BMW C600 Sport

[Monty1952]

So our weather has been really cold and today -40 with wind chill. Yesterday I decide to do what any weather bound person would do. I go looking at bikes - lol. For a while I have been thinking about a second set of wheels because............. So I look at the usual suspects of TMax, Burgman and BMW C600/C650 all typically north of $10k here in Canada. I find a major price drop on the C600 as they are not bringing it into North America any more. For about $500 more than the MSRP for a Forza I have bought a C600 as they clear out remaining stock. Has a 3 year warranty with roadside assistance. Yup I know service costs are high but I saw some reliability figures from Europe and all the bigger scoots are really close with only a 1% gap between the Burgman and BMW - Burgman is highest. But the Burgman is $5k more so it was an easy decision.

[GeezyRider]

Congratulations on being at the right place at the right time to get a really good deal. If you ever thaw out up there, please give us a ride report.

[gn2]

Good luck with the BMW.
They're reduced in price for a reason, they are notoriously unreliable with all manner of serious problems.

[Monty1952]

Good luck with the BMW.
They're reduced in price for a reason, they are notoriously unreliable with all manner of serious problems.

They are still being sold elsewhere (outside North America) at full price so the reduction has nothing to do with reliability in general. In NA it is simply poor sales in all brands that causes them to cut back on scooter models being offered. Kawasaki does not sell scoots here any more, Honda/Suzuki/ BMW have either cut back on models or simply don't offer models available globally.
I talked to a mechanic who worked at a BMW dealership and now works as the senior mechanic at a Suzuki dealership. In his words - "I couldn't pick one over the other from a reliability perspective as warranty repairs are about equal relative to the sales volume". He did say Kymco has the highest failure rate in the industry followed by Vespa. My Forza was in for warranty repairs 3 times in the first 3 months and a recall on top of that.

[tbln930]

I only found 31 600's in cycle trader so they are rare in the US. The cheapest new ones are about $8-9k here.

[tbln930]

There are about 95 new 2013 Silver Wings in the Cycle Trader for $5-6 in the US. I only see 31 BMW 600's and they go for $8-9k here.

[gn2]

http://www.maxi-muppets.co.uk/forum/vie ... =5&t=14387

[Monty1952]

There are about 95 new 2013 Silver Wings in the Cycle Trader for $5-6 in the US. I only see 31 BMW 600's and they go for $8-9k here.

With all items like PDI and dealership charges I was just about $6,700 in US dollar terms.

[Monty1952]

http://www.maxi-muppets.co.uk/forum/vie ... =5&t=14387

Lol - I have seen lists like this on just about every brand and model out there including the Forzas we have. All forums unfortunately put together aggregate lists of problems like this and when I was buying the Forza I saw a list on a Burgman 400 forum that listed what I recall was about an equal number of Honda Forza issues. If someone on this forum wanted to compile a list from postings it would look about the same. Let's start with fuel pump, seat piston......... in general it's not as if every single bike of every brand has every one of the listed problems.

[tbln930]

The engines I read are Kymco so I would think them reliable.

[Monty1952]

The engines I read are Kymco so I would think them reliable.

Yes BMW gave them the specs and asked them to build an engine for them. They already made some other BMW bike engines I am told but I don't know which ones. The Kymco reach goes beyond their own brand and BMW I am not sure other than Kawasaki which ones.

[tbln930]

Did you get the Highline Package? They are really packed with features. I like the brake is deployed when you put the side stand down.

[Monty1952]

Did you get the Highline Package? They are really packed with features. I like the brake is deployed when you put the side stand down.

Yes got that package of heated seats and grips plus tire pressure monitors as part of the price. Am sure I will use the heated seats but grips are the biggest deal for me. Am shortly putting Oxford heated grips on the Forza.

[tbln930]

Please photo document that procedure. I really like the Givi tall windshield on my Forza because it does a good job of keeping wind off of my gloves but you can't beat heated grips.

[you you]

BMW cars and bikes are the most mediocre in terms of design and engineering.

How they sell the bloody things is a mystery to me never mind how the sheep find them aspirational

[Monty1952]

BMW cars and bikes are the most mediocre in terms of design and engineering.

How they sell the bloody things is a mystery to me never mind how the sheep find them aspirational

Lol - I fully expected both yourself and gn2 as our resident trolls to speak up.

[you you]

BMW cars and bikes are the most mediocre in terms of design and engineering.

How they sell the bloody things is a mystery to me never mind how the sheep find them aspirational

Lol - I fully expected both yourself and gn2 as our resident trolls to speak up.

Of course you do.

No, just speaking from experience tuppence.

[Mel46]

Not wanting to speculate about any other brand, I can say that my used Burgman 400 had no problems or recalls. It was extremely easy to take apart. No screws. Instead it had push clips like the battery compartment door on the pcx 150 has. Panels came off so quickly that doing a tuneup was a snap. In fact, when i bought my Givi tailbox and tail rack, it took me very little time and effort to put them on. Another bike with the same quality would be on the top of my list. Very few come near the quality of the Burgman. That is my measure for any and all other bikes. The Honda pcx 150 only has one problem, and that is how hard it is to tune it. Otherwise, it has great quality and dependability.

[Monty1952]

Not wanting to speculate about any other brand, I can say that my used Burgman 400 had no problems or recalls. It was extremely easy to take apart. No screws. Instead it had push clips like the battery compartment door on the pcx 150 has. Panels came off so quickly that doing a tuneup was a snap. In fact, when i bought my Givi tailbox and tail rack, it took me very little time and effort to put them on. Another bike with the same quality would be on the top of my list. Very few come near the quality of the Burgman. That is my measure for any and all other bikes. The Honda pcx 150 only has one problem, and that is how hard it is to tune it. Otherwise, it has great quality and dependability.

You raise some good points about ease of doing work on your scooter. That goes for those that do their own work or those that just hand in to their mechanic. When the Forza fuel pump recall posts really got going the difficulty that dealer mechanics had in getting to the pump for the warranty work was amazing. Those designers who work their magic on bikes today need to be more considerate of these issues.