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Ok......so here it is, I sucumb to my loyal friends pressure.......

Suzuki Burgman 650
Is really a motorcycle with a scooter body as it has the engine mounted on the frame, unlike the typical scooter
638 cc twin
FI
50 hp, 8500 redline
540 pounds wet
CVT, with power and manual mode (shifting)
Dual discs up front, single on rear
15" front wheel, 14" rear
4 gallon tank, my first tank returned 54 mpg, with significant high speed runs
Cavernous storage under the seat, 2 helmets and gear. Mine came with a Givi 52 box and two helmets.
The seat is comfortable, but I find it too wide for the inner thighs.....
42 psi rear, 32 front
Had it up to 116 indicated, speedometer is off by 5 mph

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff49 ... 659001.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff49 ... 659002.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff49 ... 659004.jpg

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff49 ... 659003.jpg

This baby gets up and go and I got it for a bargain price

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc5LjLfzdZY

I have some mods planned:

Baseline dyno
Leo Vince exhaust
Power Commander
Intake mod
Back to dyno for final trim
Racetech Emulator and springs as the front end is not very compliant
I have already replaced the rear shocks with dual coil , 79-82 Honda vintage (brand new $60/pair). Stronger spring and more compliance.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff49 ... 659008.jpg - Stock

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff49 ... 659007.jpg - Honda

Given an opportunity, check it out, I'm not trying to convert anyone but this is a SCOOT......so far I'm very impressed.

boxermania,
but will the Harley guys wave at someone riding a scooter?
Looks like a nice machine, my wife has been making noises like she may like one, so you got the female vote in this house. I've owned 4 Suzuki's, all have been reliable and fun to ride, one I had for 20 years (78 GS 750). Keep us informed as to how your mods work out, you may become the Pops Yoshimura of the Burgman crowd.
Don

Does this mean you're gonna come ride with us at Eureka Springs?

Al, I am seeing more and more of those things on the road lately around here. I think people are touring on them!

Considering your well-deserved reputation for mods, it will be interesting to see where that thing ends up! Talk about a wolf in sheep's clothing!

Don

Actually, the best all around bike that I have ever owned was my 1998 Suzuki Bandit 1200 S, period. Never said no and never let me down....was it perfect, no but no bike is perfect. I have always kept 2 bikes and she shared riding with my 02 BMW R1150R....sadly they are both gone.

I have been looking at it for the better part of 8 months as they have been in the market since 03, basically unchanged. They have a great site, somewwhat less informative but very good on basic maintenance and other scoots. Don't let your wife check it out.....unless you haven't bought her a Christmas present.

http://www.burgmanusa.com/

Boxer

Even though I enjoy inmensely the camaraderie and the old/new faces at the gatherings, I'm afraidf that it will not happen this time. The plant is running at 70% and need to increase capacity.....to make things worse I had already made arrangements to visit with my daughter in Dallas the following week......

Please do enjoy the event and say Hi! for me to all the attendees.......maybe next year we find a site inside a triangle formed by Louisiana, NC and Florida to give a chance to the guys in the deep south to partake of the activities. We will have to think about it.

Van

Owners/riders tour on them as much as any other form of two cycle riding. However the great majority use it to commute, save gas.....and split lanes.

No, I don't expect to get gobs of hp, maybe 8% to 10% since it is FI and water cooled. Just guessing, from 42hp to 44 hp RWHP to 47 hp or 48 hp. Not much of a increase but I'm looking for more punch in the midrange....and with the CVT tranny that will be most welcome.

There is a yellow one running around Tokyo with a turbo and 90 hp RWHP......it's a terror.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WBcdKdCNas

Congrats on the new ride, Al. I've been anxious to ride of those since they came on the market. From what I hear, they're a hoot to ride. Hope we'll catch up with you one day soon, can't wait to see it!

I commute about 30 km (total) to and from work, in heavy traffic my Piaggio is the way to go.

Boxermania-

Mrs. Sweatmark and I were riding down to California a few seasons ago, aboard R1100R and R1150R Roadsters at the time, and got smoked by a couple riding two-up on a Burgman. Not that we were moving all that fast (60-70mph), but were impressed by the sure-footed speed of that scooter at its GVWR.

