BikeTest: Suzuki Burgman AN 650 A:Suzuki's 650 Burgman is, currently, the largest capacity scooter on the European market but not, if persistent rumours come true, for much longer. It is also the most ingenious and complex due, largely, to its unique transmission system.
Outwardly there is not a lot to distinguish the Burgman 650 from others in the big scooter league. Compared to most scooters it looks big, solid, luxurious and comfortable. It is what goes on underneath the bodywork that makes the difference.
It is, as with all the big scooters, an automatic twist-and-go but with interesting and useful options. The first being that in the ordinary automatic mode there is a power button on the left-hand grip. Press this and the transmission drops down to a lower ratio and delays the upward progression to the normal ratio appreciably longer. The result is very impressive acceleration without the need to concern yourself with gear-changing. The effect, for those familiar with automatic cars, is akin to using the kick-down switch.
The other option is to switch from the automatic mode to manual, again done at the flick of a grip-mounted switch. In this mode there are five available gears. From rest the system automatically engages first gear. Thereafter upward and downward changes are controlled by a pair of buttons, 'up' and 'down'.
There is no clutch and the gear changes are full-power so no momentum is lost. When you come to a stop, no matter what gear you are in, the machine changes down to first gear ready to move off.
Those who are used to riding or driving properly, (that is being in the right gear at the right time and right place, as distinct from sleepwalking in automatic) will appreciate this facility.
It really comes into its own outside the traffic crawl and especially on twisty country roads. It is at the big scooter level that the boundaries between motorbikes and scooters are getting more and more blurred. Motorcyclists would recognise that, at last, we have reached the motorcycle /scooter interface.
ABS braking is now standard. Whilst one should never be riding in such a way for ABS to be necessary, it is nice to know that, come that lapse in concentration, it is there.
In terms of performance, this 650 scooter is as fast 0-100km/h as many a sports bike which means, translated into car terms, it can leave surrounding traffic wallowing in its wake. The maximum speed we achieved on our test was 179km/h (112mph).
The machine is more than capable of carrying two people for long distances in comfort. The generous screen and scooter-style bodywork ensures a high degree of weather protection. The available power is more than enough for all conditions, including fast European motorways.
There are 56 litres of underseat stowage, and a topbox can be added if required.
The front scuttle also contains three useful small glove lockers, and there is a 12v socket for mobile phone/laptop charging.
The pillion seat, which has a low backrest is comfortable. Our critic declared it as good as any scooter seat she has tried. A touch we really appreciated is the electrically-operated folding mirrors. Not just to keep them tucked in when parked but also useful in close traffic situations.
The instrument panel is well laid out, a large LCD display for speed, distance, clock, oil change and oil level as well as a bar-graph rev counter and transmission indicator.
The Burgman performs impressively on the road. It feels almost as stable as a well-bred motorcycle in virtually all conditions and is quite deceptively fast. We found ourselves riding a good 15 to 20 km/h more than we thought we were doing.
Any machine has a downside, and with the Burgman we found that, in admittedly very blustery conditions, it was noticeably more affected by cross winds than, for example, the Yamaha Black Max we rode a day later.
This was not dangerously so, just a bit disconcerting until we got used to its little ways and, in fairness, most riders would not be pushing this kind of machine to the extent we need to in road tests.
Most motorcyclists would, they will tell you, not be seen dead on a scooter.
The Burgman, because of its very respectable performance and its even better than motorcycle transmission system, is a scooter that, given the chance, many motorcyclists would recognise as a thoroughly respectable machine.
Those simply looking for near car-like simplicity and performance on two wheels will find the Burgman suits them.
If comfort ranks anywhere on your list then the Burgman could well be the answer. It would be difficult to travel on two wheels in greater comfort and luxury than on a scooter.
Indeed the few luxury motorcycles offering anything like the same degree of comfort cost two to three times as much.
Tech Spec
ENGINE: 638cc DOHC, liquid-cooled 2-cyclinder 4-stroke 40.5kW (55PS) @ 7,000rpm, 62 Nm @ 5,000rpm. 11.2:1 compression. 32mm fuel injection. Automatic transmission, with five-speed manual option.
CHASSIS: Telescopic front suspension, rear swinging arm with adjustable preload. 260mm dual front disc brakes with two piston calliper, rear single 250mm disc, two piston calliper. Wheels, front 15", rear 14"
DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase 1,595mm. Seat height 750mm. Dry weight 244kg. Fuel 15 litres.
PRICE: €10,950