2008–2010 · Supermoto · Buyer's Guide
BMW's Lightweight Urban Hooligan
The G 650 Xmoto takes the 652 cc liquid-cooled single from BMW's dual-sport line and hangs it in a chassis with 17-inch wheels, a wide bar, and no interest in comfort points. 53 hp and 44 lb-ft don't read like much on paper, and they aren't, but 351 lb (159 kg) wet rewrites the math. The fuel lives under the seat, which drops the mass low and keeps it centered, while the 36.2 in (920 mm) perch puts you above traffic with a clear view down the road. Suspension is adjustable front and rear. ABS was an option, never a fixture.
It behaves like a bicycle with a motor. You steer it from the hips and it goes where you look, which makes it a bike for riders who want to be busy rather than carried. Long highway stretches are not the argument here, and the 2.5 gal (9.5 L) tank keeps the day's plan honest. It ages the way a well-built single does: cheap to run, simple to service, undramatic. Two things to check on any used example are the cush drive rubbers, which wear and have become hard to source, and the electrics. Confirm the sprocket carrier pin and fuel line recalls were both closed.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 53 hp (39 kW) @ 7,000 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 44 lb-ft (60 Nm) @ 5,250 rpm |
| Displacement | 652 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Final drive | Chain |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-17 |
| Rear tire | 160/60-17 |
| Ground clearance | 9.8 in (250 mm) |
| Front travel | 10.6 in (270 mm) |
| Rear travel | 9.6 in (245 mm) |
| Seat height | 36.2 in (920 mm) |
| Wet weight | 351 lb (159 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 2.5 gal (9.5 L) |
| Fuel economy | 67 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Safety
Getting aboard is the first hurdle, and it sets the tone for everything after. You don't sink into this bike, you climb onto it, and once you're up there the world drops away below the bar. The single thumps out a proper mechanical soundtrack at low revs, honest and a bit agricultural, and it stays entertaining right through town. Hold a steady pace and the buzz arrives on schedule, through the pegs first and then the grips. The tank between your knees is slim enough that your legs sit almost straight down, so your body ends up loose and upright with the wide bar giving your hands real leverage. Front tire information comes through clearly at road speed. You feel busy on this thing in the best sense: hands, feet, and hips are all involved, and after an hour of back roads you're grinning instead of dozing.
This section comes out of years of listening instead of riding. Paddock chatter, club nights, talk at gas stops, and the notes riders send me directly all point the same direction on the Xmoto. The praise clusters tightly around how it stops, pulls, and turns. The complaints sit almost entirely in fit and long-haul comfort.
Braking leads every conversation. Riders describe the front as strong and say the power is always there when they ask for it. The engine follows close behind, with owners calling the single lively and full of character, torque that answers a hard throttle. Several also mention how easily it changes direction, and a few note how little fuel it uses.
The reach to the ground draws the most repeated criticism, and shorter riders say it never really stops being awkward. Past that the reports thin out but stay consistent: suspension that gets unsettled when pushed hard, no shelter from the wind at speed, buzz on longer runs, and a handful of parts that have become difficult to track down.
Rear sprocket carrier roll gear pin failure (recall 10V273000)
The roll gear pin’s mounting bracket could break, allowing fragments to lock the rear wheel. BMW recalled all G650 X models to fit an upgraded bracket.
Fuel line leak (NHTSA recall 08V‑106)
Fuel lines may have been damaged during manufacture, leading to potential leaks. BMW recalled all 2007 G650 X models to replace the fuel lines.
Cush drive rubber wear and limited supply
The rear sprocket carrier cush drive rubbers can wear out, and replacements have become hard to source, potentially leaving the bike unrideable.
Electrical Gremlins
Intermittent electrical issues including LCD display blanking, warning light flickering, and battery drain. Some solutions involve replacing the battery or checking connections.
Fuel level sensor failure
The fuel level sensor can give inaccurate readings and may require replacement.
Water pump gasket leak
Coolant weeping from the water pump gasket has been reported; a straightforward fix if caught early.
Cold start stalling
Some owners report intermittent stalling at idle when cold; often resolved by battery replacement or cleaning the idle air control valve.
Where this BMW G 650 Xmoto pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the G 650 Xmoto is actually built for.
Angeles Crest works beautifully on this bike as long as your yardstick is entertainment, not outright pace. It gives away straight-line speed everywhere and takes it back in the tight stuff.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
The Dragon is exactly its terrain: low speed, high lean, constant direction changes. The light weight means you finish a full day of it sharp instead of cooked.
Made for Back of the Dragon · Blue Ridge Parkway · Cherohala Skyway
The twisty sections will be a genuine highlight. The tall seat and small tank make the transit miles the weak part of the day, so build short loops rather than long hauls.
Made for Austin / Texas Hill Country · Twisted Sisters · Austin / Handbuilt Motorcycle Show
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
