Former Burgman 400 owner, new SW 600 owner

Hello all,

70+ years old retired mechanical engineer turned IT software engineer in the late 70s here. Been riding two-wheel things with motors since I was old enough, big iron mostly but I had a stroke a few years back and got an '03 Burgman 400 in May 2011, just retired it for an '06 Silverwing with just 9000 miles. I am the 2nd owner.

I got it much to the consternation of the Burgman USA crowd (pushing me toward a 650 Burger), but I wanted the relative simplicity of the variator/torque multiplier mechanical CVT vs. the astoundingly complex electronically controlled and problematic thing Suzi came up with.

Looking forward to learning and hopefully helping out once I have digested the shop manual...

Welcome Cliffyk from over the pond.
I like the Silverwing for the same reason as you - nice simple transmission layout makes it very easy to work on. Goes well too and I find it very comfy.
I hope you enjoy it and get loads of good miles in.
Let us know how you're getting on.

Welcome 70+, I'm 68+ and lovin my " new" (to me) 04 SWing (about a week now). Looking forward to your input once you've "digested" the shop manual. Bob.

Welcome to the forum, Cliffyk. Lots of good folks and good information here.

Tim

Welcome. I think you will be pleased with your selection of the Swing over the big Burgman. In addition to the factors you mentioned, I think you will find that it is noticeably lighter and more nimble. Enjoy!

Welcome to the forum! Glad to have you. Look forward to your posts. Sounds like you have lots of experience we would like you to share!

Welcome cliffyk, nice to have you!

I would agree and say you made the right choice of bike!

Welcome to the forum, lots of good people here! How would you compare the Burgie 400 compared to the Swing?

Welcome Cliffy and enjoy your Honda!!!

Cliffy,

Welcome to the site and congrats on your new SWing. I read your post on the burgy site and I'm sure you will enjoy the SWing. There are plenty of pictorials and things in the maintenance section so have at it. Also, the first couple of mods that people do here are the windshield, mirror extenders, and some have installed the hyperpro front springs. I did that and it really gives the SWing a motorcycle feel. But I'm sure you will really enjoy the SWing as it is very comfortable and powerful. I never rode a B400, but I did have the Majesty 400, and the SWing is probably like the B400 with a more powerful engine and it is frame mounted so it seemed a bit smoother than the Majesty....and it was very smooth. Welcome.

Welcome from o-HI-o, I tried a Big Burg but bought the S'Wing :::::::

Welcome from texas! I test rode a berg 400 before buying the Swing, it seemed a nice ride,but fate guided me to the Swing

I love my swing, best of all, its a Honda. Welcome to the site from Arizona.

Welcome cliffyk!  Just curious, was your Burgman 400 having issues or were you just ready for a "new" ride?

BTW, I have been to St. Augustine a couple of times and really enjoyed my visits.

Don

Welcome cliffyk to the best SWing site on the net. I have an 08 SWing and am starting my third season with her and really enjoying riding her. That almost sounds like a sex thing... Anyway, I like it a lot.

Welcome cliffyk! Congratulations on your new ride. I had a B650 for a few months until I got looking into the way the transmission worked. It bothered me seeing that little electric motor driving the variator instead of simple flyweights. Way over engineered, and as a retired FAA electronic field technician I was not impressed with the unnecessary complexity. I sold the B650 for a second Silverwing. I really liked the SW but sold it for a BMW C650GT for it's greater payload rating. Neither the woman who hangs around here or me are lightweights. I still think the SW is the best looking and most proven maxi scooter around. It just needs a better windshield like the Givi adjustable which I put on mine. It's no accident the previous month's yellow SW and this month's black SWs both have Givi Adjustble windshields on them.

I too traded a Burgman 400 for a Silverwing. Interestingly, I also was a mechanical engineer, turned software engineer. As for the Silverwing, in my case, I wanted a little more motor for the four lane highway. I think both are excellent rides. But I think the motor in the 400 was just a little bit small for US highways. After a couple of years of owning my Silverwing, I am convinced that it is the best all around motorcycle ever made. (I also have a Harley which is whole lot of fun and a total bad a**, but if I could only have one it would be the Silverwing.) My only complaint is the seat is small and the windshield is lacking. However, I took off the backrest and changed the windshield and now it is perfect!

cliffyk wrote:

Hello all,

70+ years old retired mechanical engineer turned IT software engineer in the late 70s here. Been riding two-wheel things with motors since I was old enough, big iron mostly but I had a stroke a few years back and got an '03 Burgman 400 in May 2011, just retired it for an '06 Silverwing with just 9000 miles. I am the 2nd owner.

I got it much to the consternation of the Burgman USA crowd (pushing me toward a 650 Burger), but I wanted the relative simplicity of the variator/torque multiplier mechanical CVT vs. the astoundingly complex electronically controlled and problematic thing Suzi came up with.

Looking forward to learning and hopefully helping out once I have digested the shop manual...

Hi Cliffy, I'm even newer here than you. I just got registered and I saw you and had to say hi. I'm still on BurgmanUSA and I'll be there for a while yet, till I get me a SilverWing. I am keeping my eye out for a good deal on one. My 08' Burgman 400 is still doing very well at 28,000 miles, but I'll be glad to move up to the SW. I agree with you and davidparker about the virtues of the Silverwing CVT. I don't want that complicated mess on the B650. Hopefully we can chat a lot on here.
Now I am off to write my own introduction messege.
Al
in Sunny Tampa Bay Florida

I have the Givi adj. windshield but prefer the one piece. Just what ever turns you on I guess.

DaveR wrote:

I have the Givi adj. windshield but prefer the one piece.  Just what ever turns you on I guess.

Wondering...why do you prefer the one piece Givi over the adjustable?

I've ridden behind both GIVI Airflow and adjustable windshields on previous SWs I had. Personally I liked the adjustable best. One of the major reasons was that the Airflow was so high that I couldn't easily see over the top. I don't like riding with any windshield I can't easily see over. On hot days I also like a little breeze over the windshield, the adjustable met both desires easily, the Airflow didn't. It also depends on the helmet I'm wearing. With my 3/4 I like a higher windshield. Wearing my modular I like the screen quite a bit lower because that helmet doesn't buffet much due to its more aerodynamic shape.

Exavid,
I think the you are mistaking the Airflow as the one piece. The Airflow and the adjustable are one and the same. The Airflow is AF214, and the single piece is the DT214. I had an earlier Swing that had the D214 and I didn't like it. It was too tall for me. I really like my adjustable Airflow.

Don't confuse the lad, the non adjustable Givi screen for the Silver Wing is the DT 214 not the D214. Anyway there's more pages of info on Givi screens on the forum than there is on any other subject.

Both of the Givi Windshields the adjustable and non-adjustable are referred to as Airflow in some parts houses.

Only the windscreens with the "AF" prefix are Airflows. The prefix for the unadjustable windscreen is "D". You might want to inform the parts houses of their error.

From the GIVI web site:
D - series, this range of replacement windshields are available in clear and smoked versions (model specific) that D - series, this range of replacement windshields are available in clear and smoked versions (model specific) that offer taller than stock versions with some models including a Euro slip for added wind protection.

A- series, this universal windshield range includes small headlamp mounting fly screens and fairing to 2 point handlebar mounting shields and 4 point handle and fork tube mount larger windshields.

AF - series, the Airflow system offers a unique adjustable windshield that gives maximum wind protection to a wide variety of motorcycle and scooter riders. The upper adjustable windshield blade gives a 7 inch adjustment creating minimum and maximum wind protection.