New C400GT Owner, Albany, NY, Area (May 2022)

wspollack

Active member
Greetings, All:

I put a deposit down five days ago on a new C400GT from Max BMW's Troy, NY, location. Supposed to be here (from the NJ warehouse) sometime next week.

I'm a senior citizen (okay, 74-years-old, if you must know), and live in Niskayuna, NY. I've been a street rider for about 25 years now, on the following:

1997-2000: '97 R850R
2000-2007: '00 Valkyrie Interstate
2007-2012: '07 Burgman 650 Exec
2012-2017: '12 Victory Cross Country Tour
2016-Present: '08 Burgman 650 Exec

I was a computer geek for New York State in my day job, from which I retired almost two decades ago. After that, I was an MSF RiderCoach for a couple of years, until the "range" work became too hard on my knees and ankles. I've taken some bike courses over the years, and participated in four "Non-Sportbike Track Days" over the last half-dozen or so years.

My impetus for ordering the C400GT (or do you all use spaces in that name around here, i.e., C 400 GT?) was that my wife and I just completed two Edelweiss scooter tours (getting back from Europe the day before I ordered the new Beemer). We spent 10 days on a C400X, and my wife was very pleased with the ergos, riding pillion on that scoot, to the point that she suggested I get one. Of course, the Big Burger has more oomph, but I was also pleased with a scoot that weighs about 150 lb. less than that. And that that particular 650 is 14 years old, and if something major breaks on it, it'd make a nice mailbox or something, i.e., I'm not spending major money on it to fix anything.

That's all I got. Looking forward to getting some tips on farkling the GT and other useful info.
 
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Delray

Well-known member
Welcome, Bill.

Congratulations on the new ride.

I recognize your name from the Burgman forum. I owned three B650's (2013, 2016, 2016) and now I'm riding my fifth BMW C650 GT, a 2019.

(btw, correct usage is no space after the "C" and a space before "GT," so your bike is BMW C400 GT.)

I see you're from Albany. My hometown is Rochester and I went to school at SUNY Albany. I am planning my first "snowbird summer" this year by spending June through September in Rochester with my bike. I will either ride or ship it north and ride back to Florida in early October.

Next summer I will be touring ancestral places in Saarland, Germany, so I am very curious about your Edelweiss experience. I have been searching for European scooter rentals and haven't found a thing.

Question: Was your NYS driver's license okay or do you need an International Driver's License? I have that application form on my desk.

Question: I see lots of rental motorcycles at Edelweiss but only one scooter, the C400 GT. How tall are you? I sat on a 400 GT in a showroom and it felt cramped at 6'1", 185 lbs. While I'm very comfortable shifting motorcycles, I love the no-shifting aspect of maxi-scooters. That would be my preference.

Looks like there is only one pickup and dropoff point for Edelweiss in Mieming, Austria. That's workable for my plans. Saarland is 250 miles west. The quoted price seems reasonable, around 110 Euros a day. I'm interested in a straight rental, not a tour group.

Were helmets provided/for rent or did you bring your own?

Any insights you can offer would be appreciated.

Mike

P.S. If you've ever seen the movie, "The Big Lebowski," where they use the song, "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," this forum can be like that song. Not a lot of posts rolling through. So if you get little response, it's not personal. There are regulars and insightful contributors and overall, it's a super helpful forum for the bike. But the activity level is a fraction of the Burgman forum or even the Honda Silver Wing forum (I owned four of those). I will also say activity for the 400 GT seems to be picking up, and given that the 650 GT is out of production, that trend may get stronger over time.
 
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wspollack

Active member
Mike,

Ah, I see that you are @Delray here and DelrayBeacher on BUSA, same avatar. So, yep, I recognize you, too.

Let me try to tackle your questions and comments.

First, thanks for the "C400 GT" typing convention. And thanks for the final comment regarding activity on this forum. I was wondering whether I found the most active (or maybe only) BMW scooter forum.

License:

Edelweiss requires an international driver's license (but this was actually checked only by the guide on the first tour, but should've been done by the second tour's guide, as well). It's only $20 at a local AAA office, and the process takes about 15 minutes. This is non-members like me (I have AMA bike/car insurance); I believe it's free for members.

In any case, just fill out a form and bring two passport-like photos. It's no big deal, so just do it.

