Demo rode a 2014 Suzuki Burgman 650 today.

[JaimeC]

Here's an excerpt of the report I gave my club. I rode there on my C650GT so I would have the comparisons fresh in my mind:

The Burgman 650 I rode was "nice." There is a lot less vibration reaching the rider through the handgrips and floorboards. The C650GT has a constant, low-frequency "rumble" that I don't find at all annoying, it's just "there." The TMAX had a more annoying high frequency "buzz" that came in and out based on RPM.

The mirrors on the Burgman (not including the "power feature") were far more effective at letting me see what is directly behind me. The mirrors on the C650GT seem to come directly off of a sportbike as they are just as useless as those things are (good view of your upper arms and the lanes on either side of you... not much more).

Despite being a physically larger scooter, I had less legroom on the Burgman. The legroom is pretty much what I had on the TMAX; you can only stretch your legs if you push yourself up the backrest. I can easily straighten and stretch my legs on the C650GT without any effort.

The power window on the Burgman raises and lowers a LOT faster than the C650GT. I can't fairly compare the wind protection because the Burgman had the stock windscreen, and I have an aftermarket one. However, the Aeroflow screen on my C650GT is a much better screen than the stock Burgman screen (take that for what you will).

As for performance: I left the Burgman in "Power" mode (it has two "automatic modes" as well as a semi-manual mode). Acceleration from a stop was nowhere near the 500cc TMAX, let alone my 650cc C650GT. Either scooter would leave the Burgman at the starting line. As far as cornering, I didn't like the feel there as it felt like it wanted to "fall" into turns; not unlike some cruiser bikes I've ridden in the past.

As for storage, the underseat area of the Burgman appears to be about the same as the C650GT. It doesn't look like there's any way to attach a top box, so the C650GT has an option to increase storage capacity unavailable to the Burgman. There are two LITTLE "glove boxes" on the fairing where you can stow change, gloves, or other small items. These do not lock. There is a third, larger compartment below these two that spans nearly the width of the fairing. This one has a lock and you can stow much more "stuff" in there. I didn't check to see if there was an electrical outlet inside any of the available compartments (the C650GT has a standard, cigarette-lighter sized outlet in the left glovebox).

If the Burgman has controls for heated grips or a heated seat, we couldn't find them. The only unusual control is the blue button on the left hand grip. When you push that button, the two mirrors fold inward to allow you to lane split more easily. Push the button again, and the mirrors return to their standard position. Neat feature, but in most of the United States (California excepted, of course) lane splitting is illegal.

The Burgman also comes equipped with ABS brakes standard. The MSRP is actually $500 MORE than the BMW C650GT "Highline Edition" (equipped with heated seat and grips) so contrary to popular belief, the BMWs are NOT the most expensive maxiscooters you can buy.

Suzuki has been building the Burgman for YEARS (a friend and I test rode them at Biketoberfest eight years ago). The BMWs are relatively new and are definitely having their "teething problems." I don't think you could go wrong with either one, but for me I prefer the C650GT.

 

[Scorpion56]

Thanks for that excellent report Jaime. Very consistent with the head-to-head articles out there. If not for the teething problems, BMW would be the hands down winner in this class. It probably still is even with them. It would be interesting, if the data exists, on warranty costs incurred by BMW per 100,000 miles, vs. the Burgman or Silverwing.

 

[Normsthename]

I've owned three Burgman 650's and I must admit I have a soft spot for them
Your review is quite accurate except for keeping it in Power Mode.....
When not in Power Mode the Scooter gives a much more relaxed ride, only use the Power button when you need it!
UK models have the heated seat Button on the Dashboard just above the glove box, you can't miss it!
Heated grips are on a bracket on the LH bar.
The heated gear on the Burgman is rubbish! They never get close to hot, the BMW heated gear is miles better
The handling is much much better on the BMW than the Burgman.
I had a Testride on the Latest Burgman two weeks ago and having ridden to the dealer on my BMW C600 I could compare them back to back.
The BMW Handling is light years ahead, the Burgman felt like a Pogo Stick in comparison.
Like I said above I love the Burgman 650 but the BMW Scoot is miles better

Andy

 

[JaimeC]

I left it in "Power" mode to get an idea of its performance. The demo ride was rather short, and we never got much over 40 mph, so acceleration and cornering really were the only two "performance" items I could test. I forgot to mention the cute little green "Eco" light on the dash that came on whenever we were just loafing along, and went out everytime I powered out of a corner or accelerated away from a stop sign.

