the 2 Spark ignition
system offers increased drivability, stronger mid-throttle response and greater
engine flexibility. As before, the GS uses a three-way catalyst in the updated,
stainless-steel exhaust system to meet the stringent Euro2 exhaust emissions
requirements.

F 650 GS Dakar - true off-road intentions

In addition to the standard F 650 GS - a model intended for mainly on-road
escapades yet still more than capable of trips off the tarmac - BMW offers the
F 650 GS Dakar. More than special paint, the Dakar embraces true
off-the-beaten-path adventures with longer-travel suspension and special wheels
sized to carry traditional dirt-oriented tires. Owing to the higher natural
riding position, the GS Dakar sports a taller tinted windscreen that can be
easily removed for off-highway treks.

Although the GS and GS Dakar may see different missions, they are both
available with BMW's advanced ABS system, the only such single-cylinder bikes
in this category for which this is true. To optimize the system for off-road
use, the ABS may be switched off via a cockpit-mounted switch.

BMW Accessories

BMW owners, even those new to the fold, are staunch individualists, which is
why there are so many options and accessories available for the new F 650 GS
and F 650 GS Dakar. These include:

* ABS II with rider-selectable defeat. This system is available on both the F
650 GS and GS Dakar.
* Multiple seats. For the F 650 GS, there is a taller dual seat as well as a
lowered-suspension option using the standard seat. For the Dakar, there is a
lowered seat.

Either the GS or the Dakar can be fitted with a special black single seat with
luggage rack that provides the same seat height as the standard saddle.
* Several soft- and hard-luggage options, including variable-thickness hard
saddlebags(Vario), soft bags for passenger seat and luggage rack, a hard top
case, as well as liners for the hard bags.
* A taller windscreen for the F 650 GS, similar to the F 650 GS Dakar's.
* New hand guards.
* Heated hand grips.
* Anti-theft alarm.
* Engine protection kit.
* On-board computer installation kit.

BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975.
ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW
Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial
service organizations for the BMW brand, the MINI brand, and the ROLLS-ROYCE
brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a
technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the
country. BMW Manufacturing Corp. in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's
global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all
Z4 roadster and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization
is represented in the U.S. through networks of 340 BMW passenger car centers,
327 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 148 BMW motorcycle retailers, 73 MINI
passenger car dealers, and 25 ROLLS-ROYCE Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding
Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America,
is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet
at:

www.bmwusa.com
www.bmwmotorradusa.com
www.miniusa.com
www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com

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Journalist note: Information about the BMW Group and its products is available
to journalists on-line at the BMW Group PressClub at the following address:

www.press.bmwgroup.com.

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