2006 Suzuki Bergman 400

[spandi]

Easy mistake to make (I had to keep telling my self "this is Chinese?" while checking out that Linhai Main Street 260)
Apparently a lot of scooters are manufactured around there (what they call the Taizhou prefecture, Zhejiang (like in Zhejiang Zhongneng, aka Znen) province, including the tourist attraction of Linhai city itself. (the Great Wall) it's About 200 miles south from Shanghai, somewhat close to the coast.

[prodigit]

I bet Burgmans are fine machines!
Even if their steel frames are smaller, I want to bet the steel quality is higher than that of the chinese.
However, I do see A LOT of burgmans for sale. People love the looks, buy a 400, but then just don't like to drive them, and re-sell them at a loss.
In my direct environment, there are about 6 Burgman 400's for sale, all with less than 14k miles on them, some with only 4k miles.
Prices range from $4k to $5k; it's ridiculous.
I haven't seen chinese scoots for sale on second hand websites, probably because they're not going to get a lot for them.

[danno711]

Feb 15, 2013 1:00:16 GMT -5 prodigit said:

I bet Burgmans are fine machines!
Even if their steel frames are smaller, I want to bet the steel quality is higher than that of the chinese.
However, I do see A LOT of burgmans for sale. People love the looks, buy a 400, but then just don't like to drive them, and re-sell them at a loss.
In my direct environment, there are about 6 Burgman 400's for sale, all with less than 14k miles on them, some with only 4k miles.
Prices range from $4k to $5k; it's ridiculous.
I haven't seen chinese scoots for sale on second hand websites, probably because they're not going to get a lot for them.

I've just spent the last 3 months looking at second hand websites,
for a Burgman. There are many reasons people are selling them.
I never came across one who said they don't like driving them.
Most had very high praise for them.


The two or three main reasons were

1-Bought it for recreation and it just sat in the garage most of the time. This is why you'll often see a 5 or 6 year old bike with less than 5,000 miles.

2-The economy. Times are rough for many people.Can't afford this expensive toy anymore.

3-Nobody admitted to this but I have to figure there are a number of people who had a spill early on and got scared to get back on.

4-Mostly with 650's I saw many with over 20,000 miles for sale.
Its like the owner was trying to sell it for the same reason a car owner sells their car before it turns over at 100,000 miles.

There are a number of reasons people are selling their bikes now.
We noticed the Burgmans because there are a lot out there to begin with.


"I haven't seen chinese scoots for sale on second hand websites, probably because they're not going to get a lot for them

Iow...no value...if they were good, they'd have value

[prodigit]

1- aka don't enjoy riding, or no time

2- A burgman costs nothing. Perhaps insurance in some states, but it only requires gas (which is not that much) and one tag renewal per year.

3- indeed, however a burgman is significantly safer than a motorcycle.

4- The 650's need to do a belt change I believe. They're also more used for longer distances, and often traded with a manual motorcycle.

I personally believe if the Burgman would have been in a semi-manual gearing, it would have increased in popularity. it's not a racing bike, but it's not very economic neither in MPG, resulting in anyone buying one, feeling he's just got an average bike.

[danno711]

1- For example, the guy I'm buying mine from is sorry he has to sell it, but he's working so many hours he has no time for it...
"If there was any chance my job duties changing in the near future as in 1 year I would keep it. I am sellling because I cannot use it for the great long trips that I used it for when I bought it." "If in the future my job changes I will be kicking myself for ever letting this bike get out of my hands.Since there is no practical use for this in the near future I am forced to sell it"

2-You're assuming the bike is fully paid for and they're not paying back a loan.

The bike is a very versatile bike. It can go anywhere including freeways. It has much more
storage space than the average bike, and from what I can tell a lot more happy owners too

[spandi]

I think you'll find the 400 with give you the best value overall, a combination of better fuel economy (as opposed to the 650) ease of maintenance and freeway capability. Plus I would think more in town maneuverability. (since you will probably be spending most of you time in and around the city.)

[prodigit]

I have found scooters to be perfect for the suburbs and towns.
Burgmans generally are heavy, like motorcycles; only with less power(compared to cruisers), and sometimes less fuel economy too (when compared to sport bikes); are not fun to ride in the city, with a lot of start stop traffic.

For that, I believe a scoot does the job so much better!
Especially if you need the storage space. A burgman does not have that much storage space. It has about as much as a scooter has.