Edelweiss and Scooters:

For most of their tours, Edelweiss lets you choose among a couple dozen. See, e.g., their Best of Europe (a tour my wife and I took in 1998) or the Touring Center Alps (a tour my riding buddy and I took in 2019), and click on "Tour prices & motorcycles 2022":



For the very few scooter tours, the choices seem to be two: a 300 Vespa or the 400 BMW. See, Tuscany by Scooter, the first tour we took this month:


Besides "base camp" type of tours (the Alps and Tuscany) and city-to-city tours (the Best of Europe), Edelweiss also has some DIY tours, where they supply the bike and, I think, will also book hotels for you. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with those. Check www.edelweissbike.com/ and click on "Ways to go," particularly this one:


I think your best bet will be to contact Edelweiss, and explain what you have in mind. There may be cheaper or better, or at least other, ways to just rent a motorcycle or scooter in Europe but, again, I have no experience or even knowledge in this area.

Ergos:

I'm 5'9, and I think with what would be described as normal proportions, e.g., I have a 29" - 30" inseam for jeans. The 400 is a little cramped for me but, as I say, I liked the light weight, especially two-up. You know, when you come to a yield sign, and at first it looks okay to go, and maybe at the last second you see that it's not okay to go, and you stop, and maybe the bike or scoot is leaned a little bit, and you have a passenger. Much easier to deal with that sort of thing when you have a pasenger and can flat-foot a bike. And what also helped me is that I'm a year-and-a-half into a hip replacement (I'm 74), and I'm much more limber than I was a few years ago.

If you hover a mouse over the list of bikes for a tour, Edelweiss nicely provides info on seat height, power, etc. I chose the 400 over the Vespa because of a little more HP, better passenger seat, larger wheels, and -- get this -- lower rider seat. And this was true -- I sat on the Vespa, and it was definitely higher. (The Beemer also has more lean angle.)

So, I don't know what to tell you here. I guess your choices are to rent the 400 and be a little cramped or rent a bike. Or rent from some other outfit.

Helmet:

Edelweiss does not supply helmets, and I'd want to wear my own, anyway. I have a Nolan N100-5 modular, and am very partial to it.

So pack yours in carry-on or checked luggage. There's a never-ending debate regarding which method is best, and I have done both ways. This trip, I used a Sparco suitcase -- www.amazon.com/dp/B083MBXV5Y -- that specifically accommodates helmets (don't forget, there were two of us) and ALSO meets the linear luggage requirements (typically 62"), which is a rare combination. And it worked out fine, but you should in any event have an extra day or two at the beginning of a trip, which will cover both misplaced luggage and let you adjust to jet lag.

If you want further reading on checked vs. carry-on, here's an example:


MedJet Assist:

I do have one other suggestion: some sort of medical transport. For the Alps in 2019, my buddy and I each had short (eight-day?) policies from Medjet Assist:


Same with the two tours my wife and I just took, except that given my age, and that there were two of us, it turned out cheaper for me to take out an annual policy with them.

I'm talking about some way to evacuate yourself back home, not ordinary travel insurance dealing with canceled flights, change of plans, etc. That would be normal insurance when planning any trip, by bike, or a cruise, or whatever.

That's all I can think of, at the moment. Good luck with your trip next year.

Oh, BTW, I'm having a senior moment here: I can't seem to find out the steps in order to create a signature block. Help?
 
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Delray

Well-known member
Great insights, thank you!

I will bring my helmet, a Schuberth M1 Pro with optical-quality face shield and comm system that I love. I bought my 2019 C650 GT in Charleston SC a few weekends ago and flew there from South Florida to ride it 555 miles home. I debated wearing my helmet on the plane -- why not? It's like a hat! -- but instead put it in my Nelson-Rigg Route One bag. The bag is expandable and easy to tie down on the bike.

Hadn't even thought of medical care but will definitely look into that. I seem to remember my health plan requires some kind of rider when I travel overseas.

Signature for this forum is easy. Click on your screen name/avatar in upper right > Signature (in right hand column of options).
 

dantaxman

New member
Greetings, All:

I put a deposit down five days ago on a new C400GT from Max BMW's Troy, NY, location. Supposed to be here (from the NJ warehouse) sometime next week.

I'm a senior citizen (okay, 74-years-old, if you must know), and live in Niskayuna, NY. I've been a street rider for about 25 years now, on the following:

1997-2000: '97 R850R
2000-2007: '00 Valkyrie Interstate
2007-2012: '07 Burgman 650 Exec
2012-2017: '12 Victory Cross Country Tour
2016-Present: '08 Burgman 650 Exec

I was a computer geek for New York State in my day job, from which I retired almost two decades ago. After that, I was an MSF RiderCoach for a couple of years, until the "range" work became too hard on my knees and ankles. I've taken some bike courses over the years, and participated in four "Non-Sportbike Track Days" over the last half-dozen or so years.

