2007 BMW X Country
If my limited high school algebraic skills are intact, X plus Y equals fun. "X" being BMW's new 650 cc X Country and "Y" being any road (paved or dirt) that's not a freeway.
BMW has three new 650 cc single-cylinder motorcycles: the X Moto, X Challenge and X Country. The Moto is a pure street, fat-tired Supermotard, the X Challenge is hardcore off-road, while the X Country is a usable mix of both, with a decided lean toward the street.
The heart of all the X models is a reworked version of the venerable four-valve, DOHC fuel-injected Rotax-built single that's powered the "F" series motorcycles for the past few years.
The motor is very tractable and, with 53 horsepower and 44 lb.-ft. of torque available, is quite peppy in the 148 kg (325 lb.) X Country chassis.
The large muffler doesn't really look out of place, tucked up out of the way as it is and, combined with the catalytic converter, the X country meets stringent Euro 3 emissions standards.
The X Country is equipped with gorgeous, superstrong Magura handlebars and levers, and a "normal" single button turn signal switch instead of the usual separate BMW left, right and cancel buttons.
Instrumentation is fairly simple with a large digital speedometer front and centre, an LCD display with selectable dual tripmeters, odometer, clock, voltmeter (how often do you really need to know if the battery is charging?) and a bank of warning lights on the right.
On chilly mornings, I really missed BMW's traditional heated grips, although they are an option.
The single front disc is a 300 mm floater squeezed by a twin-piston caliper while the rear is a 240 mm single pot unit. Because the X Country is so light, the brakes are more than adequate for both street and trail use. And, for those off-road forays, the ABS can be manually disengaged.
On the street, handling is exemplary. It steers very quickly and the wide bars give excellent leverage around town. The stock Metzeler 19-inch front and 17-inch rear tires strike a very good compromise for the X Country's intended use. They are excellent on pavement, acceptable on gravel and hardpack, but in soft sand or mud, they contributed to white knuckles and some heart-stopping moments.
The suspension is well-damped and very plush. The rear shock has a generous 210 mm (8.2 inches) of travel, is preload adjustable (courtesy of a handy knob just below the seat), while the front boasts 240 mm (9.4 inches) of travel but no adjustment whatsoever.
Grab a fistful of front brake, pitch the X Country into corners around town and it just rails through. Once in the turn, it holds its line and the supple suspension absorbs mid-corner bumps and heaves.
The beauty of the X Country is its versatility. One afternoon, I was exploring the countryside on a concession road northeast of Bowmanville and noticed one of those "Unimproved roads, use at own risk" signs.
I peeled off and headed north on the gravel road, which soon deteriorated to a single-track bush trail.
Offroad, like most dirt bikes, the X Country performs much better with the rider standing on the pegs in softer stuff. Standing up puts more weight down on the pegs, effectively lowering the centre of gravity and making the motorcycle more stable.
The rubber-covered footpegs insulate the rider from the minimal vibration, but when wet or muddy, quickly turn slippery as crocodile snot – a surefire recipe for a slipped foot and cracked shin.
Shorter riders may find the 840 mm (33.1 inch) seat height a bit of a problem, especially if they're trying to put a foot down on uneven ground while riding off road.
The short-throw transmission shifts very well, although first gear seems overly low (a real stump puller) with quite a gap to second. The net result when riding on trails is that you're either revving it too much in first or bogging in second.
The X Country is certainly capable of highway cruising speeds but that's not really its natural habitat. Really, it's better suited for casual off-road exploring, gravel roads, two-lane roads and in-town commuting where the torquey motor, light weight and agile handling can be put to good use.
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