A decade ago, BMW played around with its G650 series and created three variants in the process: the Challenge, Country, and the Xmoto. All three models utilized a reworked G650 power plant that was slightly more powerful than the stock engine while also tuned for lower emissions, as well as being a little bit lighter than the standard G650 motor. All three variants also used the same internal gear ratios. While the Xchallenge and Xcountry were produced for a couple years, BMW pulled the plug on the Xmoto after a single year of production. Just 2,692 units were built with roughly a third going to Germany and the UK. Examples are fairly rare in the US.
The Xmoto was the only dedicated supermoto machine of the three G650X variants, with the other two models being dual-sports. In addition to its sporty bodywork and radiator shrouds, the Xmoto distinguished itself as a bonafide SuMo with a handful of stock features such as MX-style Magura bars, slim moto-style seat, thick sportbike-style grips, and 17-inch 10-spoke cast aluminum wheels wrapped in sticky Pirelli Diablo tires. The fuel tank on the Xmoto is located under the seat with the filler cap on the right side of the bike, this enables the SuMo’s pilot to slide back and forth on the thin saddle. The 35.4-inch seat height also helps, though BMW offered an optional low seat at 34.6 inches.
The engine on the Xmoto is a Rotax-designed liquid-cooled four-stroke 652cc DOHC single with a cylinder head that has two chain-driven overhead camshafts that control two intake and exhaust valves. The Austrian thumper churned out a claimed 53hp at 7,000RPM and 44lb-ft of torque at 5,250RPM, and had a 11.5:1 compression ratio. The fuel-injected four-valve engine has a reported top-speed of 106mph, with the entire bike weighing in at a claimed 351lbs wet. Fixed to the Xmoto’s engine is a five-speed transmission that sat in the machine’s steel bridge tubular frame chassis that was based on the frames of the Xcountry and Xchallenge models.
A single 320mm disc and four-piston Brembo caliper and steel-braided brake lines were standard on the G650 SuMo. In addition to the Brembo hardware, BMW offered an optional ($670) ABS system, that this example boasts. The suspenders on the Xmoto are made up of an adjustable 45mm inverted front fork with 9.4-inches of travel, and a single adjustable mono-shock with 9.6-inches of travel. On top of this German SuMo’s antilock braking option, it also has new tires and a new chain and sprockets, making this Xmoto, as the seller says: “ready to ride”. This example also sports the blacked-out livery that BMW offered, which is by far my favorite of the colors this model came in.
Being a SuperMoto, the Xmoto has some serious canyon carving capabilities. The fuel-injection reportedly works flawlessly and power delivery is exceptionally smooth and responsive. The Xmoto’s gearing is more suited to sport riding than it is to hooliganism. Outside of first gear, the front wheel won’t come off the ground without the rider intentionally dumping the clutch, but outside of the Xmoto’s relative lack of torque it’s still a solid SuMo that’s more than capable of producing ear-to-ear smiles inside helmets. BMW released a short promotional video for the Xmoto that does feature some pretty nifty riding, however it apparently didn’t inspire as many sales as BMW Motorrad would have liked.
From what I’ve read, BMW had relatively low sales ambitions when it came to the the G650X’s. One reliable source I came across said BMW felt it only needed to sell around 1,500 units to consider it a successful year, but based on these G650X variants disappearing rather quickly you can probably guess how that worked out. Part of the problem likely boiled down to the Xmoto’s $9,575 price tag. Though buying a Beemer typically comes with paying a premium for the exclusivity associated with the high-end manufacturer, the Xmoto’s main demographic was seemingly more interested in performance and price.
You can find this 2007 BMW G650 Xmoto example with 18,000 miles on it for sale here on Craigslist in Boston, Massachusetts with a price of $4,800.