Riding C650GT Coast to Coast

[scooterdog]

My wife and I have this dream of riding our bikes coast to coast, but with young children we never found the time. Now that time is over. Soooo we are going to do it, and I have this hair brain idea of riding my C650 scooter. She will be on her '02 R1150RT. Setting aside the obvious male ego issues associated with this, I am concerned about several issues:

1. Is the C650 scooter reliable and capable of making that trip?

2. Is the rear sealed chain drive up to that many miles?

3. Will the CVT belt survive? ( I would take a spare so not really an issue)

4. Tools

 

[JaimeC]

I have over 12,000 miles on my original chain AND CVT belt. I think you'll be fine. If you want to be sure, just have your dealer give the scooter a THOROUGH "going over" before you leave (I usually do when I plan a cross country trip too).

Although I haven't gone cross country on my C650GT, I have ridden it round trip from Long Island, NY to Indianapolis, IN twice now without any kind of issue. If you bought the scooter new, you're covered under BMWNA's free three-year Roadside Assistance program. If you have any kind of a breakdown, you're pretty much covered for a tow and "trip interruption" benefits. Read your brochure carefully.

This WON'T cover your wife's R1150RT, though. For that, I recommend joining the AMA and taking advantage of their free Roadside Assistance program.

And now I'll add my own "snarky comment:" The scooter is DEFINITELY up to a cross-country trip. Are YOU? Things don't always go smoothly on these things. Keep an open mind and a good sense of humor and you'll be just fine.

 

[scooterdog]

Thanks for the reply. I am up to it having done several rides on my 1150GS(sold) from California to New Mexico, British Columbia, and Kansas. On your ride on Indianapolis, did you ride primarily superslab or secondary roads?

 

[SteveADV]

FYI....I know of at least 2 C650GT owners that have done at least one Saddle Sore. Take pictures and keep us informed. It will be super cool. I'm excited for you man!

 

[SteveADV]

.....The scooter is DEFINITELY up to a cross-country trip. Are YOU? Things don't always go smoothly on these things. Keep an open mind and a good sense of humor and you'll be just fine.

To Jaime's comment: That is the exact question I asked myself before my Cleveland to Bluffton, SC trip. Although I had done a number of 300+ mile days and figured I could make that trip in two days if I had to (770 miles), I really wanted to do it in one day. What was kinda weird is that I actually enjoyed the super slab...Iron Butt here I come. The bike was perfect. I stopped every 2 1/2 hours or so which was necessary because of the tank size. I am lucky in that the bike really fits me. Other than the Kaoko everything is stock.

So, not a coast to coast, but a pretty good test. Just do it.

 

[JaimeC]

Thanks for the reply. I am up to it having done several rides on my 1150GS(sold) from California to New Mexico, British Columbia, and Kansas. On your ride on Indianapolis, did you ride primarily superslab or secondary roads?

Primarily superslab. I just wanted to get to Indianapolis. Did it in two 370+ mile days. I was riding with a friend who isn't up to REALLY long days in the saddle or I might've done it in one. Of course, I'm not as young as I used to be either. I did three consecutive 700+ mile days on my way home from California back in the early nineties. I pushed it because once I got east of the Mississippi the weather took a turn for the worst and I knew I wouldn't be able to grind out the miles like I could in fair weather and I only had five days to get back home. That was on my no-frills K100, too. On my K1200LT, 600 mile days just roll by without a thought. It's EASY on that bike. Nearly 300 miles out of a tank of gas, and cruise control and the miles just fly by.

 

[exavid]

I've ridden coast to coast on a fifteen year old bike with 140,000 miles on the clock. Didn't have a single problem with the bike in the whole 8,000 mile (didn't go direct) and I carried no spare parts other than the bike's tool kit and tire plugs. Admittedly it was a Goldwing but I think any decent bike could do it. I'd have no hesitation in making the ride on my GT though it wouldn't be as comfortable as the big 'Wing. I wouldn't worry about the final drive chain, oil bath chains are common, think of timing cases on a lot of auto engines that drive the cam shafts, they're the same kind of thing and very rarely cause trouble. No real reason your CVT belt should fail either, they usually are pretty bullet proof and wear down gradually instead of failing catastrophically. So put some tire plugs in your travel kit along with a small 12V air compressor that you can plug into the 12V outlet, add a Leatherman and a small vise grip. That and the credit card and cell phone and away you go.

 

[JaimeC]

A Throttlemeister or Kaoko (sp?) type of "cruise control" also helps a little. Just wish our GTs came with a REAL cruise control though. Why would BMW put a cruise control on a hypersports bike like the S1000RR, but NOT on their touring scooter? Does that make ANY sense??

 

[Dale]

Would not think twice about hoping on my GT and going cross country.

Have any scheduled maintenance done and good tires. Only problem could be a flat tire or bad gas. Mechanically this bike should not brake down once you start it up to go.

 

[wsteele]

I read about a guy who drove a 50 cc scooter from southern Fla to Alaska and back took him quite awhile, so I wouldn't hesitate driving the 650 across the country.

 

[Xian Forbes]

One of my good friends rode an early 70's Vespa Rally 200 from San Jose Ca to the arctic circle without issue. Not to mention all of the 250cc and less rider who compete in the Scooter Cannonball coast to coast rally every other year. When you've got plenty of power on tap to get the job done cruising on the slab at 70 is just easy goings for the big scoot. Doesn't really matter if your sitting on 60hp, 90hp, or 120hp when only a fraction of that is required. I'd think the only real issue will be when climbing mountains and density altitude comes in to play. You'll lose many hp when you lose inches of mercury on the barometer, but it'll do the job no doubt.