BMW C 600 Sport and C 650 GT scooters launched in Malaysia
BMW Group Malaysia has marked its arrival in the premium maxi scooter market in the country, officially launching the C 600 Sport and C 650 GT today. Unlike the bigger and more powerful BMW Motorrad bikes which we are more familiar with, the new BMW scooters are designed to be nippy urban runabouts with accessible performance. The C alphabet in these scooters’ nomenclatures are a tribute to the now-discontinued C1 scooter that was sold in the early 2000s.
Based on identical underpinnings, the two new scooters are nevertheless targeted at different crowds based on the features they offer. The C 600 Sport is for riders with sportier riding ambitions, whilst the C 650 GT is skewed towards comfort and touring needs. Both scooters are nevertheless equipped fork suspension and twin rotor disc brakes up front to give the appearance of a proper motorcycle.
Powering both scooters is a 650cc 2-cylinder engine mounted low and slanted forwards by 70 degrees for a lower centre of gravity. It has a 90-degree crank pin offset, 270 degree ignition spacing, and twin spur-driven balancer shafts, all of which contribute to reduce sound and vibrations. Output is rated at 60hp @ 7,500rpm and 66Nm @ 6,000rpm. Average fuel consumption at speeds up to 100kph is 4.8 l/100km, and carbon dioxide emission is at 0.01 g/km. Standard transmission is a CVT.
Being a premium vehicle, both the new maxi scooters come with a bit more electronics than your average scooter. Behind the scenes is a CAN bus system that networks the instrument cluster, ABS, ECU, immobilizer, and tyre pressure control into one system. The instrument cluster’s large LCD display presents information on engine speed, digital speedometer, oil levels, distance traveled, date and time, fuel consumption data, temperature, and service information.
Storage areas are also well taken care of. The left storage compartment is designed with a power socket to store and recharge your mobile phones, and if you have things to carry for a long trip, the C 650 GT has a 60-litre underseat storage compartment. Meanwhile, the C 600 Sport has a purpose-made BMW Flexcase which has a flap that can be deepened to store even more things.
Prices of the BMW maxi scooters, on-the-road without insurance, are as follows:
– C 600 Sport – RM65,000
– C 650 GT – RM68,800
