Suzuki Burgman 650 Scooter Review (2005)

by TransistorQ1
(San Diego, CA, USA)

I love my Suzuki Burgman scooter. This is the granddaddy of all scooters, considered a Maxi-Scooter. A scooter by class and function, it comes in at a whopping 650cc!

You can get all of the specs from Suzuki's website, so I will focus on the functionality of it. I have put on over 21,000 miles in the last 2.6 years. I rode the 400 first, but knowing I would be traveling the freeways, I wanted to be sure I would still have acceleration after achieving freeway speeds.

I purchased it for my 33 mile SoCal daily commute. It makes the traffic laden trip a joy, each day. My mileage varies depending on how I drive it, but anywhere from 46-55mpg.

I place my laptop bag and gym bag and shoes in the huge underseat trunk when I leave for work. Upon arriving, I pull out those bags, then leave my full helmet, leather jacket, and boots in it's place. (And still have room!) On the way home, if I need to, I can easily stop by and pick up a few groceries or a bucket of chicken for the family.

The riding posture is upright and very comfortable. There is an adjustable backrest, which you set for your arm length. Riding 2-up is comfortable as well. The bike responds well and the passengers enjoy the comfort and stability of the wide seat.

Optionally, a passenger backrest can be added on. The passenger has easily used handholds. My family finds it much more comfortable to use these, rather than gripping around me. And if needed, I can place my helmet, and my wife's helmet under the seat at the same time, or if I have some other stuff in there, there is an external helmet clip as well.

The mirrors are a bit low and take a bit of getting used to. But, the bonus is that they fold in like a car's, which comes in handy parking in a tight space, the garage, or lane splitting!

Maintenance has been minimal, oil changes around 3,300 miles and tires and air filter around 9,000 miles are the most of it. I had a full service around 18k to get the valves adjusted. My brakes are still original and good to go.

Overall, it has been a joy to own and ride. If you want a scooter that is fun and easily cruises down the freeway over 100mph, then look no further.