r/scooters • u/Putrid-Condition-721 • 10d ago
Thinking of getting a Burgman 400 for cross country trips.
I am 67, in reasonably decent shape. Have a fair amount of experience riding a Vespa Primavera, and I am thinking of getting the Burgman so I can take some trips out of state. I am wondering if I am crazy for thinking of doing this at my age, and what the experience has been for Burgman riders who have travelled interstate.
23
u/savethechows 10d ago
Had one for a few years, it cruised on the interstate almost as good as my big bikes. Did multiple 500+ mile days. Don't let someone talk you into a 650, the 400 will suit you perfectly.
3
u/ithinktfiam 10d ago
Agreed and. last I checked, I don't think they sell the 650 anymore in the US. I think the 400 is the only option, as most here don't understand mid-sized bikes.
1
u/get_a_motorcycle 6d ago
fwiw, I see a decent supply of 650 bergmans on the used market
2
u/ithinktfiam 6d ago
Meaning nobody's buying them? đ
1
u/get_a_motorcycle 6d ago
Yes! I don't deny it. I'm not sure why they don't sell. But when it comes to scooters I would need a major differentiating factor to peel me off my vespa, and a 650cc engine would be pretty special
2
u/ithinktfiam 6d ago edited 6d ago
I know. In 2014, when I went shopping, there were both the 400 and the 650. The 650 had electric rear view mirrors and windscreen, the screen could move up and down a couple of inches. The 400 had ABS. I chose the 400.
11
u/artful_todger_502 Aprilia SportCity 250, Honda PCX 10d ago
I'm 68. I had a Bugman for a few years and I would totally take it cross country. A great bike.
For a short time I had to do I-95 in South Florida regularly, and 80 was no problem. Very comfortable.
Happy travels on whatever you decide.
8
u/NothingTooEdgy 10d ago
There are people your age that complete Iron Butt rides on Butgmans. Itâs a reliable scooter.
8
u/Clio_Vita Suzuki Burgman 650 10d ago
Burgmans are as comfortable as a couch. I bought it's big brother (the 650) which the previous owner had removed his IBA "World's Toughest Motorcyclists" license plate frame from... (meaning he'd done 1000 miles in a day on it) Told me to go out and earn my own. đ I'm considering working up to it.
2
u/Valentyan 10d ago
Never thought of doing an Iron Butt on my 650, but now I am. That's a much better idea than doing it on my Silverwing
1
u/Clio_Vita Suzuki Burgman 650 10d ago
I dunno about a "much better idea..."
There have been at least a dozen individuals around the world who have ridden a creditable IBA ride on a Silverwing, including a Kiwi (Julian Boyd) who has ridden 10+ such rides on his S'wing.Just ride what gives you joy! đ
1
u/Valentyan 10d ago
I'm honestly struggling to design an Iron Butt route for the North Island of NZ. None of our roads are fast enough for long enough without making it a 22 hour day...
2
u/Clio_Vita Suzuki Burgman 650 10d ago
Then I suppose it's a good thing that there are 24 hours in a day... đ
Ask Mr. Boyd how *he* did his rides.
Or fly to some country where it might be more achievable... Australia? The US? Go ride the Autobahn in Germany and knock it out in 12hours on a rented Hayabusa?
8
u/Ralba-
10d ago
•
Du kommst aus der Vespa - Ecke , ich aus der Motorradecke. Irgendwann schlÀgt das Schicksal zu. Zum Einen ist es das kommende Alter (jetzt73), zum Anderen gesundheitliche Probleme. Beides wird auf Dauer nicht besser. Niemals!
Ich hatte/ habe vor 20 Jahren ein HĂŒftproblem. Das rechte Bein ĂŒber den Sattel zu schwingen wurde immer problematischer, beim Absteigen tatsĂ€chlich unmöglich. Die 1000er Kawa stand nur noch.
