Hendrik von Kuenheim, General Director BMW Motorrad wrote:
…
As an integral part of the BMW Group, BMW Motorrad is now expanding its business activities to a new facet: that of "Urban Mobility".
Today we will be presenting to you the first products in this area - two premium vehicles in the maxi-scooter segment.
They are called: BMW C 600 Sport and BMW C 650 GT.
Both vehicles combine the agility and comfort of a scooter with the outstanding riding qualities of a motorcycle:
They are scooters "Made by BMW Motorrad".
It was totally clear to us, that the standards among the top players of the established competition are very high. For this reason we focused on four main points in developing the two
BMW scooters:
An attractive, clearly identifiable BMW design.
An exceptionally fine suspension.
A particularly agile drive.
And the functionality and everyday suitability which is typical of this segment.
Our high level of expertise and longstanding experience in building supreme touring and sports motorcycles provided the perfect basis for this project. It has meant we have been able to raise the benchmark to a somewhat higher level within the competitive field.
However, it is up to you to decide how well we have succeeded in doing so.
But above and beyond this, some high-quality technological solutions are to be found in the two models. They show just how much innovative power went into their development.
The new maxi-scooters are being built at our BMW Motorrad plant in Berlin.
Serial production is in fact already underway, but our future scooter customers will have to wait a little before it is time for the official market launch. Delivery of the two vehicles will start early spring 2012.
The C 600 Sport is mainly geared towards scooter riders with sporty interests, while the C 650 GT is aimed at customers who attach greater importance to comfort and touring orientation.
Although they are clearly distinct from one another, they are both based on the same technical backbone, i.e. the drive and the suspension are identical.
The scooters are powered by a very efficient 650 cc 2-cylinder in-line engine. It develops a maximum output of 60 bhp and has a powerful torque of 66 newton metres.
Its conceptual design focused particularly on low vibration and a strikingly individual sound. The power is transmitted to the rear wheel by means of a CVT gearbox.
The suspension of the two scooters is especially elaborate and unusual for this segment: the front wheel control is by means of an upside down fork; and for the first time in this class the rear wheel is controlled by a single swingarm.
In both vehicles two integral helmets can be stored. In the case of the C 600 Sport this is enabled by the very innovative and patented storage concept BMW FlexCase.
This are only a few highlights of the BMW scooter technology.
You will find all the technical details in the extensive press documents provided. And our experts will be more than happy to show you the technological highlights on the demonstration vehicles in just a moment.
I also believe it is important to mention that both maxi-scooters are typical BMWs when it comes to safety and environment:
Both vehicles have generously sized ABS brake systems as standard. They can also be optionally fitted with a so-called daytime running light, which enhances ride safety in city traffic especially.
I've been posting most of the EICMA news to my Twitter and to ModernVespa. There may be some LML news this year, so if there's anything Genuine-related, I'll post here, of course!
Here's my thing. *Most* people get into scooters because they want a smaller mode of transportation that is more wallet-friendly, both in purchase and in gas. This is none of those things, so BMW isn't really selling itself into the scooter crowd, I don't feel.
Now I realize that BMW is stepping down from cars and cycles and the company itself has a different crowd of consumers to appeal to... but a 600/650cc scooter? Really? I don't EVEN WANT TO KNOW how much these things are going to cost.
Instead of trying to attract a crowd of scooterists interested in owning luxury scooter maybe in the 200-500cc range, it seems like they are trying to lure the cycle owners/riders over and trick them into "Heeeeyy this bike is cool, right? It just has a floor board, that's all... you know you want to ride it... come on..."
BUT
It's cool to see them making the leap. I have to say that if they ever down the road came out with a smaller scoot I'd at least jump on it and test drive it (if somebody let me).
@ Luna, good points, but this is for the trendy high dollar cowd. BMW scoots?
Who will buy them, the folks that have noticed scooters are catching on. Honda and Suzuki weren't happy to see that.
These things are going to be EXPENSIVE, but the ultimate in scooter snobery
Speed is only a matter of money...How fast do you want to go?
Forget the initial price. Can you imagine what a service visit for one of these is going to cost? Probably enough to keep me in oil, tires and whatnots for a year or so.
This is a scooter for a market that doesn't yet exist.
The scoots have been added to BMW's US site. No pricing. My ballpark guess based on nothing is around $12K. I'm also predicting that should the Aprilia RSV850 come to the US, the BMW will be priced higher.
Eric // LA Scooter Meetup Group // Stella 4T // Vespa LX // Vespa LXS // Honda Helix // some, uh, projects…
ericalm wrote:This is a scooter for a market that doesn't yet exist.
The scoots have been added to BMW's US site. No pricing. My ballpark guess based on nothing is around $12K. I'm also predicting that should the Aprilia RSV850 come to the US, the BMW will be priced higher.
charlie55 wrote:Forget the initial price. Can you imagine what a service visit for one of these is going to cost? Probably enough to keep me in oil, tires and whatnots for a year or so.
ericalm wrote:This is a scooter for a market that doesn't yet exist.
The scoots have been added to BMW's US site. No pricing. My ballpark guess based on nothing is around $12K. I'm also predicting that should the Aprilia RSV850 come to the US, the BMW will be priced higher.
Precisely. Most folks looking to buy a BMW aren't thinking of scooters, and most folks looking to buy a scooter aren't going to (or are not in the position to) shell out a King's ransom, especially in a down economy.
