BMW F 650RR Dakar

BMW seems to lack the nerve to do something about it themselves, so Richard Schalbser and Touratech built their own F650 Rallye. Schalbser was the brain behind most parts of the newest version of the F650GS. The now standard frame was first made for the 1997 Schalbser-BMW rallye bike that was ridden by Andrea Mayer.

The F650 Rallye is made out of a standard F650GS. The potential buyer has to decide weather to have his own Funduro to be rebuilt or just order a new one with transformation included. Of the original base is not much to be left. Suspension is replaced for the beautiful parts of WP-Suspension to link the Exel rims with the rest. A lightweight aluminium rear fork is developed. All plastics are replaced with rallye worthy parts, including extra fuel capacity. The total amount of fuel on board is now 50 liters ! Touratech is responsible for the cockpit, something they are very familiar with. Total weight without carburant comes to 173 kilos.

The engine still will be original but modifications are planned. Phase 1 include some electronic modifications and Phase 2 replaces the not so easy to repair yourself fuel injection with regular carbs. The Phase 2 engine should deliver about 80 untamed horses...

The rallye ready F650 will cost about 14,000 Euro including the base F650GS. This price makes it possible for privateers to get themselves in the first ranks of some of these desert rallyes.

The BMW Enduro Team mastered the 1999 Granada-Dakar a lot better. From the fourth stage on Gallardo and Sainct were first and secont in the overall bike standings. Due to electrical problems Gallardo fell back, but Sainct held his pole position untill the beaches in Dakar. An awful lot of KTM riders hunted him but all they saw was the dustcloud at the rear end of Saincts F650RR. With only four minutes advance on the number two Richard Sainct wan the Dakar of 1999. The entire team made it to the finishline and Andrea Mayer wan the Ladies-cup.

Richard Schalbser - former winner of the Pharao-Rallye - is well known for preparing two-valve BMW boxers on behalf of rally-pilots and adventurers. Besides Schalbser teaches enduro in the BMW Enduropark Hechtlingen and organises the Transdanubia Rallye that goes through Germany, Austria and Hungary. This rally is dominated by BMW-riders.

Evolution of last year's winning bike.

After Richard Sainct's win on the F 650 RR in the 1999 Dakar Rally, a post-mortem on his bike showed that some of the components had only just made the distance or were showing signs of the very severe loads they had encountered.

If the rally had lasted much longer these parts would have probably reached the limit of their reliable working life.

The aim of further development work was therefore to increase both the durability and the performance potential of all the bike's components, to strive for a better "package" and to systematically eliminate all potential sources of failure.

A number of smaller assemblies forming part of the engine underwent design revision and the improvements were tested both on the test rig and on the motorcycle itself.

A new airbox with a new filter system capable of ensuring that the engine is only supplied with genuinely clean air has also increased the power output slightly and achieved a higher, flatter torque curve.

The rear tank was also reduced in width for a similar reason. A side-effect of these changes was that the weight was concentrated even more in the centre of the bike.

A separate central tank fulfilled the same purpose; the battery was repositioned farther forward and lower down, and together with other minor alterations the overall impression is of a most harmoniously styled bike and a very compact package.

The outer shape was checked again in the wind tunnel for possible improvements to the aerodynamics and also wind protection for the rider on these fast but very long rally stages.

In the very important spring and shock absorber area, several evolution stages were introduced in the course of the year. New ideas were adopted in conjunction with those that have already proved successful.

In a series of indoor and outdoor tests and with know-how acquired from the last Dakar Rally, new suspension settings were chosen and the strength of the components and assemblies increased.

In the new blue outfit of our sponsor Gauloises the bike can be regarded as a well-balanced design aimed specifically at defending our winning position from last year. Its technical specification and its appearance both indicate that evolution work has been successful but that the risk of more revolutionary changes has been avoided.