Last week I featured a BMW Xmoto, one of the three G650X variants BMW Motorrad produced starting in 2006. While the Xmoto only saw a single year of production, BMW made the Xchallenge for four years, and Xcountry for six. Despite a half dozen years in production, Xcountry “Xamples” are surprisingly rare as it appears not that many were made, though I admittedly can’t nail down an exact production number.
The lightweight Xcountry was powered by a fast-revving DOHC thumper that utilized a valve drive with cup tappets and four valves, and liquid cooling via an aluminum radiator. The bike also boasted the fairly trick electronic BMS-C II engine management system with intake manifold injection and dual ignition. Married to the engine is a close-increment five-speed gearbox with secondary chain drive. The single-cylinder screamer made a max 52hp at 7,000rpm with peak torque being a reported 44lb-ft at 5,250rpm. The fuel and oil tanks being located under the seat help keep the lightweight dual-sport’s center of gravity low, while it’s being controlled via its cone-shaped aluminum tubular handlebar, and foot brake and gearshift levers composed of forged aluminum.
The G650 power plant variant is housed in a torsionally-rigid steel tubular bridge frame, with an aluminum sub-frame that’s bolted-on. An extremely stable two-unit cast-aluminum swingarm is linked to the frame, keeping the bike’s weight down to around 350lbs. A reportedly high-performing upside-down telescopic fork helped manage turbulence up front whether on road or off, while high-quality spring struts perform the same task in back. All three G650X models share the same engine and frame, though various parts and features were changed to cater to the intended applications for each machine. The Xcountry has larger spoke rims than the Xmoto’s 17” cast alloy wheels. The Xcountry and Xchallenge both share the same 300mm disks bit by a double-piston brake-caliper.
Though it had the longest production run of the G650X models, the Xcountry also had the lowest price of the three at $6,322. The Xcountry is somewhat of a hybrid of the two other G650X models as a dual-sport, (instead of a dedicated supermoto Xmoto or enduro Xchallenge. The Xcountry also boasts somewhat of a scrambler-esque appearance which has been furthered on this example via brush-guards on the head (and I think tail-light), and set of semi-knobby Contintental TKC80 Twinduro Tires. This example also sports LED-signals, a fender eliminator kit, and an unspecified aftermarket exhaust.
Additionally the seller reports that this Xcountry example has been very well taken care of, was serviced at the beginning of the season and is in “excellent condition” with “zero issues”. Only 3,200 miles have been put on this decade-old machine. It is impressive how much a pair of “Twinduros” and a headlight brush guard can add so much scrambler-style, though the setting of the photos in the ad admittedly makes the bike look a bit cooler too. The ad fails to specify if this Xcountry is fitted with the optional factory ABS. Like the Xmoto, BMW released a fun little promo video for the Xcountry, showing off its potential when in the right hands. It’s worth a quick watch.
This is an awesome bike that was well built (in Germany), looks great, and is capable of tackling a handful of different riding applications via a quick change of the tires. You can find this 2008 BMW G650X Xcountry for sale in Cold Spring Harbor, New York with a BIN of $5,600 or best offer
Note that this bike is also available for $5,300 here on Craigslist!