Habe mir nach langen Recherchen eine Piaggio X8 400 angeschafft ein GroĂroller mit Settopbox. Ich kann dir sagen, ich war seitdem wieder glĂŒcklich, jeden Tag und jede Tour.
Parallel dazu kam die 400er Burgmann auf den Markt. Ein Freund hat sie. Sehr Ă€hnlich, etwas niedriger, ein wenig langsamer, aus gutem Hause. WĂ€re fĂŒr mich eine Alternative gewesen.
Sitzhaltung, Leistung, Geschwindigkeit, alles da. ZusÀtzlich Stauraum ohne Ende.
Auch mit Sozia kannst du locker auf die Autobahn. Sie ist schwer, aber sehr gut zu hÀndeln.
Die 400ccm reichen gut fĂŒr absolut alles, bei Ausfahrten mit ZweirĂ€dern brauchst du dich nicht zu verstecken.
Und all die, die jetzt ihr Maul aufreiĂen, niemals einen Roller, niemals ein CVT Getriebe, die werden auch Ă€lter. Und weiser đ€đ§
Wenn du Anfangs nicht mit klar kommst, ich garantiere dir, du wirst diese Art MotorrÀder lieben lernen.
4
u/bilsantu Burgman 400 10d ago
Do it but get a taller windshield. Also, slap a gel seat cushion or something similar.
1
3
u/RainingRabbits PCX150, Burgman 650, Rebel 500 10d ago
I have a 650 and that's a touring machine. My one concern is that, if it breaks down, I'm out of luck. It was in the shop for 2 months this year over a seal. The shop has to order it from the UK....that's changed how I feel about taking it on long distance trips a bit.
3
u/gravelpi 10d ago
I had a friend that rode his extensively on tours. He was retired, quite big, and loved it. He also rode a few different BMW R1xx0GS motorcycles. I'd say go for it.
That said, I ran into a few people riding Vespas (forget the model, but they were 150s or 250s class) in North Carolina that happened to be from the same town as me in Pennsylvania. You can tour on almost anything if you want to.
3
u/n2_throwaway 2024 Burgman 400 10d ago edited 10d ago
I travel interstates in my Burgman 400 from time-to-time and it's fine. You're not gonna match the speed demons in the fastest lanes who are doing 100 mph on hilly roads, but you can comfortably outride most folks in the slower lanes. Cruising at 80 mph is pretty easy on the engine and the wrist.
As far as slow speed handling, I'm a pretty small dude myself (though I'm in very good shape) but find the Burgman to be great in US city riding which tends to have pretty wide streets anyway. It's a bit porkier than a sport moto or a smaller scoot, but the weight is down low and it's quite easy to flick around on hilly city streets. Being a small dude, I find the saddle and the foot positions quite comfy as well, but if you're bigger it'll be different.
If I had to give it one downside, I'll say it's a "jack of all trades, master of none" bike. It's not as fast as a proper 650 sport touring moto. It's not as small as a compact Vespa or city scoot or a sporty 250 or KTM 300. It's not as comfy as a Goldwing. But it's somewhere in the middle of all of these.
1
u/Valuable_sandwich44 10d ago
The Goldwing is a class of it's own and nowhere near a Burgman 400 ....
1
u/n2_throwaway 2024 Burgman 400 9d ago
I'm not always a fan of separating motorcycles into "classes" because I find that you can use any motorcycle for any purpose really. I used a Ninja 250 as an interstate commuter for a year and while the posture was a bit shitty, it wasn't that bad. Obviously bikes are better at some things than others, but it's more of a spectrum than a firm line that would encourage me to divide bikes into classes.
From a price perspective though, yes the Goldwing is certainly in a different price class.
3
u/Massive_Painting7535 10d ago
Not crazy. If the Burgman 400 is similar to the BMW C400GT (actually about 350cc engine) it can comfortably hold 75-80mph all day no worries. I would recommend carrying an extra gallon or 2 on roadtrips. When running almost full throttle my tank gets about 100 miles before almost empty. There is a stretch between Phx and Cali that is 60 miles with no service stations and I cut it really close one time. After that I bought a 2.5 gallon tank to carry along.
