Scooter – C 650 Sport test: the BMW scooter up to the max – BMW reviews its sporty maxiscooter

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C 650 Sport test: the BMW scooter recovered to the max

Scooter - C 650 Sport test: the BMW scooter up to the max - BMW reviews its sporty maxiscooter

Beaten down by the Tmax, the C600Sport was taken over in 2016 by the C650Sport. Equipped with the same chassis and engine, the new BMW maxiscooter relies on subtle updates to counter-attack the Yamaha reference. MNC tested it for you. Test.

BMW reviews its sporty maxiscooter

Launched at the end of 2012, the has not had the success expected – particularly in France – by its manufacturer. In addition to its sound, the BMW maxiscooter saw its commercial performance constrained by the immense success of the appeared the same year and by the non-negligible one proposed by Yamaha in 2013.

C650 Sport: availability, colors and prices

  • Availability: December 2015 in the

  • Colors: Orange (+105 €), Black or White

  • Price: 11 350 €

In 2013, it turned to the correction: 4,355 registrations for the Yamaha reference against 550 for the new BMW (read our). In the "Grand Tourisme" division, the twin resisted better to the but was still largely inclined with 609 immats against 1353 (read our).

The following year, the two BMW scooters came out of the French Top 5, replaced behind the Tmax, the Xmax 400 and the Burgman 650 by the and the Vespa GTS … In 2015, the renewal of the (best selling in "more than 125 cc "!) further limited sales of the C600Sport…

The German manufacturer admits its defeat: "this was our very first attempt in the maxiscooter segmentBMW Motorrad’s communications manager reminds MNC, "and we have taken into account feedback from customers, dealers, subsidiaries and journalists to improve our offer".

In 2016, BMW launched the second generation of its large scooters. Invited to their world presentation in Valencia (Spain), Site was first able to test the new sports version, renamed C650Sport…

"Our two scooters continue to share exactly the same cycle and engine parts", confirms Peter Maier, product manager at BMW."Originally, we wanted to differentiate our sport model, but we found that this was not necessary".

Although now respecting the Euro4 emissions standard, the German manufacturer guarantees that its 647 cc twin-cylinder still develops 60 horsepower at 7,500 rpm. The maximum torque on the other hand loses three units: 63 Nm now at 6000 rpm.

During the press conference, Ralf Moelleken, project manager on the new C650s, naturally prefers to insist on the improvements made to the engine-transmission combination supposed to boost acceleration and raise the Tmax Vmax…

"Centrifugal clutch uses softer springs and optimized linings", he explains, while"the CVT transmission has heavier weights and a larger opening, range from 2.42 to 2.95".

Herr Moelleken specifies that "the CVT transmission’s long gear ratio is now 0.81 instead of 1.00 previously. The reduction ratio between the CVT output shaft and the secondary shaft has been reduced from 2.72 to 3.28".

"Besides the more spontaneous reaction on start-up", announces BMW Motorrad,"this results in a slightly increased top speed: 180 km / h instead of 175 previously". Information that only driving on a circuit – or on" Autobahn "- could attest !

Difficult to quantify as a tester, the gain in terms of ease of crutching this time (estimated at 30% by German scientists) is easily verifiable … and clearly perceptible! The new kinematics and the lug placed much higher make it possible to easily hoist the scooter on its central.

However, the 2016 BMW sports maxiscooter weighs exactly the same as its predecessor: 249 kg fully loaded. Easier to crutch, the C650Sport therefore remains difficult to maneuver … especially compared to a certain Tmax (222 kg).

Heavy in the literal sense of the word, the C650Sport is not so much in the figurative sense since it retains the ingenious Flexcase system to accommodate a second full face helmet. Warning: remember to fold the flap before leaving, otherwise the scooter will not start…

BMW is also renewing the automatic locking of the parking brake when the side stand is deployed: terribly simple and effective, "Sehr Gut"! On the contrary, we regret that the only current source (cigarette lighter type and not USB …) is at the bottom of the left storage compartment..

The same capacity and still without a lock, the two storage compartments seem less basic, like the treatment of their doors – a grained surface that can be found on other adjacent parts – and their latches painted in metal gray…

The finish of the cockpit is also perceived as being more opulent, in particular thanks to the more prominent handlebar covering and painted in "Glossy" black on which the Bavarian brand’s propellers are proudly displayed..

Very complete, the dashboard includes a new indicator: that of the ASC! Previously limited to the C Evolution, traction control made its appearance on thermal scooters (Sport and GT). Like the ABS, this assistance comes standard.

Automatic daytime running light control is also new: "when the ambient light falls below a determined threshold, it automatically switches on the low beam (in a tunnel, for example). When it detects sufficient ambient light, it switches back to daytime running light ", enlightens us BMW.

More striking, the arrival of the new silencer rebalances the line of the big Behème scooter before – too much? – worn on the front. Double, the exhaust outlet is dressed so as not to appear too imposing.

"We had to review the pot to pass the Euro4 standard, so we took the opportunity to change it entirely", explains Peter Maier to Site."The first chamber that was under the engine has disappeared in order to improve the sound"…

This is what Site will be able to verify by turning the ignition key of the C650Sport. As for you, dear readers, you just have to turn the page of this first contact !

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