In 2004, the German motorcycle manufacturer launched the BMW F650GS, an adventure machine that debuted in 2000. The bike was available in a standard model, a lowered one with a lower seat height due to a shorter shock absorber, and an off-road-oriented Dakar version.
At the time, the bike featured several advanced technologies, such as a computer-controlled fuel injection system, a catalytic converter, a Nikasil-coated cylinder, an optional Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), and an under-seat-mounted fuel tank.
In the appearance department, the bike packed standard features, such as a small windscreen, a small headlight, a one-piece dual seat with passenger grab rails, a small luggage rack, and lightweight wire-spoke wheels.
The bike was built on a steel frame with a 41 mm telescopic fork on the front and an adjustable shock absorber on the rear, delivering excellent suspension performance and handling.
The braking power was achieved by a 300 mm disc coupled to a dual-piston caliper on the front wheel and a 240 mm disc squeezed by a single-piston caliper on the rear wheel, offering optimum stopping power.
In the performance department, the 2004 BMW F650GS had its heartbeat set by a 652cc four-stroke single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine with a fuel injection system in charge, boasting 50 hp at 6,800 rpm and 60 Nm (44 lb-ft) torque at 5,200 rpm.