Greetings!

B

Bob Friedman

New member
New here...name is Bob, located in northern California.

I currently ride a 2002 Honda Silverwing and I also have a Piaggio BV500. The Silverwing has been a great machine and I've enjoyed it...very reliable. I've toured on it and ridden it on many, many local runs and Patriot Guard missions. The Piaggio is a 2009 which I purchased NOS from a local dealer. While it's fun to ride, it's had quite a few little problems and I can't trust it much...also, the parts pipeline for Piaggio is stinkingly bad...so it doesn't get ridden much.

I have been looking at the C600GT as a replacement for the SWing. Very impressive machine, with good ergonomics, nice design and high quality build.

I'll be reviewing your message traffic to learn more about the bike. Thanks for allowing me to lurk!
 
Doraemon

Doraemon

New member
Welcome, Ther are several here int eh Norcal region. you could try meeting up and getting in person details about the scoot and possibly the dealer you would deal with.
From this forum, I have seen the experience with the dealer can make or break an experience with any issues.
enjoy the forum
 
AZ Tee Jay

AZ Tee Jay

New member
My first scooter was a 2009 SWing I picked up with <4K miles on it. Had to get something fun (that's why 600cc) that the wife would be more comfortable on than my SV650. It worked well enough but was a little boring, the windscrean caused a lot of buffeting for me and I never was able to get comfortable with the "shudder" coming off idle.
I kept the SWing for a year just to make sure I could be satisfied with a scooter.
Then I made the commitment to the C600 Sport and have loved every minute of it. Planning my first 1,000 mile ride this weekend!
Hope you will take the step and join the club ;)
 
Oldscoot

Oldscoot

New member
Welcome aboard. I owned a Burgman 650 and now own a C600. The Sport really feels and performs like a mid-size sport/touring bike. I'm very happy with the bike.
 
Xian Forbes

Xian Forbes

New member
I'm in san Jose, I'd be more than happy to give my impressions on the bike or my dealer experience. Where abouts in NorCal are you?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
 
R

roc54

New member
Hi, Xian...thanks for the offer. I'm in Sacramento and I'm very familiar with A&S, the dealer up here.

Any insight you can provide regarding your experiences with the machine would be most appreciated...
 
dascooter

dascooter

New member
Oldscoot said:
I owned a Burgman 650 and now own a C600.
Click to expand...

I'm still on the fence between the BMW 650 and the Burgman 650 but leaning heavily to the BMW. Would love to hear your thoughts how the Burgman compares. The BMW has almost everything I want with just a few things keeping me on the fence. First, the Burgman has a long history and is a reliable scoot with many dealers across the country. The BMW still new with no history and more limited dealer network. I have some concerns that BMW won't stick with the scooter line and parts and service will be harder to come by. And the last, and really a minor thing, I really rather both headlights came on. Maybe there's a mod for that.
 
Doraemon

Doraemon

New member
dascooter said:
I'm still on the fence between the BMW 650 and the Burgman 650 but leaning heavily to the BMW. Would love to hear your thoughts how the Burgman compares. The BMW has almost everything I want with just a few things keeping me on the fence. First, the Burgman has a long history and is a reliable scoot with many dealers across the country. The BMW still new with no history and more limited dealer network. I have some concerns that BMW won't stick with the scooter line and parts and service will be harder to come by. And the last, and really a minor thing, I really rather both headlights came on. Maybe there's a mod for that.
Click to expand...

One reason I switched form the burg to the bmw is the electronic controlled CVT of the Burg; unless you have good mechanical abilities or >$3000 at the the ready when you cross the 50K mile mark, the CVT with electronic controls and Kevlar/metal belt becomes a gamble over that period. look into the Burgman riders forum. I just liked the thought that the CVT on the BMW is Sooooo much more mechanically friendly.

Second was, I wanted a more sporty look. the Burg felt more like an elephant; the steering and agility on the BMW is much more spot on the carving roads, thanks in no part to the size of the wheels and better suspension.
 
