Thursday, October 29, 2015
The BMW C 600 Sport is a scooter with the heart of a motorcycle
The first BMW motorbike I rode was a 1972 R 60/5 borrowed from a friend. It was black with a 600cc boxer engine producing 40 hp and 36 lb-ft of torque. The
Beemer (BMW bikes are Beemers, cars are Bimmers) was a wonderful machine and much smoother than the Japanese 2-strokes I grew up on. I had the R 60/5 for
the weekend and I ended up riding it long past midnight, hitting its top speed of 99 mph on a deserted stretch of the Merritt Parkway. I loved it.
Thirty years later, while working for a Porsche racing team, I spent a summer riding a 50cc Aprilia scooter on the service and surrounding roads of North
America's sports car tracks. The Aprilia topped out at a wimpy 40 mph… on a downhill. (For reference, I've exceeded 50 mph on a bicycle.)
MORE FROM ROAD & TRACK
BMW C 600 SPORT
PRO-LANESPLITTING LEGISLATION IN CALIFORNIA TABLED…
BIZARRE $1100 VOLKSWAGEN ELECTRIC SCOOTER FITS IN …
WILL ELECTRIC BIKES ONE DAY RULE MOTORCYCLING'S MO…
When BMW recently dropped off their new C 600 Sport Maxi Scooter for review, I was expecting more Aprilia than R 60/5. Boy, was I wrong.
The C 600 Sport is the smaller and lighter of BMW's two new scooters. While both are powered by the same 647cc parallel twin engine, the C 650 GT is
designed for longer-distance touring, featuring a bit more length for more passenger comfort, a larger storage area, and 26 lbs. more weight. Both
bikes—er, scooters—have an impressive (for a scooter) 109 mph top speed. With a choice between the two, I opted for the Sport, the more nimble of the pair.
The first thing you notice about the C 600 is its styling. From in front or behind, it looks like an honest-to-God sportbike. The tires—while smaller in
diameter than a motorcycle's—are larger and wider than I've seen on any scooter. Fitted on stylish 15" wheels, the Z-rated rubber is super-sticky and
almost as wide as some small car tires.
These maxi-scooters feature all the technology and luxury a BMW buyer would expect in a vehicle wearing the Roundel: heated seats, heated handgrips, ABS,
ventilated disc brakes, hidden dash storage bins, a multi-function LCD display, and LED front and rear lights. The suspension is motorcycle-worthy,
consisting of a single-sided rear swingarm and an inverted fork in front. There's even a parking brake, which is activated whenever the kickstand is down.
It's nice to have when you're parked on anything less than a flat surface.
Under the comfortable seat is a large storage area perfect for a large backpack, camera equipment (including a tripod), or a six-pack of beer and a bottle
of wine. At least that's what I was able to stash there. The locking storage compartment also features a neat expandable area to hold a helmet when the
bike is parked. As I eventually discovered, the machine won't start if the compartment is expanded, since the pocket drops down to nearly touch the rear
tire.
Fire it up with a push of the starter button, and a twist of the throttle gets you under way. The transmission is a CVT unit, so the initial throttle input
needs to be a bit aggressive. The C 600's 60 hp provides brisk acceleration that's more than adequate for anyone used to the instant response of a
motorcycle. Large ventilated discs and aggressive rubber deliver short braking distances and crisp handling. I rode tentatively at first, but soon found
myself leaning farther into the corners and carrying more speed than I believed possible on a scooter. And the C 600 is comfortable—the suspension easily
soaks up rough pavement and the adjustable windscreen provides good wind protection. At a stop, however, you feel every one of the scooter's nearly 550
lbs, and the wide stance required to clear the running boards makes flat-footing a challenge for the vertically impaired.
So who are these scooters aimed at? BMW thinks folks who used to ride in their younger years and are looking to get back in the saddle will be drawn to
their comfort and practicality. Also, new riders who might be intimidated by a sportbike or are seeking something geared toward daily use—especially in an
urban, stop-and-go environment. No matter which camp you fall into, there's a lot to like here. I still prefer something more visceral, with a manual
transmission—i.e. a real motorcycle. But, considering the decent storage space, smooth ride and good wind and rain protection, I wouldn't be surprised if
BMW meets its sales targets with this thing. Ultimately, these scooters aren't cheap, but nothing worth owning from the folks in Bavaria ever is.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/road-tests/reviews/a5585/bmw-c-600-sport-scooter-road-test/
Beemer (BMW bikes are Beemers, cars are Bimmers) was a wonderful machine and much smoother than the Japanese 2-strokes I grew up on. I had the R 60/5 for
the weekend and I ended up riding it long past midnight, hitting its top speed of 99 mph on a deserted stretch of the Merritt Parkway. I loved it.
