Apparently this is the first maxi-scooter ever developed by the lab coats at BMW Motorrad but you still ask yourself if this is a brand gimmick or did the engineers at Bavarian Motor Works do the business?
BMW is a mega brand, indeed an empire of auto motion. They have teams of people sitting in boardrooms brainstorming new and innovative products to service us, the buying public. They’re very aware that our streets are more crowded than ever and petrol prices are through the roof so scooters are slowly but surely gaining more acceptance, especially in SA.
To get a better idea of where this scooter fits in with the über brand BMW I would like to compare bikes with cars, then you’ll soon see where the C 600 Sport belongs. If you think of the BMW S 1000 RR superbike as your maliciously powerful M5 with Sports Pack suspension and race mapping, then the R 1200 GS Adventure would be the X5 and maybe the F 800 GS would be the X3 making the G 650 GS the X1. In my opinion this C 600 Sport is like the 1 series, probably the 120 Diesel automatic, because of its size, fuel economy and ease of driving. Now the reason I speak of cars and bikes in the same breath is that I feel BMW drivers or aspiring BMW drivers are the target market for this particular steed, I think it will definitely entice a BMW driver to become a BMW rider. This is certainly an exclusive scooter for the executive lounge.
So, what does your money buy besides the six A-list BMW badges (four on the bike and two on the keys)? Yes, branding is everything in the business world, but let me start by saying that the continuously variable transmission (CVT) is pure bliss. It’s smoother than a golf club salesman ranting at the Hilton Country Club after four Johnnie Walker Blue labels. Having said that I’ve no intention of finding out how it works, but “seamless” is a word that springs to mind. It honestly feels like one long gear, which it is I suppose. I can’t tell if, when or how it changes but it’s certainly an impressive way to transmit power. Why do I bang on about this ‘auto’ gearbox you ask? Well, instead of worrying about gears, clutches and all that distracting stuff, all you have to do is twist the throttle and practice your presentation for the next meeting. Wunderbar!
Now the engine isn’t really from a superbike so the name “Sport” is a little misleading. The engine is in fact a liquid-cooled, fuel injected, 647cc parallel twin that’s plenty fast, but the lap record at Kyalami is very safe. Power is a claimed 60hp with 66Nm of torque @ 6000 rpm, so it has more than enough grunt to get you whooshing along in a hurry. ‘Tree huggers’ will also be super chuffed because the stainless steel exhaust has a closed loop catalytic converter and O2 sensor, which meets the upcoming and stringent Euro 4 standards. And to stop you hitting a tree the C 600 comes standard with ABS. The powerful braking system features three 270mm discs, two-rotors on the front and a single disc on the rear acting on 15-inch wheels, and these brakes will definitely stop you before any disastrous market crash, so to speak.
Looks are the key to every successful venture, like a well-tailored suit, and so is the case with the C 600 Sport. It’s full of the modern and edgy styling, as you’d expect from BMW Motorrad. Its split-face front fairing with LED lights looks like something you’d find on a sports bike instead of a ‘scooter’ and the beautifully engineered single-sided swing arm looks the part out back as well. It has a multifunctional instrument panel with enough information to make your heart flutter, all highlighted by a large LCD display with an analogue speedo and digital bar tachometer. Creature comforts abound like heated grips and heated seats for the rider and a separate switch for the pillion, for those cold winter days. Just below the handlebars are two little storage compartments, the left side locks when you lock the steering, which is handy for some reason. These compartments are great for pens, cell phones, memory sticks, lunch slips, bar tabs, loose change from Teasers or a bank bag of cash. The coolest thing ever though has to be the drop down Flexcase under the seat, which makes space for the second helmet should you be two up for the day, or it makes room for your jacket, gloves and riding paraphernalia while you’re on the top floor dazzling your clients with your latest laser pen PowerPoint slide show.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect much from the big blue Maxi-Scooter but as I rode it more and more I really started to enjoy my week with the BMW C 600 Sport. Commuting to and from work, going to far-flung meetings late in the afternoon without a care for rush hour traffic, off to the gym or just visiting friends, the C 600 covers it all and then some. So at only R99,950 I definitely think this is a sound business investment and not just a super cool way to get around.
