BMW C 400 GT 2019–2020: Specs, Facts & Known Issues

The Machine's Character

The C 400 GT is BMW's touring-leaning take on the mid-size maxi-scooter. A liquid-cooled 350 cc single makes 34 hp and 26 lb-ft, enough for an 86 mph top end and freeway pace without drama. The tubular steel frame and 15-inch front wheel give it steering that feels closer to a small motorcycle than a scooter, and BMW Motorrad ABS plus traction control are standard. Where the C 400 X stays purely urban, the GT adds a bigger fairing, deeper weather protection and a plusher seat. Keyless start, LED headlight, USB and smartphone connectivity fill out the rest.

On the road it behaves the way BMW usually does: composed, predictable, never asking you to work around it. At 467 lb wet it is a substantial machine, but the 30.5 in seat lets most riders plant both feet, and 67 mpg from a 3.4 gal tank stretches a fill past 200 miles of commuting. This is a scooter for people who ride constantly rather than occasionally. The honest caveat is storage. For something wearing GT on the flank, underseat space is tighter than the badge suggests, and heated grips, a TFT screen and luggage all cost extra.

Hard Numbers

Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.

Show full specs & equipment Hide specs & equipment

Key specifications
Power	34 hp (25 kW)
Torque	26 lb-ft (35 Nm)
Displacement	350 cc
Engine	Single-cylinder
Cooling	Liquid-cooled
Fork	Telescopic
Front brake	265 mm
Front tire	120/70-15
Rear tire	150/70-14
Wheelbase	61.6 in (1565 mm)
Seat height	30.5 in (775 mm)
Wet weight	467 lb (212 kg)
Fuel capacity	3.4 gal (12.8 L)
Top speed	86 mph (139 km/h)
Fuel economy	67 mpg (US)

Equipment check

Chassis

Manually Adjustable Rear Suspension Standard

Comfort

Heated Grips Motorcycles With Heated Grips → Optional
Luggage System Optional

Connectivity

TFT Display Optional
Smartphone Connectivity Standard
USB Charging Port Standard
Keyless System Standard

Lighting

LED Headlight Standard

Safety

ABS BMW Motorrad ABS Stronger consistent brakingFirm brake lever feel Standard
Traction Control Standard

The Truth on the Street

What follows comes from years of listening: paddock talk, owner chats on club nights, and the messages riders send me directly. On the C 400 GT, the pattern is clear. Owners are pleasantly surprised by how it goes, stops and steers, and the complaint that comes up most is about price.

It goes and stops like a bike

The engine pulls briskly off the line and holds highway speed with confidence, which catches plenty of riders off guard. The chassis turns in sharply and stays settled as the pace rises. Owners rate the brakes as strong and easy to meter, closer in feel to a bigger motorcycle than to a scooter. The single runs smoothly with little vibration even at speed, and riders credit the padded seat and upright position for making longer commutes and weekend trips easy.

The price tag, and smaller gripes

The most repeated complaint is cost. It sits well above many rivals, and owners on a tight commuting budget question the value. Beyond that, the criticism thins out. Some taller riders find the stock screen too short and end up buying the taller accessory screen, and a few owners call the rear suspension harsh, passing jolts through to the rider over city potholes.

Known issues

Intermittent stalling

engine occasional

Some owners report occasional stalling, which may be due to bad spark plugs or engine management glitches.
Frequent CVT cleaning needed in dusty conditions

drivetrain occasional

Owners note that the CVT requires more frequent cleaning than some competitors, especially when ridden in dusty environments.

The Expert Benchmark

Where this BMW C 400 GT pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.

What kind of bike this is — character vs. the class

Urban Utility Score

Weatherproof Commute Comfort

Storage Without Thinking

Twist-and-Go Simplicity

Low-Cost Daily Mobility

Night-and-Rain Confidence

This bike Class average

Head-to-head: BMW C 400 GT vs. its rivals

Power

34 hp This bike 36 hp Kymco Xciting 400i ABS 29 hp Honda Forza 350 29 hp Suzuki Burgman 400 32 hp Yamaha XMAX 400 Tech MAX

Torque

26 lb-ft This bike 26 lb-ft Kymco Xciting 400i ABS 23 lb-ft Honda Forza 350 27 lb-ft Suzuki Burgman 400 27 lb-ft Yamaha XMAX 400 Tech MAX

Displacement

350 cc This bike 400 cc Kymco Xciting 400i ABS 330 cc Honda Forza 350 399 cc Suzuki Burgman 400 395 cc Yamaha XMAX 400 Tech MAX

Wet weight

467 lb This bike 463 lb Kymco Xciting 400i ABS 410 lb Honda Forza 350 474 lb Suzuki Burgman 400 463 lb Yamaha XMAX 400 Tech MAX

Top speed

86 mph This bike 85 mph Honda Forza 350 95 mph Suzuki Burgman 400

Seat height

30.5 in This bike 31.7 in Kymco Xciting 400i ABS 30.7 in Honda Forza 350 29.7 in Suzuki Burgman 400 31.5 in Yamaha XMAX 400 Tech MAX

The 'Should I Buy It?' Score

Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the C 400 GT is actually built for.

Aerial photograph of downtown Austin, Texas, showing modern high-rise buildings against a clear blue sky. Urban infrastructure, highways, and parking structures visible in the foreground. — Thomas Balabaud / Pexels

Best motorcycle for Bay Area?

For weekday commuting with a Sunday run up the ridge roads attached, it works honestly well. Just accept the 86 mph ceiling and ride it smooth instead of chasing sportbikes to the next turnout.

Made for San Francisco Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard · Big Sur Coast Highway

Best scooter for NYC?

This is squarely your bike. It parks anywhere, returns 67 mpg and shrugs off stop-and-go, provided you can live with underseat storage that won't swallow a full grocery run.

Made for New York City · Austin · Los Angeles

Alternatives to the BMW C 400 GT

If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.

Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this BMW C 400 GT. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.