BMW C600 Sport test ride

[OpenMind]

[quote=]
How much??? That's utterly ridiculous even with the extras that's at least £3k overpriced. I thought the point of scoots (even maxis) was cheap transport?[/quote]

Then you're thoroughly mistaken! Remember, the Mk1 Tmax cost £6,000 when it was launched, way back in 2000, and has sold like hot cakes (sur le continent) ever since.

[quote=] £10k? You could get numerous (proper) bikes which will do everything better in every way for that kind of outlay. Seems BMW are relying on their badge marque.[/quote]

You imply that a maxiscooter is not a 'proper' bike. I beg to differ. As far as I'm concerned, the Tmax, Burger King and both BMWs are all automatic motorcycles masquerading as scooters. But they're all more relaxing to ride than almost any bike and much more convenient for carrying shopping and sundry other bits and bobs. Remember, the BMWs have more power than the original Honda CB750 and as much as the fire-breathing Kawasaki 500 triple two stroke; and they handle and brake far better than either, with a lot more comfort and weather protection to boot!
Having said that, I do think the BMWs are overpriced. BMW should have taken the Burger King Executive (£8,200 with all the bells and whistles) as their starting price point rather than the Tmax530.

[OpenMind]

The brakes are much better than the TMAX. I was really impressed with them. They had better feel and more bite. I would say that the TMAX's brakes are more spongey. Too little initial bite, then they lock up very suddenly. The BMW brakes are much more progressive.

Funny, I have the exact opposite opinion! Although I agree that the rear brake on the Tmax locks very easily without ABS. Not the front though.
I envy you the Gorge run in La Belle France. Sounds great.

uote="yellowMax"] The manual screen is also very easily adjustable. Just spin the knobs, move the screen and spin the knobs back. Easily achievable at a traffic-light stop. The screen is also vastly superior to that on the TMAX Mk3.[/quote]

The Tmax530 screen is also vastly superior to the TmaxMk3's! And adjustable. Just a shame Yamaha's engineers didn't think of making it as easy to adjust as the BMW's. Mind you, I don't remember it fluttering as much as the C600's does at speed when on the highest setting. I had a premonition that it might eventually snap in half, as the tall screen option on the Burger King has been known to do!

[DougL]

I don't remember it fluttering as much as the C600's does at speed when on the highest setting. I had a premonition that it might eventually snap in half, as the tall screen option on the Burger King has been known to do!

Interesting about the screen. I didn't notice any fluttering, but then I only had it up to an indicated 80 mph with the screen at max position. BMW offer a shorter tinted screen as an accesory.

My favourtite road was the Gorge de l'Ardeche. Fast sweepers along clifftops. Amazing.

[gn2]

I think a better starting point for setting the price of the BMW TGS would have been the Kymco Xciting 500 ABS.
No brand new maxi scooter should cost more than a brand new car, the prices of the big burger, tmax and especially the BMWs are simply ludicrous.

[DougL]

I think a better starting point for setting the price of the BMW TGS would have been the Kymco Xciting 500 ABS.
No brand new maxi scooter should cost more than a brand new car, the prices of the big burger, tmax and especially the BMWs are simply ludicrous.

I'm on the fence with this one. A new Vespa GTS costs over £4000. You can buy a lot of car for that too. Cars are much more expensive too. Having said that, the PCX is the bargain scoot of this decade. Perahps why you chose one? As Waldorf implies, purchase price is what the market will stand for....

[gn2]

A new Vespa GTS costs over £4000. You can buy a lot of car for that too.

You can pick up a new Vespa GTS300i for £3800.
You won't get a brand new car for that, but you could definitely get a decent used one.

Cars are much more expensive too.

You can spend as much or as little as you want

Having said that, the PCX is the bargain scoot of this decade. Perahps why you chose one?

I bought it because at the time £2270 with three years 0% and 100+mpg was just too good to pass up.

As Waldorf implies, purchase price is what the market will stand for....

Remains to be seen how much success BMW will achieve in the market.
I hope they fail miserably.

[DougL]

I hope they fail miserably.

Do you know, I wouldn't have described you as miserable. Perhaps you need to get out a bit more. And open your wallet a bit more. You can't take it with you, you know.

[gn2]

BMW won't be taking it either

[Bluebottle]

I hope it is a partial success.
Enough to keep them interested in the scooter genre but with a desire to improve what the've got.
Anything to generate a better image with other manufacturers and riders so that Maxi's get taken more seriously.

I don't want people to be saying "BMW tried that, doesn't work, kiss of death"
I want them to be saying "BMW did OK with that, maybe it is something worth looking at -perhaps a bit cheaper, with more storage...etc and it would go stellar"

My favourtite road was the Gorge de l'Ardeche.

Glorious,
never done the Ardeche on a bike but enjoyed it in open 2 seaters and once in a 2CV

[Deleted User 796]

I think a better starting point for setting the price of the BMW TGS would have been the Kymco Xciting 500 ABS.
No brand new maxi scooter should cost more than a brand new car, the prices of the big burger, tmax and especially the BMWs are simply ludicrous.

I agree the BMW is too expensive (for me) but saying no new scooter should be more expensive than any new car seems illogical, they are two different things and comparing a top of the range scooter with a bottom of the range car doesn't make sense to me.

And why do you want them to fail? As Bluebottle says, if it's a total flop it will hurt the whole (tiny) market. If it's a sucess others may follow BMWs lead and try to develop the market and in a couple of years there would be a healthy amount of used ones for sale for those that can't/don't want to buy new.