Modern Vespa

CW's in Dorchester finally got the BMW maxis in September, and I got around to riding them a few weeks ago. I brought my boyfriend along to see what he thought, as a geared bike rider and someone a foot taller than me . We took both models for an hour-long run on a variety of roads, swapping over halfway. We both found the Beemers a blast to ride, with a slight preference for the GT.

I wrote it up for webBikeWorld - read my review here!

Thanks for posting! Mine will show up this week and I'm also getting the Nav., top case, and drop protectors in case you want photos for the site/review - esp. of the latter, since even the BMW accessory catalog doesn't actually have a picture!

great review alice, and it sounds like a fantastic ride (except for the driver who cut you up)

I'm glad no one tried to wring out a top speed. Informing and entertaining read. Thanks!

oh noooo. alice would never exceed the speed limit on a ridiculously powerful and expertly designed scooter

I can't get my head round why I'd possibly pay 10 grand for one of these when I could have a far better motorbike for many many bucks less.......

Pepy, you ask why vs. a motorcycle?

- A flexible and comfortable seating position allowing you to move your feet and legs around more than on most motorcycles
- Nearly the luggage space of a GTL without the backside width of saddlebags, and at 200 lbs. less weight, for eased lane splitting and parking in the city as compared to a motorcycle with similar storage capacity
- Protected feet and legs behind a scooter fairing that allow you to ride in nice shoes
- All without giving up current bike tech like the ABS, heated seat and grips, integrated Nav., etc.

The scooter frame style affords certain advantages over a conventional motorcycle frame in both comfort and storage, and while I would certainly take even more power if I could get it, I would not trade that for the comfortable, high storage, narrow platform (and am in fact trading the other way!).

Very well done review, Alice! My wife and I managed to sit on each of the scooters this past weekend, at the Dallas motorcycle show.

Excellent review Alice. I am looking forward to the arrival of the demo at our local dealership.

Thanks, all - enjoy yours when it comes, Jim! I think you will!

I could have bought a motorcycle for what I paid for my GP800. Or I could have bought a second-hand car. But neither of those things suited my needs or preferences.

I don't buy the...why the scooter when one can get more in a MC argument..., due to the features scooters provide that are much different than MC riding, so for those that think they must have 60 hp and 49 peak foot lbs of torque in a PTW, I say hammer down; looks like it beats the Burgman in alot of areas while somewhat in the price range.

However, for me, there are big sacrifices to that much performance and that much pampering for highway-wanna-be scooter riders. Those sacrifices being 42 mpg and $10K plus. My BV350 and it's worthy competitors in the 300-400 range can go anywhere for much less initial cost and much less fuel costs. That being said though, there is absolutely no difference in someone who would choose this level of a maxi and someone who would chose a 600 plus MC. Drive and ride what you want. A person is not what they choose to ride or drive; it's simply a transportation choice. I choose less, but still have interest in the other classes from a technological and feature standpoint. I find very little worthiness in a heated seat; car or bike. It's a pampering thing, and I'm not interested in being pampered to that level. I'm afraid it would make me even more wimpy.

I have no problem with the scooter it's the bloody price that's a rip off!
£10,000 for a maxi scoot is ridiculous.

For half that I can get a good second hand example DN-01

If you would *want* a DN-01 rather than the scooter, more power to you! You're hardly alone. But it wouldn't satisfy the feature desires of the person who is choosing a scooter in the first place.

I'm giving up a 100+hp sport touring bike for my C650GT when it shows up, and will ride it not just to commute but from S.F. to L.A. and back regularly, to go grocery shopping, etc. Where else do you get 95 liters of storage in that narrow package? The scooter is both more comfortable and more practical while still having the power and handling for back road blasts and riding with 80mph traffic on L.A. freeways.

And if you're comparing used to new for pricing purposes, you might consider a used Burgman or TMax instead... I think you'll find that maxis and similarly equipped more conventional "motorcycles" are not so far apart. Of course, YMMV, and the heart wants what the heart wants - if you prefer a motorcycle to a maxi, go for it, I think I've read others here say that there's a rear for every saddle.

Why wouldn't it?
It is automatic, shaft drive, low slung with a very comfortable foot position, loads of luggage options, fast and has plenty of wind protection all for less bucks. The BMW is nice don't get me wrong but you are paying for the badge!

