2016 BMW C 650 GT. An Urban Alternative.

Ok, full disclosure. My previous scooter experience has been limited to the occasional 50cc rental while on a West Indian holiday or a short romp on a friends Piaggio Fly 150. Otherwise the bulk of my motorized two wheel adventures have been with manual transmission conventional motorcycles. So it is through this lens that I review the BMW C 650 GT Maxi Scooter and frankly, I am impressed.

A motorcyclist approaches a large scooter…

The first thing that struck me was the size of the bike. The GT has a 62 inch wheel base and wet weight of 575 lbs. It’s big. The scooter tradition of stepping through rather then throwing your leg over immediately sets the mood. Seated comfortably I lift the bike off the side stand.

Its very low centre of mass effectively hides it’s true bulk. Even placing it on its centre stand is perceived as feather light: a testament to the BMW designers. The instrument cluster: small compartments on either side for small items that seal with the master lock; the placement of the fuel cap keep and the size of the under seat storage all reminding me that this is a well thought out German bike.

A scooter rider pushes off…

Aside from placing my (less active) feet on floor boards and having to wave at far fewer fellow riders: I never understood the tribalism of bikers generally not waving at scooters; road rash never made that distinction; I once again find the line between scooter and motorcycle blurry with this machine.

Rolling on the gas the engine revs high and the exhaust note growls. After a split second of initial clutch slip the torque kicks in nicely and the bike is very fast off the line.

I can’t help but think that leaving most of the cars back at the traffic light is another thing that blurs the lines between scooter and motorcycles with the C 650 GT. I imagine all this torque is a reason to pay the extra premium for BMW. Let’s face it, it’s safer to be able to scoot ahead of the ‘herd’ and let them sort out their road rage infused blunders without me in the picture.

Finally clear of the urban grind I make it out to the country side and let the C 650 GT fly. Here, this machine is very much a motorcycle in spirit. Very fast and comfortable. Heated seats and grips plus a separate heat selector for a pillion passenger. Electrically adjustable windshield is also a nice feature. It was a very inspiring ride.

At this point I need to talk about the one downside of this bike: the suspension.

The 15-inch wheels did add to the stability in the corners but I found the suspension to be very stiff. Even after I tweaked the pre-load with the supplied spanner, it still felt very hard indeed.

More so when I returned to the city after my rural wanderings and hit some really chewed up streets. Some sections of Lake Shore Blvd were downright bone rattling. I know one can’t blame the bike for the terrible roads, but it is serving urban riders and bad roads are a reality of 21st century cities. I would hope there could be more adjustments offered the rider to combat this problem.

Now that I am back in town I am reminded of the most appealing aspect of scooter culture. Relief from “Left Hand Clutch Ache”. An ache from squeezing a clutch lever of a geared motorbike that only gets worse as the stop and go crawl of big city rush hour grinds on. The simple twist of an automatic transmission is a god send after a few hours in this urban truth. The BMW C 650 GT makes that choice no compromise at all. In fact it makes a lot of sense.

Michael Wojewoda is a record producer and motorcyclist based in Toronto, Canada.

mpwmusic.com

Notes from the Pillion by Paisley Jura

Riding pillion on the BMW C 650 GT is like your mother's advice, seemingly soft and luxurious but containing a kernel of hard truth. The legroom is generous and the flat foot rests are a treat after hooking your heels over pegs for hours. The heated seat is a nice touch, appreciated for long windy hauls, or PMS days. I was not used to being so much higher than the driver, and while that allows for a better view, it also puts you squarely in the wind, and dulls that sense of being the second bird in a flock of Canada geese, the one who gets to ride the wave instead of breaking trail.

The C 650 GT is long and the second seat is farther back than most, meaning that you have to skootch up to caress your partner (the point of riding pillion?), or I guess if you didn't like each other so much you could hold on to the grab bars behind the seat, but that arms behind you feeling is much less stable than two against the world. And the kernel of hard truth, the tight suspension bounces you hard on even the most supple leather seat.

Paisley Jura is a symphonic bass player and recording artist based in Toronto, Canada.

paisleyjura.com

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All photos by the author.

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Year 2016

Manufacturer BMW

Model C 650 GT

Engine Type Two-cylinder, four-stroke, four valves per cylinder

Displacement 647cc

Bore Stroke 7 9 mm x 66 mm

Cooling Liquid-Cooled

Compression Ratio 11.6:1

Fuel System BMS-E digital engine management

Ignition Electronic

Starting System Electric

Transmission CVT gearbox

Final Drive Chain drive in oil bath

Seat Height 31.7 in.

Wheelbase 62.6 in.

Front Suspension Upside-down fork Ø 40 mm

Rear Suspension Single-sided swing arm

Front Brake Two-rotor disc brake,, 2-piston floating caliper

Rear Brake Single disc brake, diameter, 2-piston floating caliper

Front Tire 120/70 ZR 15

Rear Tire 160/60 ZR 15

Fuel Capacity 4.2 gal. with approximately 1 gallon in reserve

Dry Weight 575 lbs. (Wet)