Suzuki Burgman 650-is a good machine and well worth looking at. (Suzuki Burgman 400)

Member Name: Tavraun

Product:	Suzuki Burgman 400
Date:	22/04/04 (17553 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very easy to drive., Good performance., Good road holding.

Disadvantages: Side stand switch., Ignition switch., Holding onto your Driving Licence.

After six weeks riding this grate machine on and off, I have made a
number of changes to tailor the bike to the way that suit my height
6ft 182Ids. The first thing to go was the screen, which I replaced
with a Givi. And what a difference it makes up to the legal speed
limited. Beyond I do not know. The second is heated grips made by
Oxford which are adjustable and grate for winter. The third is self
cancelling signal indicators Kisan signal IMINDER SM-3SV which I am
still waiting for (the car has them and why not). The fourth is a
Givi top box as you never have enough space on a bike which I use
all the time. Now back to the scooter/bike. My first time sitting on
the Burgman 650 and starting it up, you new straight away this is a
different machine to the Burgman 400 I had for four years. First it
much heaver, this seems to have no effect on the handling. Its
handling is in a different class to the Burgman 400, probably
because the engine and CVT gearbox are mounted on the frame like a
motor bike and not on the swinging arm like a Scooter. I have travel
at height speed on the Western roads of Ireland and can say it has
superb handling. It's not a GT bike, more of a touring Scooter/Bike.
Back to what is fitted on the Burgman 650; there is a new manual
override for the gearbox which I personal think, is a gimmick. The
manual override acceleration button is a good thing and work very
well. I would like some way to adjust the rear brake as it seem to
sending more power to the rear than the front disk brake. Anti-lock
brakes as fitted to the Silver Wing would be a better, than the
manual gear override. The scooter/bike is a very forgiving machine,
in that it gives notice when the rear is about to go, which I
personal think is what makes a good machine. Big engines have a lot
of Torque, which is why most touring bikes are large, and with this
CVT gearbox ther
e is know need for a large motor. It does all the
work and a lot more smoothly that changing a manual box (ask the
passenger). And for acceleration, well, there are very few motor
bikes at this cc that will take off from standstill with out
blasting the engine for every bit of power that will keep up with
the Burgman 650. While he is working hard, you just sit back and let
the machine do the work. The mid range acceleration is outstanding,
which is what most people will be use when overtaking. The economy I
find is about 155/160 miles to a tank full which is not bad for the
power and weight of this machine. The top speed by bike standards is
slow which I think is around 110 to 115 MPH but, you will be able to
maintain a height speed which I doubt the un-faired bike rider can
do and you will arrive a lot more relax to. After calling to a
friend home 140 Miles away and being an hour to early, I was still
relax enough to drive around for another 50miles with know pains or
aches at all (Well I am 45). The only three problems I have come
across is when you attempted to started the bike with the side stand
down, if you do not turn off the ignition, lift the side stand and
turn on the ignition again in this order, then F1 light in the
display panel will stay on. The other is the ignition key can be a
bit fiddled at times, in that you have to take it out and put it in
a number of times to get it to turn. And the third problem is,
holding onto your Licence as you tend to be travelling a lot faster
that you think. The pocket on the side at first I thought were not
much good, but this change when I came to my first toll road, as you
can take your pre paid toll card out and put it back with out taking
off your gloves. There also good for putting your PDA inside which
is connected to your intercom playing your favourite music while
touring down the high roads heading i
nto the sunset and beyond. The
Burgman 650 so far, is a good machine and well worth looking at.

Gerry of Tavraun.

Summary: