I ride a honda silverwing!!!!

[Metal Bass God]

Hello,

Sorry for the caps. I trust I have your attention now

NO I am not trolling your BMW forum but yes I currently own a Honda Silver Wing 2003. I have joined this forum because I have decided to get a new scooter and BMW has won out in my selection process. (Pending a Test Ride but then I won't have anything but the Silverwing to compare it to anyway)


I live in Eastern WA with one BMW dealer in town. I recently went to visit Seattle area and bought 4 grand to town thinking I might get a better deal at one of the dealers there but can you believe it, the local BMW dealer was out of stock. I called my local dealer and they are running a rebate promotion on the BMW 650 Sport they have in stock. I might go see them about a test drive in the morning but will be seeing about buying it come this Sat.

I have the cash to buy it outright but I don't really want to drop 10,000 all at once so my basic plan is to put about 2,000 to 5,000 down and finance the rest at as low monthly payments as I can get with as low an interest rate as I can get. I may take out a un secured loan with my credit union and buy it outright and own the title if I don't get what I want with the dealer's finance department. Whatever the case I will probably pay it off sooner then later. I just don't want to drop all that amount right now as I don't want to pass up on buying a home in the next year if something comes up or job loss occurred Etc. As they say the future is un certain and the end is always near.

I have been riding since 2008 and was involved with dirt bikes when I was a pre teen. As it says in my profile I ride scooters as a practical matter, I am not involved in it for it's hobby aspects in that I generally don't go for rides with no destination.

I will share with you my ride to work so you can see I don't have to deal with heavy or very dangerous traffic in my smaller town. I think I would really fear riding in S. CA from where I am originally from. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKnGXAZ7hBE


By the way I just edited for a typo. I am a evening worker so I will make more then a few typos here. Please be tolerant of them, I don't really need them pointed out or the jokes that can be made out of words that might not fit in the sentence. I find that sort of thing rather childish and am prone to pointing that out when it becomes a problem. I almost always fix them the next day. I am no English major but don't let that lead you to believe I am stupid. Thank you for your support.


That said if anyone has any advice for getting the best deal at the dealer I am all ears being this will be my first new bike.

 

[Metal Bass God]

Also I would greatly appreciate anyone here who can answer this probably stupid question. I cannot seem to find any information on this scooter shown in the photo but what is it exactly and where can I meet her? Or do I really want to meet her or not?

 

[JaimeC]

You can't meet that scooter. It was a concept vehicle, though you can see similarities in the production C650GT and C600 Sport. BMW is no longer importing the Sport model but you may be able to find a brand new leftover, or a gently used one. I have to confess the Sport model was never on my radar. I just brought my 2013 C650GT in for its 18,000 mile service and plan on riding it to Indianapolis next week for the MotoGP. It'll be my third year in a row making that trip on the scooter.

 

[toomuchvinyl]

Hi MBG, I think your plan to finance through your Credit Union will probably get you the lowest rate but then I'm not sure what incentives BMW has going right now. As for price negotiation, I don't know what you may be able to work out. I'm familiar with that bike and how it got there as I tried to order one myself this spring but I wanted a particular color which they were unable to get. They were able to trade with another dealer for the black one. I remember that they had a '13 model there when I first became interested in getting one. It was in stock for some time and I think the last advertised price I saw was around $8800.00. I think that it was traded out to another dealer just because I've never seen it around town.

 

[Metal Bass God]

I saw that scooter there too and I have not seen it around town either. The MSRP on the new one currently in stock is something like 11,000 plus with Destination Fees Etc. So they are no longer importing the sport? Why not?

Toomuchvinyl, what are you currently riding?

 

[toomuchvinyl]

I got a '15 C650 GT up in Spokane on May 30. When the Sales Manager at Mac's told me that they would not be able to order the color I was wanting I called Westside Motorsports. They were able to locate and order one for me. I have no problem with Mac's, I think they just aren't a high volume dealer and as a result they're limited somewhat as to what they can do.

I don't know why the Sport model was cut (at least in the US) for 2015. Maybe someone else on the forum has the answer.

 

[Metal Bass God]

Well just got back from Mac's. Seems there is NO wiggle room on the price. They are discounting up to 1,700.00 and that is that. NO free oil changes and no way to play with destination fees being taken out of the set up. NO negotiating points offered as advice seems to apply here.

I don't mind the color I think I am looking at a black one. Took it for a ride. Higher center of gravity then my Honda making it a little odd when it comes to throwing it into a lean but obviously not a plus or minus just something I will get used to.

Called my bank and cannot get a better financing rate of their 2 1/2 % so I will see about paying the taxes and fees up front so we can get that off the finance rate. That's my only idea. I do want the bike and they are holding it for a day.

The good news is with 5,000 down my monthly payment is ONLY $105.00

 

[Skutorr]

I don't know why the Sport model was cut (at least in the US) for 2015. Maybe someone else on the forum has the answer.

in Europe the C600 outsells the C650 about 10:1, as they are mostly ex-Tmax riders and into maximum performance. Here, it's ex-Burgman and Silverwing riders, so the C650 Gt outsold the C600 Sport at about the same ratio, 10:1. and, at only a few hundred $$ difference, with the C650 you got "more for your money". With such LOW numbers, BMW axed the C600 here (and in England...)