As to why BMW isn't addressing a lower displacement luxury market, well, I guess that here in America, there really isn't much demand in that area. Heck, where I live, there's hardly any scooter presence at all. I could ride for weeks here, and with the exception of the other members in our club, never even see another scooter. Harleys and crotch rockets comprise the bulk of the fleet. Neither a bad nor a good thing: merely what the market demand is. Although it is interesting to see how many late-model Harley and liter+ bikes are for sale at any given moment in time. Seems like a lot of churn in that sector.
ericalm wrote:This is a scooter for a market that doesn't yet exist.
The scoots have been added to BMW's US site. No pricing. My ballpark guess based on nothing is around $12K. I'm also predicting that should the Aprilia RSV850 come to the US, the BMW will be priced higher.
You think Jess has the ModernMovement domain name already?
Those aren't scooters. They're motorcycles. If it's large displacement, if it has no step through, if you have to swing your leg over it to mount, it's a motorcycle.
I love these scooters but there is no way, short of an unknown rich relative dying and leaving all thier money, that I could afford one new. Maybe several years from now I'll be able to pick one up used. Hell maybe by then Genuine will have unleashed the cruiser on the U.S. and I won't even want to pay this scooter any mind
"Only the curious have, if they live, a tale worth telling at all" Alastair Reid
LunaP wrote:Here's my thing. *Most* people get into scooters because they want a smaller mode of transportation that is more wallet-friendly, both in purchase and in gas. This is none of those things, so BMW isn't really selling itself into the scooter crowd, I don't feel.
Now I realize that BMW is stepping down from cars and cycles and the company itself has a different crowd of consumers to appeal to... but a 600/650cc scooter? Really? I don't EVEN WANT TO KNOW how much these things are going to cost.
Instead of trying to attract a crowd of scooterists interested in owning luxury scooter maybe in the 200-500cc range, it seems like they are trying to lure the cycle owners/riders over and trick them into "Heeeeyy this bike is cool, right? It just has a floor board, that's all... you know you want to ride it... come on..."
BUT
It's cool to see them making the leap. I have to say that if they ever down the road came out with a smaller scoot I'd at least jump on it and test drive it (if somebody let me).
BMW will never cater to the small displacement market. There isn't enough money in it, and they have always focused on mid large displacement bikes. They have no interest in economy anything... that's why they invest in companies like MINI, where they can turn their attention to a different market entirely while keeping the BMW marque high. If they ever *did* decide to target small bikes, they would more likely invest in or buy a different marque and fund that to cater to another market.
That being said, these are VERY sharp maxi-scooters. Now, I'm not usually a fan of large scooters (preferring a full on motorcycle). But, if we do end up moving to some place like Chicago and I have the cash for a nice city heavy bike, I would definitely look at these. I can only HOPE they would be under 10k, but I am doubting that. You cannot dispute BMW's quality, and if it's built on a Rotax engine, I would have full confidence in one of these as an investment.
Lastly, we keep forgetting that the rest of the world sees the US motorbike market as a joke. We don't produce the number of sales for them to cater ANYTHING to us, so we most often get the leftovers of the motorcycle world. They assume that Americans only want Harleys or the occasional liter bike and that's it. It's impossible to find small bikes like the Honda PCX, CBR250r Fireblade, or any of Japan's crazy Suzuki streetbikes under 500cc's. Peugot scooters? Nope. MZ? Forget it. Until the US has a complete motor culture change, all we get to do is look longingly at SE Asia and Europe for all of their cool bikes, and hope for some scraps.
I like. BMW knows what they're doing with these (twins, ahhhh!). Personally I don't like maxi-scoots, but it's a good market to go after and definitely pulls in new riders.
These bikes aren't for us; they're for commuters living outside of major cities in Europe who have to commute on the M5 or autobahn and want to save on congestion charges. But they also want a bike they can ride on weekends and for touring or carving up the Alps.
Or they're for the growing Chinese market where congestion charges on cars are coming.
These would make great bikes for the wife/girlfriend who is interested in riding when the husband/boyfriend has the big GSA. Why get the girl the F800 or G650 when you can get her one of these? (And I'm a girl saying this who likes shifting.)
I cannot believe they're made in Germany at the Berlin plant and not in China as part of the Kymco deal (Husaberg). That'll up the price. I'm thinking they should keep this near $10k and give the Burgie a run for its money.
When I'm old and more cranky, a comfy CVT that'll go long-distance, I wouldn't say no.
And for the US market, we're a joke like others have said. Yammy brought in 1500 Super Tens for this year. Are you kidding me?
Rippinyarn wrote:Beautiful (and no doubt expensive), but at 549 lbs. there is absolutely no way that I need to even dream about this mega-scoot (bigger than a maxi).
Very much on point. I was going to say that the fairing looks almost exactly the one on the R1200RT Boxer Tourer, which, incidentally, amazingly light for its purpose as I believe it only weighs 505 pounds.
With all the Burgs and Silverwings in existence, I don't know how it can be said that a market for this doesn't exist. It's just a high end maxi-scooter. And it weighs a great deal less than a B650.
On the question of whether maxi-scooters are actually scooters, I recall reading on a maxi scoot site a discussion of whether they should be called "automatic motorcycles." More than once, I've seen Burg 650s in company with groups of Goldwings. They seem to hold their own quite well.
