Back in Scooterville

I had sold the Silverwing after I had gotten a BMW R1200RT.  It was tight in the garage.  Hindsight being 20/20 I started to wish I had kept it.  The RT was a blast to drive, but a bit much when stopping esp. on slopes.  Not getting any younger so I made the decision to go back to a scoot or something with an automatic tranny.   In my price range that was probably something like an NC750DCT or a maxi scoot.

With Covid going on for the better part of the year, there aren't that many bikes being sold either new or used.  So I started looking to see what I might find, whether it was a Swing or not.  Most of what I found were Burgmans of the 400cc variety and BMW's.  I decided to wait till my bike sold and then take the money from it and the Swing and put it toward the next ride which would hopefully be the last.

The RT sold last week to a nice gentleman from northern VA.  After about a month of searching online I made a deal on a 2019 C650GT at a NC dealer about 4 hours from the house.  I'd never considered buying a new bike before, but with everything else going on these days I decided to go ahead and take the plunge.  Never say never I guess.  I broke the news to my better half by asking if she was up for a road trip and surprisingly she gave me no grief.  

We left early and had a pleasant 4 hour ride to Greensboro.  The transaction was easy enough.  As part of the deal, we used a company called 50 states DMV* that gets the title and registration done for any state along with the plates for about 160 more.  Since this was NC and I live in VA,  I could have gotten the bike with just the title and dealt with VA DMV, but the next appt wasnt till Nov.   So I bit that bullet as well and should hopefully get the paperwork and plates in the mail soon.  In the meantime it has a temp tag on it.  I took it for its first ride this morning.

*https://50statedmv.com/

On the trailer:


New bike miles:



Blue with a matte finish, I like it but it is different


A bit of K Bike DNA in the face



I had forgotten how much fun these big scoots are to ride.  The Silverwing was a nice ride, but this bike is sharper handling and faster.  At idle it sounds very similar, but open the throttle and it has a fairly pronounced "growl" from what I understand was designed that way.  It uses 15" tires fore and aft and has a CVT belt for the transmission but an enclosed chain out to a single sided swingarm.  BMW designed and Kymco built engine but bike is screwed together in Germany.   Fit and finish is very good.  Seat height is a bit shy of 32" but I didn't have too much trouble at stops or maneuvering it around.  Comes with heated grips and seat and electric windscreen.  It's a BMW.

Very nice scooter. I'll offer my services to break it in for you free of course
Flat paint texture is Okay seems to be a trend. All the goodies are nice power shield is so much better on hot days. Have fun.

Looking good! Nice choice. Good to have 15-inch wheels. Yes, that power screen is a handy perk. Be safe and enjoy many miles of fun. Welcome back to scooterville.

That's a very nice looking scooter. Looks like you'll have many years and miles of fun on it.

It's handy that my nearest BMW Motorrad dealership is only 2 miles away from my home, and there's another much larger dealership about 30 miles away in West Yorkshire.

It's two years ago since I went to a BMW Motorrad Demo Weekend and took out a C650 GT. It didn't float my boat which is fine because I crossed it off my list and ordered a new Forza 300 a couple of weeks later. I found the electric screen on the Forza more effective for my needs than the 650 GT's.

Your C650 GT is a very nice shade of blue, enlarging your pic reveals how fetching that colour is. Another plus for the GT over the other BMW scooters is that it has proper practical under seat storage and isn’t fitted with the BMW Flexicase which is basically a drop down helmet bag.

I have no idea how it is in the US, but when BMW maxi scooters are mentioned on UK forums, the costs of BMW dealer servicing always seems to come up. It seems that a major service for the C650 GT is very expensive, four figure expensive, and that factor alone seems to put off a lot of prospective buyers.

Which reminds me I need to book my Forza in for a service, I'd have done it a few months ago but Covid and lockdown came in and kicked that into touch.

Thanks for all the kind words.  So far I have put about 180 miles on it on two nice rides this last weekend.

I have the bracket for the top box ordered, I wasn't sure I would need it, but while the space under the seat looks large, it doesnt fit helmets very well. The rear fender outline intrudes and the bottom of the seat also takes out some usable space.  I like to be able to stow the helmet when I am shopping or going to work.

The maintenance, yes that is another subject.  Most of the maintenance is oil changes, I will have the first to do around 750 miles.  It uses a spin on filter and you have a small screen that has to be pulled out and cleaned.  The rest is mostly inspections.  The belt is due at about 12K miles.  To do it requires removal of some of the tupperware on the right side and a special tool to lock the pulley and variator.  After that it is just a clean and swap out.  The belt is bmw expensive, but I have seen that there is a non branded alternative belt that is fairly inexpensive, essentially the same belt without the bmw printing on it.  The chain drive is mostly an inspection, I think it is considered good till about 24k miles.  Brake flushes are every 24 months I think, that is easy enough as well.  There maybe a valve adjustment in there as well, that is probably part of the really big 24K service.

