BMW Scooter

I see the US magazines are starting to review the new BMW scooter....based on very short tests by for the most part non-scooter experienced testers..Par for course.....Brit, Twist and GO, maybe better look at.

Kymco powered=if I wanted Kymco, I'd buy one, they are at least fairly priced and good. I picked up 12,000 belt change, Shim valve adjustment. Until one of the German mags does long term test and tears down at end, we won't know. Final drive, enclosed chain--no chain difference as swing arm pivot is same as chain/front sprocket center----see Maico Typhoon 1950's.....Maico had double row chain.

Don't think they have made any advances in air management/easy plastic removal.

As consumer, I see SilverWing or Burgman 400 better choice on price. Maybe too little/too expensive/too late? And then do we really need 60 hp putt putts. One of the joys of riding a scooter is that it is scooter and within its limitations fun.

John, i have just read a magazine report on the new BMW scoots, apparently there are two models one a sports and the other a tourer, sharing the same engine. I did not read there was that much to get excited about(compared to what is already on the market). They are also priced at £10:400. I think I'll wait until you might have a chance to try one out and give your opinion

They recently got a very positive reiew in the Toronto Star Wheels section from someone who actually rode it. I'm interested but then read this announcement on April 19:

Production of BMW’s two new maxi scooters has been delayed while the firm tries to remedy quality issues.

The C650 GT and C600 Sport were due to go on sale this month on the continent and next month in the UK but dealers are still waiting for news on when they will arrive.

BMW said: 'In order to ensure the product quality rightly expected by customers, some changes have to be made to tools used by suppliers. These tool measures will take some time to implement and have meant that vehicle production has had to be temporarily suspended. A new date for the market launch in Europe will be provided shortly.’

MCN reported after riding the scooters, which cost £9395 upward, that glove box doors felt cheap and the C600 Sport’s opened when supposedly locked.

Peter Pueffel, BMW’ Project Manager for the scooters, said at the time: “The bikes that go on the market will be better.”

Good for BMW, holding off market, as BMW owner since 1958, they have let some real junk come to market. My R-27, bought new, went thru 4 engines and 2 transmissions in the first 90 days or so. Last check, it still sits in ex-girlfriend's basement. My 600 car, broke crankshaft/main bearings first week. my '07 coupe came with tires nobody could repair or remove from rims with normal tire buck. My K-75, switches wouldn't work at 10 degreesF. Once you got bike started by pouring hot tea water on swtiches, you let it run for rest of day.

"My K-75, switches wouldn't work at 10 degreesF".

I don't think I would either. I doubt very much if they anticipated polar bears riding their products. :rendeer:


"Once you got bike started by pouring hot tea water on swtiches"

Now, to pour water on electrical switches just seems plain dumb

You're one tough son of a gun

x

I was being polite!

bigbird wrote:

oldgoat wrote:

You're one tough son of a gun

You call it tough. I call it something else entirely.

Anything you can do
i can do better.

I can do anything better than you!

No you cant!

Yes i can!

no you cant!

yes i can!

yes i can !

yes i can! ! !


Hubris. look it up.

x

I have a feeling that a major appeal of the BMW scooters is that there'll be a good support network for spares, servicing and repairs.
I read on other forums of poor dealer networks in certain countries and certainly in the SE of England, dealers are closing like they're going out of style.
I'd not buy a Piaggio if I were in the UK for that very reason.
It seems unlikely that the same will happen with BMW.

BMW servicing always very expensive and dealerships thinly spread. They often have quality problems with new models especially now they are outsourcing so much of the production. BMW = bring more wallet !!!

x

This all reminds me of accusations of Vaporware among software developers in years past.

Company A announces fabulous new software that is in development that is going to do everything possible for everyone. Consumers delay purchases of software from other companies hoping to get the latest greatest software possible from Company A. Company A strings the public along for a while with various delays. When Company A finally puts out their software, its not really much better or different than the stuff that's been on the market from other companies all along. But, Company A gets to share in a lot of pent up demand from all those delayed purchases and gets to torpedo competitors sales for a while.

