The Burgman Professor

Saw this on a Facebook Silverwing group:

Notable that the author, while composing a story to call a group of people stupid, manages to misspell Burgman five times.

Kidding aside, I've owned three Burgman 650's. IMHO, the transmission is unrivaled by any maxi-scooter on earth; 3,000 rpm's at 50 mph like clockwork. And it sounds like a commercial jet. Niceties including electronic screen and fold-in mirrors, heated seat and grips, three glove boxes with 12-volt plug-in are very enjoyable.

For me, the Burgman has sufficient annoyances to preclude buying a fourth. The suspension can be teeth-rattling. The bike is a lumbering beast at low speed. And changing the spark plugs is likely to produce bloody knuckles.

But yeah, back to the point: Stupid.

Delray wrote:

Notable that the author, while composing a story to call a group of people stupid, manages to misspell Burgman five times.

Kidding aside, I've owned three Burgman 650's. IMHO, the transmission is unrivaled by any maxi-scooter on earth; 3,000 rpm's at 50 mph like clockwork. And it sounds like a commercial jet. Niceties including electronic screen and fold-in mirrors, heated seat and grips, three glove boxes with 12-volt plug-in are very enjoyable.

But yeah, back to the point: Stupid.

Yes. It’s obviously a tired joke that’s been repurposed many times for various subjects. Usually with better spelling and grammar.

The old Burgman 650, they certainly divide opinion, indulge me while I reminisce.

I had a 2010 Burgman 650 Executive for a couple of years and that was quite enough ownership for me. While an excellent two up motorway/autobahn cruiser with decent under seat storage, the rest of the package was lacking.

It was far too heavy, ( yes I know Gold Wings were far heavier, but they were four or six cylinder chromed up land barges, not a maxi scooter.  .

The 650's weight could be a handful on rural roads, frost damaged surfaces, and hard work in city traffic. You also had to ensure there was no road debris under your feet when a passenger climbed on and off. Mrs M informed me that the passenger seat was far too wide as well. I don't miss the farce of clambering on and off the Burgman when there was a tunnel bag fitted, or having to hold panniers out of the way at fuel pumps.

The big Burgman was worse than any other maxi scooter I've owned for picking up road crap, and I certainly don't miss the marathon cleaning sessions, especially in winter. Or hauling the heavy lardass lump about with a cold engine.

Like every other maxi I've owned the OE electric screen was useless, and there were far too many switches and buttons on the left handlebar. This could be confusing at night time on unlit roads in heavy gloves, and I had condensation inside one headlight after after a couple of wet days in Northern Ireland.

Then there was the internet paranoia after the transmission 'unrivalled by any maxi scooter on earth' cost quite a few riders an arm and a leg to fix, and caused an exodus of big Burgman owners on to Silver Wings and other maxi scooters.

Incorrectly spelling Burgman is one thing, it used to irritate me in my Burgman years when the occasional bloke who knew absolutely zilch about maxi scooters would start a conversation with me about the Burgman, and refer to it as a Burger Van to give himself brownie points..As if it was the nickname all those in the know used.

Let’s not forget 'Get the Burgman Grin' that someone would inevitably post in a reply to a new owner.

There's currently 24 used Burgman 650's for sale online here in the UK, and none of them are barn finds.

Well put, Meldrew. I have ridden the 650's but never owned one. I too liken it to a "Goldwing" of scooters. But the weight and complexity would keep me from buying one. The Burgman 400 is very similar to the Silver Wing and would be my choice in the Suzuki line.