Hello From Vancouver B.C.

3309 Views 21 Replies 10 Participants Last post by WLB :>), Aug 15, 2004

Timothy Ma

Discussion Starter · Oct 16, 2003

I am from that part of Canada where you can ride all year round. I am anxiously waiting for the Burger 400 to come to Canada and from what I've heard ...it will. The 650 is too big and since I have other big bikes, the 400 will be good because of the cheaper insurance. I have a GS450 GA that has a torqe converter and ofter wondered why the scooters have never gone this way. Cheers Timothy

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

Jim

· #2 · Oct 16, 2003

400 vs. 650

Sweet weather.

Currently have the 650. had the 400. The 400 is a great scoot, 65-70 mpg, as far as insurance howerver for me their the same (I'm 50 yrs old). I went to the 650 because we do mostly 2 up riding, and it's our only motorcycle. Either way you will have fun, and welcome.

ajwood

· #3 · Oct 19, 2003

Timothy,

Your GS450GAD will outrun the AN400K4 off the line, but the 400 doesn't have the L to D gear-change delay (clunky) so the 400 will pass the 450 sooner than later.

The 450A is a collectors item that can sell well if the paint, chrome and fake silver/metal trimming is touched up and if the engine hasn't already sprung an oil leak. In the early 80's, the 450GAD retailed MSRP was $2,200 dollars US which was $700 more than the Honda 450A. The Suzuki 'A' died on the showroom floor out of marketing disinterest and consumer price-point choices even though it was prettier than the Honda 'A'. The Honda 400 or 450 2-speed semi-automatic transmission was far superior to the one US model-year Suzuki. The Honda could accelerate up to 50mph in '1', then up to 90 in '2'. When I tried that on the Suzuki, the engine would shudder at 30mph then run out of torque at 65mph after switching to 'D'.
The Suzuki torque converter was a cheap knock-off of Honda's 'A' tranny because Suzuki didn't have the vast R&D to spend on their own design.
Honda started the design trend in 1976 with the CB750A. Comparing Honda to Suzuki Reasearch and Development in that era was like GM and KIA now.

The Suzuki 450A was manufactured for 55 mph max-speeds and if yours has been screamed higher on extensive trips, the low-geared engine will blow. I had been unable to find a shop (in 1991) to re-gear the shaft or transmission on my 450GAD so it could keep up on the highway, shortly before it blew a block gasket totaling more than $1,800 in shop costs (Harward-Honda-Suzuki-Seadoo) so I traded up to a '91 VX800 instead.

All said and done, the 400K4 is a big moped and the 650K4 is a high-tech mega-scooter. Have you considered how much you can recover from a 400K4 sale used versus a higher valued 650K4? The bluebook used market value proportions are and will be on the 650's side.

It might be time to shop around for a new insurer.

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allwalk

· #4 · Oct 23, 2003

Welcome to the site

Timothy Ma

Discussion Starter · #5 · Oct 24, 2003

Thanks for the advice....

Hello,

Thanks for the advice regarding 400 vs 650. I did post another question in the 400 650 forum asking which one should I buy and since I just received confirmation that the 400 along with the 650 will be coming into Canada I will have the choice.
I have a GS450GA automatic as well which I absolutely think is a great city bike. The problems that have been described I have not run into because I just use it for city traffic and not long sustained highway travels. My problems have been electrical. It is also a very dirty vehicle (unburnt hydrocarbon smells) and has relatively poor mileage for a 450 (40-45 mpg..imperial gallons that is).

Regards...TImothy

ajwood

· #6 · Oct 29, 2003

signpost up ahead

the best I could do with my SuzukiMatic was 53mpg.

If you can pull it inside for a while, let it dry out, then inspect all of the connectors, especially the ones behind the headlight and clean the contacts. Blue Stuff contact cleaner can shine them up and seal out moisture. The fuse contacts have too many circuits running through it. Maybe the fuse is rusty.

Is rust eating your bike up?

Timothy Ma

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 5, 2003

GA450 Response

Sorry Ajwood for the late reply. My GS450GA wiring under the left side cover gets real hot (the wires coming out of the stator). They get so hot sometimes they can't be touched and eventually the connectors burn up the insulation. I replaced the voltage regulator (Honda replacement) and the stator with a used one. The battery is brand new as well. It still charges fine but the connectors get quite warm. I'm going to take your advice and clean up all the connectors etc but in the mean time I am looking forward to a new AN400.

