BMW: Scooters Can Be Fun AND Efficient

The C 600 Sport Photo Courtesy of BMW

At the International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach, CA I spoke with BMW Mottorad Vice President Pieter de Waal about where scooters fit into their lineup. He explained that scooters are an important part of their global strategy. They recognize that in megacities, scooters are the most sensible choice for transportation, as this great video from Saigon demonstrates.

Below is the video of our interview, where Pieter also answers my questions about how BMW is working to bring new riders on board. That’s the burning question for every motorcycle manufacturer, as the Baby Boomers they’ve been catering to are getting too old to ride, for the most part. I’ll have more about that from Yamaha tomorrow, as well as interviews with Brammo and Lightning about their plans for the 2012 TTXGP season.

The C 650 GT and the C 600 Sport are not your kid’s first scooter. They are designed to serve as an alternative to your car. I remember when I lived in Barcelona, seeing kids dropped off at school by moms on similar maxi-scooters. Pieter explained that 70% of their scooter sales will likely be in Italy, Spain and France. However, they are an important feature at the US motorcycle show circuit because, as Pieter states in the video, most motorcyclists treat their motorcycles as recreational vehicles. I’m hoping more motorcyclists will discover the joy of commuting via two wheels, especially in Los Angeles, a megacity where traffic is insufferable. According to a recent GOOD report, less than 1% of Angelenos commute via motorcycle. Appalling.

The C 650 GT Photo Courtesy of BMW

The Deets

Both models average about 60mpg. Like all BMW’s they also feature standard ABS. Both models have 60hp and 49 ft-lbs of torque from the 8-valve parallel twin motor. These are maxi-scooters designed to be as comfortable on long rides on the open road as they are on short trips to the grocery store. With a storage capacity of 2.1 cubic feet and the blue paint job, the 650 GT could easily be mistaken for a TARDIS. Although only the 600 Sport comes in “Cosmic Blue”, but it too has enough capacity for 2 helmets.

Although the grocery capacity is much better than the Givi top case on my R1, and the mpg dramatically higher, I’d still rather be seen on the R1. Or even the BMW S1000. Both of which are as impractical for daily commuting as a Lamborghini which can split lanes. But that’s ok with me because I can also take my commuter to any of my favorite canyon roads around here without having to first go home and swap bikes. Also, I grew up on vintage Italian scooters, so it’s hard for me to love any scooter that’s not loud, smelly, and steel-bodied with a gearshifter on the handlebar. On the other hand, I’m sure the first truly mass production electric 2-wheelers will be scooters. And of course I’d gladly share the road and send a friendly wave to any scooterist I see in LA, because they’re part of the solution.

Photo Courtesy of BMW

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Tags: BMW, International Motorcycle Show, scooters, TTXGP, urban transportation

About the Author

Susanna Schick Susanna is passionate about anything fast and electric. As long as it's only got two wheels. She covers electric motorcycle racing events, test rides electric motorcycles, and interviews industry leaders. Occasionally she deigns to cover automobile events in Los Angeles for us as well. However, she dreams of a day when Los Angeles' streets resemble the two-wheeled paradise she discovered living in Barcelona and will not rest until she's converted the masses to two-wheeled bliss.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000952005408 Uncle B

Still looking for that 3 wheeled Morgan styled electric commuter sport vehicle, with a rapid fold up roof for rain and snow. Rechargeable, narrow, fast light weight stylish and priced practically for my Village lifestyle! my Electricity comes form Safer Cleaner Canadian (Darlington) reactors so environmentally speaking all sins have already been committed, so for me electric it is, with seat warmers for the Canadian climate of course! now Build the body with Hemp along the University of Alberta’s scheme and we have a winner! Make the battery pack designed form the get go for recyclability, easy exchange, body, same story, three moving part electric power-train, and we have a re-build-able, repairable, gem of ‘VW Bug proportions!
Jacob

Riding a motorcycle in LA is 1% because 99% of the population here aren’t capable of surviving on one. Even the most talented riders I know have been in a serious accident at some point. LA streets are NOT safe for motorcyclists. I’m all for saving the environment, but i’m not for it over loss of life.
- http://importantmedia.org/members/susannaschick/ Susanna Schick
  
  Jacob, I’ve been riding since 1985 and most of the street crashes I’ve had have been minor lowsides I rode away from. The only ones I couldn’t ride away from were the ones where I wasn’t wearing a helmet. Each crash and close call I’ve had has been a lesson as to what I can do differently to prevent that sort of crash next time.
  
  It’s not just about the environment, LA is a megacity. Megacities cannot be car-based. We need to adopt other modes of transportation or else a lot more than the 405 and the 110 will be parking lots here.
http://www.smartcar451.com Aaron Lephart

“With a storage capacity of 74 cubic feet ”

Does anyone proof read anymore?
- http://www.sublimeburnout.com Christopher DeMorro
  
  @ Aaron Lephart
  
  I do but wow, that one obviously slipped by. Good catch. Thanks.
- http://importantmedia.org/members/susannaschick/ Susanna Schick
  
  sorry guys. I write these late at night after a long day at the rent job. numbers take on a meaning of their own at that point. It’s 2.1 cubic feet. I sure wish it was 74, then it really would be a TARDIS.
Jim

Unlike Jacobs opinion, I happen to feel LA is safer than many places for the reasons I’m about to give. LA probably has more motorcycles per capita than any other place in the country. Cars are used to bikes being around, and aside from the careless riders out there, the fact that we can split lanes means you can worry less about being rear-ended. Of course, there is a very unsafe way to do that as well. I’ve been riding on the streets of Los Angeles for 33 years and about 250,000 miles. The ONLY time I’ve been down is when I was a kid, as a passenger on the back of a dirt bike not made for the streets, yet we were riding, no lights through an intersection. We had it coming. I’ve now owned about 6 different bikes and 2 scooters. I currently have a Yamaha FJR 1300 and a Honda PCX 125.

Anyway, I was at the Long Beach Motorcycle Show and sat on both of those BMW scooters. I might just sell my FJR1300 and get one of those. That’s what happens when you hit your 40’s. You want twist and go. I currently ride my PCX 125 scooter about 75% of the time. The remaining 25% is split between my FJR1300 and my car.

Yup… I’ve never gone down as the rider. (knocking on wooden headboard)

-Jim in Hollywood
- http://importantmedia.org/members/susannaschick/ Susanna Schick
  
  Exactly! LA will only be safer if more of us ride. Just like with bicycling here, the ones who a re brave enough to be the vanguard are making it safe for everyone else. I want LA to be like Barcelona, where 2-wheel vehicles outnumber cages.