Burgman 650 Updated for 2013

[vortexau]

Originally Posted by JerryH

I fail to see any reason why anyone would prefer something like this to, say, a Goldwing. I was considering a maxi scooter because my 1500 Goldwing is hard for me to get on and off of, and make parking lot maneuvers with. I tried the Burgman 650, and it was even harder to deal with than the huge 'Wing. The GW has a very low COG, and is well balanced. You can get both feet on the ground. The Burgman felt very heavy and awkward by comparison. I did find the Helix to be a decent ride, but lacking the power to travel cross country at freeway speeds. Stuffing a 400cc engine in it would solve that problem.

Lucky for you there is a 400cc Burgman (with ABS) available.

28 in. (710 mm) Seat Height

Curb: 489 lbs. (222 kg)


2013 Burgman 400 ABS

[JerryH]

Unfortunately even the Burg 400 is way bigger and heavier than the Helix. It sure looks like there is room for a 400cc engine in a Helix, especially if you got rid of some of the storage.

I have a Kawasaki Vulcan 750, which I bought new and have put over 70,000 miles on, which feels like a paperweight compared to the Burg 650. Why do maxi scooters have to be so big compared to the size of their engines? The 650cc S40 is a tiny little bike. So is a 1200 Sportster, considering the displacement of it's engine.

[thunderkat59]

Originally Posted by JerryH

I fail to see any reason why anyone would prefer something like this to, say, a Goldwing. I was considering a maxi scooter because my 1500 Goldwing is hard for me to get on and off of, and make parking lot maneuvers with. I tried the Burgman 650, and it was even harder to deal with than the huge 'Wing. The GW has a very low COG, and is well balanced. You can get both feet on the ground. The Burgman felt very heavy and awkward by comparison. I did find the Helix to be a decent ride, but lacking the power to travel cross country at freeway speeds. Stuffing a 400cc engine in it would solve that problem.

Thats why I got the 400. The 400 doesn't excel at anything, but does everything well. Does that make sense ?
In a world of single purpose bikes, this concept is incomprehensible to a lot of people.

[MotoRandy123]

Well it looks like it was getting 50 MPG (my car gets 40!) but 15% should give it 57 not bad. I was just at the dealer yesterday and
was amazed it costs $10000 OTD!

The big problem with scooters is only the tiny ones get good mileage and everyone wants to go on the highway (and have a big
windshield) so you end up with a heavy slow rig that costs too much compared with a "real" motorcycle....

[Barnone]

In the winter in Florida I ride with a bunch of old guys like me that have the Burgerking 650 and they just love them. A lot of them came off Goldwings and other big bikes. Only problem that they seem to have is keeping rear tires on them.
And they are not slow unless you are comparing them to a sport bike.

[Mrnoital]

Originally Posted by JerryH

Unfortunately even the Burg 400 is way bigger and heavier than the Helix. It sure looks like there is room for a 400cc engine in a Helix, especially if you got rid of some of the storage.

The Burgman 400 produces over twice the HP and is much more competent if you want to do any highway/long distant riding. More powerful bikes need to be built to bigger dimensions in order to handle the increase in engine mass and power.
You'll never get a powerful bike that weighs and handles like a Helix of which I own two. I love the helix but it's not a good all rounder even though I use it for almost everything. It stinks on the highway, It's not that stable to begin with, add a little wind into the equation and forget about it. I avoid the highway whenever it's windy. The Swing 600 scooter I owned was better on the highway but felt like a pig around town. The 400 Burgman I rode for a very short trip seemed like it would be about perfect as an all around two wheeled vehicle.
The Morphous 250 I owned was extremely stable and rode like a Cadillac, much better on the highway compared to the Helix but not enough engine for the weight of the bike.

[Mrnoital]

Originally Posted by vortexau

Amazing how many folk just have so much negative thought to contribute.

You make the mistake of implying that positive comments are some how more credible than negative ones.

