Review of the stylish maxi scooter Suzuki Burgman (Suzuki Skywave) 650

Scooters and mopeds have always remained popular since their inception, despite their unsightly technical performance.

After all, their advantages more than offset the lack of technical equipment. Small, maneuverable and very economical, they will always be in demand.

The Japanese, as the most massive consumers of such motorcycles, decided not to stop at small scooters and began to create equipment that is not inferior to full-fledged motorcycles in technical terms.

A representative of a solid scooter is the Burgman 650 model from Suzuki.

This model appears everywhere as a maxi scooter; this class of motorcycle equipment has received the nickname “Sofa”.

If we give a general assessment of the Burgman 650, then it is rather a motorcycle, structurally made in the form of a scooter .

The same stool seating and concept, but its size, functionality and comfort are not inferior to “Tourer” class motorcycles .

An interesting fact is that in its homeland this maxi is called Skywave, and the first name indicated is for models intended for Europe and the USA.

We have these scooters with both names.

There are practically no differences between the Skywave and Burgman models , with the exception of very minor differences, for example, in the form of turn signals of different colors.

Appearance and design

So, based on the design of the Skywave scooter, the Burgman is strikingly different from a small and medium class scooter.

It is completely covered with voluminous plastic covering, which adds solidity to this Suzuki representative.

The front part is voluminous, arrow-shaped.

The headlights are quite large ; two of them were installed on the front.

Just above the headlights, folding mirrors with turn signals integrated into them .

The upper part of the front is decorated with a windshield , which, to increase ride comfort, was equipped with an electric drive for changing the tilt angle.

Behind this windshield, under a stylistic visor, is the dashboard. They made it completely digital.

The steering wheel protrudes above the front column, providing ease of control. Behind the steering column, like any scooter, there is a transition between it and the seat.

But this crossing was also used for good - closed storage boxes .

The seat is voluminous and large, which is why maxi scooters are called “sofas”. Skyway has a stepped seat with an adjustable backrest for the driver .

The passenger is also not deprived of a backrest. Handles for the passenger were installed on the sides of the seat on a plastic body kit .

The seat itself hides another storage box , and it is very large in volume - 56 liters .

Additional convenience for the passenger and driver is provided not by folding footrests, but by footrests .

The driver is completely lucky - his footrests are located on the sides of the front column, on the front end they are protected by a body kit, and the platforms themselves are placed at an angle.

So the driver can almost fully extend his legs .

The premium tourist model, the Honda Gold Wing 1800, has incorporated all the latest developments of the brand in the field of safety and comfort.

This interesting motorcycle with a 650 cc engine was assembled exclusively in Italy.

Test drive Suzuki Burgman 650

It so happened that our acquaintance with the largest scooter of the Suzuki brand took place by chance, and also outside of Ukraine: having arrived in Moldova, on KHOKHLA’s birthday, we, thanks to the hero of the occasion (and the owner of the device), had the opportunity to test the Burgman 650 in Executive version.

But it’s not for nothing that they say that there are no accidents. Since it is almost impossible to get new Suzuki equipment for testing in Ukraine (all our attempts ended in nothing), this accident was, rather, a conscious necessity.

Motorcyclists and those who aspire to become one, after reading the above, may whine: “Here, again, an article about a “stool,” albeit fattened up to the size of a sofa!” What can you say to them? The fact that each product has its own buyer? Or maybe the fact that two wheels with a motor, albeit without a manual transmission, is still significantly closer to a motorcycle than four with a roof? You can’t criticize scooterists just because they have a different riding position, they don’t need to jerk their left leg while moving, and even in the rain they remain practically dry and clean! After all, if, hand on heart, we delve into the history of getting on a motorcycle of all those who now ride it, then almost every second “trainer for beginners” was a moped or scooter! Almost like in the famous video: “You don’t like sofas”? You just didn’t ride them!”

