Another Piaggio?

[Krobbo]

I've had my 250 SL now since Sept 2002 and have decided I need a change soon. However I can't make up my mind what to get next. The main criteria is that I need something with a bigger engine. The SL is a good bike but I want something that has a bit more kick with 2 up.
 I've narrowed the field down to 3. These are either Evo 500, Burgman 400 OR Burgman 650(money permitting).
The problem with the Evo is I promosed myself I would not go back to the dealer who sold me the SL because the after sales service is c**p, but I can go out of town to another but thats awkward for services etc. The problem with both Suzuki's although there is not a main dealer in town, is that I can't find a dealer who has both to road test.
Is there anybody out there who has possibly test driven all three bikes as I would appreciate their opinion.

[HERMANATOR]

The only way you'll get a test ride on a Burgman 650 is if you can find a dealer with a 2nd hand model, otherwise forget about getting a test ride. The 650 is too expensive for dealers to register demo models as they sell so few that the return on investment will be nil.

Personally, I've ridden all three and would right now say, it's between the Evo 500 and the Burger 650. The price difference is considerable and the ride quite different. The 650 has none of the characteristics of the 500 Single which, once on the move smoothes out and delivers a brilliant ride.

I think your comparisons though (apart from price) are not going to be objective, they'll be subjective. The reason I say this is because the rides are that different that it'll come down to the one you like. Thereafter it'll be the wallet which determines the sale.

Personally though, the miles I did on my 500, if I were in the position to buy another scoot, I would not hesitate to have another in the garage. My personal experiences have only been good, some of the rides and scenery have left lasting memories.

Good luck, difficult decision,

Cheers

Lawrence

[philmel]

I had a Burger 400 it was good but crap 2 up the 650 burger is great but weighs in at a quarter of a ton so you need to be strong to manouver one , go evo 500 its the best one by price alone

[johnp]

Pound for pound, i would go for the Evo 500. I`ve had my Evo 500 a year now and i can`t fault it. I don`t usually have a bike for so long as i get bored with it, But the Evo 500 just keeps me entertained at all times.
So go for the Evo 500, you know it makes sense.

[Rocketman]

[chiefkeefe]

Hello Krobbo

I've owned two X9 500s and my current scoot is a Burger 650.  Both X9 and Suzuki provide excellent two-up rides, the X9 having to work a little harder for the same results.  I've found that this means that their rate of fuel consumption is similar, the X9 having the edge.

The Burger has a far superior load carrying ability and is dynamically superior to the X9, but that doesn't tell the whole story.  The X9 is a truly fantastic scoot which, despite its few well-documented foibles, can be used for just about any type of road work.  I even took mine off-road (although this wasn't planned   ).  It's smart, comfortable and versatile.

The Burger is considerably more expensive than the X9 but that hasn't dissuaded buyers from buying them in large numbers.  The MCIA sales figures for Jan to April 2005 show 95 UK registrations of the Big Burger compared with 67 of the Evo 500.  [The month-by-month X9/Burger registration figures are 4/16, 9/20, 21/26, 33/33.]

Suzuki test rides are not as easy to arrange as they seem to be for the X9.  My local Suzuki dealership has demos available but you have to sign away your life before taking them out.  Risky but, sadly, just a consequence of their poor history  of crashed and stolen demos! I suspect that a test ride of a maxiscoot might be easier to come by if you can locate a dealership with a Big Burger in stock as they're being sold like hotcakes right now.

Put simply, if I wasn't so big then I'd still be a proud owner of an Evo 500.  Mine didn't suffer from Digidash problems and the auto stand always worked smoothly.  It did require replacement steering bearings rather early in the day (about 5k miles) but this was a painless warranty job at JT's.  Otherwise, it was a reliable, frugal and above all characterful companion.

Having moved to the Big Burger, I have to say that this is one helluva good machine by any measure.  It's well-built, cleverly designed and totally reliable (so far).  Its extra power makes light of two-up rides and its load-carrying ability is enormous.  I also find that its weather protection is better than it was for my Evo.  True, it is mighty heavy but this hasn't turned out to be much of a problem for new owners, including the many female riders who have taken the plunge.  The bulk is simply not noticeable once it starts to roll and it's an easy beast to manoeuvre.  It's not bad in heavy traffic either, but no doubt the more svelte X9 wins the day here.