Having had no BMW bike dealer in Cumbria since the 1970's, I bought bikes from dealerships in Merseyside, Ayrshire, and Tyne and Wear and had to take the bikes back there for services. Back in the 90's I was riding my BMW R80 GS home from having it serviced, it was early evening and I still had about 120 miles of riding to do when something like a stone struck my boot. It wasn't until the next day when I realised what had hit my boot had been the big domed washer from the front wheel spindle. The mechanic hadn't torqued up the retaining screw correctly, and I'd lost that and that washer within a few miles of leaving the dealers workshop.

I was horrified when I realised I'd done 120 miles or more riding at speeds up to 70-80 mph with nothing but the front forks pinch bolts holding the front wheel on.

Meldrew wrote:

I was horrified when I realised I'd done 120 miles or more riding at speeds up to 70-80 mph with nothing but the front forks pinch bolts holding the front wheel on.

Gulp

After reading all these horror stories about BMW, it's no wonder we all love our S/Wing's, everyone Ride Safe.

Yes, but it's not just BMW; For years I had Mitsubishi L300 vans, three in total - two petrol and one diesel -and always had them serviced at the Main Agents until they said the diesel needed a new ball-joint on the stteering.
I booked it in and when I went to collect it, discovered they'd changed the one on the wrong side. Remember, it was they who said it needed changing.

Some time after, I had the cam belt changed as instructed in the hand-book. By this time I was using my local 'back-street' garage, the place that I used for MOTs, tyres and exhausts and who I knew well from earlier days.
They did the job efficiently but shortly afterwards I lost all power in the brakes.
I was close to the Main Agents so limped as far as them.
The boss came out and told me the fan belt had come off and, in the course of conversation, told me I should have let them do the cam belt.
When I pointed out that I no longer had any confidence in them, citing the ball-joint incident, he shut up and replaced the belt free.

IIRC, Piaggio had to recall and replace ALL the original X9s when it was found they had a major design fault in the frame which dangerously affected the handling.

One of my ex-pupils became a Rolls-Royce mechanic. He had a natural aptitude for mechanics and was brilliant.
The horror stories of what went on in their dealership made me realise that nothing will ever be 100% reliable, goods or people, however much one pays for the best.

One period I lived in Germany, '80-90', I had three new Citroens, BX, Visa and 2CV wonderful car, wish they still made it. I did live about 30 km from Bitche in France and any major service/repair was done there=perfect. My donation to the shop people, a couple cases of beer, 2 bottles of Irish Whiskey for the bosses' wife and payment of the always resonable bill. My BX TRD went over 400,000 km-----now contrast to German service=hammer mechs, parts changers, expensive, never done right. Further to keep warranty up in Germany on my BMW RT80, had to take it to BMW dealer=they always screwed it up-----this boxer had hinged oil filter and they never got it right-sign was oil lite came on at idle----their fix, speed up idle speed, my fix take it home and do right.-----later moved to Italy for a year or so, they were wonderful in shop,Citroen,BMW and Vespa when needed.


I think there is big contrast in quality of work. BMW car good in Korea, not so great in US....they want to treat you like you know nothing and never got hands dirty. I am sure first couple of years with scooter will be ruff. Another BMW story, Seattle, friend preparing GS bike for Alaska trip----need new front rim (spoked) and brake disk-----we went to parts counter to order parts-----Lady General Manager came out and said they wouldn't order any parts until one of their "techs" (mechanic in my book) looked at it and of course they would have to install--We told her to stuff it. Ordered parts after market from home--installed. Between the two of us 100 years turning wrenches, he has degree as shop teacher, mine in Safety. Alaska trip suceess, except HD rider went too slow.

MikeO wrote:

made me realise that nothing will ever be 100% reliable, goods or people, however much one pays for the best.

Ain't that the truth.

No matter how much faith you have in a garage/mechanic. Before riding off - CHECK!

Waspie wrote:

No matter how much faith you have in a garage/mechanic. Before riding off - CHECK!

Oh come on, do you think I really had a torque wrench, the correct size Allen keys and sockets, and the Riders Manual open at the relevant torque settings ready to give the GS the once over when I went to pick it up at about 5:30pm. I've had two more BMW's, a Honda, and five maxi scooters since that happened, and like everyone else I pay the bill, pick up my keys, put on my helmet and go.

