BMW F 650 GS

…or also called “potato”, little GS, and that’s about it as far as nicknames go. The first dream motorcycle on the list. If I had the chance to go back in time and buy it again, I’d definitely choose the Dakar version – because anyone who’s even somewhat serious about off-road riding knows that a 21-inch front wheel is a must.

Found on the Italian subito.it, which is, by the way, also an online experimental photography circle where some posts deserve to be framed. Nevertheless, from the photos, I recognized the outlines of the motorcycle and set off for a weekend stay just below Venice in Padua.

After crossing the Austrian-Italian border, the owner stopped responding, and the disappointment was palpable. But when I realized it was lunchtime and hungry Italians are incapable of any multitasking during that time, it became clear that I needed to go directly to the address and look for the nearest restaurant. After a short detective search, I discovered both the motorcycle owner and the shop manager, but it was clear that any negotiations on an empty stomach were off the table. After a hearty lunch and practicing non-verbal hand gesticulation, we finally got to the motorcycle, and the shop manager discovered that the battery was dead and he didn’t have a spare. The bike looked like new, though, and since the owner was coming to our place next weekend for an exchange visit, I let myself be persuaded, paid a deposit, and headed to the sea.

As agreed, so it happened, and the following week I was already cruising on an almost brand-new old “potato” on Czech gravel roads.