BMW clearly recognizes the potential of the burgeoning adventure bike market, and at multiple price points, too.
Just a few weeks ago, the German brand was spotted testing what looked to be an M-spec version of its top-dog R 1300 GS. Between the upgraded brake hardware and other subtle changes, it promised an even more refined take on the flagship.
And now it looks as though BMW could be reviving the F 650 GS nameplate through a new middleweight offering. Spy shots recently caught test riders in Europe handling a bike that looks primed to challenge ADV steeds such as the Yamaha Ténéré 700 and Honda Transalp.
Surprisingly revealing spy shots
The bike in question was first broadly surfaced thanks to ADV Pulse. Though it’s pictured partially under a cover, it’s still pretty revealing due to what you can see.
That’s because the shots depict spoked 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels, a short windscreen and an X-shaped headlight unit. You can clearly see other off-road accouterments like hand guards and a bash plate, and the bodywork is very similar in posture to rally raid bikes like the Ducati DesertX.