In a similar vein who was aware that the two 10mm nuts on the Givi AF214 Airflow could work loose and the top section fly off before I flagged it up on here ?

x

Two summers ago! I thought the Canadian seasons were almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction.

x

Bigbird, in uk most of us, well me, and Meldrew, ride nearly everyday of the year sometimes, we get wet, some times we get snowed on and sometimes we need sunglasses. In England I have never understood why some people say "riding season". I have things i wear when it is very cold and things i wear when it's not. Only heavy rain or snow will keep me from riding and only then if it starts before i set out. I have done over 2,000mls since i put that new drive belt on 8weeks ago. We have just had the wettest April ever recorded.

x

bigbird wrote:

If my winter was as mild as yours I'd be riding year round and there would be no "riding season".
Would you take your Swing out on a beautiful sunny day? Of course. But not if the temp was -35C with a 30 km/h wind giving a windchill of -50C. Welcome to my world in winter.

+1 Unless you live here it is hard to imagine just how cold & miserable it can be & the distances between places.

In Quebec it is illegal to ride a motorcycle/scooter between Nov15th > Mar15th unless it has proper snow tires on it. Same goes for cars.
As our winters are becoming milder sometimes this can take away a few rides.

Bigbird i did say" Why people in England".I know full well i would not be able to ride if i lived in Canada, and i feel very lucky to be able to ride as i do. I hate the cold and have only been as far north as Scotland and that was by car!

x

bigbird wrote:

But not if the temp was -35C with a 30 km/h wind giving a windchill of -50C.

I used to ride a two stroke moped year round in upstate New York with those temperatures (even at night), except in heavy snow or ice. The moped would do 37.5 MPH. To start the moped I would run pushing the moped, then hop on and pull the clutch starter. At those low of temperatures, it would take a couple of times before it would start.

I wore a snowmobile suit, winter gloves and a 3/4 helmet with a full length shield which was open at the bottom ( which did not fog up ).

I find the human body a good barometer of how cold it is to ride, when my ahem... appendage shrinks to the size of a normal mans, then it's too cold to ride.

x

x

oldgoat wrote:

In Quebec it is illegal to ride a motorcycle/scooter between Nov15th > Mar15th unless it has proper snow tires on it.

What snow tires would be proper for the Honda Silverwing??

x

bigbird wrote:

honda_silver wrote:

I used to ride a two stroke moped year round in upstate New York with those temperatures (even at night),

How come that doesn't surprise me?

Which part
-) two stroke moped
-) year round riding even with cold temperatures

honda_silver wrote:

oldgoat wrote:

In Quebec it is illegal to ride a motorcycle/scooter between Nov15th > Mar15th unless it has proper snow tires on it.

What snow tires would be proper for the Honda Silverwing??

There are none, so we don't ride.

Metzeler makes Feelgood Wintec tires for the winter!

http://www.metzelermoto.com/web/catalog/moto/moto_catalogo_schedaDescription.page?uri=/metzeler/en_IT/browser/xml/catalog/moto/Scooter_Feelfree_wintec.xml&vehicleType=MOTO&menu_item=/products/catalog/scooter

Jesse in Atlanta

bigbird wrote:

Meldrew wrote:

I find the human body a good barometer of how cold it is to ride, when my ahem... appendage shrinks to the size of a normal mans, then it's too cold to ride.

And you make it a common practise to compare your ahem....appendage, to those of others?
I don't want to join your "riding club".

I get stripped off bollock naked every day getting into my work gear, and at the end of every shift get into a communal shower. I've got used to the jealous stares over the years, and now I just say something like "What's up mate, doesn't yours shrink in the shower". Singing that song from the musical 'South Pacific' has a strange effect too.

Meldrew wrote:

I get stripped off bollock naked every day getting into my work gear, and at the end of every shift get into a communal shower. I've got used to the jealous stares over the years, and now I just say something like "What's up mate, doesn't yours shrink in the shower". Singing that song from the musical 'South Pacific' has a strange effect too.

Well you did ask, and the song from South Pacific is "I'm Going to Wash that Man Right Outta My Hair".