Swede’s New Italian Bike

[SIR REAL ED]

So I finally pulled the trigger on a “new” bike.   

I have owned a 2016 Triumph Street Triple since new, but never bonded with it after 5 years and 25K miles.  It never gave me a bit of trouble, but was frankly boring and uncomfortable for long trips.   Only somewhat fun if you played Racer-Boy on it, so I was pretty sure it would kill me one day. 

The Triumph is now gone.  Replaced with a 1999 BMW F650 Funduro.  A 650 cc thumper with the 19” front spoked wheel and dual sport tires.  Enough luggage space to supply a regiment. 

These early F650s were actually made by Aprilia in Italy.  Thus now all my running bikes are Italian—Guzzi V7, Ducati 900SS, and now my little Funduro. 

You sir are inspirational.  I had to do something similar today!  Looks like an Italian paint job at the minimum....

Thank you for your leadership!

[SmithSwede]

Very nice, Sir Ed.  Looks like fun. What is that thing?

Anomaly.   (What a great screen name). Thanks for the info.  Currently my Moto Guzzi V7 is my favorite bike, but I must say the Funduro is growing on me.  Totally different experience of course.   Fantastic gas mileage for one thing

[SIR REAL ED]

Very nice, Sir Ed.  Looks like fun. What is that thing?

Anomaly.   (What a great screen name). Thanks for the info.  Currently my Moto Guzzi V7 is my favorite bike, but I must say the Funduro is growing on me.  Totally different experience of course.   Fantastic gas mileage for one thing

1986 Honda XL600R.  Single cylinder, two carbs, kick start.  5600 miles.

LOTS OF PATINA!

Way back in the early 80's I remember an author, from Cycle Magazine I think writing that he had two bikes.  A Yamaha SR500 Single, and a Yamaha XV920RH V-Twin.  He said I jump on the one that I did not ride the last time, and each time it is like Christmas morning.

Yeah, even the Suzuki DR650 and the KTM Duke 690 are totally different beasts.  Both are good on the same roads, but they are like two different drugs.

[SmithSwede]

The F650 is similar.  Single cylinder 4 valve head with two carbs.  Each carb feeds its own intake valve.  Not sure I understand why it’s done that way. 

2 spark plugs as well. 

[SIR REAL ED]

The F650 is similar.  Single cylinder 4 valve head with two carbs.  Each carb feeds its own intake valve.  Not sure I understand why it’s done that way. 

2 spark plugs as well.

I think that was a bit of a fad back in the day.  Honda and Yamaha both had several models that were like that.  I think it was an attempt to get both better gas mileage and better performance out of a single cylinder motorcycle.

I had a 1984 Honda XL350R with the dual carbs.  Putting around Forestry Service roads and VA back roads with my wife on her 1976 Kawasaki KE175, it was not at all usual for me to get 110-120 miles per gallon.  Yeah, I know, sounds like BS.  Thought the same myself, but numbers don't lie.  4 or 5 hours of riding totaling 120 miles or so, got that kind of mileage.  I guess the second carb never opened up while we were riding.