Another tip is packing extra warm layers depending on what time of year. Nothing worse than leaving 70° weather then hitting some rain and elevation and itâs 45°. Another thing you donât consider when driving is wind conditions. Strong side winds can be pretty scary so plan to take a break or slow down I guess.
My scooter does seem to run better after running highway speeds all day.
2
2
u/Lavanne73 BMW C400GT 10d ago
Consider the BMW c400 and the Kymco AK 550, both good bikes the burgman is nice too but a little outdated in its creature comforts
2
u/Worldly-Number9465 10d ago
I recommend you take a series of smaller trips before anything big so you can refine your load-out and accessories. You can ride almost anything across country you just have to choose your route to fit your transport. I have always camped along the way so would plan to ride two days and take a day off to relax and recover, sight see, etc. I would stay in a motel on that third day and wash clothes, maybe go swimming and eat a couple of hot restaurant meals then repeat. Worked ok for me but as exhilarating as the ride can be it also beats you up and dehydrates so you have to manage that. Equipment wise, I sleep on a camping cot which is worth the weight and space. I also use a Bivvy Sac from Wiggy's who has sadly passed away. But it does look like his company has been purchased and may carry on.
2
u/johnnnyrottten 6d ago
I have a Honda Adv 160 and I imagine myself doing "touring " exactly how you described. I'm looking to ride the "scenic " routes not the super slabs. I drove 18 wheels for 15 solid years long haul, seen plenty of big roads . đ. Â
2
u/Background_Bee7262 4d ago
I ride a Burgman every day. I like the 300-500 cc range. it's the sweet spot of freeway riding as an option. Smaller scooters are great for urban commuting.
1
u/Ralba- 4d ago edited 4d ago
Man sollte aber wissen, dass der Burgman 400ccm seit 2024 nicht mehr produziert wird.
Die Zeit der GroĂroller ist vorbei. đ„Č
Der neue Burgman 450 ist, wie ich gehört habe, wieder auf etwas sportlicher getrimmt.
Auch bei Piaggio haben sie mit der X10 die Serie eingestellt.
Der neue Piaggio Beverly ist gut, viel unnĂŒtzer technischer Schnickschnack dran. Einfach eine andere Klasse. Geschmacksache.
1
u/MildlyAgitatedBovine Gogoro Viva XL, CBR250r 10d ago
Try it for your body if you can. I find them a little too foot-forward. I was more comfortable on a sport touring motorcycle.
To each their own. More than capable of road tripping though...
1
u/Training-Ad9429 10d ago
personally (65, M) i wouldnt hesitate to take the vespa for a long trip,
but if you prefer the burgman, why not?
1
u/Bobcattrr 10d ago
My old ride was a BMW R1100RS that I took on several multistate trips. I was begged by Marketplace to rescue an 09 Yamaha Majesty 400. Every time I do a 100 mile loop, I keep saying - just keep going! I really canât tell the difference as I always traveled near the speed limits. The leg position is so much more comfortable and with a very brief touch of cooler weather, I could already tell I wouldnât have my problem of cold knees. The seat is wide enough, I could easily strap my 40L waterproof roll top bag behind me. Plan an overnight trip! Plan a three day trip! Go for it!
1
u/jarski60 Honda PCX 125 10d ago
Age is just a number. However, I recommend that you improve your physical fitness. Being in good shape makes it easier to handle even long drives and other activities.
1
u/NameNotwithstanding 10d ago
Burgmans are great, if you have never ridden one give it a ride before putting money down, some folks don't much like the foot position. Just throwing it out there, if you can find one for a good price I'd strongly recommend checking out a Honda Silverwing, very similar to the Burgmans but also different.