 

[Metal Bass God]

Well it sucks I did not at least have the option to test ride each version and make up my own mind. Sounds like German Central planning mentality. If they are making them they ought to be able to be imported even if on special order.

Back to my test ride, it seems that if you crash the bike you buy it. Is it the same way with new cars?

 

[toomuchvinyl]

Congrats MBG! You're far ahead of me as far as experience with larger scooters go. I rode a 125cc Yamaha Vino scooter for nearly 8 years so the adjustment curve was a little steeper for me. If it's any consolation I didn't get any perks like free oil changes or anything either. You did as well as could be expected on a current model year. 2.5% is the best rate I've seen offered on RV loans locally so again you're in the right spot there as well. The 3 year warranty on the BMW is well above what anyone else is offering and aside from my self inflicted fueling gripe, I have had no other real complaints. I have 400 miles on mine now so in a bit I'll need to have the first inspection and oil change.

 

[Metal Bass God]

Congrats MBG! You're far ahead of me as far as experience with larger scooters go. I rode a 125cc Yamaha Vino scooter for nearly 8 years so the adjustment curve was a little steeper for me. If it's any consolation I didn't get any perks like free oil changes or anything either. You did as well as could be expected on a current model year. 2.5% is the best rate I've seen offered on RV loans locally so again you're in the right spot there as well. The 3 year warranty on the BMW is well above what anyone else is offering and aside from my self inflicted fueling gripe, I have had no other real complaints. I have 400 miles on mine now so in a bit I'll need to have the first inspection and oil change.

Thanks and good to know! I think I got the best deal under the circumstances. I think there was some factory and dealer incentives now because the sales person told me scooters have declined in sales the last two years or so. He's not sure why.

 

[Metal Bass God]

Hey Guys I got a bit of a problem with the fact that as there will be a title holder because of financing the insurance rate I was quoted seems outrageous to me.

For full covarage as will be required I am looking at 657.00 a year. That is MORE then I pay for my 2006 Nissan Xterra. Even used it's worth more then the BMW bike so it makes no sense to me. Also consider I can't be on the bike and in the SUV at the same time so the insurance does not seem to be taking this into account. I have two policies with two different insurers.

Is that a realistic insurance price on a new bike? Not sure if I should only borrow 4,000 and put up another grand of my own money and get a signature loan for a better insurance rate or just bite the bullet and try and get a better rate. I think realistically I should not be affording anymore then 450.00 a year on the bike.

 

[toomuchvinyl]

That sounds pretty high for insurance. I have full coverage on my bike with $250 deductible on comprehensive and $500 on collision for less than $300 per year. Though I'm not carrying a note, I don't see how that could change the premium all that much. And we live in the same area as well. Granted, I'm sure that I'm older than you and we've done business with this broker for many years, but I hope you could find a better deal.

 

[Metal Bass God]

There has been a problem arise with the insurance on a title held bike. For full covarage as will be required I am looking at 657.00 a year. That is MORE then I pay for my 2006 Nissan Xterra. Even used it's worth more then the BMW bike so it makes no sense to me. Also consider I can't be on the bike and in the SUV at the same time so the insurance does not seem to be taking this into account. I have two policies with two different insurers.

Is that a realistic insurance price on a new bike? Not sure if I should only borrow 4,000 and put up another grand of my own money and get a signature loan for a better insurance rate or just bite the bullet and try and get a better rate. I think realistically I should not be affording anymore then 450.00 a year on the bike.

 

[Metal Bass God]

Gieco 657.00 a year.

State Farm 227.46 a year

both full coverage

Geico (sp) is on crack.

 

[Metal Bass God]

All paper work signed and processing, 6 grand down and payments down to 87.00 a month and total finance charges are only 319.00

Bike is in the shop till I pick it up Sat or actually take delivery. I am an official member of your forum now and I can quit the Honda forum soon as I sell it.

Edit, I just got a quote from the shop in Seattle about 7 days after I requested it before I left for the trip. Interesting.

Sorry can't seem to enlarge the photo. It was basically a 13,085.00 deal with zero down

 

[Snowdog]

I still miss my Silverwing, it was more comfortable for my size, and cheaper to maintain.

 

[JaimeC]

I remember when my friend and I swapped scooters last year in Indianapolis. I applied the brakes on his Silverwing like I would on my C650GT and I almost blew through the intersection. On the other hand, when he applied the brakes on my C650GT like he would on his Silverwing he nearly bounced his face off the windscreen...

 

[Metal Bass God]

I am very used to my silvering but when I first bought it, I had to get used to it from my 250CC Chinese knock off but I adjusted to it in no time. I figure I will experience the same with this new bike.

Salesman said I can use gasoline with ethanol no problems so that will save money there. I only ran premium no ethanol in the s. wing and my SUV as they are both pre 2008. Other then oil what are the expenses I will run into? Hopefully I'll find a tutorial on oil change on the forum.

 

[toomuchvinyl]

The Web Bike World Blog has a lot of information - http://www.webbikeworld.com/bmw-c-650-gt/blog.htm and this forum has some good tips regarding oil change and how to NOT drop the filter screen into your pan while doing it.