The F 650 Funduro, an advanced entry-level motorcycle marketed at an affordable price and manufactured with BMW quality standards, was as profitable as the good sales figures pointed out.
So, in 1996, BMW presented the F 650 ST with a seat at a lower height, an 18 inches front wheel, shortened spring travel, road-going tires, and a slightly modified fairing that targeted the rising following of young customers and female customers.
The motorcycle with the ST abbreviation, which stands for the Italian term “Strada,” borrowed the engine, frame, and rear end, which included the exhaust system, from the Funduro model.
The 652cc single-cylinder engine that powered the F 650 ST model had a power output of 48 hp at 6,500 rpm and 57 Nm (42 lb-ft) of torque with a peak at 5,200 rpm that propelled the bike to a top speed of 163 kph (101 mph).
For suspension, the model featured a 41 mm telescopic fork with hydraulic shock absorbers on the front and a swingarm with an adjustable central shock absorber on the rear.
The naked machine came with fittings such as a dual seat, a rear luggage rack, an under-seat storage compartment, wire-spoked wheels, a small windscreen, a brake system with a 300 mm disc on the front and a 240 mm disc on the rear, and a side stand.