2013 Burgman Test Ride.

[macamxthe1st]

Having owned a few (5) 400 Burgmans and currently deliberating whether to buy another 400 or splash out on the 650 variant I snapped up the opportunity to take a test ride on the 2013 650. My thoughts, A very sophisticated machine constructed to a high standard. Heavier than the 400 (obviously) but not an issue as weight low down, in fact it was a bit of a positive as the bike felt very "planted" the handling in general was better than it had any right to be. Power delivery very smooth but not the quantum leap over the 400 that I was hoping for. A very very nice machine, however, over complex. The manual gear selection option, a waste of two perfectly good switches, I would also question the validity of the "Power" button. The movable screen was to me of little or no use indeed I found the least turbulence was produced at the lowest setting and the range of movement pretty pointless. The strange thing was the screen itself, I know that this is very subjective but it look to me like it was a cheap add on and out of keeping with the quality of the rest of the bike. Now taking into account the price differential (£2,500+) the relative depreciation and the increased running costs it's another 400 for me.

Geoff.
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[Data]

Mac, you hit the nail on the head. My thoughts exactly. I too was considering the 650 but upon taking the all important test ride I thought it was a great machine, but performance while very very good is not worth the extra large amount of money. I think it's better than the previous version by far, which I've ridden several times over distance. If I was taking a passenger all the time on long long trips then it may be worth it. My 400 takes two beautifully at motorway speeds over big distances without any problem at all and no shortage of power. But I guess it does depend what you are looking for to some extent. I don't necessarily want or need to be in the outside lane all the time! I'm not ever going to part with my 400!

[macamxthe1st]

Thanks for that. I nearly ordered a 650 when they were first announced and whilst I would not have been disappointed I would have realised my error once the "shinny new thing" novelty had worn off. I will wait to see if the much rumored "facelift" comes to fruition in the next couple of months but I feel its going to be a tall order to improve on the current from a styling point of view but a new clutch design would be nice. Lets hope they don't do a Honda (aka VFR, Pan ect.) and spoil a really cracking bike.

Geoff.

[MrGrumpy]

Well, the performance of the 650 ought to be better than the 400...its got nigh on 66% more power in something that only weighs a bit more, so it should get a shift on!
In my experience I thought Power mode was occasionally useful, especially in going up and down hills (lots more engine braking). Semi-auto mode was a pain in the posterior though. On mine,the screen was permanently up as it was useless in any other position!

[spaceprobe]

Macs review seems to repeat what as been written by other reviews in the press. When I first contemplated the move from Bikes to Scooters it was the Burg 650 I was drawn to. Having decided to go down the 400 road I was concerned that I may have made a mistake when it came to motorway use etc. This as not been the case far from it which makes me feel a 400 is the sweet spot in terms of urban and highway use, not to mention bike weight and purchase price. Interesting the number of negative comments worldwide about the 650's, heated grips, screen and the pointless manual gear selection, about time Suzuki started to listen.

[poldark]

Macs review seems to repeat what as been written by other reviews in the press. When I first contemplated the move from Bikes to Scooters it was the Burg 650 I was drawn to. Having decided to go down the 400 road I was concerned that I may have made a mistake when it came to motorway use etc. This as not been the case far from it which makes me feel a 400 is the sweet spot in terms of urban and highway use, not to mention bike weight and purchase price. Interesting the number of negative comments worldwide about the 650's, heated grips, screen and the pointless manual gear selection, about time Suzuki started to listen.

There's very positive reviews and sales in the US, although they also regularly have the 400 v 650 debate too, but check BUSA and there's plenty of satisfied B650 riders. Perhaps the generally longer trip distances draw them to the 650 also I don't think Suzuki has driven the price up as much as they've done in UK & Europe.

[DougL]

The Burgman is more expensive in the USA than the BMW. Don''t forget that you also need to add tax onto the MSRP, as well as dealer prep etc. I'm sure though that it's still much cheaper than we can buy it.

[poldark]

The Burgman is more expensive in the USA than the BMW. Don''t forget that you also need to add tax onto the MSRP, as well as dealer prep etc. I'm sure though that it's still much cheaper than we can buy it.

I guess that says as much about BMW's pricing policy as it does Suzuki's.

As you say they get far lower new bike pricing generally, but no doubt BMW are keen to break into a potentially significant market, whilst they expect Europeans to be more willing to pay the badge premium.

[Raven]

I can only say that I’m more than pleased with mine. It’s done over a thousand miles now and with the first service out of the way she’s all run in. I’ve never had a ride on a 400 Burgman so can’t compare my 650 to one.

As it's always my wife sandy and I that go for rides I think I would most likely notice the difference in power. I also like the smoothness of the twin cylinder engine which to me seems very responsive. I must agree I think the option to change gear via the two buttons is a bit of a waste of time but I do find the power button quite handy in slow moving traffic as it keeps the scooter in a lower gear keeping the revs a bit higher. I have no problem with the electric screen some may see it as a gimmick, but you could say that about electric windows on a car.

If I were thinking about upgrading from the older style burgman just to have a newer machine. then no I would most likely not pay the extra just to have a new model. Though very soon the newer model will be all that's available so what are we to do then. As I was buying mine outright I preferred to go for the new model, I was offered some good deals on the old style 650, but I was only getting these offers as dealers wanted to get shot of the older style machine as they didn’t want to be stuck with them. Hell I was offered one for £1200 off the original price and a lifetime warranty (if I had the scooter serviced by them). Dealerships don’t make these offers for nothing they always get their money back when I asked if this would make any difference if I were to deal again in three years. I was told “Well you would be dealing in the old model”

As for the price I rang three large dealers and they all quoted me the price given on they Suzuki website. I rang a small local family firm and they gave me a price £690 below that given by the larger dealers. When I mentioned this to the big boys I was told that can’t be for the 2013 model there’s no way they can let you have one at that price - well all I can say is I have a 2013 model from the local family dealer and at the price quoted.

At the end of the day we all buy the machine we want and can afford and as long as we are happy with it that’s really all that matters.


Raven