tmax vs burgman 400 debate

[halfabusa]

Ah! i assumed your colleague was in UK, so nevermind. I think i'll stick with a second hand purchase next time around again. I wouldn't want the hassle of private usage implications. I have a car as well but i ride the scooter whenever i can and not only for work.

I'm not after sustained 90mph+ speeds, it's really rare that i would need it and when i do, i'd like to know it would be capable of doing so. My 90% riding is up to 50-60 in and around london, and only get to use the motorway speeds every once in a while.

How do you find the acceleration from standing start? Also is the engine mounted on the suspension on the b400 or chasis?

[halfabusa]

33bhp is OK normally, but when you get on M-ways, you will notice the effects of headwinds rather more than a Tmax, especially up hills. 33bhp is probably just about enough to maintain 70 in all conceivable circumstances ie into a gale and up a steep hill!

mate, i'd rather not try my luck even at 70 in a gale But i get your point. bhp is bhp in the end, and i know that there's not much weight difference between tmax and the burgman, so in the end tmax will always be the more powerful one. Question is how much more powerful... Got to have a test ride on a burgman badly...

[Data]

Hi Halfabusa,

Grumpy is about right. The engine designer on the latest 399cc Burgman engine has arranged the maximum torque to be at relatively low revs, and there is plenty of it (36.3nm at 5800rpm) spread around the rev range. Given that maximum power revs are at just 7300rpm, and the red line at 8900rpm, it's got a good spread of power right across the rev range, high or low revs. When I went two up to Birmingham 70-75mph was a dodle even though both of us weighed 13+ stones each. It was windy on the day and it coped fine. Going up, two up, we did have the wind mostly behind us. On the way back I was solo and confronted with a headwind. It was fine, no issues with the bike struggling. There was plenty of power. I suspect it would have been ok with my passenger too even with that headwind. But the Tmax would have had more power in every cirumstance of course, it's the Ferrari of scooters and very nice too! But look at my face... (actual photo of my face!) am I bovvered!

Moving off from a standstill in a hurry can take a moment as the clutch engages fully, but I'm usually first away from the lights no problem. The delay is a very minor one and you soon get used to it and compensate. I've experienced it on many cvt driven scooters since I entered this strange smaller wheeled world. The great thing is, once under way twist that grip and she just goes...there's plenty of clout everywhere in the rev range one or two up. It feels like it's the business.

The suspension at the rear uses the engine as part of the suspension. It forms the swingarm in effect. It has a single adjustable monoshock. Mine has 7 adjustable positions. I've got mine of '5' for normal everyday running about and cruising, that's a fairly firm setting. Importantly, nasty potholes don't seem to phase it! I went two up to the NEC on position '6' for a slightly stiffer ride. It was more than fine, it was brilliant at motorway speeds on that setting and cornered well on some of the tight bends too. On position '5', and solo, I find I can scratch on the backroads quite ok and have never grounded the stand when laid over. In fact the handling is way better than it should be. Let's face it, it doesn't look as if it should handle ok, but it does really well under just about any circumstances. It's a good all rounder. No sign of any frame or fork flexing. But you need to be realistic and remember you are not on an R1.

Hope that helps.

[halfabusa]

great bit of info there, thanks Data.