For me personally, I've categorized my rides in 3 classes; split up for 1 or 2 persons:

1- Urban or City: Dense houses, tall buildings, lots of street lights, mainly <35MPH roads.
2- Sub Urban: Houses spread out, mainly 35-45MPH roads
3- Rural: Mainly farmlands and/or highways

a- 1 Person riding:
1- Urban: Moped, 50cc, 150cc
2- Sub Urban: 50cc, 150cc, Motorcycle
3- Rural: 150cc, Motorcycle

b- 2 People riding:
1- Urban: 150cc
2- Sub Urban: 150cc, Motorcycle
3- Rural: Motorcycle

- For Urban to me, a 150cc or below is most convenient.
It's light, and it'll allow zipping between cars in case of a traffic jam. The motorcycle is just too heavy, not to mention consumes more gas.
- Sub Urban generally a 150cc or motorcycle. Depending if there's an occasional Higway ride.
- Rural: Mainly a motorcycle; Small rides can be done with a 150cc for one person, but you will want something strong and heavy that's upto the task.


Unfortunately, me personally, I don't think a burgman 400 would fit any of these. If it where, it would be the mid to long suburban trips, or the short rural trips; which can be done with a 150cc; (unless you often need to do trips like this, with 2 people).

Most people indeed are not too fond of taking a burgman on a 200-300 mile tour, even though the machine is more than capable of doing it (like a 50cc could do it too); and I personally would not find a 400 comfortable to be stuck in traffic.
Been there, done that, my BMS260, though being 260cc's turned out not to be the best ride on the highway (which the Burgman would definitely excel in), and already was too heavy for local transport.
The Burgman is about 20LBS heavier dry weight, perhaps even more wet, than my 260.

The burgman 650's are excellent bikes for the long rides. The 400's IMHO, are just inbetween somewhere. Neither made for the (really) long rides, nor for the city. And for the suburbs, there are scooters... So... IMHO, lots of people either want better fuel economy, and better handling, or bigger and meant to last longer.

However if you mainly ride with 2 people, do mainly 20 to 40 min rides, a 150 would be underpowered, and a 260 would not be an ideal choice for 2 people on the highway; in that field a Burgman 400 would shine!

And since most people either live in the suburbs, or cities, and do either short or long trips on bikes, the target audience for burgmans is rather small.
Those who live in the rural areas, near forests with camping sites, that need a local form of transport...

[danno711]

Based on your criteria, you seem to think all people are the same size....5' 8" or 5'9" and 150-160 pounds

Is that what you are?

[scootnwinn]

Just for the record the Burgman is quite nimble at all speeds certainly not under powered and never have I thought that it was heavy. Be sure to never take the word of anyone on the internet. Ride them folks...

[prodigit]

Your loss Aaron!

And I tend to agree with nulldevice.
Some people on the forum need to learn some manners, courtesy.
We're not all un-educated rednecks here; if you can't start a conversation or discussion in a civilized manner, perhaps pony riding will be better option for you.

[prodigit]

Feb 18, 2013 20:20:46 GMT -5 nulldevice said:

Feb 15, 2013 17:02:44 GMT -5 danno711 said:

Based on your criteria, you seem to think all people are the same size....5' 8" or 5'9" and 150-160 pounds

Is that what you are?

Don't feed prodigit, he is trolling the board.

I don't think him,because I don't really understand his post; however aaron420e is.
But then again, his loss.
Some day he's going to need help and no one will be there for him, because all he does all day is trolling and he enjoys speaking bad of people!
It'll come all back down to him, the law of nature no one can escape!

[gregsfc]

I've got the Piaggio BV350. I would definitely be classified as a rural rider. I have to ride on a four-lane state highway 14 miles just to get to the closest urban environment, and it's 27 miles, one-way, almost all highway for my commute, which is the primary use for my scoot. The scooter works very well for me in this rural context, and I don't believe that a MC is necessarily better for rural highway travel than a larger scooter, though there are pros and cons.

I definitely believe that there are areas where a MC configuration is more conducive for rural riders, however, to receive the benefit of an MC beyond a maxi scooter for this riding environment, one has to go to a fully-dressed MC which is big, big bucks. But with regards to a scooter, one can get something like a Kymco Downtown 300i, Majesty, or Burgman 400 for much, much less $$$ and get the same utility (not the same performance, but some only want fun, reliable transportation--and for that--they are the same utility). Though it is true that the CVT set ups increases service requirements and hurts efficiency, all-in-all I believe that a Burgman 400 is a great highway commuter choice along with other scooters with similar configurations and an MC serves no real advantages. If you go with a 300-500 sport bike, for instance, then you'll either limit your riding to great weather and use a back pack, or you'll spend about $1500-$2000 to equip it with proper storage and weather protection to give it equal utility as a maxi scooter. If you go with a cruiser-type bike, well you're already spending a lot of money for a lot of chrome. Then you've got to upgrade with a fairing and saddles and lose the look you were trying to get with buying a cruiser to begin with.

