First impressions of the silver wing

Having owned the Burgman 400 and 650, i can safely say the silver wing is more fun to ride. I felt very comfortable immediately on my first ride ever. As if I'd had it for years.
It's quite a bit lighter and more nimble than the big Burgman, and in every way out performs the 400. So it fits nicely in the middle.

The sitting position and the little backrest fit me just perfectly at 5'9". My feet naturally go to the forward part of the boards, which I really like, rather than the feel of the "throne" position with knees together, which I've always disliked.

Acceleration is good, not great. Roll on from 45 to 65 is just OK. The linked brakes feel very solid.
Freeway riding-it feels very planted and predictable. Wind /wet protection is excellent.
The only negative is the engine is a little buzzy, compared to the Burg 650 anyway. Not bad but it's there at any rpm. But mirrors are clear, even at 75 mph so I'll get used to it.
Bottom line is I really like it and will ride it a lot and that's what it's all about!
Glad to have found this forum :-)

Lots of great information here in this site- the only thing I note with the SWing is that when passing traffic, I have to plan the pass just a little better to give me more time to get by vs my 1100’s (with the SWing, it takes just a little longer to pass). It’s my ‘rolling office chair’ and to me is as good as a Honda DCT bike even though it’s a CVT without true gears.

Thanks for your impressions! I bought my Silver Wing in 2012 and still love it. The power is good, especially for a 600cc.  My main gripe was the windshield, I am 6 foot and the stock screen was too short. I had a Cee Bailey custom made years ago and it rocks.  All in all this is one of the quietest and smoothest bikes I have owned!

Hey Red Raider, I see that you also have a Honda CTX 700N. I've been contemplating going from my 2004 Swing to a 2014 CTX700. I'm currently hitting the freeway here in northern Colorado for a 20 mile commute to work and posted speed limit is 75! So far, the Swing is keeping up well (and passing a lot of slower moving vehicles to boot) but I'm not sure how much punishment this 580cc engine can take.

Can you compare the ride of the CTX and the Swing on the interstates?

Hey COMick- yes I have the naked version of the CTX700. I am pretty familiar with I-25 in Northern Colorado.75 mph on I-25 is just a suggestion, as you must know.

My brother used to live in Loveland, and my family would often vacation in the Poudre Canyon. River rafting mostly. Love it up there.

The engines are quite different on the two bikes. The CTX has a 270° crank, very torque-y down low like a v-twin cruiser. Not something I'd really recommend for sustained 80 mph runs.

If you're going to make daily 40 mile round trips on a freeway like that i would recommend  something like a used Honda ST1100. Can pick one up for probably 4500 bucks, and it eats miles like M&M's
80 mph is a comfortable cruising speed for it. Very good wind /weather protection. And that V4 is smooth as buttuh!

But to specifically answer your question if I had to take the CTX or the Swing on that run, I'd take the Swing.
Good luck!

COMick wrote:

Hey Red Raider, I see that you also have a Honda CTX 700N. I've been contemplating going from my 2004 Swing to a 2014 CTX700. I'm currently hitting the freeway here in northern Colorado for a 20 mile commute to work and posted speed limit is 75! So far, the Swing is keeping up well (and passing a lot of slower moving vehicles to boot) but I'm not sure how much punishment this 580cc engine can take.

Can you compare the ride of the CTX and the Swing on the interstates?

Personal opinion…I think the SWing’s engine is easily up to the task for a 20 mile commute, even at 75 mph. I ride mine on a local highway at 75+ mph and plenty of grunt is available (and you’re no where near redline). Maintain it and use it. Getting an ST1100 is a viable option, but then it’s another bike you need to learn and maintain (maintenance is pretty straightforward on those) plus insurance and registry costs. They are great bikes though (I have 2 of them and love to ride them, but they are heavy beasts, ~ 750# or so loaded).

Erdoc48 wrote:

COMick wrote:

Hey Red Raider, I see that you also have a Honda CTX 700N. I've been contemplating going from my 2004 Swing to a 2014 CTX700. I'm currently hitting the freeway here in northern Colorado for a 20 mile commute to work and posted speed limit is 75! So far, the Swing is keeping up well (and passing a lot of slower moving vehicles to boot) but I'm not sure how much punishment this 580cc engine can take.

Can you compare the ride of the CTX and the Swing on the interstates?