Enjoy!

owldaddy wrote:boxermania,
but will the Harley guys wave at someone riding a scooter?
...
Don

I can tell you yes they do, but it helps if you wave first (doesn't it always?).

Boxermania,

These scooters are one of the best kept two wheel secrets. It's the macho factor, hard to overcome, but when you're on one you're having so much fun you don't care how you look. And you can't look all hard with a big goofy grin on your face anyway.

Looks like someone has had that big burger cranked over far enough to scuff up the cowling. I think I scrape the center stand on the Morphous almost every time I ride it, it is a lot lower though.

Have fun!!!

Brian, I can't lay claim as to the scuff......it was the PO as he approached the curbside to make it easier for his wife to get on. It is purely cosmetic and will fi when the panel comes of to install the Leo Vince exhaust.

Yes, is a well kept secret and they are a HOOT to ride!!!

"I think I scrape the center stand on the Morphous almost every time I ride it, it is a lot lower though."


Brian----I 'spect that's cause you're a big boy!

towerworker wrote:"I think I scrape the center stand on the Morphous almost every time I ride it, it is a lot lower though."


Brian----I 'spect that's cause you're a big boy!

Well, maybe...but I'm not as big as I used to be.

Boxermania:
I find it surprizing that you are switching to a scooter. I thought you were the dean of oilheads.

MK

mkmd555

Both the 02 R1150R and the 98 Suzuki Bandit 1200S where sold May 07 in preparation of my return trip to the land of the Rising Sun......unfortunately the assignment materialized at a time when I wasn't able and ready to go.

I have been researching the scoots since about that time.....I do have another toy, in addition to the CBX that I'm rebuilding, but it shall remain nameless for now........

Good score, Mr. Mania. I like that sucker, might have to check 'em out in the flesh. It looks really practical and a blast to ride. Keep us updated.

Great scoot. You'll find that for practicality they can't be beat. They are also about the funnest thing on two wheels. I've had a little Vespa ET4 for years. Since buying it my wife and I rarely use anything else for trips less than 10 miles and I think most people would be surprised at how much stuff they hold.

And, at 280lbs. I can still get 70 miles per gallon (premium, unfortunately).

Good luck with it--watch for potholes. They're hell on small wheels.

Al, it's about time you fessed up . . . . . I don't know how much longer I could have kept the secret you trusted me with . . . . but who else would appreciate and understand the machine's bazaar cluster of of the latest technology?
Watching the tach in those YouTube videos explains why they really scoot when you screw the gas on . . . . the engine stays in it's torque peak RPM.

ANOTHER addition??
We need to talk.

.

CVT transmission is one of the greatest inventions.

1) It is simple
2) Has just a handfull of parts
3) Is the most efficient of the transmissions
4) The belt on this one is for life, unlike the 14K replacement requirement on the smaller scoots
5) Since it is electronically controlled, te engine rpms are kept right around the fat portion of the power band

I'm looking forward to Saturday as I will be going to the dyno to baseline the scoot prior to the mods......I'll share the results.

BTW Rob.....you should know what is my "other secret" as we have talked about my passion for them......I'll have to post some pics.....it's cherry

I have such a love-hate relationship with CVTs. They're engineering brilliance for all the reasons you mentioned, but it drives me nuts to really get on the throttle on my girlfriend's scooter and just listen to the engine at the same RPM the whole time. One of the older Top Gear episodes has a bit with Jeremy Clarkson reviewing the Nissan Cube and his comment on its CVT transmission was "If you buy the CVT, it'll sound like they're filming an episode of 'Bonanza' under the bonnet: mooooooooooooooo."

I think I'm going to have the same problem with electric vehicles. There's nothing to make you feel like you're making decisions besides issuing the "Take me work, Jeeves" order.

brem

Point well taken, based on your experience. But CVT's have changed a lot since centrifugal clutches. get a ride on a 650 Burgman, I'm picky and I'm smiling.....I'm sure you will be smiling as well.......