So, I sit down. The wide and comfortable driving position is no worse than that on my “tourist”. But there are significantly more different lockable glove compartments! Everything that can fit in them is clearly visible in the photograph. In addition to the relatively small under-steering containers, the Suzuki Burgman also boasts a seriously sized underseat trunk, or “toilet,” as scooterists call it. One “integral” + an open-face scooter helmet fits there without any problems. By the way, without the owner’s help I could not lift the saddle, even with the keys in my hands. Suzuki engineers came up with such a cunning algorithm for unlocking it: after all, there is not a single keyhole in the saddle area! All manipulations to gain access to the seat space are performed in the ignition switch. If there is still a shortage of existing “standard” containers, then for additional money you can order two nice side cases (in the color of the scooter). And for those for whom the phrase “I take everything I own with me” is a life credo, it is also possible to install a rear case.

The dashboard also did not disappoint with its richness of information: there are countless different scales and displays! In addition to traditional instruments, there is also a clock and... an “outboard” air temperature indicator! But, unfortunately, the information content of all this “economy” is at a normal level only either on a cloudy day or at dusk, when the backlight turns on, because the entire shield is covered with glass that glares in the light, and the very color of what glows under it is yellow. Although... The digital speedometer readings are quite distinguishable, and there is nothing more you could wish for on a scooter, the main thing is not to get on the radar, because the “maximum speed” of this “sofa” is 180 km/h!

For a motorcyclist, there is, of course, a lot that is unusual here. So, to start the engine, you need to press the clutch lever before the starter button... that is, the brakes, sorry! Everything will work out, unless, of course, you forget to remove the side stand - the gears here cannot be engaged with your foot, so until you remove it, you won’t be able to start the engine!

A very cool option that clearly comes from the world of cars is electrically folding mirrors. Perfect for squeezing between cars! I pressed the button and folded it, pressed it again and unfolded it! Well, it’s not for nothing that the version is called Executive! But then, in contrast: why can’t the same operation be done with the windshield, adjusting its angle? After all, it would be much more functional! But no, here the Japanese either spared the money or didn’t want to bother... As a result: the glass has no opportunity to be adjusted to the owner’s height at all. Neither electrical nor mechanical. It’s a shame, especially for those whose height exceeds 185 cm - at cruising speeds it blows noticeably into the face (if you don’t first put on an integral helmet). Another “cool feature”, also of automotive origin, is the ability to sequentially change “gears” without removing your left hand from the steering wheel. Of course, the variator cannot have any gears, but you can fix the pulleys in certain gear ratios on the Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive without any problems, simply by pressing the “up” or “down” button with your left thumb. The activity is certainly interesting, but it quickly gets boring - one, and makes it difficult to concentrate on steering - two. So in everyday use the frequency of use of this “sequential electronic gearbox” is very small.

But the same cannot be said about the handbrake lever: this automobile “little thing” is very much in place here. The fact is that when parking a fairly heavy scooter on slopes, it can drive off on its own, because “putting it in gear” like a motorcycle is impossible! But it is possible to “put the handbrake on”! To do this, you just need to pull the small handle. If you think that this is where the automotive gadgets end, you are mistaken. On the Burgman, the refueling process is no different from that on a car: the filler neck is hidden behind the familiar hatch and a twist-off lid with a lock.

But enough comparisons with cars, it’s time to tell how this comfortable “sofa” moves in space, and here everything automotive is left behind.

While the scooter is standing still and the engine is quietly moving its large pistons at idle, nothing betrays its real capabilities. And they are actually quite large (it’s worth looking at the TXX table). But when you step on the gas, you feel how the heavy scooter, together with the difficult rider, accelerates quite easily and very dynamically. At the same time, on the throttle, there is practically no delay in the engine response, which is usually characteristic of all CVTs. To make acceleration even more dynamic, you can use those exclusive “Up” and “Down” buttons, or rather, of course, only “Up”. In this case, the motor rotates until the cutoff, and you can determine the moment of the next press and selection of the next “stage” by looking at the tachometer or listening to the tone of the engine sound. What can I say about the handling of this “luxury sofa”? It is, of course, very, very good for a maxi-scooter, although to improve it, the desire to squeeze the tank with your knees periodically arises. But, alas, the tank is not located where the knees are, so moving the “fifth point” is the only way to correct the course in a turn.