My impetus for ordering the C400GT (or do you all use spaces in that name around here, i.e., C 400 GT?) was that my wife and I just completed two Edelweiss scooter tours (getting back from Europe the day before I ordered the new Beemer). We spent 10 days on a C400X, and my wife was very pleased with the ergos, riding pillion on that scoot, to the point that she suggested I get one. Of course, the Big Burger has more oomph, but I was also pleased with a scoot that weighs about 150 lb. less than that. And that that particular 650 is 14 years old, and if something major breaks on it, it'd make a nice mailbox or something, i.e., I'm not spending major money on it to fix anything.

That's all I got. Looking forward to getting some tips on farkling the GT and other useful info.

Cheers,

Bill P.
Good Luck with your new BMW C400 GT. About a month ago I traded my Burgman 650 in on a 2022 BMW C400 GT. I am very happy with my new ride. It is much more nimble and easier to put on the center stand for a 76 year old. I have taken a couple of 200 mile rides out of Las Vegas and the BMW performs well locally and on the highway. I am originally from Plattsburgh just up the road from you. I like the TFT dash and use the turn by turn navigation often. Let me know if I can answer any questions for you; I am always happy to help out younger people.
 

wspollack

Active member
Good Luck with your new BMW C400 GT. About a month ago I traded my Burgman 650 in on a 2022 BMW C400 GT. I am very happy with my new ride. It is much more nimble and easier to put on the center stand for a 76 year old. I have taken a couple of 200 mile rides out of Las Vegas and the BMW performs well locally and on the highway. I am originally from Plattsburgh just up the road from you. I like the TFT dash and use the turn by turn navigation often. Let me know if I can answer any questions for you; I am always happy to help out younger people.
Thank you, sir (I try to show respect to my elders), for your wishes and offer of help.

I've been to Plattsburgh a few times, but it's a haul from here, about four hours.
 

wspollack

Active member
...
(btw, correct usage is no space after the "C" and a space before "GT," so your bike is BMW C400 GT.)
...
I'm not so sure about this. I finally wandered over to:


BMW USA seems to consistently refer to it as "C 400 GT" throughout the page. Of course, that's not to say that they are necessarily correct, but, still ...

Same deal at what I think is an international page, i.e.:


Thoughts?
 

Delray

Well-known member
"BMW USA seems to consistently refer to it as "C 400 GT"

Aw, c'mon man! Who you gonna believe? The global corporation that builds the machine or the guy on the internet with a bird on his head? ;o)

Wow, I stand corrected. My apologies.

I write professionally so I'm used to speaking authoritatively about words and usage, but I bungled that one. Not even sure what my source is for my version, and I can usually put my finger on such things. I learned long ago in advertising, "you can't just make sh!t up."

Speaking of naming conventions, the German website agrees with you. Curiously, it calls the bike "Der" C 400 GT (Der being masculine), whereas "Motorrad" (motorcycles) is "Das" (neutral). If it's Das Motorrad, why wouldn't it be Das C 400 GT?

I am 4th generation German-American on both sides and STILL can't make heads nor tails of Der, Die und Das.

IMG_6814.jpg
 
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wspollack

Active member
I believe it was Chico, in Duck Soup, who asked someone at one point, "Who you gonna believe, me, or your own eyes?" But I could be wrong.
 

wspollack

Active member
Hey, @Delray / Mike, you recall back in May, in post #3, above, I wrote, regarding international licenses:

Edelweiss requires an international driver's license (but this was actually checked only by the guide on the first tour, but should've been done by the second tour's guide, as well). It's only $20 at a local AAA office, and the process takes about 15 minutes. This is non-members like me (I have AMA bike/car insurance); I believe it's free for members.

In any case, just fill out a form and bring two passport-like photos. It's no big deal, so just do it.


Well, I just got email today from Itchy Boots' mailing list, referencing her latest blog post:


In there, she writes:

* I always carry an International Driving Permit with me. It's very easy and cheap to get in the Netherlands, so I just always do it. In all my travels I've only been asked for it once, in Thailand. However, it could also be helpful in an emergency or with regards to insurance in case of an accident. How easy or how hard it is to get an International Driving Permit differs per country - but if you can get it, do it.

I'd say that that confirms what I said, right?
 

