From a Burgman to a Forza

[Dr Gonzo]

I've never really gelled with the Burgman 650 I've been riding for around a year and a half now, and so I decided to do something about it.

Getting another TMax was out of the question. I seriously considered a Kymco AK550 but the only available secondhand locally was available for a test ride from the dealer! I then started to think about an X-ADV or a Forza 750. Once I found a local dealer had a second hand Forza 750 available I was on the phone to arrange a test ride today.

Ooh, yes. How much fun and that exhaust note...!

Anybody want to buy a 2016 Burgman 650? I'm going to sell the Burgman and buy a Forza 750. It left me grinning in the same way riding a TMax 560 did. Happy days.

[Andym]

May I ask what is going against the TMax?

I'm due an upgrade in 2027 and all three maxi's you mention are on my list of possible.

Andy

[Dr Gonzo]

I'd love another TMax but having had two stolen three times inside 12 months, I can't deal with the stress of owning another.
That was the reason for buying the Burgman, knowing no one would nick it!

[Andym]

I can appreciate that sad as it is

I'm hopeful Yamaha switching to keyless will put the brakes on the thefts but am also counting this as a factor against, they really have been slow to react. It's almost like they enjoy selling extra bikes to insurance companies ☹

It's the usual Unicorn bike problem. Forza 750 issue is the open chain, but yes I'd rather have a bike still there to deal with the silly race fashion than not.

Andy

[Ministerofsillywalks]

I'd love another TMax but having had two stolen three times inside 12 months, I can't deal with the stress of owning another.
That was the reason for buying the Burgman, knowing no one would nick it!

I shouldn't bet on that! A few years ago some thieving low-life stole my SYM Maxsym 600i.

[Ministerofsillywalks]

I can appreciate that sad as it is

I'm hopeful Yamaha switching to keyless will put the brakes on the thefts but am also counting this as a factor against, they really have been slow to react. It's almost like they enjoy selling extra bikes to insurance companies ☹

It's the usual Unicorn bike problem. Forza 750 issue is the open chain, but yes I'd rather have a bike still there to deal with the silly race fashion than not.

Andy

I don't think keyless will make any difference. All that will happen is thieves will push it somewhere out of the way start it, and when they find they can't they will just dump it and find another one. They don't need a conventional ignition lock to start a stolen bike anyway. They just hot-wire it. And if keyless stops them from doing this, as I say they dump it. Very likely damaged from their attempt to hot-wire it.

[Andym]

Honda seem to bury the wires deeper and don't sell emulators on Temo for £7.

The "roadman" scum don't have scanner level skills, so simply putting a keyless receiver deeper in the loom does seem to offer a bit extra protection.

Dumped means recoverable and maybe after dumping a couple of Honda's as hard work they'll stick to stealing Yamaha's?

Andy

[Dr Gonzo]

Well, I've now done 1k on my Forza 750 and I'm happy with it. It's not as mental as a TMax, but it is rapid when you want it to be. The DCT/automatic shifting takes a bit of getting used to. In 'Standard' mode, it feels like it's short-shifting, which is great for fuel consumption, but not much fun. However, switch to 'Sport' mode and it's a lot more entertaining. IMHO, 'Rain' mode feels terrible. I haven't bothered with the 'User' setting as that would mean reading the manual.
Bottom line - it makes me smile every time I ride it.

[MrGrumpy]

Honda claim to have improved the DCT for 2025 making it a bit less yawn inducing. It was really annoying the way it insists in changing into top gear at every opportunity. I haven't got a DCT scoot, but the User Mode actually sounds quite interesting as I believe you can pick a variety of options - ie set the gearbox to be in sport mode thus being happier to change down once in a while, whilst leaving other things (eg engine) in econ mode. Or something like that!

[scootabout]

Honda seem to bury the wires deeper and don't sell emulators on Temo for £7.

The "roadman" scum don't have scanner level skills, so simply putting a keyless receiver deeper in the loom does seem to offer a bit extra protection.

Dumped means recoverable and maybe after dumping a couple of Honda's as hard work they'll stick to stealing Yamaha's?

Andy

Keyless doesn't stop the scum. I've had two Forza 350's stolen in 18 months. The last one from Frinton, of all places!