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Equipe Schalber: F650 Superproduction - F650RR

Winning the Paris-Dakar Rally by Fenouil, Hubert Auriol and Gaston Rahier (here on the photo) on a HPN-BMW GS lies more than ten years behind us. The Bavarians quitted the BMW-sponsored rally riding and gave the brand a more civilised image. The 'successor' of the HPN - the R1100GS s - is much too heavy for desert rallies. In recent years more and more monocylinders take part in these events. Many of the famous BMW and Cagiva Elefant have been replaced by KTM. The foremost exception was Stephane Peterhansel who wan the Dakar six times on his twin Yamaha Ténéré. Raymond Loizeaux (F) takes part in most big rallies on his HPN - the modernized version of the bike Rahier rode.

Off-road specialists meanwhile discovered the F650. During the 1996 Granada-Dakar rallythe Frenchman David Castera participated on a white F650. Starting with number 100 Castera finished overall on 11th position, first in the marathon-class. In the marathon-class regular production bikes take part on which only minor adaptions are allowed. Castera became successful on a more or less standard type Funduro.

During the Rallye de Tunesie 'Optic 2000' in April 1997 a totally new version of the F650 appeared in the sand. Andrea Mayer and Thomas Wolf rode a by Richard Schalber prepared F650. The monocylinder Rotax was enlarged to 686 cc and had approximately 63 hp. Meanwhile the motorcycle was improved and tested in various rallies in 1997 and 98. The F650RR - with a frame specially designed by Schalber - has a dry weight of about 167 kgs. The bike has following characteristics:

engine	monocylinder Rotax 700cc - Pami-tuning (Gottfried Michels), 75hp, watercooled with vent
carburation	2 x 40mm Mikuni
suspension	300mm travel - White Power suspension without link system (PDS)
frame	chrommolybden steel bridge frame of rectangle profiles
weight	167kg (empty)
fuelcap.	44 litre - 3 tanks (2 side, one rear)

After years of absence BMW works on a comeback in the world of rally raids with the Schalber F650RR. Pilots were Edi Orioli (I), Andrea Mayer (D), Oscar Gallardo (E) and Jean Brucy (F). Just before the 99 Dakar Orioli left the team and Richard Sainct (F) took his place. Updates on the rallys are on the site of BMW-Germany (link in German, is not always functional!).

The 1998 Paris-Granada-Dakar started well for the BMW-team. Gallardo won one of the stages in Spain and Andrea Mayer was first in the Ladies-cup. Later in the raid the adventure became less fortunate. Gallardo broke his chain and came behind on great distance. Orioli wanted more than his machine could handle trying to attack the KTM-opponents and blew his engine. Orilio finished the Dakar on the camion balai... Only three days before the finish in Dakar Andrea got stuck in the sand with a broken clutch. Jean Brucy was the only one of the team that made it to the beach of Dakar.
The 2000 Parijs-Dakar-Caïro rallye the BMW team demonstrated its strength again - Sainct finished first overall for the second time in a row.

The BMW Enduro Team mastered the 1999 Granada-Dakar a lot better. From the fourth stage on Gallardo and Sainct were first and secont in the overall bike standings. Due to electrical problems Gallardo fell back, but Sainct held his pole position untill the beaches in Dakar. An awful lot of KTM riders hunted him but all they saw was the dustcloud at the rear end of Saincts F650RR. With only four minutes advance on the number two Richard Sainct wan the Dakar of 1999. The entire team made it to the finishline and Andrea Mayer wan the Ladies-cup.

Richard Schalber - former winner of the Pharao-Rallye - is well known for preparing two-valve BMW boxers on behalf of rally-pilots and adventurers. Besides Schalber teaches enduro in the BMW Enduropark Hechtlingen and organises the Transdanubia Rallye that goes through Germany, Austria and Hungary. This rally is dominated by BMW-riders.

Part 2 on Off Road and F650 -->>