Delray

Well-known member
I'd say that that confirms what I said, right?

Mr. Bill,

You are, and were, correct, thanks. I have the AAA form filled out and need to get two passport photos taken and mail in the application.

Except for the BMW C 400 rental info you helpfully provided for Edelweiss, I've had zero luck finding a maxi-scooter rental. I think the BMW C 400 will feel too cramped, so I am leaning toward renting a big BMW touring bike. I looked at a 2016 BMW R 1200 RT last week and really liked it -- owned a 2007 RT for a week last summer when I was thinking of riding up to Rochester. Shifting gears would be a PITA in Germany but the train-like solidity of the bike would be lovely.
 

wspollack

Active member
Mr. Bill,

You are, and were, correct, thanks. I have the AAA form filled out and need to get two passport photos taken and mail in the application.

Except for the BMW C 400 rental info you helpfully provided for Edelweiss, I've had zero luck finding a maxi-scooter rental. I think the BMW C 400 will feel too cramped, so I am leaning toward renting a big BMW touring bike. I looked at a 2016 BMW R 1200 RT last week and really liked it -- owned a 2007 RT for a week last summer when I was thinking of riding up to Rochester. Shifting gears would be a PITA in Germany but the train-like solidity of the bike would be lovely.
Yeah, I remember reading about your RT week. You go through bikes faster than I go through socks.

On the passes, just leave the bike in 2nd, and out in the open leave it in 4th. Shifting is over-rated.
 

Delray

Well-known member
I just a search for TMax rentals, for instance, and there are a lot of outfits that purport to offer them.

TMax is a good idea. I have long been impressed with the passion owners have for the riding experience. That said, I've never even seen one.

BMW C 650 GT is my first choice. It's the only maxi-scooter that lets me stretch my legs out fully without removing the butt rest, like I have to with Silver Wing and Burgman 650. Unfortunately for my European riding prospects, none of those bikes are in production, so rental companies won't have them.

Hmm, wonder if they have Kymco's AK550? I'll check that out. I test rode one last year and it was solid. I remember stretching out my legs. I found the bike sorely lacking in the personality department but it would be a fine rental for two weeks.

As for "change bikes faster than I change socks," ha, maybe. I was late to the maxi-scooter party and had to pedal fast to make up time. Since I bought my first maxi-scooter on Christmas Eve, 2016 (I had no idea they even existed two weeks before that), I have owned 5 Honda Silver Wings, 3 Burgman 650's and I'm on my 5th BMW C 650 GT. The math: Average ownership for each bike was six months and 6,000 miles.

It was a learning experience and labor of love. Updating all the maintenance and super-cleaning the bikes allowed me to break even or make a profit. I am proud of the fact that everybody who bought one of those bikes from me took possession in better condition than when I purchased it.

Pretty settled with my 2019 650 GT for awhile (somewhere my son is rolling his eyes, "I've heard that before, Dad"). The 650 GT is the best maxi-scooter, by far, and I got my best-ever deal: $7,000 for a '19 GT with 7,000 miles in May '22 -- it still had 8 months of warranty left when I bought it.
 
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TMax is a good idea. I have long been impressed with the passion owners have for the riding experience. That said, I've never even seen one.

The BMW C 650 GT is my first choice. It's the only maxi-scooter that lets me stretch my legs out fully without removing the butt rest (like Silver Wing and the Burgman 650). Unfortunately for my European riding prospects, none of those bikes are in production, so rental companies won't have them.

Hmm, wonder if they might have Kymco's AK550? I'll check that out. I test rode one last year and it was solid. I remember stretching out pretty well on it. I found it sorely lacking in the personality department but it would be a fine rental for two weeks.

As for "change bikes faster than I change socks," ha, maybe. Since I bought my first maxi-scooter on Christmas Eve, 2016 (I had no idea they even existed two weeks before that), I have owned five Honda Silver Wings, three Burgman 650's and I'm on my fifth BMW C 650 GT. I figured out the math once and my average ownership was for six months and 6,000 miles.

It was a learning experience. Updating all the maintenance and super-cleaning the bikes allowed me to break even or make a modest profit. I think I'm pretty settled with my 2019 650 GT for awhile (somewhere my son is rolling his eyes, "I've heard that before, Dad"). The 650 GT is the best maxi-scooter, by far, and I got my best-ever deal on it.
I owned a 2009 Tmax and 2015. Both a great machines and I regret selling my 2015 one. Truly worry free low cost motoring.
 
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