No, this motorcycle is not manufactured in Berlin-Spandau, but at the third largest two-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor Company in Bangalore (India). The utilization of cheaper wages and thus production costs are now common practice among almost all vehicle manufacturers and are no cause for mistrust. Rather, the question arises about the delivered parts, which incidentally can also be produced far away and inserted into a car made in Germany.

After all, it is the entry-level class (in Germany) whose displacement under 500 cm³ BMW has not served since the end of production of the R27 in 1966. And maybe the price in Europe is not even as important as it is in Asia, in order to be competitive at all. And the brand for the first motorbike will be the same as for the next one. That's why BMW is almost forced to deliver impeccable quality here.

By design, it is probably a BMW. Connoisseurs of the brand can make connections to all sorts of BMW models. Others will notice the gold-anodized upside-down fork, which, because of its emphasis, mainly recalls memories of the R nineT. Although the trend is more to two-cylinders with tricks such as unequal crank angle to make the running behavior more interesting. This is not BMW's trend to be seen earlier in the 650.

Engines with only one cylinder may not have so high nominal speed, but they are at least lighter. The liquid-cooled single cylinder (Euro 4) with balance shaft is inclined backwards and sucks its air from the front through an airbox. The exhaust gases are directed immidiately to the rear of the catalytic converter and a huge silencer. Important moving parts in the engine such as the drag levers and the piston pin are provided with a carbon-like coating, the cylinder itself has got a Nikasil process.

Without any vibration, such an engine is probably unthinkable and high speed is necessary in view of its low displacement and its short stroke, too. But it has with10,000 rpm a pleasant speed limit, the approximate use of which makes it easy not to lose the connection to larger bikes. The tank protrudes relatively high, but should provide together with the ex factory easily modifiable seat height for a comfortable position. 04/18