I have road tested the AN650 and purposely road it slowly to see how it handled at low speed. Very nice bike but I don't like the digital instruments and the windshield. I am leaning towards the AN400 big time and this model is new to Canada. They haven't arrived yet but are expected to land this month. Thanks for the advice.

Timothy

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ajwood

· #8 · Nov 5, 2003

You're Welcome!

Besides cleaning contacts, squeeze fuseblock contacts closer together to prevent connection heating. Place new fuse in block even if old one is okay. If headlight connector contacts are loose, they'll heat up when you ride with vibrations. If it's safe, unplug the headlight and test ride the bike to see if stator wires are much cooler.
If you or a friend can solder well, solder the already crimped wire/lug connections after first extracting each lug from the connector housing to reach the crimp. You might be able to reach the crimp without extracting pin/lug.
In situations where the connectors have already heated up and have made their plastic connectors brown and brittle, be careful with pressure required to extract the pin or lug from the housing. Also, wires that had heated up in the housing become less and less conductive and will require stripping and resoldering to the lug/pin because heated wire (oxidation) won't solder until its cut and stripped down a 1/4 inch or so.
Once a brittle housing has split open, all of the wires need to be crimped and soldered into a new housing, perhaps a Molex type. Draw a table of each wires color/traceband before disconnecting any connector or pins.

Problems like electrical can move otherwise a good bike into a junk yard, so be patient and you'll get another 20 years out of it.

Blue Stuff cleaner, spade/pin connectors and housings are available at electronics stores.

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DavidF

· #9 · Nov 26, 2003

Timothy Ma said:
I am from that part of Canada where you can ride all year round.

Really? I live on Whidbey Island, Wa, down in Puget Sound. I can see BC from the end of my street. Isn't your weather the same as ours? It gets pretty wet and miserable in the winter although I guess one could tough it out if they bundled up. Now, I used to live in Southern California and that is definitely a place where you can ride year around.

Timothy Ma

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 26, 2003

Riding all year round

Yeah,

I used to do the "all year round" riding here in Vancouver when I was younger and less smart. You should have seen the surprise when I purchased my auto and went for my first miserable, rainy and cold drive. I was kicking myself for being so dumb. Nothing beats the creature comforts of a car but if the want to ride all year round...the west coast here in Canada is the only place you could do it.

Timothy

DavidF

· #11 · Nov 26, 2003

Re: Riding all year round

Timothy Ma said:
Yeah,

I used to do the "all year round" riding here in Vancouver when I was younger and less smart. You should have seen the surprise when I purchased my auto and went for my first miserable, rainy and cold drive. I was kicking myself for being so dumb. Nothing beats the creature comforts of a car but if the want to ride all year round...the west coast here in Canada is the only place you could do it.

Timothy

Ha! Ha! Yes, it is much the same here. While it is still miserable compared to milder climates because of the marine layer we get only about half the rain that Seattle does. So I guess we are at half monsoon, so not too bad. I do take my scooter out in bad conditions sometims but I then remind myself that this is supposed to be fun and being wet and cold on slippery roads is really not fun so if you have a car why not use it.

Timothy Ma

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 27, 2003

Just bought my 400

Well I finally did it last weekend. I put down some money for a 400 and now I have to decide either blue or silver. I thought about the 650 but when I saw them side by side my mind was made up. We had the 650 in Canada last year but there are real advantages to the 400. Cheaper insurance is the main one. It costs about $300 to insure the 400 and about $600 for the 650 (basic insurance). I also have other large displacement bikes so why bother with another.

DavidF

· #13 · Nov 28, 2003

Re: Just bought my 400

Timothy Ma said:
Well I finally did it last weekend. I put down some money for a 400 and now I have to decide either blue or silver. I thought about the 650 but when I saw them side by side my mind was made up. We had the 650 in Canada last year but there are real advantages to the 400. Cheaper insurance is the main one. It costs about $300 to insure the 400 and about $600 for the 650 (basic insurance). I also have other large displacement bikes so why bother with another.

