Darknightryder77 said:
:?: Hello! I am considering buying a 650 and would appreciate input
from as many 650 owners as possible. I'd like to know how well (or not)
the 650 handles things like loose gravel,railroad tracks,(Very) steep grades and gusty winds. I'm also curious if anyone has had any serious
or on-going mechanical problems. I have heard that the 650 is a very
problem-prone machine that is difficult to work on, expensive to have
professionally serviced, and that most mechanics just don't know their
way around a Burgman. And if there are any San Francisco Bay Area
owners reading this, How much for the insurance on this bike? Thank you all for your time and attention.
I've owned about 20 motorcycles. The Burgman 650 is the most stable machine in crosswinds that I've every owned. I live in Nebraska, which is almost always windy.
Anyone who told you this is a problem prone machine knows nothing about it. I've put 5000 miles on mine, and I've been monitoring forums since I bought it. I've seen no serious problems reported. Suzuki will provide a fix for that "diesel sound at idle" issue under warranty - I had mine done a few weeks ago. But they also state that it won't cause any harm if you leave it as is. That is the only common issue that I know of with the 650, and it is not a serious one.
Rural roads out here often start out paved, then turn to gravel at some point. I was riding a nice twisty road at about 70 mph last fall. Went over a bridge - oops, I was suddenly flying over gravel at high speed. No drama at all. I just got off the throttle, let the machine slow down some, braked to a stop, turned around and rode back to pavement. It felt fine on the gravel road, but I had just washed it and didn't want to get it all dusty.
Any machine that is fully enclosed in plastic panels is going to be more difficult to work on than a naked bike, because for some maintenance, panels need to be removed to access what you are after. Most contemporary touring and sport touring motorcycles fall into this category.
The trade offs are that it is easier to clean up, and you have better protection from the elements (weather).
Plenty of power for steep grades - and you just push the "Power" button if you want some more omph - or go into manual mode. The CVT automatic on this machine is so good though, that I rarely find it necessary to use those options.
Railroad tracks. We have lots of those out here, and some of the crossings are not in great shape. I do slow down for them on the scooter more than I do on my motorcycle - the difference in wheel diameters requires that.
The "experienced mechanic" issue can be valid. Some dealers are still ignoring these machines, others are quite good with them. Before I bought mine, I checked to see if the dealer's service department had a Burgman 650 service manual on the shelf. They did, so I went ahead and purchased it there. I also saw other super-scooters on their floor (both Suzuki & Honda). These are both good indicators.
Insurance for the Burgman is less than half of what I pay for my V-Strom motorcycle. Your rates will probably be higher in the SF area, but the Scooter should still be much less to insure than a motorcycle. Shop around. Rates vary wildly between different companies.
Since I bought the Burgman 650, I ride it much more frequently than I ride my 1000cc V-Strom motorcycle. I enjoy it a lot.