Paying for the badge? The Yamaha and Burgman are basically the same price, and the BMW gives you more function for the small difference, so I don't see it that way. And the DN-01 you keep referring to was 40% *more* when new, not less.

The DN-01 also doesn't have nearly the flexibility of positioning if you want or need to move your legs around or stretch out when you ride, the passenger accomodations pale by comparison, it doesn't have any storage at all built in (and to add it up to the same level, you'd have to both put on a huge 50l tail trunk AND large saddlebags expanding outward behind you - not ideal for lane splitting, parking, or handling compared to putting most of the storage under the seat, and adding even more cost, now pushing it over 50% more expensive...), and it is heavier and makes the same power as the BMW.

You seem to be basing this on price for buying an older used bike vs. new bike - that isn't about motorcycle vs. scooter, and to the extent any of this is, I'm not seeing how the bike offers the same features. I'm sorry but I just don't agree even a little.

I test rode the BMW Sport and loved every minute of it. If I had the cash.......


If you're looking at the DN-01 consider other Automatic Motorcycles like the Aprilia Mana, Honda VFR1200F, Honda NC700X DCT, Ridley Motorcycle Company or even the CFMOTO CF250T

You are totally missing my point. I know I'm comparing new with used!
Why would anyone pay £10,000 for a scooter is beyond me when you can pay far less for a better used bike is what I'm saying. I bought my GTV new at about £4000 and that was too much in my opinion. I own a motorcycle too.
If I had £10,000 to spend on a ptw vehicle it wouldn't be a scooter. I ride locally and abroad and see a big bike with shaft drive a far more practical ride.

ps, this was never meant to be a hi-jack, I like the BMW but its far too expensive and so are all the rest of the maxi scoots.

£8300 Burgman UK price
£8600 T-Max UK price
£9500 BMW

These are the approximate UK prices not $ I may add!

Compare that to a brand new Honda Deauville £7,900.

I don't understand why people constantly operate under the assumption that a motorcycle is inherently worth more than a scooter.

A Deauville has a motor similar to the Burgman, they both have a frame, both have two wheels, both have ABS, the Burgman has an electronic windshield (don't know about the Deauville) Both have the same needs for a wiring harness, both have horns, both have saddles, etc. In addition the Burgman has more storage, and has body panels.

So why were you thinking a Maxi scoot should cost less than a similarly sized motorcycle?

In fact the Burgman and the Deauville are comparably priced, as they should be.

This idea that well built maxi scooters should be cheaper than a motorcycle is absurd. It's as though having to lift your leg over the seat makes it more valuable.

Better is in the eye of the beholder. Get over it.

Your point would apply equally to buying *any* new motorcycle or scooter vs. used then - there's no reason to single out maxi-scooters, since you could easily buy a used Burgman or TMax to save money. Yes, new motorcycles cost more than used.

Maxi-scooters have unique functional advantages, and if you prefer motorcycles and want to save, buy a used motorcycle, while if you prefer maxi-scooters and want to save money, buy a used maxi - making this about maxi-scooters or the BMW being too expensive is silly given that the DN-01 you seem to like so much by comparison was 40% more than the BMW comparing new to new, and the cheap motorycle you now cite for comparison is both functionally lacking in the ways I described above, ugly as all get out, and here in the US, still actually costs $100 more than the C650GT with the highline package!

If you feel compelled for some reason to fish around for reasons to harsh on maxi-scooters, knock yourself out, but seems a bit silly to me, and others of us, including plenty of guys like me who've had bikes in all shapes and sizes, think they offer a unique and useful combination of the functional attributes of motorcycles and scooters.

Oh gawd Jess .. did you really bring that pun into a scooter vs motorcyce debate? You need more Glenfiddich .. or Laphroaig ..

Didn't know it was a pun. What's the reference? Since I very much dislike the taste of alcohol filtered through dirt (colloquially known as "peat") I probably won't take to the Laphroaig.

Seriously, whose idea was that, anyway?

Scotty: "Aye, we need more flavor, cap'n!"
Kirk: "Dammit, Scotty! Use the dilithium crystals or something!"
Scotty: "We haven't got any left!"
Kirk: "Well, put some dirt in it. That'll make it taste better."

I never got this either - I find the taste of peaty scotch absolutely wretched and marvel at the people who love it. I figure my body is telling me it knows better than to eat (or in this case, drink) dirt, and who am I to disagree with my own genetics...