[danno711]

Feb 19, 2013 0:05:30 GMT -5 prodigit said:

Feb 18, 2013 20:20:46 GMT -5 nulldevice said:

I don't think him,because I don't really understand his post

Let me try and be more clear. In your previous post you posted your opinions on different bikes might be better off in different riding scenarios. Perhaps I missed it, but, you didn't take into account the size of the rider. It was a one size fits all. Me? I'm over 6 feet and right at 300 pounds, there isn't a chance I'd consider a 150 under any circumstances. But, that's just my opinion.

[aladinbama]

I'll sidetrack all the unrelated comments and say that I bought a 03 Burgman 400 in 07 with 3200 miles on it. Paid just over $3K for it. Now it has 27K on the odo and it's probably the best all around bike I've owned. BTW, I've also owned a Goldwing 1500 and now have a ST1100 (a LOT of fun between the legs).
The Burgman 400 is a quality scooter, but it does have it's issues though. The 03s through 06s can develop an oil consumption issue. This should be no big deal because anybody who owns any type of motorcycle should know to check the oil often anyway. When you consider a tank of gas won't go past 200 miles, I don't see the issue - I check mine about every third tank and it's been fine. BTW, the 06 Tank 150 I had used more than that.
Keep the valves adjusted, check the belt and rollers at 14K (+/-) and enjoy the ride. You'll soon understand why everybody who owns one develops the Burgman ;D (grin).
And yes, I ride my ST1100 all the time, but I've noticed that after I've ridden it a while and get back on the 400, it stays parked in the garage for a month (commuting anyway - 70 mile round trip w/some major highways). There's not much better than the 400.

[prodigit]

Feb 19, 2013 8:49:27 GMT -5 danno711 said:

Feb 19, 2013 0:05:30 GMT -5 prodigit said:

I don't think him,because I don't really understand his post

Let me try and be more clear. In your previous post you posted your opinions on different bikes might be better off in different riding scenarios. Perhaps I missed it, but, you didn't take into account the size of the rider. It was a one size fits all. Me? I'm over 6 feet and right at 300 pounds, there isn't a chance I'd consider a 150 under any circumstances. But, that's just my opinion.

If I had to take every possibility into consideration, my posts would be triple the size they already are.
In most cases, people are below 200 pounds, and it would work.
As far as size, I'm 6'3", and I fit on almost any bike; so rider's size is less of an issue on scooters.
If you're 300 LBS, you'd probably prefer a 250cc the least.

[prodigit]

Feb 19, 2013 13:47:41 GMT -5 aladinbama said:

I'll sidetrack all the unrelated comments and say that I bought a 03 Burgman 400 in 07 with 3200 miles on it. Paid just over $3K for it. Now it has 27K on the odo and it's probably the best all around bike I've owned. BTW, I've also owned a Goldwing 1500 and now have a ST1100 (a LOT of fun between the legs).
The Burgman 400 is a quality scooter, but it does have it's issues though. The 03s through 06s can develop an oil consumption issue. This should be no big deal because anybody who owns any type of motorcycle should know to check the oil often anyway. When you consider a tank of gas won't go past 200 miles, I don't see the issue - I check mine about every third tank and it's been fine. BTW, the 06 Tank 150 I had used more than that.
Keep the valves adjusted, check the belt and rollers at 14K (+/-) and enjoy the ride. You'll soon understand why everybody who owns one develops the Burgman ;D (grin).
And yes, I ride my ST1100 all the time, but I've noticed that after I've ridden it a while and get back on the 400, it stays parked in the garage for a month (commuting anyway - 70 mile round trip w/some major highways). There's not much better than the 400.

I noticed this too. There's something about lugging a big bike around.
I used to have a BMS260, which is weight and size wise about the same as a burgman, as well as I have a Honda Shadow VT 750. Though both bikes are nice, they're quite heavy.
On the road I would have no complaints about the BMS260, but in order to get on the road, I'd have to ride a little sandy/grassy path, and would find that this 30second ride was so much more enjoyable on a scooter, resulting me taking a scooter almost anywhere, and the big bike remains in the shed.

That, and the VT750 uses more gas, and is less nimble.

Despite having plenty more power, I still prefer riding on my chinese scoots, rather than on the big bikes.
I believe Hank said something similar before too!

About 20-30 years ago a 500cc bike was really huge.
Perhaps we've gone too far, in creating large motorcycles, and preferred looks over practical size.
I find now, that my 150cc covers nearly all my travel; in city, as well as on the highway.
Not on the interstate (60-75MPH), that's why I still have my motorcycle.