BMW C600 Sport test ride

[gn2]

If only Kymco made full use of their component catalogue for the UK Downtown 300, it would have ABS, tyre pressure monitors and an mph speedo.
Yamaha could do with bring us the ABS Xmax 250 as well

[DougL]

I really like your review and I pretty much agree with everything you say from what I remember a few weeks ago.

How high is this seat??? Higher than the Tmax's! Where's the bumstop? Oh there is something to put your bum against, but then I'm too far back... How vibey is this engine?!!??!

Agree with you about the seat, I did feel a bit perched on it but I found the TMAX seat really uncomfortable after 2000 miles in 9 days in France. I hope to get used to that

I initally go down a motorway and I seem to be being blown around a lot more than on the Tmax, a lot more wind buffetting and its not that quiet, even with the screen fully up.

I also had the screen fully up and did about 80mph on the motorway on a windy day and didn't notice any buffeting. I thought the screen was much better than the TMAX.

The suspension feels really good - a nice taut firm but not harsh feeling. Decent ride quality as well. Didn't really explore the handling much though - but maybe interesting that it didn't seem to encourage me to do so. And whilst the engine vibes are apparent at slow speeds, you can't actually feel them when you are on the move. As I ride more I unsurprisingly start to use the performance more - and the engine makes an utterly wonderful noise when working hard. Kind of like a V8 muscle car's raw smoothness (or smoothed rawness, one of the two). However, whilst it performs well, its not immediatly offering me a helluva lot more than the TMax.

I liked the suspension and handling a lot. I didn't think that the engine was vibey, although there is a little bit just on take off. Like you I loved the way it sounded once I was up to speed. I don't think I'll use it too much in the city, but more for tours and out of town stuff.

Back in the showroom, I give the plastic bits a cursory glance - they seem fine to my supeficial examination. However, the blue paint (assuming they actually paint panels) looks very thin, or maybe its meant to be some sort of metallic effect. Not impressed with the luggage compartment. Two helmets may go in using the flexi-case system, but I can't see a helmet and bike jacket going in there together, and I can't see a huge amount of space for a bag or something when riding. It comes with some sort of trip computer, but I didn't try to use it, as it was the instrument panel seemed utterly incomprehensible to the casual glance.

The trip is actually dead easy it just cycles through the modes. Tyre pressure, MPG, av speed, temp etc. I was impressed with the storage but I'll be adding a GIVI and not the horrid looking BMW case for touring.

Quite interesting - I'd have hoped that BMW's brand new £10k superscoot would be signifcantly better than my 4.5 year old TMax but it wasn't. It was different, but not necessarily better. The Tmax has a greater sense of fluidity, both in its handling and performance (latter partially down to the Malossi variator). Maybe I didn't ride the BMW that hard, but it didn't seem to offer than much extra performance. I guess the difference is that whilst both the TMax are at the boundary between bikes and scooters, the TMax is more scooter like, but the BMW more bike like.

Perhaps it is more bike like, but then I always thought that the TMAX was bike like. My TMAX is DrPulleyfied and goes like a train, just lacking at the top end. I think that the bike-like feel is something to do with the engine; I've also read this in the various French magazines that have tested both. They say that some scooterists prefer the "droney" quality of the TMAX, as it sounds like a scooter should, whereas others like the bike-like engine of the BMW. I think the BMW engine is somewhere between the TMAX engine and the Aprilia/Gilera 850 unit. I have seen a dyno somewhere which puts the TMAX output at about 33 bhp at the wheel and the BMW at about 47 bhp. ie both lose about 10+ bhp in the transmission.

Also don't forget that the bike you rode will be tight; the one I rode certainly was and I have no doubt that this will improve as it loosens up. One of the reasons I am moving from the TMAX is that I find the engine note annoying and sometime downright unpleasant. Perhaps you are just a TMAX person. (I actually considered myself a TMAX person and may well end up going back!) My TMAX is well run in like yours, so we are probably not comparing like with like. Thanks for the review, it's certainly very helpful to have another different opinion. I will keep adding my impressions once I get on the road for a bit. That should be soon, as I have just joined the IAM as an associtate member.

[MrGrumpy]

Yes, I must admit the screen is enormously better than the Tmax, though possibly very slightly noisy, though not a problem. However, I suspect that it isn't wide enough, as my jacket was being buffeted. I bet there will be lots of aftermarket screens available shortly!!!
And Yes, the vibes are really only a problem at take off, but noticeable at low speeds. They don't shake the bars or anything, but it sounds crude to me.
Ah yes...engine noise. I must admit the Tmax mk3 engine noise is beginning to irritate slightly. I always preferred the deeper drone of the mk2 anyway - kind of like a WW2 fighter plane or something. The mk3 sounds 'sportier' ie it sounds like a giant chainsaw!

Interestingly the C600 feels heavy at rest but is 'twitchier' ie more responsive on the move. But the Tmax feels slightly steadier, but more fluid in handling. So rather a contrast. The thing that struck about the Tmax after the C600 was the sense of fluidity it provided, though as has been pointed out, the C600 was very new and thus stiffer generally.

[DougL]

Hmm. I'm interested in that "sense of fluidity" that you describe on riding the TMAX. I didn't notice the twitchiness, I must say, when I rode the BM. Time will tell and it is good to have these opinions, so that I can constructively criticise the new beastie when I get it...

[Bluebottle]

How easy does it look to get into that CVT?

[DougL]

How easy does it look to get into that CVT?

I think that is an excellent question. One that will probably have to wait a while to get answered. I suspect it will be easier than on a TMAX. Less difficult tupperware on initial impressions.

[Deleted User 796]

How easy does it look to get into that CVT?

I think that is an excellent question. One that will probably have to wait a while to get answered. I suspect it will be easier than on a TMAX. Less difficult tupperware on initial impressions.

And service interval?s (crossing fingers for decent intervals)

[DougL]

Service intervals are 6000 miles or annually.

[Bluebottle]

How easy does it look to get into that CVT?

I think that is an excellent question. One that will probably have to wait a while to get answered. I suspect it will be easier than on a TMAX. Less difficult tupperware on initial impressions.

[/quote]
For what its worth - C650 engine/CVT:


Big picture here http://autospace.co/wp-content/uploads/ ... _TECH3.jpg

[Deleted User 796]

Service intervals are 6000 miles or annually.

That's good then