BMW's big challenge

The architecture is a steel and aluminium frame with a 45mm upside down fork up front and a single shock of similar design to that on the HP2 out the back.

The XChallenge runs a catalytic converter, underseat fuel tank, a five-speed gearbox, and can be ordered with switchable ABS. Wheel sizes are 21-inch front and 18 rear, while there’s a 300mm disc brake up front, with a two-piston caliper. Unusually for BMW, it has chain drive.

Bimm promises a large range of accessories and will price the machine at $14,350.

Specs (all 3 new X-series models)
Xchallenge/Xcountry/Xmoto
Engine - Liquid-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke power unit with dual ignition
Capacity cc - 652
Bore/stroke mm - 100/83
Max output kW/hp - 39/53 at rpm 7000
Max torque Nm/lb-ft - 60/44 at rpm 5,250
Compression ratio/fuel grade - 11.5 : 1/unleaded premium (RON 95)
Valve/gas charge management - DOHC (double overhead camshaft)
Valves per cylinder/intake/outlet dia mm - 4/36/31
Fuel supply - Electronic manifold injection, BMS-C II
Throttle butterfly diameter mm - 43
Exhaust management F- ully controlled three-way catalytic converter
Electrical System -
Alternator W 280
Battery V/Ah 12/10, maintenance-free
Power Transmission/Gearbox - Clutch Multiple-plate clutch in oil bath
Gearbox Dog-shift five-speed gearbox
Primary transmission ratio 1.946
Gear ratios - I 2.750, II 1.750, III 1.310, IV 1.050, V 0.840
Rear wheel drive - Chain
Final drive - 3.133 2.937 2.937
Suspension and Running Gear -
Frame - Steel bridge tubular frame with bolted cast aluminium components and aluminium rear frame
Suspension, front - USD telescopic fork, tube dia 45 mm
Suspension, rear - Aluminium two-unit cast swing arm
Spring strut Air Damping System Gas-pressure spring strut
Spring travel, front/rear mm 270/270 240/210 270/245
Castor mm - 118 116 98
Wheelbase mm - 1,500 1,498 1,500
Steering unit angle ° - 62.5 61.5 61.5
Single-disc brake, front, disc dia mm Double-piston calliper, 1 x dia 300 Four-piston calliper, 1 x dia 320
Single-disc brake, rear, disc dia mm Single-piston floating calliper, dia 240
Anti-lock brake system BMW Motorrad ABS available as an option
Wheels Spoke wheels/Spoke wheels/Cast wheels
front 1.60 x 21 2.50 x 19 3.50 x 17
rear 2.50 x 18 3.00 x 17 4.50 x 17
Tyres front 90/90-21 100/90-19 120/70-17
rear 140/80-18 130/80-17 160/60-17
Weights and Dimensions -
Length, overall mm 2,205 2,185 2,155
Width, overall, with mirrors mm 907 907 907
Width, overall, without mirrors mm 825 860 825
Seat height mm 930 840–870 920
Ride height mm
Dry weight/DIN unladen weight kg 144/156 148/160 147/159
Max permissible kg 335
Tank capacity ltr 9.5
Fuel Consumption and Performance
Fuel consumption 90 km/h ltr/100 km 3.6 3.4 3.5
Fuel consumption 120 km/h ltr/100 km 5.1 4.8 5.0
Acceleration
0–100 km/h sec 4.01 4.03
Standing-start km sec 22.57 22.58
Top speed, approx km/h 165/170/170