Bought a Burgman

phobiaphobe · 06-07-2006, 10:07 PM

For my stepfather.

He's the kind of person that would love a toy like that, but would never go out and buy it himself. (even though he has lots of dough)

My siblings and mother and I (mostly my mother) chipped in some money... I'll be picking it up next week and riding it down to him on the Sunday. He'll be freaking floored.

Looking forward to trying it; actually a pretty cool machine.

CBR929RE · 06-07-2006, 10:13 PM

650?

I actually wanna hear the ride report. pretty interested to know what those things can do.

phobiaphobe · 06-07-2006, 10:15 PM

Yep 650. The non-abs version. Pearl white. Would have gone for the ABS, but they didn't have any available.

They had a nice Silver Wing there, but as much as it pains me to say this, I'm convinced that the Suzuki is a better bike.

CBR929RE · 06-07-2006, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

Yep 650. The non-abs version. Pearl white. Would have gone for the ABS, but they didn't have any available.

They had a nice Silver Wing there, but as much as it pains me to say this, I'm convinced that the Suzuki is a better bike.

can we really call that blasphemy, you are afterall only talking about a scooter. thats like saying you'd rather have a Toro over a Honda lawnmower, no one really cares.

SomeStrangeGuy · 06-08-2006, 1:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

thats like saying you'd rather have a Toro over a Honda lawnmower, no one really cares.

Harmony rules, bitch.

HondaGalToo · 06-08-2006, 8:35 AM

I have a Toro and a Honda lawnmower. Where's that leave me?

Purpdust · 06-08-2006, 2:28 PM

I actually had to google that to find out what the hell it was.

ND4SPD · 06-08-2006, 2:30 PM

http://www.texassidecars.com/images/...0650%20021.jpg

phobiaphobe · 06-08-2006, 2:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

http://www.texassidecars.com/images/...0650%20021.jpg

CBR929RE · 06-08-2006, 5:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomeStrangeGuy

Harmony rules, bitch.

so you're saying he shoulda bought the Silverwing?

HGT cut the lawn with both and let us know which did a better job

SomeStrangeGuy · 06-08-2006, 9:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

so you're saying he shoulda bought the Silverwing?

HGT cut the lawn with both and let us know which did a better job

Nah, burgman is cooler. But the Harmony destroys all, even those full size Ford and Deere tractors that the highway dept. uses. Sometimes I go out and race those jerks cutting the median and I always win, they can't even keep up...its crazy.

Harmony = game over b_tch.

SomeStrangeGuy · 06-08-2006, 9:10 PM

Oh and no I have no idea who butch is so don't ask.

CBR929RE · 06-08-2006, 9:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SomeStrangeGuy

Nah, burgman is cooler. But the Harmony destroys all, even those full size Ford and Deere tractors that the highway dept. uses. Sometimes I go out and race those jerks cutting the median and I always win, they can't even keep up...its crazy.

Harmony = game over b_tch.

no idea what a harmony is but came up with this "interesting" page when I searched http://scooter.meetup.com/cities/

SomeStrangeGuy · 06-08-2006, 10:47 PM

snood.

Scout · 06-11-2006, 12:59 PM

C'mon Phobe, kick down with the details.

phobiaphobe · 06-11-2006, 2:28 PM

I'm picking it up probably tuesday. Can't wait to try it.

Scout · 06-11-2006, 2:58 PM

phobiaphobe · 06-14-2006, 8:23 PM

Picked up the Burger today. Weather is shitty so the only riding I've done is around the parking lot, but I'll surely get a chance to cane it soon.

Northern RR · 06-14-2006, 8:47 PM

How about some "pics"

phobiaphobe · 06-15-2006, 2:10 AM

Burgs are fun. I don't care what anyone says.

Went for a little spin tonight with Jessica on the back... it handles passengers so well I could almost forget she was on there.... I say almost because she kept punching me, reminding me of her presence. Her little girl punches barely hurt though. Must have been scared or something.

She really didn't want to come, (hates motorcycles) in fact she tried to jump off as I pulled onto the street, but I gunned it so she had to hang on. It was either that or stay home and watch the evening news with grandma; which is equivalent to like, the 7th level of hell. Grandma likes to point at the television and yell at it, often repeating what was just said, followed (or preceded by) "SEEEEE???

And when you gun it, it genuinely goes. (nice segue huh?) You don't really appreciate how fast you're going until you look down at the digital speedo and realize you're 30 over the limit. So we putted first to a Shell station to fillerup with 12 litres (91 recommended) and then over to a quaint little local coffee shop for some 4 dollar lattes.

54 horsepower is plenty. Not that it wants to rip your arms out their sockets, like, say, a prize-winning CBR1000RR... but it's more than adequately quick. It just doesn't make a big deal about it. Leave it in automatic mode, give it throttle then simply brake and steer once in a while. It just putters right up to speed, making a charming little b.b.b.b.b.b.b.be.e.e.e.e.e.e.eee.ee just like the floating car in Star Wars(purse your lips as though playing a tuba and blow while humming "E"... my onomatopoeia is weak) but if you turn your head 75 degrees you can hear a cool little "potatopotato" twin sound from the single silencer. Hey! Watch the road.

Starting and stopping is a little awkward at first... that left lever is not a clutch. Gas it and put your feet up. You can put them wherever you want. Underneath you like a standard, way out in front of you like a chopper, or anywhere in between. It feels a little unstable at first having your knees together, but you get used to it after a few tries. Stopping takes a bit of practice too. The transmission's behaviour reminds me of an Allison automatic in "Tow/Haul" mode. It uses a sort of weird high-tech electronic centrifugal clutch, but it feels like a lock-up torque convertor. Let off the gas and it compression-brakes (fairly hard, in fact) until you get to about 10mph and it de-couples. At this moment you have to slightly increase your braking as the compression braking vanishes. At first this made for spastic jerky stops, but it only took a few tries to get the hang. Don't forget to put your feet down. I didn't use the manual mode... why bother? Power mode raises your (virtual) shift points, just like Tow-Haul in the, ahem, Allison.

Manoeuvrability is awesome! Especially low-speed. Keep your feet up, crank the bars (not all the way to the stops, friggin front wheel almost goes sideways) and turn little 20 foot donuts without batting an eye. At speed it can be flicked around remarkably easy, especially considering its considerable heft and gangling wheelbase. I credit the teeny 14 inch wheels and low CofG. Even with a chick on the back it can be flicked around like a... um, scooter.

And in the curves, the high seating position makes you feel like you're cranked right over, even at wimpy angles of lean. So much fun. It's stable too, and can easily burn around the narrow sidewalks and between the trees in the lawns on grandma's street.

The Burgman has a big trunk. And 3 glove compartments. THat is all I have to say about that.

Overall: no fault found. I would own one. I never stopped giggling, and Jessica never stopped punching me.

edit: yes, I am aware that I parked in a handicap stall.

Scout · 06-18-2006, 10:45 AM

I've always wondered, and everybody I've ever asked either hasn't ridden one, or won't admit it, being the big man macho sportbike guy knuckle draggers they are.

Good info, so now I can recommend one. No Osiris, it's not for my or my sons collection.