I pulled off one of the front side panels yesterday (yes on a brand new bike) to see what where I could put a 12v outlet for my GPS.  Panel removal doesnt look too bad.  It's very straightforward with torx screws and not too many snap tabs.  Very similar to what I had to do with the big R1200.  That panel hides the ABS unit which looks like they pulled it out of a car, its that big.  The battery is on the other side along with fuses.  

From what I understand you can get the service manual on CD or pdf fairly easy.  And if its like my other beemer then a good amount of the maintenance is doable by shadetree mechanic if you have the right tools and can read the manual.  I did the annual service on that bike last year, it wasn't that bad. That was engine and transmission oil, brakes and air filter.  I did the routine maintenance on my E class as well.  

It seems to me that the Germans do take service into account when they design vehicles, unlike American made vehicles.  It's just that their parts can be very expensive if there is no aftermarket alternative.  The reliability is good as long as you keep up with the maintenance, that simple.

Very nice scoot and I wish you tons of fun! Thanks for the info on 50 States DMV, that could have really helped me this summer with all the DMV's playing hide and seek. What a pain, would be worth the extra dollars...

I wish I could afford one. Holding my breath Honda will bring the new European Scooters to the USA.

You don't really have much of a scooter culture in the USA for Honda to import the range of scooters that they have in Europe. The new 2018 Forza 300 being just one example.

I've just spent a week in Tuscany, Italy with the family. I've seen literally thousands of scooters of all types being ridden or parked up. I've spotted more Silver Wings in the past week than I'd expect to see in something like a five year period back home.

Murf wrote:

Holding my breath Honda will bring the new European Scooters to the USA.

I'd stop holding your breath and breathe normally mate. A quick look at some of the Honda motorcycle websites in mainland Europe shows that not counting the chain drive X-DV adventures scooter, Honda Italy has 11 scooters ranging in size from 750cc to 500cc. Honda in France, Germany, and Spain all have 8 scooters going from 750cc to 110cc.

Honda Netherlands, and Belgium both import 6 scooters, from 300cc to 110cc, and Honda Austria imports 7 scooters from 750cc to 125cc in size.

Here on the proper side of the Pond, Honda UK have 9 scooters on sale from 750cc to 110cc.

Finally Honda Powersports in the US, they're offering you a range of 4 scooters ranging in size from 150cc to 49cc.

That's a very nice looking machine E-T. Congratulations! I'm sure having up-to-date tech and engineering will be a big and positive upgrade from our SWings.

On the other issue of what Honda is importing, here in Canada, Honda's only "new" scooter offering is the 49cc Ruckus.  This really helps simplify the decision making process.  

The only new scoot I have seen recently was the new 150 Adv. I didn't look too close at it at the time, I was more interested in the NC750 with the dct. It felt a bit small to me but at the same time I thought the seat was a bit high. It's based on a pcx150 and I had a pcx150 but it seemed different, maybe it was just the seating position. There were a bunch of video reviews about a month ago when it launched. Asking price around 4500 IIRC?

Congratulations on the new ride!

I miss my '17 BMW C 650 GT. But convinced that I'll own another, I saved the GIVI screen and service manual I bought for it.

Maintenance is easy on the bike. I found it easier than a Silver Wing, partly because it was newer and everything screwed and unscrewed as it should. Note on the service manual: it only works on PC with Windows. Being an Apple guy, I had to buy a cheapie PC laptop to run the thing.

Also ....

"It uses a spin on filter and you have a small screen that has to be pulled out and cleaned"

I recall from the BMW forum: Beware the small tubular screen! Apparently it is entirely easy to drop it into the bowels of the oil case, and it's not easy to fish out. Pro tip: stick a long screwdriver or pencil through the center to remove and install it. On installation, once you can feel that the tube has seated properly, it can't fall, then you withdraw the screwdriver/pencil.

Enjoy!

Being a poor boy from New Mexico I think one is out of my budget but they sure are pretty! Anyway I just got my Silverwing and I’m really happy with it, but who knows we have powerball here!

Nice choice on the BMW! Shame we have a BMW motorcycle dealer in the area that hates scooters. But because its KYMCO based you should have no issues with the motor and I hear that the build quality of the BMW side of the scooter is also very nicely done.

Very cool! Beautiful machine. That instrument panel is amazing. Been lucky enough to own a couple of new cars and experience that new car smell. . .a new scoot have one too? Good luck, be safe.

No new scooter scent that I can detect. But I am still paranoid about putting the first scratch on it.

My local dealer would never carry one on the floor either, he would only order one of a customer wants it. I get it, scooters aren't that popular and they usually have around 20 something bikes on the floor to sell. At least I can get it serviced close by if I need to.

