Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

Bmw Scooter -650 Sport-27 Feb 2013

 I had not been looking forward to taking my GS for it’s 60 000km service at Donford- but, you want your ride to be reliable, you need to give it love and care J

And then I got there, and I had asked if they could give me a scooter as loan bike…

Picked up scooter… you pay the fuel.

If I had known this beastie was so light on fuel (wonderful thing this hindsight stuff) would have put in R 50,00 instead of the R 100,00 but sure was worth the experience.

Immediate impression as I got on was.. wow this is heavy but there’s a quality, solid feel to it. Did I mention that I’ve owned a Kymco 500 and Silverwing FJS 600 scooter which had both done duty doing R62? So sorry if I keep making comparisons to those…

This is the GT, so suppose not fair to compare the space issue with the others but they both had more space under-seat and cubby holds so guess the tourer version should be the one to compare.

And then I pull away… ok , that’s where the comparisons will obviously really start..

Is that the speedo or the rev counter? This things pulls so hard easy to confuse the two.. not that the kind officers of law enforcement would understand that ridiculous speeds are so easy to get without even trying.

On bumps however, suspension on hard side compared to the  Silverwing but better than the Kymco.  Brakes - leagues better than Silverwing- please do NOT ask about brakes on Kymco ( to be fair, they don’t have ABS like these two do and they probably are the same stock from five years ago and though the system of retarding progress just enough they never need replacing…)

Hard acceleration- ok to about 130- 140 then a bit relaxed. It felt like the Wing had taller legs.

(personal note- not sure whether speedo accurate on either bike but 180 on speedo for bmw- and I’ve HEARD that this demo one got up to 175 easily enough before running out of a short road touched 190 with wing two up and ran out under a Harley on R62)

On the highway the wind is a lot more than the Silverwing and the wind from the front  even feels more than on the GS 1200!! There were no side winds till the return trip. Then I hit traffic!!! Talk about “ chalk and cheese”- instant low down acceleration – good brakes- lane splitting- brings out the Suzuki in you- i.e, brings out hooligan. Just that much more easy, flickable and confidence inspiring. No matter how old you are or how reserved you are.. this scooter will invite and reward the hooligan in anyone.. and yes, it will also drive the way you’re want to if you feel like just relaxing and cruising.

It’s  get to work time and it’s overcast, so no test around De Waal drive- but entering the sweeper coming to work, I’m doing slightly higher speed around it than on the GS 1200!! And it feels way more planted. I will grant that the GS has knobblies but this scooter will definitely if not keep up, drop most bikes around a set of sweeps with Joe average on board.

Damn and now I sit at work, itching to get back on…

Please come out sun, please come on lunch time…

Nope.. no sun and clients.. little consolation for missing out on more riding…

So we pack up and go home to wait for the lucky packet of costs from Donford before returning the scooter…

Do I really have to take it back????

The brave one calls and says… “ I can’t understand the raving, but I will come home early to go with you and try and understand..”

So we’re now two up on the way to Donford…. The scooter pulls with no acknowledgment that there are two people on board. More importantly, now over the bumps, it’s looaaddds more comfortable. The side wind that brought you closer to God or whatever your spiritual preference is on the Silverwing… not a flap, push or shove… jeez, why can’t all things be this stable in a cross wind?

Well…  Suppose I have to give the scooter back..

A big thank you to Donfords BMW for the loan ( if you need someone to take it for a long distance tour you have all my details… just saying J)