BMW C 650 Sport and GT in the driving report

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Driving report BMW C 650 Sport and GT

City-Country-River

BMW presents the further development of its premium maxi scooters C 650 Sport and C 650 GT in Valencia, Spain. Driving pleasure is not excluded.

D.Combining the advantages of a maxiscooter with the driving characteristics of a motorcycle, that is the self-imposed claim of the C-series from BMW. That already worked when it was launched in 2012 – as anyone who has ever been on the road with the C 600 Sport and its technically identical sister model, the C 600 GT, will tell. Lots of storage space, agile handling, decent weather protection, plus brakes, engine and chassis on by with a lower middle class motorcycle. Nice. Only, there was some hair in the soup. The late engagement of the continuously variable CVT transmission at the start of the traffic light made the C 600 a real treat for motivated scooter pilots, even with significantly less power. The tinny rattling sound from the compact rear silencer as well as the somewhat cheap-looking plastic dress did not exude premium flair. After all, the long-term test of our blue C 600 Sport up to the premature deregistration by BMW was about 30,000 kilometers, well, bumpy.

Driving postponement BMW C 650 Sport and GT

City-Country-River

The C 650 GT has more cladding, more storage space, more space and comfort even for two people and 12 kilograms more bacon.

The redesigned BMW C 650 Sport is more dynamic, especially in terms of the seating position, at 249 kilos (factory specification) but also not exactly lightweight. Under the sleek body of both is still the powerful 647 cubic two-cylinder with 90 degrees crank pin offset and a full 60 hp. The CVT transmission, however, has been completely revised with modified rollers, springs, clutch linings and translation.

Core competencies lie in the city and everyday life

This means that the BMW C 650 Sport and GT are finally pulling out of switchbacks and traffic lights in a premium way. At the top, the predecessors in the scooter segment had hardly any competition, especially the lavishly disguised GT with its electrically adjustable windshield shakes highway stages easily and comfortably out of its sleeve. On the chassis side, the spring rate has been reduced by ten percent, which results in a good compromise between comfort and stability. The forks respond sensitively and smoothly dampen, so that especially on the BMW C 650 Sport, it swings through the curves quite cheekily, even over land. Good lean angle, low center of gravity, powerful brakes with great ABS, sufficient thrust – you feel like you are on an asphalt jet ski. Driving characteristics of a motorcycle? Different and yet damn close.

Nevertheless, the core competencies of a maxi scooter lie in the city and everyday life. There is space for two helmets in the 60-liter storage compartment of the BMW C 650 GT, while the storage space of the BMW C 650 Sport can also be expanded to accommodate two full-face helmets by unfolding the clever "flexcase". As a novelty, the C 650 GT optionally has the "side view assist", which scans the traffic area using ultrasonic sensors and signals a vehicle in the blind spot by means of a warning signal in the mirror boom. Although the system warns a little too often, in hectic inner-city traffic this can certainly help to prevent an accident.

Maxi scooters are not bargains

Practical: the side stand still activates a parking brake, the glove compartments now lock automatically. The developers have also improved the engine sound: the annoying whine is a thing of the past, the two BMW C 650s now sound sonorous and discreet from the larger exhaust. So everything is sunshine? Largely. Only the high seating position, especially when doing sport, is a problem for the short. Low benches are available, but high weight and high step-through limit the suitability for beginners a little.

And then of course there is the price. BMW calls for around 11,500 euros. With the sensitive Highline package, which includes heated handles and seat heating, the 12000 mark has been cracked. Pretty hard. Compared to motorcycles of equal performance, maxi scooters are not a bargain, not only at BMW. What is indisputable, however, is the “significantly increased product substance” compared to its predecessors, as it is called in marketing. To put it in harsh, plain language: BMW C 650 Sport and GT are now without restriction what they should have been from the start.

Technical specifications

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