These were the first of the true production run of the new 650 range and predated the I.E.  Initially announced as being a limited production run of 100, the main difference from that later 650 I.E. is the lighter and stonger carbon fibre body work.  There were in fact many more of these machines produced than 100, as shown by the bike details recorded below.  Lower serial numbered bikes have the earlier Zanini era castings, but that does not of itself mean that they should not be upgraded to the later, redesigned, head, barrels and pistons.  

These bikes have bodywork manufactured in kevlar, which is lighter and stronger than either fibreglass or plastic equivalents.  It is, unfortunately, also a more expensive material and more diffucult and expensive to repair.  Each Kevlar Serie bike has a serial number plate attached that indicates that it is part of the series.  Serial numbers were not assigned in the same order as frame or engine numbers.  Lack of a serial number plate does not necessarily mean the bike is not a Kevlar Serie, as apparently the fixing method for the plate is not totally reliable and they have a tendency to fall off.

These bikes came in red, yellow, green, and blue, although at the initial product launch there was supposed to be a silver option, and a silver bike has appeared in an Alan Cathcart road test.

Early bikes (with frame/engine numbers in the around 1100 or less) have the Zanini manufactured components, later bikes the more troublesome Tognon era parts.  They all have WP forks, I believe.

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© Steve Carr, 2001-2007

Site created February, 2000.  Last modified Friday, May 15, 2009

Last updated
30 May 2005