 

[soc714]

Next time you get a chance to ride a Burgman 650. Take it out on a long stretch of interstate. At 85 mine is turning 5500 rpm. When I put it in manual then to 6th gear it drops the rpm to 4500. When I get back to 5500 rpm the speedo says 95. Its still very smooth and I actually think it cuts through the air better at 95 than it does at 70. The Burgman 650 is not a 1/4 mile machine , but that engine and electronic CVT has some guts.

I would like to test ride a 650 GT and the Kymco MyRoad someday. I put the Dr pulley rollers in my Silverwing, and it helped both low end and top end. But the Burg will flat walk away from my silverwing on the interstate.

 

[Oldscoot]

Excellent review. I've owned a Burgman 650 and referred to it as the "Great Black Whale" (in homage to Melville). Based upon posts in Burgman USA (a superb forum) transmission repairs on these bikes can run into the multi-thousand-dollar range and certain design problems have continued to plague the bikes - at least in previous versions. I've learned that there are no perfect machines. I think the teething problems unique to our C series bikes are being worked out. Other problems such as "mysterious noises" are caused by gremlins that live in all PTW vehicles. Have a friend give you a "Gremlin Bell" to handle those issues.

 

[Normsthename]

It doesn't look like there's any way to attach a top box

You can fit a Top Box to the Burgman 650 either Suzuki or Givi
But on the latest Models you need to buy a Plain Panel from Suzuki to replace the Panel that holds the Passenger Backrest.
Not cheap at £90 (approx $150).........
You then have to drill 3 holes in your new plastic panel to accept the Top Box Mounting.

Andy

 

[Snowdog]

I've owned three Burgman 650's and I must admit I have a soft spot for them
Your review is quite accurate except for keeping it in Power Mode.....
When not in Power Mode the Scooter gives a much more relaxed ride, only use the Power button when you need it!
UK models have the heated seat Button on the Dashboard just above the glove box, you can't miss it!
Heated grips are on a bracket on the LH bar.
The heated gear on the Burgman is rubbish! They never get close to hot, the BMW heated gear is miles better
The handling is much much better on the BMW than the Burgman.
I had a Testride on the Latest Burgman two weeks ago and having ridden to the dealer on my BMW C600 I could compare them back to back.
The BMW Handling is light years ahead, the Burgman felt like a Pogo Stick in comparison.
Like I said above I love the Burgman 650 but the BMW Scoot is miles better

Andy

I have to say the BMW heated grips really are better then the heated grips I have used in the past. I still think heated gloves work better in really cold temps. I like the back of my hands to be warm too!

 

[JaimeC]

I wear thick winter gauntlets with my heated grips. The insulation on the back of the glove does a wonderful job of keeping my hands warm. The problem with winter gloves, though, is when you are actually holding the grip, you are basically squeezing all of the air out of the insulation on the palms. The only solution to that would be closed-cell neoprene liners (like from a scuba wetsuit) in the palm side of the glove. Unfortunately, that would also make your "feel" for the controls feel rather vague.

Heated grips heat the one part of your hand that REALLY needs the heat; your palms. Proper winter gauntlets will take care of the rest. I've ridden in temperatures below 10 degrees Fahrenheit, and I know this works. Of course, the BEST heated gear would be a snugly-fitting VEST right against your body (with as few layers of clothing inbetween). The warmer you keep your body core, the less cold your extremities will get.

 

[Snowdog]

I wear thick winter gauntlets with my heated grips. The insulation on the back of the glove does a wonderful job of keeping my hands warm. The problem with winter gloves, though, is when you are actually holding the grip, you are basically squeezing all of the air out of the insulation on the palms. The only solution to that would be closed-cell neoprene liners (like from a scuba wetsuit) in the palm side of the glove. Unfortunately, that would also make your "feel" for the controls feel rather vague.

Heated grips heat the one part of your hand that REALLY needs the heat; your palms. Proper winter gauntlets will take care of the rest. I've ridden in temperatures below 10 degrees Fahrenheit, and I know this works. Of course, the BEST heated gear would be a snugly-fitting VEST right against your body (with as few layers of clothing inbetween). The warmer you keep your body core, the less cold your extremities will get.

I have experience windsurfing in the winter so know that neoprene isn't the answer as it takes so much energy to grip on to something. Your hands are exhausted in short order.
Once I tried mountaineering gloves on my bike. The kind you would wear on Everest. Yep, plenty warm, but, when you tried to turn the throttle the insides would move , the palms would stay where they were. Very difficult to ride if you can't turn the throttle. I still have those mitts and wear them whenever I am standing on top of a mountain in the middle of the winter and it's blowing 60 knots. Yeah right!!
I do use my heated grips and I will continue to use my heated gloves in the winter, they work, I like them, and, I can still push buttons and turn throttles with out excess muscle force. I have ridden in winter conditions many times, with many types of gloves ( I live North of Boston), electric gloves work best for me. If BMW had non heated grip sports available, I wouldn't have paid for the option. Heated gloves are a better deal.