Thirty years later, while working for a Porsche racing team, I spent a summer riding a 50cc Aprilia scooter on the service and surrounding roads of North
America's sports car tracks. The Aprilia topped out at a wimpy 40 mph… on a downhill. (For reference, I've exceeded 50 mph on a bicycle.)
MORE FROM ROAD & TRACK
BMW C 600 SPORT
PRO-LANESPLITTING LEGISLATION IN CALIFORNIA TABLED…
BIZARRE $1100 VOLKSWAGEN ELECTRIC SCOOTER FITS IN …
WILL ELECTRIC BIKES ONE DAY RULE MOTORCYCLING'S MO…
When BMW recently dropped off their new C 600 Sport Maxi Scooter for review, I was expecting more Aprilia than R 60/5. Boy, was I wrong.
The C 600 Sport is the smaller and lighter of BMW's two new scooters. While both are powered by the same 647cc parallel twin engine, the C 650 GT is
designed for longer-distance touring, featuring a bit more length for more passenger comfort, a larger storage area, and 26 lbs. more weight. Both
bikes—er, scooters—have an impressive (for a scooter) 109 mph top speed. With a choice between the two, I opted for the Sport, the more nimble of the pair.
The first thing you notice about the C 600 is its styling. From in front or behind, it looks like an honest-to-God sportbike. The tires—while smaller in
diameter than a motorcycle's—are larger and wider than I've seen on any scooter. Fitted on stylish 15" wheels, the Z-rated rubber is super-sticky and
almost as wide as some small car tires.
These maxi-scooters feature all the technology and luxury a BMW buyer would expect in a vehicle wearing the Roundel: heated seats, heated handgrips, ABS,
ventilated disc brakes, hidden dash storage bins, a multi-function LCD display, and LED front and rear lights. The suspension is motorcycle-worthy,
consisting of a single-sided rear swingarm and an inverted fork in front. There's even a parking brake, which is activated whenever the kickstand is down.
It's nice to have when you're parked on anything less than a flat surface.
Under the comfortable seat is a large storage area perfect for a large backpack, camera equipment (including a tripod), or a six-pack of beer and a bottle
of wine. At least that's what I was able to stash there. The locking storage compartment also features a neat expandable area to hold a helmet when the
bike is parked. As I eventually discovered, the machine won't start if the compartment is expanded, since the pocket drops down to nearly touch the rear
tire.
Fire it up with a push of the starter button, and a twist of the throttle gets you under way. The transmission is a CVT unit, so the initial throttle input
needs to be a bit aggressive. The C 600's 60 hp provides brisk acceleration that's more than adequate for anyone used to the instant response of a
motorcycle. Large ventilated discs and aggressive rubber deliver short braking distances and crisp handling. I rode tentatively at first, but soon found
myself leaning farther into the corners and carrying more speed than I believed possible on a scooter. And the C 600 is comfortable—the suspension easily
soaks up rough pavement and the adjustable windscreen provides good wind protection. At a stop, however, you feel every one of the scooter's nearly 550
lbs, and the wide stance required to clear the running boards makes flat-footing a challenge for the vertically impaired.
So who are these scooters aimed at? BMW thinks folks who used to ride in their younger years and are looking to get back in the saddle will be drawn to
their comfort and practicality. Also, new riders who might be intimidated by a sportbike or are seeking something geared toward daily use—especially in an
urban, stop-and-go environment. No matter which camp you fall into, there's a lot to like here. I still prefer something more visceral, with a manual
transmission—i.e. a real motorcycle. But, considering the decent storage space, smooth ride and good wind and rain protection, I wouldn't be surprised if
BMW meets its sales targets with this thing. Ultimately, these scooters aren't cheap, but nothing worth owning from the folks in Bavaria ever is.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/road-tests/reviews/a5585/bmw-c-600-sport-scooter-road-test/
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