But the traction capabilities of the motor are at such a height that this allows you to quite delicately influence the angle of inclination when exiting a turn. Moldavian roads made it possible to test the capabilities of Burgman's suspensions to the fullest extent, since there are more than enough irregularities of various kinds and types in the suburbs of Chisinau! On gentle asphalt waves everything is simply wonderful, the scooter floats like a ship, only swaying slightly. When passing transverse ridges, it already shakes noticeably, but without discomfort. And only the “blind” intersection of deep and wide (relative to the wheel diameter) ruts and potholes makes the body tremble seriously, transmitting shocks to the driver’s body. But, in the end, it is not an enduro, and it is impossible to demand the same energy intensity from its suspensions. But it’s unlikely that you’ll have to drive such a luxurious vehicle alone, so I decided to test the suspension with an almost full load, but in the passenger seat.

The owner of the vehicle drove me along moderately rough asphalt at speeds of 60 km/h and 100 km/h. I want to say that the principle “more speed - fewer holes!” in the case of the Suzuki Burgman 650 it still does not work. It is clearly not recommended to fly it on bad asphalt under full load; the suspensions have difficulty absorbing all the irregularities and the ride becomes clearly uncomfortable. The magnitude of the unsprung masses affects. But, if the speed is reduced to reasonable values, then you will not experience much discomfort; the scooter will overcome the difficult section quite well.

Finally, I would like to say about the main active safety system, which from this year is included in all Burgmans with the index “650”. This is an integral braking system with ABS. Thanks to its presence, the Suzuki Burgman 650 has become safer, especially in the rain and when driving at high speeds. ABS works clearly, preventing the vehicle from leaving the trajectory even when braking in a turn. At the same time, the system’s response threshold is quite high and it will not bother you with its chattering noise, even if you brake intensively on dry asphalt, turning on only when one of the wheels is actually blocked. In general, I liked this “sofa”, although I still wouldn’t exchange the moto for it.

Text: Valera Drive, height 186 cm, weight 120 kg, drives a BMW R1150RT

Photo: the author and Yuri Ostashin

Maxi scooter design

Now a little about the design of the Skywave – Burgman 650. The load-bearing part of this maxi is a tubular frame, which is completely hidden under a plastic body kit.
Its engine is located under the driver , and not like in small class scooters - near the rear wheel.

The engine itself is a two-cylinder engine and is liquid cooled. The cooling radiator is located behind the front wheel, but it is almost invisible due to the same body kits.

The exhaust pipe runs from the right side of the scooter. To prevent the possibility of burns from above and from the sides, it is covered with an overlay.

A feature and advantage of the Suzuki Burgman (Skywave) 650 scooter over classic motorcycles is the presence of a CVT gearbox.

It is this that allows you to move comfortably on this maxi .

The suspension consists of a classic telescopic fork in front and a pendulum fork with two lateral shock absorbers in the rear.

The braking system used on this scooter is all disc, but there are two discs at the front and only one at the rear.

A scooter for stylish and comfortable city riding

The Burgman range consists of models designed for stylish and comfortable city driving, and the top model in the range, the Executive, offers the most power, comfort, convenience and safety. Being a 'maxi' scooter, this Burgman offers the rider an almost motorcycle-like ride and scooter-like features in a slightly exaggerated way. So, undoubtedly, this is a transport of contrasts.

For the 2022 model year, Suzuki is offering the Burgman 650 Executive in a new color scheme, so let's compare the new product with one of the top European devices.

