The wife just purchased us a 2012 650 and she is curious about which to do first short or long trips to gain experience? I have only ATV and Dirt bike experience at this time. We dont want the bike just to sit. We want to explore the roads of America on the Burgman. Since she just bought us the 650 she wants to buy a 400 for herself so we both can ride together. So the question is should we begin to gain experience by doing short day trips or long trips?
Short trips or long trips to begin?
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
Joined
·
158 Posts
Do a few day trips.
Then a few weekender's.
Consider the above as "shakedown" trips as you are getting to know your bike and your limits closer to home.
As you gain experience & confidence go for longer trips & further destinations!
Then a few weekender's.
Consider the above as "shakedown" trips as you are getting to know your bike and your limits closer to home.
As you gain experience & confidence go for longer trips & further destinations!
Do you think i should avoid the interstates and stick with the less traveled roads til i get to know my bike? I have beed deployed 4 times now and our job was to open the MSR and ASR. You see us coming and you didnt move out the way we forced our way through. So that is one thing i need to remember not to do back in the civilian world.
Joined
·
1,039 Posts
Interstates are okay and the bike is perfectly capable. Don't hesitate to use them after getting to know your bike (shouldn't take long at all) if you're desperate to just get from point A to point B :bounce: . If you're out to have a nice ride, then set your GPS to "Avoid Highways", smell the coffee :coffee2: and enjoy nature :bunny:mlrs270 said:
Joined
·
7,310 Posts
1st the 650 will handle 2- up with no problem, even @ 80. That being said, taking 2 bikes will allow you to bring back more stuff you find on your trips. 
Back roads, IF you know them, and less traveled roads are good place to familiarize yourself with the bike.
Start with nice weather, then windy weather, a steady 15-40 mph. Head winds and crosswinds can be challenging, and different, at different traveling speeds, on different bikes.
If there will be 2 bikes, ride to the weakest riders ability, so there is no pressure "To Keep Up", and learn the characteristics of both bikes.
If riding 2-up, ride so the passenger is comfortable with your riding style.
When comfortable, then the expressway. The expressway later because at higher speeds wind is a factor, especially along side a semi while traveling at 80 Indicated, during a crosswind.
I say indicated because at 80, your closer to 72. The speedos are off about 10%. 60 indicated is 54, etc. Doing 55 indicated in a 55 mph zone, you will be "Leading the Parade", actually doing 50, frustrating those behind you.
When your up to it Rain. When you go on a trip, expect it.
I would start out with a 150-200 mile day trip, (shakedown cruise) to check that your body can handle it. Everyone is built a bit different, and you may find that you need to make some ergonomic changes. (seat, backrest, grips, etc.).
I would not recommend a tight schedule for a bike road trip. Relax and go with the flow, budgeting 150-400 miles a day. (some days are better than others)
As always, "Ride like your a Target, or Invisible".
Back roads, IF you know them, and less traveled roads are good place to familiarize yourself with the bike.
Start with nice weather, then windy weather, a steady 15-40 mph. Head winds and crosswinds can be challenging, and different, at different traveling speeds, on different bikes.
If there will be 2 bikes, ride to the weakest riders ability, so there is no pressure "To Keep Up", and learn the characteristics of both bikes.
If riding 2-up, ride so the passenger is comfortable with your riding style.
When comfortable, then the expressway. The expressway later because at higher speeds wind is a factor, especially along side a semi while traveling at 80 Indicated, during a crosswind.
I say indicated because at 80, your closer to 72. The speedos are off about 10%. 60 indicated is 54, etc. Doing 55 indicated in a 55 mph zone, you will be "Leading the Parade", actually doing 50, frustrating those behind you.
When your up to it Rain. When you go on a trip, expect it.
I would start out with a 150-200 mile day trip, (shakedown cruise) to check that your body can handle it. Everyone is built a bit different, and you may find that you need to make some ergonomic changes. (seat, backrest, grips, etc.).
I would not recommend a tight schedule for a bike road trip. Relax and go with the flow, budgeting 150-400 miles a day. (some days are better than others)
As always, "Ride like your a Target, or Invisible".
Thats very good advice. Most of my riding will be to work and back less than 20 mile roundtrip. The interstate riding intrigues me bc how the cagers react to Maxi Scooters passing them. I like the back road idea for now but concerns are there too. More wildlife, farm equipment etc on the back roads compared to the interstates.
When are you due back ?
I can help by taking you and your wife on some nice easy few hour trips locally and let you ease on up to more seat time as you both get comfortable.
I do recommend your wife take the basic MSF riders course if she has not ridden before or in a while. They usually provide bikes all she needs is some simple gear, helmet, boots, gloves and a jacket.
Doug
I can help by taking you and your wife on some nice easy few hour trips locally and let you ease on up to more seat time as you both get comfortable.
I do recommend your wife take the basic MSF riders course if she has not ridden before or in a while. They usually provide bikes all she needs is some simple gear, helmet, boots, gloves and a jacket.
Doug
Joined
·
852 Posts
Most of it has been said already.
I'd recommend initially trying to limit the "Unknowns" when familiarizing yourself with the bike, stick to roads that you are very familiar with if possible (so you know roughly what to expect with reagards to traffic, surface, etc), and try to get it so the variations are just down to the bike.
Try to find an empty parking lot of a good size, and practice emergency stops, take-off under various throttle settings, and low speed handling (figre-8's, etc.). This can build up your confidence tremendously.
When on the road, make sure you allow enough of a cushion around yourself to allow decision making time, and sufficient time to implement the decision within your own, and the bike's abilities.
