Modern Vespa

In my mind, the Burgman, BMW Cs, and Silverwing represent premium-brand scooter choices; the Majesty to lesser extent. Which, if one were going to compare to cars,with respect to pricing, he or she would have to compare any of those to the luxury-performance lines of vehicles but not necessarily the same brand, because that's not always possible.

If one likes VW's, well, that's a brand that is entry level except for a few models like the CC or the GTI, so, as long as we're referencing regular VWs like Jettas, then that's more like Kymcos, Hondas (minus Silverwing), Piaggios, Syms, and Genuines. Vespas carry a slight premium.

Of course scooter class and/or displacement plays in to the price alot more than price differences in auto size classes, so it's really a stretch to try to do any price comparisons, especially since all the big maxis in the U.S. are high dollar and super fancy compared to the smaller maxis. But to come out and state that a BMW C is almost as much as a car, when one is assuming that one can buy a new car @ $10K that is anywhere on the scale in the auto world as is the C in the scooter world, is ludicrous. I would say that a $15.5K car equals a $2.5K scooter, and the BMW 335i (and it's competitors) @ the 44K price point are comparable to pulling the trigger on a 10K scooter like the C and Burgman 650.

Just wanted to apologise for inadvertently creating a friction point I hope this thread doesn't get locked as it's got my name on it and that's not the sort of reputation I want!

I enjoyed reading your write-up on the BMW scooter. It looks like it has all the creature comforts to be a nice touring bike.

+1. The thread went off course because some people feel the need to be negative about things that don't suit their tastes or checkbooks - i.e., haters gonna hate, even if they have to start in with criticisms that would apply equally to a huge proportion of the motorcycle market and have little if anything to do with the specific bike people are talking about (new bikes are more expensive than used, they should be using fuel efficient diesels that no major OEM currently uses, etc.). I found it funny that the same folks didn't feel the need to speak out negatively in response to another member's purchase of a K1600GT in another thread, a bike which costs twice as much - you can come to your own conclusions about the psychology at work here. In any event, certainly not your fault Alice.

Alice....your review in part, was the final straw. Thank you. I love my GT650...and in my view thats all that counts!

No worries. It was a great review, and I give you my thanks on behalf of MV for contributing it.

You're very welcome - thanks, guys!

Alice you have pm.

That was a decent bit of writing there, i enjoyed reading it. Thanks for putting it up Alice.

I'm not surprised H had trouble moving the scoot around, it has another 50kg-60kg on his Blade!

I don't see much wrong with the price, and evidently BMW don't either. However, i'm wondering why its so heavy? Can anyone shed some light on the weight seeing as i probably won't be in a position to take one apart any time soon

It weighs more because BMW over engineer stuff to ensure it doesn't break.

Probably.

Bill X

Not sure why it weighs so much, but it is lighter than a lot of the other large maxi scooters out there, such as the Burgman or the Silverwing. Enclosing the chain drive in an oil bath must add ten to twenty pounds for a start.

I wonder why they didn't use a belt ?

Longevity of the final drive ?

Bill X

Considering most of their bikes are shaft drive couldn't that been an option?

That would have made it even heavier.

No wonder my local dealership hasn't sold any, even though they are lined up out the front of the Motorrad building they are left filthy dirty.

Very odd.

Bill X

Surely the extra weight would be marginal against and enclosed oil bathed chain and sprockets. From my experience riding a few Guzzi's the shaft puts the power down smoother than chains and belts.

I really like the look of the Sport especially in black but the GT looks too much like a motorcycle and is a bit slab sided.

Bill X

I'm of to the Motorcycle Show at the NEC in a couple of weeks.
I sat on the C650 last year and quite liked it so will take a closer look this year.
Won't buy one though.......

1st Service for for BMW Scooters £150 2nd £550 3rd £1000 plus.

Gulp.

Bill X

Flamin knickers how much?!!

Not surprised. My dad's RT1150 used to cost £1000 a service, so I reckoned it would be around that.

Yowzer, though.

a grand for a service??? is it done by leprechauns or unicorns or something??? the most expensive bike i've ever bought only cost £300 more than that

obviously my financial reality is hugely out of step with that of the rest of the (developed) world. geez.

No, of course that is a ridiculous price for a service. Being blunt, BMW customers can typically afford this. The demographic they target is not young and they have lots of disposal income. i imagine well heeled boomer Bavarians, kids long since departed to Heidleberg for university, taking these for a spin at the weekend and winding through the Dolomites. They have matching helmets, gloves, boots etc... all BMW.

It is a joke that motorcycling is a cheap hobby. I think that idea must have died a death some time ago. Commuting by scooter is still cheap, but really, the rest of the PTW is toy marketing.

The idea is that they don't cost you money by breaking down between services Doesn't always work, though; my dad's was definitely a bit of a Friday afternoon bike (picking those seems to run in the family). He passed it on to H and it broke down just shy of the start of the Stelvio Pass, so neither of us got to experience it. H never forgave the RT and got rid soon afterwards. It was bought by a German and returned to its native land. The End.

Well, the warranty period here in the US is 3/36000 so at the end of the day, the cost of those services to keep the warranty intact is on line with say an extended warranty on a different brand, PLUS the cost to service that different brand as well during the extended warrnty period.

No free ride?