 

[JaimeC]

I won't argue that heated gloves may be better BUT they are only good if you're actually wearing them. I know I've been caught out a number of times by unexpected temperature drops. The grips are ALWAYS on the bike. Warm gloves? Not always.

I remember riding through the Poconos in Pennsylvania in the middle of August with my teeth chattering, for example. The heated grips and heated saddle on my K1200LT were the only things that kept me going till I got off the plateau and down to more normal August temperatures. My friends who live there call it the Arctic Circle. Now I know why.

 

[Snowdog]

I guess my Boy Scout training has affected me, as I always carry extra clothing for temperatures more extreme then when I left home. The interesting thing about electric gloves and electric jackets ,pants etc. , is you can wear them in the turned off position. You don't have to wait for it to get colder to put them on. When riding in the mountains, I just turn them on at high altitudes and off in the valleys. In New England, if you are a betting man, you bet it's going to get colder!

 

[JaimeC]

Most electric clothing has more insulation than I'd need/want in the August extreme condition I described above. It was AUGUST... who'd think you even NEED electric clothing? Only other time I got "surprised" in August was in Newfoundland... but I actually HAD my electric vest with me because I'd never been that far north before. I had no idea how chilled I was until I'd stopped for gas and I couldn't hold the **** fuel hose steady. IMMEDIATELY went indoors to strip off my Roadcrafter suit, put on my electric vest, and then put the Roadcrafter back on.

Live and learn.

 

[SteveADV]

.....I had no idea how chilled I was until I'd stopped for gas and I couldn't hold the **** fuel hose steady.....

That's what she said.

(Sorry)

 

[SteveADV]

I guess my Boy Scout training has affected me, as I always carry extra clothing for temperatures more extreme then when I left home.....

I do not have the touring experience that many have on this forum as my background is dirt and moguls, but last winter I did the same as Snowdog; carried lots of extra layers. Sometimes (many times), I stopped and re-layered always looking for those wind gaps in my neck and wrists. I rode my C650GT on any day where I could get to clear roads.
View attachment 705

But geez oh man boys, why the heck am I talking about cold weather riding in the beginning of August. No doubt I am missing something simple and obvious.

 

[Snowdog]

Most electric clothing has more insulation than I'd need/want in the August extreme condition I described above. It was AUGUST... who'd think you even NEED electric clothing? Only other time I got "surprised" in August was in Newfoundland... but I actually HAD my electric vest with me because I'd never been that far north before. I had no idea how chilled I was until I'd stopped for gas and I couldn't hold the **** fuel hose steady. IMMEDIATELY went indoors to strip off my Roadcrafter suit, put on my electric vest, and then put the Roadcrafter back on.

Live and learn.

I went to Newfoundland a few years ago ( did you go the year the BMW rally was there? that's the year I went, I was on my Silverwing, though) and packed my winter gear for the trip. Yes it was August, and yes I wore the winter gear several times. I also rode through a hurricane on that trip. I loved Newfoundland, and will go back some time. It's beautiful, but, be prepared!!

 

[wsteele]

I was in Iceland during August and toured the whole island over the course of 10 days and had hit it just right as our Islandic friends told us because it didn't rain and it was unusually warm for the time we were there. Beautiful country in its own way and a bonus was they actually like Americans. P S I was married to an Islandic woman for 10 yrs so it was cool to see where she grew up.

 

[Snowdog]

Yes, I would love to go to Iceland. Did you rent a bike, or ship yours there.

 

[wsteele]

Yes, I would love to go to Iceland. Did you rent a bike, or ship yours there.

We did not have bikes because 90% of the roads are loose gravel and the roads are raised so if you go off the road you would have aleast a good 10 ft drop in most places and the truckers don't stop for anything they just keep going and once you get out of Reykjevik most of the bridges are 1 lane and who is ever on first has right of way so yo have to back up, also the must be a million sheep and they roam all over the place big hazard even with a SUV. Still a great place to travel to I am looking forward to going there again.

 

[JaimeC]

Newfoundland is my wife's favorite motorcycle destination. We never attended any rallies up there. We were surprised in 2000 by the celebration of the 1,000th anniversary of the discovery of the New World by Europeans (the Norse discovered the New World 492 years before Columbus discovered the West Indies). They had a reenactment of the arrival of the Vikings to L'Anse Aux Meadows at the northern tip of the island. HUGE deal, with contingencies from the Scandinavian countries, the Native Americans, Canadians, etc. First time I'd EVER experienced "traffic" on the rock!