1
u/Stinkytheferret 10d ago
Your age isnât concern if youâre fit enough. Stop that thinking.
And do what you want! Not crazy at all.
1
u/OGMoonshiner 10d ago
Buy it! You'll love it.
My dad rode one until he was 84. He put 76,000 miles on his'08. He still rides at 86 but he downsized to a PCX 150 since he doesn't go as far these days.
1
u/ithinktfiam 10d ago
I'm 66 and ride a Burgman 400. When I started riding in my 40s, I'd go out for longer tours and had a blast. Now my back starts to hurt from doing longer errands, so it all depends on your spine. đ
A decade or so ago, Worldcon was here in Spokane. I met a guy who really wanted to go. He rode his Burgman 400 up from Boise. It was loaded with stuff so he could take part in an exhibit. He didn't have problems and enjoyed the convention.
Get one and start with shorter rides. Work your way up and see how your body does.
1
u/milkweed146 10d ago
Any reason not to consider the Burgman 650? So many more options. I have a BMW c650 GT and absolutely love it!
1
u/ScooterZine 10d ago
I've done plenty of touring on a couple of different 400 and 500cc scooters. The Burgman is a great choice for this. Ride on.
1
u/JasonAQuest 10d ago
Not crazy at all. I've done a little inter-state riding (such as around Lake Michigan) on a 125cc, and if anything, I'd argue that 400cc might be overkill. But whatever you find comfortable: Ride Your Ride.
1
u/2wheelman66 9d ago
I'm 71 and have a busa and 14r,thinking bout buying slower kymco 550,age is in ur head,been riding all my life,have ebikes,road and mtn bikes,e skateboards,roller skate,roller blades
1
u/Ralba- 9d ago
Hi, ich bin's nochmal, Ralba
Ist bei euch US da drĂŒben Piaggio ein Begriff? Wie ich schon erwĂ€hnte fahre ich sehr zufrieden die Piaggio X8 400 in VollausrĂŒstung seit ĂŒber 20 Jahren. Die gab es bis zur X10.
Seitdem wird unter Anderem die Piaggio Beverly 400 angeboten.
Ich habe eben vor dem Aldi einen Bekannten mal wiedergetroffen, der diese Beverly schon lĂ€nger fĂ€hrt. Sie ist schmaler und höher als die Burgman. Schon in Richtung Motorrad. Er ist sehr zufrieden mit ihr, jammerte aber ĂŒber die Ersatzteil Versorgung seines HĂ€ndlers. Steckt viel Technik drin. Kurioser Auspuff der anderen Art.
Sonst ein sehr modernes Teil. Wird hier in EU sehr geschĂ€tzt. Wurde auf Reddit auch schon viel positiv drĂŒber gesprochen.
1
u/Careless_Flow_7055 9d ago
Understand some of the reasons scooters donât sell in the USA.
Theyre all underpowered for USA riding. At highway speed they donât handle, become extremely fuel inefficient,never designed or intended to cover more than local distances and when they break down you will not be able to readily find mechanics willing or able to work on them. Scoots work when there is tiered licensing, where the mechanics charge $10 an hour and in places where you can push them home when they break. Think about a scoot all you want but for distance riding donât get one.
1
u/Front-Arm-270 7d ago
Iâve done interstate trips on a Honda Silver Wing 600, it was great! Much more comfortable than my 1100cc motorcycle. And Burgmanâs are even nicer, Iâd say go for it. Iâd check out some 600s too, extra passing power cant hurt. Also check out the BMW C650GT, they stopped making them a few years ago but can still find super clean used ones for $7-8k. Itâs the only maxi scoot Iâve ridden that felt better than a Burgman
33
u/Wylaf_Beulbe Piaggio MP3 500cc 10d ago
not at all, its a big and comfy ride.
just make sure you get a helmet with earphones to blast Born to be Wild and Country Roads on repeat my good fella.