For many years, the humble scooter was solely for urban transport, being small, light, easy to maneuver and frugal. Then some bright spark questioned this and wondered why a scooter couldn’t be an even more practical proposition, improving comfort by making it physically larger and performance by fitting it with a bigger engine that would make it suitable for highway riding and carrying two people at safe speeds. Thus was born what has become known as the maxi-scooter, still easy to ride with twist-and-go operation and nimble enough to negotiate city traffic but with a lot more power and performance for the open road. Suzuki’s Burgman 400 arrived in 1998 and remains one of the better maxi-scooters today.
10 Liquid-Cooled Engine
The Suzuki Burgman 400 has a liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine producing 30 horsepower and 26.5 foot pounds of torque, driving through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) which means simple twist-and-go operation. Despite excellent acceleration and 100mph top speed potential, making it perfect for longer-distance highway riding, it still returns an average of 67 miles per gallon. The CVT transmission is smooth and fuss free and doesn’t seem to sap the engine of power unnecessarily and works well whether using all the performance or taking it easy in traffic.
9 Braking Performance
Given the performance and the extra weight of the Burgman 400 over smaller scooters, good brakes are essential, and the triple disc set-up gives all the stopping power and confidence you need. Twin 260mm discs are mounted on the front wheel and, thanks to the twin four-piston calipers, have excellent stopping power allied to good feel, while the ABS keeps things safe, even under the harshest braking conditions. Because of the automatic gearbox, there is no clutch lever, so the left-hand lever operates a combination of the front and rear brakes, while the right-hand lever operates the front brake only.
8 Physical Size Of The Burgman
It’s not a small scooter, with a total length of over seven feet and there is a significant area of bodywork but that in no way compromises its effectiveness in congested city riding and neither does the 474-pound all-in weight, which is mostly worn low down, so the balance is near perfect, even at slow speeds. It is surprisingly light on its feet so, even if at first acquaintance it is slightly intimidatingly large, when on the move you simply don’t notice the extra size or weight. Also, the available power means you always have the acceleration to get away ahead of the traffic from stop lights or accelerate through a gap into an open piece of road, which many smaller-engined scooters just don’t have.
7 Bigger Than Average Wheels
One criticism that is often leveled at scooters is the small wheel sizes, which can be a problem when the road surface is particularly bad or full of potholes. The Suzuki Burgman 400 has a 15-inch front wheel which helps not only with stability but also being much safer coping with bad road surfaces. The rear wheel is of 13-inch size and is 150mm wide, giving near-sports bike levels of grip which makes the handling a lot more fun than any scooter has a right to be capable of.
6 Solid Suspension
You don’t expect sophisticated suspension set-ups on a scooter but, again, the Burgman 400 is so much more than a simple scooter. In common with every scooter, the engine is mounted in unit with the swing arm and rear wheel, which massively increases unsprung weight which is normally the enemy of good handling but for some reason works fine on scooters. The rear suspension has a single coil-over-shock absorber with a clever linkage and spring-preload adjustment that gives exceptional bump absorption and controls the wheel movement way beyond what you might expect. The front forks have no adjustment but are perfectly set-up and give good feel while isolating the rider from hard front wheel impacts. On the highway, the suspension is beyond criticism and gives a very smooth ride.
5 Impressive Handling
Again, not something you’d expect from a scooter but the Burgman 400 is actually great to throw through a series of bends. Ground clearance when cornering is generous and the wheel size/suspension set-up gives safe, predictable handling with more than a hint of sportiness. Stability is excellent and the extra weight of the scooter gives confidence-inspiring handling with no vices whatsoever. Grip levels from the Dunlop tires are high, and you’d have to do something really ham-fisted to upset the poise and get yourself into trouble. In addition, there is enough power to give good punch out of corners and the brakes are more than up to repeated heavy braking. It’s a lot more entertaining than a scooter has a right to be.
4 Ergonomics And Rider Protection
With no need for any form of foot control, other than putting them down when at a standstill, manufacturers have a lot more freedom in packaging the rider onto a maxi-scooter. There is generous foot room in two positions, a huge and comfortable seat and an easy reach to the handlebars. One of the first principles of scooters was weather and dirt protection for the rider and the voluminous frontal bodywork of the Burgman 400 continues this principle with excellent wind protection and, if the screen is non-adjustable, it still keeps all but the worst wind off the rider, making it comfortable for long-distance rides. The seat is huge for both rider and pillion and reach to the handlebars relaxed.
3 Scooter Practicality
This is where scooters really shine: because of the mechanical layout, there is room for storage space under the seat. In this respect, the Burgman 400 is exceptional, with room for two helmets under the seat, although they can’t be two full-face helmets. Without storing helmets, there is 41-liters of storage space without unnecessary intrusions, making it supremely practical. In addition, there are two roomy compartments each side of the fairing which, although not lockable, are useful for storing phones and wallets while riding and one has a USB port for charging the phone.
2 Features
Because of their size and power and potential long-distance ability, manufacturers can load a maxi-scooter with more equipment than smaller, urban-only scooters. The Burgman 400, in addition to its storage solutions, has a few nice touches, such has an adjustable lumbar support for the rider, as well as more mundane but equally useful features, such as center stand and handbrake for secure parking (can’t leave it in gear, of course!) The dashboard is clear and concise and even features an ice warning for those cold spells and the LED lights are bright and effective.
1 Rivals And Price
The maxi-scooter category is well populated and, if some of the more bonkers models, such as Aprilia’s V-Twin engined SRV850 are no more, there are still some very good rivals to the Burgman, which costs $10,850. That sounds like a lot but when you consider the practicality and the performance, it starts to make sense. Obvious rivals are the Yamaha TMax, with 45 horsepower and very well sorted chassis dynamics but costs $16,749, which is quite a jump over the Burgman 400. Another excellent rival is the Kymco AK550, with 53 horsepower and really good features (although less storage than the Burgman 400), selling for $9,399, making it the best value for money. BMW has largely abandoned its petrol-engined maxi-scooters in favor of the electric CE 04 model, although the C400GT is still available at a very reasonable $8,245.