[cbolling]

Just bought a 2011 Versys to go along with my Zuma 125.

I think a Maxi scooter would be a great combination of the 2.

[Rugby4life]

Originally Posted by cbolling

Just bought a 2011 Versys to go along with my Zuma 125.

I think a Maxi scooter would be a great combination of the 2.

Or an addition to the two???

[vortexau]

Originally Posted by Mrnoital

You make the mistake of implying that positive comments are some how more credible than negative ones.

Having BOTH positive and negative comments makes for a balanced outlook.

Solely negative?

[Mrnoital]

Originally Posted by vortexau

Having BOTH positive and negative comments makes for a balanced outlook.

The need for balance is an abstract idea. If I say I hate Saddam Hussein, I don't have to balance that by saying he had good taste in suits.
These are machines we are talking about.

[MQracing]

I'll join the choir and sing the praises of the Burgman 400. I have a total of five bikes--- if I were forced somehow (by contempuous gods or something) to pare down to just one bike I'm afraid it would most likely be the Burgman.

I've gone up the NE EXT (turnpike) in PA running 85mph indicated--- for scores of miles at a time. Yet it is a good bike
in an urban setting (Philly). The bike carries it's weight low--- seat height is relatively low--- fuel mileage I'm getting is around 40 mpg in the city and around 62mpg on the highway.

Sometimes I get where I don't like the "cruiser" ergos of the Burgman--- I've ridden for example the BV500 which is a more upright seating position and which I kinda like--- but I wonder if on a long trip the moreso limited ergos would grow old on me--- the Burgman gives you a lot of leeway in how you ride it--- meaning where you put your feet and etc.

Another advantage of the burgman is that I can fit (depending on squeeze factor) somewhere btwn four to six full bags of groceries under the seat.

I love all kinds of motorcycles and scoots--- wish I were in Jay Leno's boat to have one of everything I like.

But for an all around really great two wheeler the Burgman 400 is tough to outdo.

MSL

[cbolling]

Originally Posted by Rugby4life

Or an addition to the two???

Get me a job where you work and that might be possible.

[cdwise]

Originally Posted by MQracing

Sometimes I get where I don't like the "cruiser" ergos of the Burgman--- I've ridden for example the BV500 which is a more upright seating position and which I kinda like--- but I wonder if on a long trip the moreso limited ergos would grow old on me--- the Burgman gives you a lot of leeway in how you ride it--- meaning where you put your feet and etc.

Another advantage of the burgman is that I can fit (depending on squeeze factor) somewhere btwn four to six full bags of groceries under the seat.

FWIW, I traded in a Burgman 400 for a BV 500 and couldn't be happier. Everyone's views on the proper ergonomics vary but for me the BV is a much better tourer. I did a 4,400 mile trip on it this summer going from Colorado to Wyoming,South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, across the lake on the Lake Express Ferry, back through Wisconsin & Minnesota to North Dakota, Montana back down to Wyoming before returning to Colorado. I saw Crazy Horse, Mt. Rushmore, Sturgis, Badlands, Amerivespa, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons and a whole bunch of just plain old mountain/hills/sweepers and twisties (yeah, a lot of more or less boring upper plains as well but sometimes you have to take the boring with the fun.) Days ranging from a 100 miles to over 550 miles. The only advantage the Burgman would have had was that with the Burgman I could stow pretty much everything for the trip under the seat. With the BV I needed my Givi topcase and a rollbag but the roolbag doubled as a backrest which I would definitely have needed on the Burgman so it would have gone anyway.

Burgmans are good scooters, they just don't fit me. Isn't it a good thing that there are different styles and ergonomics?

[KennyT]

Sounds like a great trip! I hope to do similar some day. What a great way to see the country...
Is the BV 500 smaller than the Burgman 400 weight wise? I have only seen pics...
I assumed a bigger bike would be easier out on long trips on the highway, but I may be wrong on the weights of the two...
Ken