R

roc54

New member
Quite frankly, the ergonomics on the B650 are superior to those on my SWing. That said, the electronic CVT issue with the B650 has been a concern of mine also...it does not self-destruct on every B650 at 50K, but the info on the Burgman website suggests that it happens often enough that I have trouble trusting the machine over time...and it literally requires a complete ripdown of the bike to replace or repair it. The CVT in the SWing and, I assume, in the BMW, is not as technically advanced, but the technology has been around in scooters for a long time and is well-proven. I'll stick with simple and reliable.
 
Xian Forbes

Xian Forbes

New member
The electronic shifting on the burgmann is counter intuitive to how a cvt is supposed to work. The cvt is meant to act much like what's called a "Constant Speed Propeller" on an airplane. The engine is actually supposed to run at it's optimum torque rpm and not deviate too much. IMO the electronic shifting on the burggy is more of a dealer/magazine talking point, it's overly complicated and unnecessary.

On the topic of the bmw headlights... The stock setup will light up 3 lanes of traffic, the one your riding in and one on each side of the bike. High beams just give more of that and I adjust mine to also shine higher than the low beam to give even more reach. The only true way to get both to shine on low would be to install a Morimoto Mini HID dual-xenon. Both will fire and the high beam is controlled inside the projector, it will not shine any brighter but it will adjust the beam cutoff with a solenoid.

As far as reliability goes, if the maintenance schedule is adhered to, a properly maintained bmw will literally go for a ridiculously long time. A fella who rides out of the same shop I bought my bike at has over 300,00 miles on his RT. I can't imagine bmw is going to risk it's reputation on the urban mobility project. Plus the electric C is going on sale this year so the line is expanding.

I have had the pleasure of chasing a burgmann exec. on a fast freeway one afternoon. The owner of that bike was rather miffed that he was unable to shake me on my Sport, in fact when I twisted the go knob I left him behind. I don't know what the top speed of a burgmann is, but the Sport is still accelerating fairly aggressively beyond the 100 mph mark.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
 
SteveADV

SteveADV

Active member
Skutorr said:
That's why my wife says she puts up with me...
Click to expand...

Hey, that's why we all put up with you.;) But seriously, the more I have read about motorcycle maintenance from those that know (Skutorr being one of them), the more I have become convinced of the same thing. My old KLR 650 is liked by a lot of gear heads today because they are so easy to work on....at least for them.
 
Last edited:
SteveADV

SteveADV

Active member
dascooter said:
I'm still on the fence between the BMW 650 and the Burgman 650 but leaning heavily to the BMW. Would love to hear your thoughts how the Burgman compares. The BMW has almost everything I want with just a few things keeping me on the fence. First, the Burgman has a long history and is a reliable scoot with many dealers across the country. The BMW still new with no history and more limited dealer network. I have some concerns that BMW won't stick with the scooter line and parts and service will be harder to come by. And the last, and really a minor thing, I really rather both headlights came on. Maybe there's a mod for that.
Click to expand...

I'm in agreement on the lights. Daytime I run with them both on. At night they do a really good job, IMO, but I do switch to low beam as necessary.

You can use the site search engine to find many Burgman comments and here's a thread that specifically addresses the question: http://www.bmw-scooters.com/forum/c...ion/349-bmw-sport-gt-vs-burgman-650-exec.html
 
dascooter

dascooter

New member
Great feedback (as expected). BMW 650 it is. Hope to get one on order shortly. Now have to decide the color. Can't get the speedier, better handling red model in 2014.
 
SteveADV

SteveADV

Active member
dascooter said:
Great feedback (as expected). BMW 650 it is. Hope to get one on order shortly. Now have to decide the color. Can't get the speedier, better handling red model in 2014.
Click to expand...

The vermillion red has gone "vintage" already. I expect the resale value of mine has, as a result, skyrocketed.
 
Skutorr

Skutorr

Active member
My brother originally was salivating over the C650GT to replace his Burger 650. It was too stodgy and he also didn't trust the belt!
 
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