C650GT review in Rider magazine
- Thread starter Skutorr
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justscootin
Member
They got one thing wrong in the article, I got 2 full faced helmets under the seat with scala intercom on both
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JaimeC
New member
I've tried, but can only manage a full face in the front half of the compartment, and a CAREFULLY placed 3/4 helmet behind it.
JaimeC
New member
BTW, this is the article I'd mentioned last month. Glad to see it's now online where we can all see it.
http://www.bmw-scooters.com/forum/c...ooter-review-latest-issue-rider-magazine.html
http://www.bmw-scooters.com/forum/c...ooter-review-latest-issue-rider-magazine.html
SteveADV
Active member
With the cold weather now here in NE Ohio, I have started to load a bag on the back seat. Not that I cannot get away with the under-seat storage, but I want to be prepared for extra cold and rain. The bag has a shoulder strap that allows me to easily carry it wherever while storing my helmet securely in the storage.
Over the past few weeks, I've been on a couple 300+ mile roundtrips that started with temps in the 40's and ended up in the low 30's and once in the 20's. Still trying to figure out my gear, so I resort to layering; and man oh man do I layer. I have a real system with a couple pair of heavy socks with the feet cut out to cover my ankles (pants tucked in and over the tops of my boots) and wrists (over my coat sleeve and gloves) balaclava, neck fleece, a super heavy -25 long coat plus an assortment of rain gear and other upper and lower layers. I've done a fair amount of changing in parking lots. I have figured out a way to eliminate the sharp cold "spikes" in the back of the neck below the helmet, the cold legs, and numb wrists that can sneak up on you in an extended trip at 70mph without the proper gloves. Heated grips make life a lot more comfortable.
Yeah, there are plug ins that make sense, and I will go that way at some point, but when i take off now, I have only a general idea of direction and final location. I don't know if I'll end up hiking, stopping at a nice restaurant, walking around a small village, or playing golf (which I did once). The freedom is great and though it would be more convenient in the 4Runner, it would not have the same sense of adventure. No doubt you know what I mean.
So, I find the storage under the seat more than adequate, but for me, I bring along a pre-packed carryon with all kinds of options.
Over the past few weeks, I've been on a couple 300+ mile roundtrips that started with temps in the 40's and ended up in the low 30's and once in the 20's. Still trying to figure out my gear, so I resort to layering; and man oh man do I layer. I have a real system with a couple pair of heavy socks with the feet cut out to cover my ankles (pants tucked in and over the tops of my boots) and wrists (over my coat sleeve and gloves) balaclava, neck fleece, a super heavy -25 long coat plus an assortment of rain gear and other upper and lower layers. I've done a fair amount of changing in parking lots. I have figured out a way to eliminate the sharp cold "spikes" in the back of the neck below the helmet, the cold legs, and numb wrists that can sneak up on you in an extended trip at 70mph without the proper gloves. Heated grips make life a lot more comfortable.
Yeah, there are plug ins that make sense, and I will go that way at some point, but when i take off now, I have only a general idea of direction and final location. I don't know if I'll end up hiking, stopping at a nice restaurant, walking around a small village, or playing golf (which I did once). The freedom is great and though it would be more convenient in the 4Runner, it would not have the same sense of adventure. No doubt you know what I mean.
So, I find the storage under the seat more than adequate, but for me, I bring along a pre-packed carryon with all kinds of options.
JaimeC
New member
One of the things I do miss from my TMAX was the helmet lock. Yes, you could store the helmet under the seat, or I could store it in the trunk... BUT if the underseat area and the trunk already had "stuff" in them, it was nice to be able to secure the helmet and NOT have to carry it around with me off the scooter. I was surprised that the Beemers did not have a helmet lock on them from the factory. I may look into aftermarket alternatives.
Anyone see the February issue of Rider? Page 8 (Responses) has a second response to big-scooter shootout. Some clown responds to the articles about Spyder's and Scooters and why they should not be included in the magazine. This guy must not have ever owned or ridden a scooter in his life let alone a Maxi.
Edumakated
New member
I think the companies need to rebrand these bikes and stop calling them scooters. Some people's brains arent big enough to grasp the concept that riding a PTW isnt all about shifting gears. Scooter has a negative connotation among the slower thinkers in the PTW community.
Dct or some variant of cvt will make its way to all other motorcycles in the near future. Especially as companies look for new customers.
Sports car drivers used to cry about auto transmissions now you can hardly find a stick in a high end sports car. I don't evn think you can buy a manual Ferrari anymore. Yet somehow these cars haven't lost their street cred.
Dct or some variant of cvt will make its way to all other motorcycles in the near future. Especially as companies look for new customers.
Sports car drivers used to cry about auto transmissions now you can hardly find a stick in a high end sports car. I don't evn think you can buy a manual Ferrari anymore. Yet somehow these cars haven't lost their street cred.
SteveADV
Active member
And in the Beginning.......
While some great maxi or super or whatever scooters have been around for awhile, they often were owned by two types of riders. One type graduated up from a Vespa-type and the other was an experienced motorcycle guy or gal that had perhaps "matured" past the need to worry about what others thought and looked for comfort and convenience. I admit when I came back to riding after a long long layoff and having formally been primarily a dirt rider, I really did not look at the BMW C-series until I saw one at my local BMW shop while shopping for a 700 or 800. And even after I rode it and found it to be a fantastic ride I struggled with the idea of owning a "scooter".
