Just over the Alps in Italy Bimota builds motorcycles with engines from other marques. The BB1 is something special. 'Powerd by BMW' is written on the bodywork. The first BMW - Bimota was built with the engine of the F650. Performance hardly differs from the F650. A capacity of 48 hp at 6500 rpm, 59 Nm torque at 6000 rpm. A little more torque than the BMW. Compared to the F650 the BB1 is a real lightweight with its 145 kg. The BB1 costs approximately DFL 25.000.
The Chrysalis F650 exists since 1994 (?). As can be seen on the picture this is a real racing bike. A little search on the internet shows some successes in monocylinder races. In future I hope to learn more about the builder of this bike and its power and weight.
Besides the Chrysalis a Pami-F650 seems to exist. This racing bike has a F650 engine that is tuned by Gottfied Michels. Michels also prepared the engine of the Schalber F650. The rest of the Pami-F650 is unknown.
To beat the racingtrack an F650 hasn't to be modified very much as can be seen on the site of Wolf BMW in Canada. Large size rear tyre, better suspension and a new exhaust makes a real beast. Maybe soft-supermoto becomes a new discipline in racing?
The German Joachim Seifert got the legal rights for the greater part of Europe on name and logo of the legendary Norton. For its 100th aniversary of the marque he wanted to create a new bike. BMW had enough confidence in his ideas and supplies as many engines of the F650 as needed. On the engine itself the lettres 'B M W' are hidden by a small plate that says 'Norton'.
Tigcraft in England designed the rest of the bike. The C652SM weights about 165kg. A Dutch motorcycle magazine stated the Norton has very good handling qualities. For 21000 German marks one of these Nortons can be bought at Norton Germany.
Late 1999 Bombardier introduced the DS 650 quad. Canadian Bombardier worked together with Rotax in the past resulting in the British army Armstrong motorbike. This super sport Bombardier ATV has the engine of the Funduro that breathes through a 42mm carb. More information is on the Bombardier website.