Nice machine. I have owned a few Kymco products. I would say they are first rate. The BMW design/build should put it over the top. I agree with the service mantra for BMW's as you say, " do the maintenance". It's that way for their autos as well as Mercedes. Seems like a lot of nice miles are in order. Good luck to you.

Great handling bike and an excellent ABS too. Performance Is excellent too. If I was still taking long road trips I'd have kept mine. The newer models have some nice improvements to including some changes in the exhaust system. Mine sounded like a clothes washer when idling. I test road a newer one at the dealers and it sure sounded much better at all speeds.

Enjoy yours, I'm hoping there won't be a new one on sale around here, I might weaken and get another.

Many years ago I had an R80 BMW. It was used but very well taken care of. The carbs used to leak and I did not know that you should cut off the fuel supply if you were leaving it for a while. So I bought two rubber O ring sets and rebuilt the carbs my self.
It was the first time I had ever heard the meaning or translation of BMW. BRING ME YOUR WALLET!

New Honda Forza might make it here???   350CC single  really a 329CC . they like to round up. 50cc more than last engine.
Maybe

I can't see selling older model when updated one is here.  2021

I'm happy enough with my 300, which I've said often enough performance wise equals the Silver Wiing, and being a lot lighter accelerates quicker. If the Forza 350 does make it to the US, buyers used to the Silver Wing will have to adapt to what is a sportier more compact maxi scooter.

Riding feet forward like you'd probably do on a Silver Wing is out for a start, there isn't the legroom or footboards space to ride like that. You can adopt a semi feet forward position that tilts your feet upwards due to the way the footboards are angled, I weaned myself off that after a few months.

The seat is comfortable and there's no backrest as there's simply no need for one as riding feet flat you're sitting more upright. I've had no back aches and haven't worn a kidney belt for lumbar support since I bought the Forza. I haven't tried my Airhawk seat cushion either.

Honda have also put out teasers hinting that the Forza platform maybe used for much larger engines up to 750cc.

A few days ago I was looking at some Youtube vids of some of the new scoots available across the pond.  I am jealous.  There was the Honda Integra S that looked like it was based on the nc750 drive train, it had a chain final drive and dct tranny.  Another, the Kymco 550 used an exposed cogged belt as the final drive, but looked like it used a cvt in front of it.  That all seems to be similar to the design that was used on my C650 where they dont run the cvt all the way back to the rear wheel.  The Sym Maxim used a chain final but I think had a cvt (unlike the Honda with the DCT) tranny.

And they have 3 three wheelers to choose from, Peugeot, Piaggio and Yamaha.  I would love to have more choices that what is currently offered here in the states.

I think the Kymco 300 is still available in the states though it has changed names at least once. I drove a leftover year old model 2 years ago. It seemed cramped to me (6') as in one's knees about to touchdown. Nice otherwise. Probably a backrest mod would have cured it. I would have had extra money to do it too as it was only $3000US at the time.

I really liked the C650GT but sold it because I couldn't get a shop manual for it. As it turned out our local dealer (whose business was just burned down in the Phoenix, OR fire last week) it wouldn't have been all that expensive to keep my tools in their roll-around and have taken the scooter to the dealer. I've been thinking I might go back to the C650GT if I could find one at a good price and within 500mi.

I like my SW but to be honest the BMW 650GT beats the SW in everything except price. If one had one that didn't have the "Highline" package with included a matching top box, Shad made them for BMW and they can be purchased for the bike. Nice box and matches GIVI in quality but less expensive.

exavid wrote:

I like my SW but to be honest the BMW 650GT beats the SW in everything except price.

I didn't think so when I had a long demo ride on a BMW 650 GT a coupe of years ago, it was especially disappointing when I have a BMW Motorrad dealership about 3 miles away from my house.

Anyway whatever new maxi scooter the manufacturers tempts you with, they take ages to get into dealerships. I looked over the latest Suzuki Burgman 400 at our national motorcycle show in November 2016 and it was August the next year when it went on sale at my local Suzuki dealers.

I've been interested in the new Yamaha Tricity 300 3 wheeler since it was announced late last year, and it's only starting to appear in some Yamaha dealerships. My local dealer hasn't got one, isn't getting one, and it will be next year before new stock comes in.

So getting excited about this new Forza 750 or the subtle hint about a Yamaha XMax 750 is all a bit premature whatever form they come in.

It'll be the usual drip feed of YouTube clips until next summer.

As Meldrew was stating, any new scooter that comes out takes ages to get to the dealers. That also makes most new ones rather exciting, to me anyway. Hard to overlook the reliability of the Silverwing or any Honda product. Beemers are not what I would like to look forward to maintaining. I would personally go for a used or new old stock 650 Burgman if a BMW 650 were on my radar. What problems they have are known, the handling is on par with the Beemer or close enough to be sporting anyway. I would say the maintenance is cheaper on the Suzuki. Most bikes are a trade off functionally anyway.