It won't take long until you're really comfortable with it.
And most of all......ENJOY! :thumbup:
I'd recommend initially trying to limit the "Unknowns" when familiarizing yourself with the bike, stick to roads that you are very familiar with if possible (so you know roughly what to expect with reagards to traffic, surface, etc), and try to get it so the variations are just down to the bike.
Try to find an empty parking lot of a good size, and practice emergency stops, take-off under various throttle settings, and low speed handling (figre-8's, etc.). This can build up your confidence tremendously.
When on the road, make sure you allow enough of a cushion around yourself to allow decision making time, and sufficient time to implement the decision within your own, and the bike's abilities.
It won't take long until you're really comfortable with it.
And most of all......ENJOY! :thumbup:
All good advice - saddle time is critical and it's good you are commuting - I'd tend to vary the route and don't be afraid of the slabs tho it's boring. The 650 is exceptionally stable - that was one reason I moved off the Silverwing.
The wider Clearview screen makes it that much better.
BUT there is a nasty waiting ( this is true of all heavier machines but with no clutch and what feels like a light bike - it can bite on the Burgman )
Slow turns and the front brakes will be a challenge - the bike will torque over before you can blink so parking lot practice is highly advised.
Learning to use the rear brake is important as well - you can feather the rear against the throttle for finer control and better stability especially on less than perfect surfaces.
Those front anchors tho are awesome.
The other issue is the aggressive engine braking so learning to ease off on the throttle especially at low speed is sound practice.
It's a heavy bike but feels nimble due to the weight being down low.
That weight can catch you off guard
What will pleasantly surprise you as you get comfortable is the handling in the twisties....80% sport bike and that is no lie.
The power is always there thanks to the CVT and the brakes are awesome.
This was the review that got me hooked on a maxi after many years on middle weights like the RD400.
http://www.onewheeldrive.net/2006/10/04 ... i-burgman/
It was the twisties handling that was so totally unexpected - but again - it feels nimble and flickable but you have to watch going in too fast as it's a big bike to haul down from speed - but lovely to hammer hard going out. Hell there is a Burgman 650 racing team in Italy.
You'll have no issue riding once you get some throttle and brake control.
It's the slow stuff that takes some time. - especially with two up.
The wider Clearview screen makes it that much better.
BUT there is a nasty waiting ( this is true of all heavier machines but with no clutch and what feels like a light bike - it can bite on the Burgman )
Slow turns and the front brakes will be a challenge - the bike will torque over before you can blink so parking lot practice is highly advised.
Learning to use the rear brake is important as well - you can feather the rear against the throttle for finer control and better stability especially on less than perfect surfaces.
Those front anchors tho are awesome.
The other issue is the aggressive engine braking so learning to ease off on the throttle especially at low speed is sound practice.
It's a heavy bike but feels nimble due to the weight being down low.
That weight can catch you off guard
What will pleasantly surprise you as you get comfortable is the handling in the twisties....80% sport bike and that is no lie.
The power is always there thanks to the CVT and the brakes are awesome.
This was the review that got me hooked on a maxi after many years on middle weights like the RD400.
http://www.onewheeldrive.net/2006/10/04 ... i-burgman/
It was the twisties handling that was so totally unexpected - but again - it feels nimble and flickable but you have to watch going in too fast as it's a big bike to haul down from speed - but lovely to hammer hard going out. Hell there is a Burgman 650 racing team in Italy.
You'll have no issue riding once you get some throttle and brake control.
It's the slow stuff that takes some time. - especially with two up.
Joined
·
289 Posts
There has been some great advice offered in this thread so I will try not to duplicate. If you do decide to get a second bike (a 400), I think you will be pleasantly surprised. While the 650 is an awesome bike the 400 has its place too and its not relegated to side streets and short trips. I take mine on 1000 mile trips with my 650 friends and the bike feels great on the super slab and I think is a little more sporty feeling in the twisties, while the 650 excels a little more on the highway. I think both are very comfortable bikes for long trips.
The 400 is a lighter bike and is a little more flickable and manageable at slow speeds, but to end the statements both are awesome machines.
The 400 is a lighter bike and is a little more flickable and manageable at slow speeds, but to end the statements both are awesome machines.
Joined
·
643 Posts
If you really don't have that much experience on two wheels my first recommendation would be to take a motorcycle safety course. There are a lot of things you could learn there that could eliminate many bad habits a newbie could develop riding. I agree, there's nothing better than experience, but you sound like you might be at the age where you can actually learn from "others" experience as well as your own.
Joined
·
393 Posts
Start short, progress to long.
Burgman seats are found to be comfortable by only a few people. There are many many many many many many different butt sizes and shapes so you are probably not one of the lucky few.
If you ride until your butt hurts too much to want to ride any further the ride home will be torture. Do increasingly longer rides until you know your comfort limit. Then try different solutions starting at the low price end to see what works best for you to extend that limit to all day. For me the AirHawk was the last step before going to a custom seat, but everybody is different. You can only get valid opinions on what did work for somebody else and might work for you, not what will work for you.
Have fun, ride safe.
Burgman seats are found to be comfortable by only a few people. There are many many many many many many different butt sizes and shapes so you are probably not one of the lucky few.
If you ride until your butt hurts too much to want to ride any further the ride home will be torture. Do increasingly longer rides until you know your comfort limit. Then try different solutions starting at the low price end to see what works best for you to extend that limit to all day. For me the AirHawk was the last step before going to a custom seat, but everybody is different. You can only get valid opinions on what did work for somebody else and might work for you, not what will work for you.
Have fun, ride safe.
1 - 19 of 19 Posts