I also was debating the cost of a new bike versus buying a used standard, especially because I was not sure I would enjoy street riding that much (my old bike was a thumper) and whether or not I would make the time to do much of it.
As it turns out, buying the C650GT was one of the best recreational decisions I have ever made. My guess is that others coming back to sport of riding and even some folks taking it up for the first time will see what many of us discovered when we bit the bullet and bought a two wheeler of this variety (including some of the great competitors to the Beemers), these things are fun. Big time fun. And we really don't care what they are called or how they are classified.
Besides, line me up against nearly any Sunday Harley rider who sneers at my bike and he'll be looking at my tail light before he is able to find second.
While some great maxi or super or whatever scooters have been around for awhile, they often were owned by two types of riders. One type graduated up from a Vespa-type and the other was an experienced motorcycle guy or gal that had perhaps "matured" past the need to worry about what others thought and looked for comfort and convenience. I admit when I came back to riding after a long long layoff and having formally been primarily a dirt rider, I really did not look at the BMW C-series until I saw one at my local BMW shop while shopping for a 700 or 800. And even after I rode it and found it to be a fantastic ride I struggled with the idea of owning a "scooter".
I also was debating the cost of a new bike versus buying a used standard, especially because I was not sure I would enjoy street riding that much (my old bike was a thumper) and whether or not I would make the time to do much of it.
As it turns out, buying the C650GT was one of the best recreational decisions I have ever made. My guess is that others coming back to sport of riding and even some folks taking it up for the first time will see what many of us discovered when we bit the bullet and bought a two wheeler of this variety (including some of the great competitors to the Beemers), these things are fun. Big time fun. And we really don't care what they are called or how they are classified.
Besides, line me up against nearly any Sunday Harley rider who sneers at my bike and he'll be looking at my tail light before he is able to find second.
JaimeC
New member
I first got the idea many years ago at Biketoberfest. Suzuki brought a bunch of models for demo rides, and I was curious about the big Burgman so I signed up for the demo. Now, I had just come off a MISERABLE demo ride from Buell. Nothing to do with the bikes (I'd ridden them before and LOVED them, but the route was all straight roads (not TOO surprising for Florida) and the ride leaders refused to even APPROACH the posted speed limits, let alone exceed them), I should point out.
By contrast, the Suzuki demo leaders had no qualms about "stretching" the speed limits and even managed to find some curves that DIDN'T lead on to or off of an expressway. At the end of the ride, I decided I could definitely see a big scooter occupying at least part of my garage. Fast forward several years and I'd grown tired of commuting on a high performance sport bike (too uncomfortable, too hot, lousy gas mileage... but boy, it sure was fun on the track) so I started looking at the big scooters again.
The price of the big Burgman gave me a mild heart attack, but someone on another discussion board suggested that the best scooter for someone coming off of a sportbike was the Yamaha TMAX. After some research, I agreed but the only color available was black (2011). Since the scooter wasn't a big seller, and Yamaha didn't make any real changes to the bike since 2009 other than "Bold! New! Graphics!" I started looking at leftovers and found a brand new, 2009 model in yellow.
I really did LOVE that scooter, but I was annoyed that Yamaha not only upgraded the scooter for 2012, they simultaneously decided NOT to bring the updated model into the States. Right after that, of course, was when BMW announced their "Urban Mobility Vehicles." I spoke to the German rep at the IMS that winter and told him I was upset that they announced their models two weeks AFTER I'd taken delivery of my TMAX. He smiled and said the TMAX was the scooter they were aiming for when they designed their two models.
After a couple of BAD service experiences at the local Yamaha dealerships, and a wonderful demo ride at last year's Americade, I decided to bite the bullet and trade it in for the C650GT. I KNEW my local BMW dealership had an EXCELLENT service department because they'd been maintaining my K1200LT for years. They took my Bumblebee in on trade and I haven't regretted the decision once.
By contrast, the Suzuki demo leaders had no qualms about "stretching" the speed limits and even managed to find some curves that DIDN'T lead on to or off of an expressway. At the end of the ride, I decided I could definitely see a big scooter occupying at least part of my garage. Fast forward several years and I'd grown tired of commuting on a high performance sport bike (too uncomfortable, too hot, lousy gas mileage... but boy, it sure was fun on the track) so I started looking at the big scooters again.
The price of the big Burgman gave me a mild heart attack, but someone on another discussion board suggested that the best scooter for someone coming off of a sportbike was the Yamaha TMAX. After some research, I agreed but the only color available was black (2011). Since the scooter wasn't a big seller, and Yamaha didn't make any real changes to the bike since 2009 other than "Bold! New! Graphics!" I started looking at leftovers and found a brand new, 2009 model in yellow.
I really did LOVE that scooter, but I was annoyed that Yamaha not only upgraded the scooter for 2012, they simultaneously decided NOT to bring the updated model into the States. Right after that, of course, was when BMW announced their "Urban Mobility Vehicles." I spoke to the German rep at the IMS that winter and told him I was upset that they announced their models two weeks AFTER I'd taken delivery of my TMAX. He smiled and said the TMAX was the scooter they were aiming for when they designed their two models.
After a couple of BAD service experiences at the local Yamaha dealerships, and a wonderful demo ride at last year's Americade, I decided to bite the bullet and trade it in for the C650GT. I KNEW my local BMW dealership had an EXCELLENT service department because they'd been maintaining my K1200LT for years. They took my Bumblebee in on trade and I haven't regretted the decision once.
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