Suzuki Burgman 650 Review

Overall Rating

Flawless starting, acceleration, braking and handling. Spacious under-seat and ample upfront storage capacity held a few changes of clothing and laptop for a x-country trip. Very wide comfortable seat, with amble lumbar support. Electronic dash allows for switching from Mph to Kmh (handy once you've crossed the border) and also includes thermometer. Multiple transmission modes.

Mirrors: Although attractive with fold-away feature and integral turn signals, their lower than normal position provided a view often obstructed by my forearms. On mine turn signals seem to lack audible signal to remind driver to turn them off after a turn. I think the power adapter inside glove box could be recessed such that a standard cell phone charger could be plugged in and allow glove box to close and allow charging a phone while in motion. Anti-theft alarm would nice added feature.

I bought a 2007 AN650 (Suzuki Burgman 650) 12/30/07 in San Diego and promptly drove it across the border on a solo 2 day, 1,000 miles trip to Cabo San Lucas. The Burgman 650 was easily able to maintain control during a 4 hour stretch of 30+mph cross winds while traveling across a long stretch of barren desert south of Rosario. The following week I drove back North to LaPaz, across Sea of Cortez via ferry to Los Mochis (to see the Copper Canyon via "el Chepe" train), and then drove from Los Mochis up through Nogales, Tuscon and on to Phoenix. I couldn't be happier with the performance of this bike. It handled exceptionally well. The automatic transmission's normal mode allows the driver to maintain constant torque - even when decelerating. Ironically, it wasn't until after 2,100 miles and only two miles from a Suzuki dealership in Phoenix that I hit a water filled pot-hole - thinking it was a shallow puddle, and suffered a blown front tire and bent rim. I later realized how lucky I really was - considering the possible consequences if such an event had occurred in desolation.

I waited until May to complete the balance of my trip to the East Coast. Sedona, Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, and then through New Mexico where we experienced heavy rains for a 2 hour stretch of I-25. Continuing on through Texas & Louisiana, I picked up the Natchez Trace Parkway just outside Jackson, MS of through Tupelo and Elvis' birthplace. I then headed North to Chattanooga, so as to head back south over the Great Smokeys and pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Burgman handled like a sport bike - leaning heavily into hairpin turns over the highest peak of the BRP, and completing the 87 mile stretch between the Great Smokey Mountains and Ashville, NC quickly. Undoubtedly, one of the biggest thrill rides of my life!

The three different transmission modes: manual, normal and sport allow for great flexibility. Driving on the Jersey Shore beach island where I live during the Summers, where speed limits are only 25mph, make me glad to have the manual mode.

With more than 85% of all autos sold in the US having automatic transmissions, I predict that all major motorcycle manufacturers will soon offer all their models with these CVT transmissions.