I just sent the following email to Motorcycle Daily.
Greetings,
I enjoyed your write-up of the Burgman 650. I am a moderator on the BurgmanUSA.com forums, and I own an '03 model that I have put over 18,000 miles on. I also own an '03 V-Strom DL1000 that I've owned 6 months longer than the Burgman - and only have put 7,500 miles on. Nothing wrong with my DL1000, I just prefer riding the big scooter most of the time. We have over 1000 members at BurgmanUSA, and those that still own motorcycles all seem to log more riding time and miles on the big scooters.
Just a couple of comments on the article. Yes, there are aftermarket windscreens available from Givi and Clearview. Clearview makes windscreens for the AN650 in four different sizes, and they have an optional adjustable vent - the same vent used on the Gold Wing. Other popular aftermarket items are Pirelli tires, Givi top boxes, Corbin seats, various backrests, and a hump bag (tank bag for a scooter). It is quite easy to outfit an AN650 for serious sport touring. As for the Honda Silverwing being more nimble, around town it probably is due to its smaller size and lighter weight. But get out on the open road or into a good set of twisties, and the Burgman 650 is clearly superior. The frame mounted engine, wide radial tires, triple disk brakes, and more sophisticated transmission, make it no contest.
Regards,
Paul Johannsen