This is the only type of Burgman 250/400 they sell in Japan - no-one wants the standard model. I suppose that's because the Japanese scooter market is a youth market (16-30), where fashion and sporty looking things are much more popular than what they would refer to as Os-san or 'middle aged' looking things. It's not just the youth that like all things sporty over here - look at al the wings and fins on the Lancer Evolution, Imprezza, & GTR, and even the standard aero parts on their family sedans. It's the national tradition.
A new scooter costs close to US$7000 on the road. Used RX7s with 260bhp cost US$7000 - US$10,000. This is effectively the competiton facing the big-scooter manufacturers. Sporty looks are everything over here.
Interesting to see how different opnions and markets are in one part of the world to another. It's easy to see why it's so difficult for Japanese manufacturers to make scooters for all markets as everyone wants different things from them:
- North America wants conservatively styled convenient runabouts with big screens
- Europe wants sporty looking machines in understated colours
- Japan (the market whose sales pay for all the development costs) wants keyless entry, speed sensitive amp and waterproof speakers as standard, and factory customs with exposed metal handlebars, chrome mirrors, and lowered suspension.
This is pulling the design teams in multiple directions. What they've ended up doing is making a base model to export, and then produce a Japan facing model (Type S for Suzuki, and 'C' model for Yamaha) that is essentially a factory custom. Honda hasn't even bothered to export it's new Forza outside of Japan as the business case is too shakey.
Besides, the factory extras - custome seats, mirrors, exhausts, suspension, screens all availabale from the dealership - are where they make the serious profits. Buyers often spend an equal amount on customising the machine as they do to buy it.
If the Burgman 400 Type S doesn't sell in North America, there definately won't be a 650 Type S (black wheels/forks/brakes/analogue dials) as sales in Japan certainly won't fund the costs. No harm done, you can simply paint the wheels black yourself, which I for one will be looking into. It would make my white 650 looks extremely aggressive. 8)
. Looking at the Suzuki Canada's website I see they have introduced a new 400 called the 