Technical characteristics and indicators

Detailed technical characteristics of the Suzuki Burgman maxi scooter are shown in the table:

Engine

The device is driven by a 638 cc four-stroke two-cylinder liquid-cooled engine. cm, with a piston size of 75.5 mm and a stroke of 71.3 mm. The engine has two camshafts located in the head on parallel cylinders. The mixture is prepared by an injector that has feedback through an oxygen sensor in the exhaust, and an additional air supply to the exhaust mixture allows you to burn out all unburned hydrocarbons and squeeze the exhaust gases into modern economic standards. The engine contains two balancer shafts, therefore, despite the large volume, the engine vibrates very slightly, and this is difficult to overestimate.

The power figures are quite significant: 56 hp. at 7000 rpm and 62 N*m at 5000 rpm, due to which the maximum speed of the device is about 160 km/h. Thus, the engine of the device is quite ordinary, which cannot be said about the transmission.

Its transmission is unlike a motorcycle transmission, with mechanical gear shifting, or a scooter transmission with a conventional variator, in which the gear ratio smoothly changes due to an increase in the centrifugal force acting on the variator weights. Suzuki Electric CVT is an electronically controlled CVT that has two automatic operating modes - Drive and Power, and also a manual gear ratio mode that emulates a six-speed gearbox. In Drive mode, the device has a linear acceleration characteristic, and in Power mode, acceleration is improved by using higher torque at higher speeds. This will undoubtedly appeal to those who like to get the most out of the device.

Approximate cost

The popularity and demand for this maxi is indicated by the fact that its production began in 2002 and continues to this day .
Therefore, it is possible to purchase either a new scooter from a dealer or search on the secondary market.

The new model is sold by dealers at a price of 589,900 rubles.

But the secondary market price range is very respectable - the duration of production affects it.

Thus, the cost of Suzuki Burgman (Skywave) 650 varies from a minimum of 85,000 rubles. and up to 470 thousand rubles.

The Honda Magna ATV 50 ATV of the famous Japanese manufacturer is the smallest model in the concern’s lineup.

This article is about an ATV that is positioned as a teenage model:

A Brief History of the Suzuki Burgman Model Range

Suzuki specialists, who have perfectly mastered the production of scooters for mass consumers, decided to create equipment that is not inferior in technical characteristics to motorcycles. The first models of large scooters, called Burgman, were released 20 years ago. After the appearance on the market in 1999 of a modification of the Suzuki Burgman under the AN250 brand, the engineers did not stop there and released another model, the AN400.

Developing the model line, a few years after the release of the first maxi-scooters, the AN125 model was manufactured. In 2002, it made an impression on fans of large devices. However, this modification did not remain a new development by Suzuki specialists for long. A year later, the Suzuki Burgman 650 model appeared, and in 2004, a modernized version of the 650 model called Executive.

Photo gallery

The Suzuki Burgman (Suzuki Skywave) 650 fascinates with its impressive dimensions and vaguely resembles full-size tourist cruisers. Leadership in the class is ensured by outstanding driving performance, and dynamic characteristics are not inferior to mid-sized motorcycles. And you can get acquainted with its excellent design in our selection.

general description

Story

The Suzuki SkyWave 650 maxiscooter (for America and Europe - Suzuki Burgman AN650) debuted in the fall of 2001 and has been on sale since 2002.

In the fall of 2003, the luxury modification SkyWave 650LX (Burgman AN650 Executive) was introduced, which became available to customers at the beginning of 2004. The Executive/Skywave LX model differed from the base model in the presence of ABS, a rear passenger backrest, an electric folding mirror mechanism and a chrome muffler trim instead of black.

In 2005, the top version acquired an electrically adjustable windshield and an outside air temperature sensor. In 2009, heated steering wheel grips and seats moved from the options list to standard equipment. Under the seat there is a 56-liter luggage compartment, enough to store two full-size helmets and even a little more.

In the 2013 model, the gearbox and clutch were significantly modernized, friction losses were reduced by 35%.