| Filtering through peak-hour traffic on a Suzuki | | | | The Suzi loves the open road and pampers the rider |
| Burgman is akin to using a 20kg sledge-hammer on a | | | | with unrivalled weather protection, a luxurious saddle |
| drawing pin — neither is suitable for the job, | | | | and a humungous 56 litres of under-seat storage. |
| although they’ll both complete the task. | | | | There are also three good-sized compartments in the |
| But, unlike the 20kg sledge-hammer, the 2008 | | | | fairing, plus it has excellent high-speed stability and |
| Burgman 650 Executive has folding mirrors to make | | | | the onboard computer keeps the rider abreast of |
| its design brief a little easier — not the normal, | | | | fuel consumption — 5.7L/100km around the |
| swivelling motorcycle items, but ones that swing in | | | | suburbs and 5L/100km on the open road. With a |
| electronically with the touch of a button. A gimmick? | | | | 15-litre tank this gives a range of 280km. |
| Initially I thought so, but they actually do work. | | | | The Burgman’s got the biggest engine in the |
| There are plenty of other buttons to press on the | | | | maxiscooter category at 638cc, the bulkiest |
| Burgman’s switchblocks, too, with the big Burger | | | | bodywork, the most kilos, the most legroom, the |
| possessing an electronic six-speed manual shift in | | | | greatest number of tech features — and the |
| addition to automatic operation, activated by pushing | | | | most buttons. |
| buttons on the left switchblock. It’s similar in | | | | Speaking of buttons, I can’t really see any |
| operation to the electronic sequential shift found on | | | | advantage in manual shifting as the Suzuki |
| expensive sports cars. | | | | Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable |
| But the buttons don’t stop there. There’s | | | | Transmission (SECCVT) allows the Burgman to win |
| also a power mode button, plus another button for | | | | most traffic-light drags. Set and forget is fine by me. |
| raising and lowering the electrically adjustable screen. | | | | There’s a surprising amount of automatic engine |
| Yes, buttons aplenty. But the Burgman isn’t your | | | | braking on offer at slower speeds via the SECCVT, |
| normal, everyday scooter. | | | | such as when approaching traffic lights. It’s a bit |
| Suzuki’s maxi-scoot is really a touring motorcycle | | | | too strong for my liking, but I soon learned to adapt. |
| in disguise and, in its latest Executive guise, it has | | | | Suzuki accessories for the Burgman include a Zumo |
| more features than ever before. For 2008, it gets | | | | 550 GPS for $1399, soft cylindrical tailbag for $139, an |
| ABS as standard, a pillion backrest and an immobiliser | | | | optional screen for $229 and a chrome front panel |
| system, all for the same $12,990 price as the 2007 | | | | for $237.11 worth of extra bling. |
| model — oh, and those folding mirrors. | | | | The added bonus with the 2008 incarnation is that |
| The Burgman is undeniably the king of the | | | | those gimmicky mirrors can be folded in for improved |
| maxiscoots, a point driven home at last year’s | | | | aerodynamics in any traffic-light drag, then folded out |
| Dumb & Dumber winter soirée when a number of | | | | 400 metres later to see the shocked look on the |
| maxi-scoots were unleashed in Australia’s high | | | | face of the HSV driver as you leave him/her eating |
| country. | | | | Executive dust. Priceless. |