So ... I suppose your eventual choice really depends on the main use to which you intend to put your purchase and the amount you're prepared to pay.  For me, I intend to do more two-up touring, with luggage so the choice was a no-brainer, the X9 having a maximum load-carrying capacity of just 180kg whichmeant SWMBO and I would have to ride naked and leave our luggage at home    .  

If you need to do quite a bit of town-work then the X9 will probably be the better choice.  Remember: both scoots will cope admirably well in both roles.

I hope I haven't confused you.

 

[Dale]

Just a Question Cheif.  Where did you get the 180Kg load of the X9 from?

[micksalter]

the X9 having a maximum load-carrying capacity of just 180kg which meant I would have to ride naked 

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[chiefkeefe]

Just a Question Cheif.  Where did you get the 180Kg load of the X9 from?

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It's in the Owner's Manual.  I don't remember which page but trust me, it's there and is the main reason for my deciding to change my scoot.

[joyce]

Page 75 in my handbook

Joyce


 :red:  :red:  :red:  :red:

edit - I just finished writting this when the mail came in - it is a survey from BIKE mag on 'larger riders'  

Joyce

[Tommy Atkins]

In old money, just a touch under 30 stone.  

[Alan]

I promosed myself I would not go back to the dealer who sold me the SL because the after sales service is c**p

[snapback]69632[/snapback]

Remember also that servicing of the evo500 is less frequent then your 250sl, for low mileage owners it could be only once a year. That might make going the distance to a trusted dealer easier to live with. (plus there's no guarantee that your local Suzy dealer will be any better then what you have now ) I went from X9250 to X9500 and both are fine machines, for different reasons. No regrets on either!

[Allan Crawley]

Krobbo, I dont have any experience of riding all three machines but i would fully support chiefkeife comments regarding maximum weightload.  Its ok if both you and your pillion rider are only 10 stone each but if your bones are fully covered (like ours!) it doesnt take long to rack up the weight if you do a bit of touring with a top box fitted.

I do most of my mileage two up and the maximum weight limit is ok when out for day rides  but i do worry about the weight when we are away for the week end with luggage, hence my interest in the 650 burger as a future buy.

 

[Krobbo]

Allan, thats the point I am trying to make. At present I take my son out when I can, and the combined weight is about 30 stone. The odd trip is ok but our trips are getting longer and I feel, hard for the bike, any hills of any size and the bike just seems to die. Added to that the stability at slow speeds can be frightening. We are both 6ft and the c of g is rather high, thats why I was originally considering a 400 because of its seat height. The c of g for the 500 won't be much different to that of the 250, but the engine size may just do it for me.
Thanks for all comments
Ken

[Dale]

or wait for the 850 twin...

[bwinnett2000]

How is this 180kg load limit deceided,is it the transmission capacity,the suspension or the tyres? or all three.

Anybody know.


Cheers

BW

[johnp]

Yes wait for the 850 twin, but i have my name on the first one, and the money in the bank ready.

[Krobbo]

Just to keep you in the picture, I had a test drive of a 650 Burgman today and it was the dogs wotsits .
I noticed on the net that Suzuki York had a second hand one in and I arranged a test drive this morning. I was given the keys,shown the important bits and told to enjoy myself, which I did.
I could go on for days about the test, but the bottom line is my 250SL is now up for sale with the intention of buying a big burger asap.

[dmsum]

Go on, go on about it!

Personal reviews always make a good read, and often answer a lot of the questions that the 'professional' road tests leave out! I saw Chiefkeefe's when I was buying his/my X9 500, and it looked pretty good - although I had doubts about how practical it would be filtering through town traffic...

[Krobbo]

[wayne]

Just a Question Cheif.  Where did you get the 180Kg load of the X9 from?

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Page  89 of the new hand book.

[Treb]

Good luck with your new venture Ken, I've still got around 15 months of restricted riding until I can upgrade to a larger auto bike. I just need to find out how I stand with a semi auto gearbox on an auto only license.

[DrChip]

I have just gone from a Evo 500 to a Evo 250.. and I am so very pleased that I have.. the 250 rides just as well .. is not so heavy and I get another 65k per tank full .. to be totally honest I can not tell the difference as most of my riding is city based... it takes off very smoothly at low speeds.. is very quick at at the lights..

[Barney]

I just need to find out how I stand with a semi auto gearbox on an auto only license.

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If it ain't got a clutch, it's an auto!!!!!!!

[Treb]

Thanks for that Barney. Never thought of it that way.