The 400 is a great scooter. Congratulations. That is a hard decision between the blue and the silver, isn't it? They are both beautiful colors. Let me know which one you choose. The 650 is only available in Black or Silver for 2004 here in the US so I ordered a Black one since there are so many blue ones out there already. I saw a picture of a Red one from Japan, and it looked awsome, but not available on our shores. Did you order a 2004 or 2003?

Timothy Ma

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 28, 2003

400 Ordered

Hey David,

I have yet to decide on the colour but I will be seeing both at the Seattle bike show that starts on the Dec 5th weekend. I am leaning towards the silver and this is the first year Suzuki brought the 400 into Canada. My dealer thinks they will outsell the 650 just because of the insurance. I ordered the 2004 and a blue one is coming this month but if I get the silver then I'll have to wait until March. Not so bad because riding season is over for now and I can wait. Timothy

jb4278a

· #15 · Nov 28, 2003

INsur.

Hi Tim,
Best of luck on the insurance rates....I currently have mine through Progressive....$137/yr. with what I feel are appropriate amounts....underinsured, uninsured, etc. And best wishes on your 400.....I personally grabbed a 650, after having just ridden an Atlantic 500 for a year.....I felt the 650 had a better design, more power, etc. In fact, while the turkey was in the oven yesterday, my son and I went out on a 2-up ride....wow, plenty of power, on any hill....and didn't even use the power button....and then last night, my other son(the grease monkey) took a look at the underside of the 650, and said...wow, they even put an H bar off the manifold....meaning better heat distribution!! At any rate, best wishes. Happy Holidays!!

roy_ryall

· #16 · Nov 28, 2003

Timothy, I am curious about the 2004 400 blue. It is a different blue than the 2003 400s. I liked the 2003 blue and more than likely would have ordered a blue 2004 if it was the same color blue. The dealer I ordered mine from had a promo photo of the 2004 blue, but you really could not tell the color. Let us know what the 2004 blue is like.

ajwood

· #17 · Nov 28, 2003

Blue On Blue

Burgman blue is so dark blue that when you wear blue-blocker sunglasses, your burgman will turn black.

DavidF

· #18 · Nov 30, 2003

Re: 400 Ordered

Timothy Ma said:
Hey David,

I have yet to decide on the colour but I will be seeing both at the Seattle bike show that starts on the Dec 5th weekend. I am leaning towards the silver and this is the first year Suzuki brought the 400 into Canada. My dealer thinks they will outsell the 650 just because of the insurance. I ordered the 2004 and a blue one is coming this month but if I get the silver then I'll have to wait until March. Not so bad because riding season is over for now and I can wait. Timothy

Cool. I will be there on Sunday. If you are there that day and see a drooling 52 year old at the Burgman area with 2 out of control 8 & 9 year olds.. that will be me. I plan on being there most of the day on Sunday. Maybe we will meet.

rocketman

· #19 · Dec 10, 2003

Hi,

Spent a few days on Vancouver Island in September,did not see many maxi scooters,i did see a lot of rental scooters in Victoria,i dont think one of them had a stright panel.

Back to the point,i have read bits & bobs about the new 400 burger,sounds to a winner,in a scootering mag over here in England they have pictures and a small article about it so i shall go out and buy the mag.

I'm due to upgrade my Piaggio X9,the 650 is just to big for over here,not so much room as you have,i think it would be differcult to filter in traffic,the Piaggio x9's are all the same size no matter what engine size.

Just joined the the group so have not read many postings yet.

Regards

Steve 8)

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DavidF

· #20 · Dec 10, 2003

Re: 400 Ordered

Timothy Ma said:
Hey David,

I have yet to decide on the colour but I will be seeing both at the Seattle bike show that starts on the Dec 5th weekend. I am leaning towards the silver and this is the first year Suzuki brought the 400 into Canada. My dealer thinks they will outsell the 650 just because of the insurance. I ordered the 2004 and a blue one is coming this month but if I get the silver then I'll have to wait until March. Not so bad because riding season is over for now and I can wait. Timothy

Timothy, did you make it to the show? I was there on Sunday. The Black K5 650 was beautiful. That is the color I ordered.

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