In 1998, the German motorcycle manufacturer launched the BMW F650 Funduro, an adventure motorcycle part of the F650 series that debuted in 1993. The series comprised the F650 ST Strada, a more street-oriented machine, and the F650 Funduro.
Compared to the Strada model, which had smaller dimensions and an 18-inch front wheel, the Funduro version had a longer wheelbase, more ground clearance, a higher seat, a higher front fairing, and a larger 19-inch front wheel.
In the aesthetic department, the bikes were similar, packing standard features, such as an upper front fairing with a rectangular headlight, a small windscreen, a one-piece dual seat with passenger grab rails, an analog instrument panel, wire-spoke wheels, and a center stand.
Underneath its fairing, the 1998 BMW F650 Funduro had installed a 652cc four-stroke single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine with two 33 mm Mikuni carburetors in charge, delivering 48 hp at 6,500 rpm and 57 Nm (42 lb-ft) torque at 5,200 rpm.
The bike's power was handled by a five-speed manual transmission with a wet multi-plate clutch linked to the rear wheel through a final chain drive, spinning the rear wheel to a top speed of 165 kph (103 mph).
The bike had a 41 mm telescopic fork for suspension on the front end and a 300 mm disc with a dual-piston caliper for stopping power. The rear end was handled by an adjustable shock absorber and a 210 mm disc with a single-piston caliper, offering optimum suspension performance and stopping power.