Personal opinion…I think the SWing’s engine is easily up to the task for a 20 mile commute, even at 75 mph. I ride mine on a local highway at 75+ mph and plenty of grunt is available (and you’re no where near redline). Maintain it and use it. Getting an ST1100 is a viable option, but then it’s another bike you need to learn and maintain (maintenance is pretty straightforward on those) plus insurance and registry costs. They are great bikes though (I have 2 of them and love to ride them, but they are heavy beasts, ~ 750# or so loaded).

Good points on the ST1100--it is a pretty heavy machine,but dang its a great sport tourer. I was also assuming OP is commuting on I-25, that may not be the case at all, in fact I think the speed limit on that road is 80 or 85? I know its hammer down or get outta the way
I do think the CTX700 engine is slightly more highway friendly, but mine being the Naked, I just cant handle the beating from the wind at sustained speed,which is why I would prefer the SWing on hiways.
COMick, you might want to look at the full fairing version of the CTX700--no doubt a cleaner ride through the turbulence, and most of them I have seen are DCT versions. Never ridden one myself
Anyway, good luck

Oh no!....after 150 Miles my scooter has developed the dreaded acceleration death rattle, well documented to exist on multiple threads here. Many potential causes, some just learn to ignore it==dammit. Dont think I'll be one of those  

I don't think any of them have actually died from a death rattle, but ear plugs are always a good idea on older bikes
My latest rattle has been tracked down to an pencil air pressure, valve core remover and a packet of mints in the right side fairing box

I'd go further and say ear plugs are always a good idea every time you get on a motorcycle or maxi scooter. In fact they're essential if you don’t want tinnitus or other permanent hearing damage.

They're also useful to wear at music concerts, on aircraft, overnight ferries, etc

I already have tinnitus from my early riding years when no one wore them or even knew what tinnitus was.

I wish this was a box of mints rattle!
It's more a box of bolts shudder.Came out of nowhere.Only on acceleration from a stop, then it stops.
I'm going to try the clutch burn off first that I've seen suggested in threads
I hear you on the hearing loss and tinnitus, got them both!

RedRaider it might be worth opening up the transmission and making sure the drive face pulley bolt is torqued up correctly.
I've replaced my belt and rollers several times, there is a knack to reassembly and the nut needs to be torqued up to the correctly. There is a possibility some goon has just slapped the belt on and used a rattle gun.
While you're in there it's worth pulling the clutch out and cleaning it up, the 'clutch burn' technique helps in the short term but also generates more dust which doesn't help in the long term.
None of this is complicated, a search on here will show you the way.

Hey, appreciate the advice.
I'm pretty handy when I tear into something, but drivetrain stuff is a safety issue so that kind of spooks me
If I don't trust it, I won't ride it.
It didn't shudder like that the first 100 miles or so.
I'll do the clutch burn and take the cover off to see if I can visually see anything amiss.
Do you you do the clutch burn on the center stand or on the ground? Or does it matter?
Appreciate the advice!

Hi RedRaider.

Did you buy the Swing from a dealer? as steve_h80 says, you need to inspect the CVT.
The dealers/Seller probably had it in his store a long time (years even) in which case the drive belt will be dried out with lack of use.
150 mls is about the right milage to stretch the dried belt to buggery (belt slap, rattle, shredding).
Quick way to check if the drive face bolt is loose is to remove the outer plastic drive cover and the air filter on the left covering the bolt, to check tightness, loose will cause a rattle but 1/2 way out you would lose drive.
You can run the CVT with the covers off on the centre stand for inspection purposes (no load on the drive train), any black marks on the bottom of the inner drive cover will be belt slap.
Get a new belt (peace of mind) and delve into your CVT. Clean everything, check your rollers for wear, clean the drive face roller grooves with a scotch pad (polish up). De-glaze the clutch bell.
There's a couple of good videos on YT about Swing belt changes. And plenty of advise on this forums search bar.
Either way, dealer or private, what your posting needs investigation, sooner, rather than later.
Drive belts are a 2 edged sword, they de-grade with use, but dry out quicker with none use.
Any scooters I look at gets a new belt if they have been stood 6 months or longer.

Hope this helps

Be safe, be seen!

Thnx for the reply. I actually bought it from a retire M/C mechanic. He had a pro level lift and tire changer right there in his immaculate garage.
Also threw in 2 sets of new Michelins, air and oil filters and an Xtra tall Madstad screen.
But I will take a look at the belt.
Thanks!