For the past 10 years or so, maxi-scooters have emerged in the local market. These hulking automatic bikes have become a favorite among urban commuters, especially for those who prefer their authoritative and intimidating appeal. That prompted more and more motorcycle brands to penetrate the market, including BMW Motorrad.
BMW Motorrad has entered the maxi-scooter segment in the early parts of the 2010s with the C Series. Fast forward to today, the company is offering two models in the maxi-scooter market – the C 400 X and the C 400 GT. These two are like twins separated at birth, and I spent time with the latter for this full review.
Style
The BMW C 400 GT follows the maxi-scooter design ethos – burly, expressive, and far from boring. But beyond the blue and white badge, the C 400 GT presents a premium appeal. Maybe that’s because of the paint quality, the host of LED lighting, or the apparent good build quality when seen up close. This scooter just looks expensive even without knowing its price tag.
Compared to the C 400 X, the C 400 GT looks more serious, especially with the color choices available (Alpine White, Moonwalkgrey Metallic, and Blackstorm Metallic 2). The tester’s Moonwalkgrey Metallic is akin to what you’ll see in some BMW vehicles. This works so well for the scoot as its DRLs mimic those you see on BMW vehicles as well, so there’s that. The aluminum cast wheels measure 15 inches up front, 14 inches at the back – both not looking awkward with the heft of the bike.
Overall, it’s challenging to find fault in how BMW Motorrad designed this urban Beemer. Just make sure you’re ready for compliments from strangers.
Comfort & Ride Quality
Upside-down fork at the front and dual spring struts with adjustable preload at the rear, the BMW C 400 GT’s suspension setup was quite plush. Vibrations from the road weren’t transferred harshly to my hands, plus the seating position’s neutral and relaxed. In combination with its nicely cushioned wide seats, the C 400 GT is among the most comfortable maxi-scoots you can buy in the market. It wasn’t tiring to ride on long continuous journeys, plus the saddle has a usable backrest that can support your back when needed.
In traffic crawl, however, the wide seats prove a bit of a disadvantage for shorter individuals such as myself. The bike’s seat height is only 775mm but since the saddle’s really wide, it felt higher. You’d wish you’re either taller (or at least have a longer inseam), or for the traffic to just keep moving so you can ride comfortably instead of balancing at a halt.
Storage
The BMW C 400 GT comes with plenty of storage areas, which is one of the things you’ll love about maxi-scooters. There are two covered cubbies that don’t open when the scoot is off. My iPhone 12 Pro Max fits just fine with one of the cubbies, plus that has a charging port albeit with a non-standard classification – at least not in the Philippines.
However, the biggest advantage of the C 400 GT is the BMW FlexCase under the seat. The FlexCase serves as perfect storage for your helmet when parked, and it can fit full-size helmets (mine’s size XL). However, you can’t turn the engine on when there’s a helmet inside the FlexCase, which means you can’t bring an extra helmet when you’re scooting around.
Technology
As a BMW, you’d expect the C 400 GT to be filled with tech features and you’d be right. The tester comes standard with the Connectivity Package, which means it has the good-looking colored TFT display that contains all your needed information for your daily commute. This system is controlled via a rotary switch on the left handle that’s intuitive to use.
The whole system can even pair up with your smartphone, provided that you have the BMW Motorrad app. This will then allow you to get navigational features that will be displayed on the huge display hiding behind the windshield.
For safety, you have the BMW Motorrad ABS front and back. Brakes are taken care of by dual discs at the front and a single disc at the back – both clamped on by 4-piston Bybre calipers. Braking was never a problem even under perilous circumstances. The ABS worked just fine plus I didn’t feel any need for an upgrade.
Performance & Handling
At a touch of a button, the BMW C 400 GT’s water-cooled single cylinder 4 stroke 350cc engine comes to life. The exhaust sounded polite, however, but that’s fine since this is a maxi-scoot, not a sports bike. Plus, BMW Motorrad has pulled all the stops to make this scooter a clean and green machine, so we’re not expecting it to pair it up with an open exhaust that will pollute the air with noise.
As for power, the BMW C 400 GT puts out 34hp and 35Nm torque. The maximum pull was easily achieved at around 6,000 RPM, so it didn’t feel lacking during my city commutes. In fact, in places where I could max out the electronic throttle, I could say that reaching 100 km/h was effortless. However, despite the 400 on its nameplate, the C 400 GT isn’t highway legal, which reminds us that the government should really do something about that age-old regulation.
That said, most of my runs were within the city (and on Osmeña highway right before SLEX). On straight stints, the C 400 GT was a joy to ride. It was stable and planted, plus there wasn’t any unsafe feeling. In bumper-to-bumper situations, it was a bit challenging to filter through lanes at first. This maxi-scooter was huge and felt like it, too, but you’ll get used to the heft eventually upon further use, though squeezing through tight spaces was almost an impossibility.
Fuel Efficiency
Throughout the full week of testing, I reset the bike’s fuel trip meter every time I ride and the reading constantly falls around 25 to 30 km/L. Its lifetime reading since October 2021 also lists 25 km/L. For a 350cc scooter, those numbers are quite expected, so that’s a plus for BMW.
Pricing & Verdict
Now, the price. BMW bikes are known to be expensive and rightfully so since they offer more with their bikes. The story’s the same with the C 400 GT, which is priced at P595,000 and comes with a 5-year warranty.
It’s true that you can already buy an expressway-legal motorcycle with that kind of money. However, one thing would be missing with that motorcycle – it’s not a BMW, and I’m pretty sure that it won’t be as comfortable and as plush as the C 400 GT.
If you’re looking for a premium choice for an urban commuter, this maxi-scoot should be up on your list.