New BMW Scooters

[Rugby4life]

Originally Posted by JerryH

It's definitely nice. I like the layout much better than the Japanese maxis. I take it that is the GT model, which looks a lot better than the sport. All the information I could find said the price would be around $10,000, which is surprisingly low for a BMW anything, comparable to their smaller single cylinder adventure bikes. I have to admit I'm more impressed than I thought I would be. I was expecting a Silverwing with a BMW emblem. And if the price is around $10K, it is very little more expensive than the Silverwing.

In just the first 50 miles I put on it last night It is more of a step through motorcycle with an automatic transmission than what one would traditionally consider a scooter. It is about 20-25% larger than the Yamaha Majesty I have been happily commuting on for the last 2 years. It has tremendous brakes with great feel and yes I have engaged the ABS once already. Acceleration is light years ahead of the Majesty. You sit much higher and I have yet to find a graceful way of getting on and off the bike without scuffing my shoe across the tunnel's painted surface. On the positive side, ther is TONS of legroom. The headlights are on par with the Majesty's (which are very good) but since I do so much of my riding at night and pre-dawn in areas of heavy deer population, I'll be fitting a set of Rigid Industry's SRM2 driving lights. I would rather have this bike than a F800ST as it fits my riding style and conditions better. Think of a K1600GTL sized for those who don't want to ride a super fast Winnebago.

[Rugby4life]

Originally Posted by Rugby4life

In just the first 50 miles I put on it last night It is more of a step through motorcycle with an automatic transmission than what one would traditionally consider a scooter. It is about 20-25% larger than the Yamaha Majesty I have been happily commuting on for the last 2 years. It has tremendous brakes with great feel and yes I have engaged the ABS once already. Acceleration is light years ahead of the Majesty. You sit much higher and I have yet to find a graceful way of getting on and off the bike without scuffing my shoe across the tunnel's painted surface. On the positive side, ther is TONS of legroom. The headlights are on par with the Majesty's (which are very good) but since I do so much of my riding at night and pre-dawn in areas of heavy deer population, I'll be fitting a set of Rigid Industry's SRM2 driving lights. I would rather have this bike than a F800ST as it fits my riding style and conditions better. Think of a K1600GTL sized for those who don't want to ride a super fast Winnebago.

First cold weather commute and I'm impressed with the storage space: 1 XXXL helmet, 3 jackets, 1pair of ski pants, 1 polar-fleece pullover, 1 pair of winter gloves and still have a little room leftover.

[Süsser Tod]

Here the basic one is selling for the same kind of money as a F800GS...

No thanks.


It's an automatic battleship. I really don't have use for that kind of thing, the magnitude of the thing makes it too cumbersome.

I just don't get maxiscooters at all.

[gogogordy]

Originally Posted by Süsser Tod

Here the basic one is selling for the same kind of money as a F800GS...

No thanks.


It's an automatic battleship. I really don't have use for that kind of thing, the magnitude of the thing makes it too cumbersome.

I just don't get maxiscooters at all.

thank goodness for a marketplace full of choices....something for everyone.

[Brooktown Geezer]

Originally Posted by Süsser Tod

Here the basic one is selling for the same kind of money as a F800GS...

No thanks.


It's an automatic battleship. I really don't have use for that kind of thing, the magnitude of the thing makes it too cumbersome.

I just don't get maxiscooters at all.

Not a problem, nobody is forcing you to buy one.

[cbolling]

I really have to see this thing as soon Jon.

Can't make the dinner meet up this week though since it is Halloween.

[JerryH]

"Think of a K1600GTL sized for those who don't want to ride a super fast Winnebago" Exactly what I was thinking. It would make an excellent replacement for a Goldwing for someone like me who has trouble handling the weight of the Goldwing, plus clutching and shifting causes me a lot of pain around town, and that wouldn't happen with an automatic. I hate to say it, because I have never been a BMW guy, and have never owned one, but I think I would prefer the BMW to the Silverwing, and if it really is just a little bit more, it might be a great deal. Especially since a new Goldwing costs $30K, and I don't need it's 2 up capability or all of it's carrying space. It also gets terrible gas mileage, less than many small cars.

[Rugby4life]

Originally Posted by cbolling

I really have to see this thing as soon Jon.

Can't make the dinner meet up this week though since it is Halloween.

You don't eat on Halloween??? I've never heard of someone fasting on candy night.

[Rugby4life]

Originally Posted by JerryH

"Think of a K1600GTL sized for those who don't want to ride a super fast Winnebago" Exactly what I was thinking. It would make an excellent replacement for a Goldwing for someone like me who has trouble handling the weight of the Goldwing, plus clutching and shifting causes me a lot of pain around town, and that wouldn't happen with an automatic. I hate to say it, because I have never been a BMW guy, and have never owned one, but I think I would prefer the BMW to the Silverwing, and if it really is just a little bit more, it might be a great deal. Especially since a new Goldwing costs $30K, and I don't need it's 2 up capability or all of it's carrying space. It also gets terrible gas mileage, less than many small cars.

I did a 400 mile highway run today. 43.5 mpg @ an average 56 mph including sitting for 1 hr in Atlanta rush hour traffic. Gusting winds @ 10-20 were no problem, very stable. 38 degrees predawn temp but the heated grips and seat did their job well.(low, high and automatic settings). It is noticeably larger than the silverwing and has a ton of legroom (even with your feet flat on the floor) without having a long reach to the bars.

[KennyT]

Wow! Beautiful bike...
I will be dreaming of one soon!
Ken

[Süsser Tod]

Originally Posted by gogogordy

thank goodness for a marketplace full of choices....something for everyone.

That's right, it's a really good time to be a motorcycle rider!

Originally Posted by Brooktown Geezer

Not a problem, nobody is forcing you to buy one.

I never said I was being forced to buy one, I'm just commenting that I don't get the point of these things.

I do have one gripe about them, I'd love a freeway capable scooter that isn't maxi scooter sized. No 250cc isn't freeway capable, specially because your top speed is around the same as the speed limit and it takes you a while to get there. The closest thing to that are the maxi scooters...

[Qaz]

Jerry- you must have one of the gas hog, GW 1500, because my 1800 Wing gets better MPG than the BMW Scooter by at least 10 MPG.

Susser- Aprilia makes what you are looking for, check it out.

[klaviator]

Originally Posted by Süsser Tod

That's right, it's a really good time to be a motorcycle rider!



I never said I was being forced to buy one, I'm just commenting that I don't get the point of these things.

I do have one gripe about them, I'd love a freeway capable scooter that isn't maxi scooter sized. No 250cc isn't freeway capable, specially because your top speed is around the same as the speed limit and it takes you a while to get there. The closest thing to that are the maxi scooters...

I take My Sport City 250 on the interstate all the time. It handles it just fine. The Kymco GT300I is just slightly larger and is even faster. It is nowhere near maxi scooter size.

As for the Maxi scooters, they are not my cup of tea either but as an lighter and less expensive alternative to something like a Gold Wing I think they would be an excellent choice.

[Paul Mihalka]

Yep, it's great to have choices. My just purchased Yamaha Majesty is not as big and heavy as a Burgman 650 or a BMW, but is very interstate and travel capable and smooth cruising with the needle on 90. It perfectly fits what I wanted, not necessarily what you (general) wanted.

[oldenuf]

Originally Posted by Paul Mihalka

Yep, it's great to have choices. My just purchased Yamaha Majesty is not as big and heavy as a Burgman 650 or a BMW, but is very interstate and travel capable and smooth cruising with the needle on 90. It perfectly fits what I wanted, not necessarily what you (general) wanted.

You must have a death wish.