I just moved to the world of BMW 650 GT...... I take delivery tomorrow.

So, Jess....is it time for Modern Beemer to emerge? You know, in your spare time...

The phrase is copious spare time.

Congrats, I take delivery tomorrow too! What color'd you get? I wanted to get my accessories installed (nav, drop protection, top case, etc.) but I don't think they're there yet, and can't bring myself to leave the bike there until they arrive, so they'll wait for the 500 mile checkup (at which time they'll be more necessary since I plan to ride it down to L.A. in December).

You must not sleep a whole lot or you utilize to the max every waking moment.

Jim....im getting the silver one with top case ( case will take a week).....it just feels right for me.thinking about the navi...

This is my sister:

Great review Alice.
It appears BMW has got a lot right with these maxi scooters but I'm afraid I can't get past the price either.
Maybe one day a good 2nd hand one will surface but right now a brand new 300 Vespa comes in at near enough to half the RRP for the Beemer when it lands in NZ.
I fully understand they're not in the same class but my personal needs are for a 5 day a week, all year round reliable commuter, capable of lane filtering and riding round carpark entry barriers with ease....
Vespa 1 - BMW 0

Leg over vs step through. Scooter vs Bike. Nuff said. Or is it me?
Witty. Sort of. But I'll pay anyway - you're no' a scot.

Me get over it? I think you will find TWO drums being beaten here my friend!

I never said either was better, I was making a point about cost. I also think it's perfectly ok to compare a new priced bike against a second hand bike when talking value for money..........

"Better is in the eye of the beholder, get over it!"

Thank you

BMW's approach to pricing isn't confined to their scooters, of course. There are plenty of people willing to 'pay for the badge' for a geared BMW - let's see how it goes with the scoots!

It's the service costs following the initial purchase costs that put me off more than anything - though BMW mechanics get thorough training for each model, which is more than I can say for many Piaggio/Vespa/Gilera dealers I've experienced.

But maybe...part of Pepy27's point is that, buying used is much more financially sensible, and yes, MC or scooter used is a much better deal than new, however, the market is flooded with used MC's with many advertised deals out there at all times with many competing brands. On the other hand, if one's goal is to find a used maxi scooter (600 cc and up), there are very few brands and very slow, comparative sales, therefore, this situation pushes up resale prices and reduces the opportunity to even find what one is looking for on the used market.

As for me, I like to swallow hard and buy new. I don't like the unknowns of used vehicles.

I have to agree that they are rather expensive but feel that the extra layout of cash is offset to some degree by the fact that BMW dealerships seem less likely to go out of business than certain others.

Friends in the UK struggle to find places to have their scooters serviced and repaired and if I could afford/justify a BMW scooter I think I'd count the extra cash as a sort-of 'peace of mind' insurance.

I find the following interesting regarding the efficiency debate. The new BMW scooters may be efficient compared to other PTWs, but comparing them to other transportation choices, PTWs are lagging way behind from a technological standpoint as compared to autos.

2006 VW Jetta TDI - 100 hp @ 4000 RPM, 177 ft. lbs. peak torque (1800-2400 RPM), 3200 lb curb weight, top speed 115 mph, 43 mpg @75mph (real world), drive anywhere--anytime. Can be ran on 100% renewable fuel with a 7% loss in mpg and no performance loss.

2013 BMW 650 GT - 60 hp. @7500 RPM, 49 ft lbs peak torque @ 6000 RPM, 549 lb curb weight with only half the rubber contacting the road, 109 top speed, 42 mpg (est.), drive in good weather, can run on pure gasoline or E10 with a 3% loss in mpg and no performance loss.

I know the argument will be that PTW enthusiasts don't buy for efficiency and that the scooter probably achieves 0-60 in half the time, but that's no reason why the consumer shouldn't demand that the same, cheap technologies that allow for 40 mpg plus cars be applied to PTWs for well-performing, 80 mpg plus scooters and MCs.

Here's the critical difference: In the above statement, you are imposing your sensibilities on everyone else, as if your judgement was the only one that could be correct. This is a mistake. Your sensibilities are your own. You may not impose them on anyone else.

You can say "I would never pay £10,000 for a scooter". You may not demand that everyone else share that viewpoint. Period.

Clear?

Okay, now you're just being an ass.