Megascooter head gasket changed. Manual followed. Sounds OK. Fingers crossed. 6 hours total.
So that's 25k Miles on an AN400K3 Suzuki Burgman 400
- Head gasket blown
- Clutch shoes burnt out
- Starter motor bushes worn out
- Rear brake pad retaining pins notched, leading to pads falling towards disk, leading to worn groove in disk top hat
- Ignition switch contacts broken. Changed as a warranty recall.
- Huge amounts of rust, corrosion, lifting engine paint lacquer.
I'm not very impressed, Suzuki, even though the bike is just about perfect for me. So, this one is used up, bring me another one.
tag:google.com,2010:buzz:z12dft1iflyvyvyse224yfkr1t2nwzjq404
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
24 Jul 2010
24 Jul 2010
Mobile
Public
46-71 Trinity Rd, Ware
46-71 Trinity Rd, Ware, Hertfordshire SG12 7, UK
51.8138386
-0.0259585
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
24 Jul 2010
24 Jul 2010
Mobile
Public
Megascooter head gasket changed. Manual followed. Sounds OK. Fingers crossed. 6 hours total. So t...
Megascooter head gasket changed. Manual followed. Sounds OK. Fingers crossed. 6 hours total.
So that's 25k Miles on an AN400K3 Suzuki Burgman 400
- Head gasket blown
- Clutch shoes burnt out
- Starter motor bushes worn out
- Rear brake pad retaining pins notched, leading to pads falling towards disk, leading to worn groove in disk top hat
- Ignition switch contacts broken. Changed as a warranty recall.
- Huge amounts of rust, corrosion, lifting engine paint lacquer.
I'm not very impressed, Suzuki, even though the bike is just about perfect for me. So, this one is used up, bring me another one.
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z12dft1iflyvyvyse224yfkr1t2nwzjq404:1279983000457000
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Of the people I know with the Burgman 650, the biggest problem has been flaky side stand switches which then put the bike into "get you home" mode.
24 Jul 2010
24 Jul 2010
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Of the people I know with the Burgman 650, the biggest problem has been flaky side stand switches which then put the bike into "get you home" mode.
24 Jul 2010
24 Jul 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z12dft1iflyvyvyse224yfkr1t2nwzjq404:1279990636754000
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
I always thought Suzuki had dodgy QC. The paint especially always seems to have been breathed on, rather than applied thoroughly. Brakes too tend to be dodgy and gum up.
I have given thought to a big scooter, but I think I'd have a look at a Yamaha T-Max. The best looking bike, and Yam's QC is better than Honda's. 24 Jul 2010 24 Jul 2010
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
I always thought Suzuki had dodgy QC. The paint especially always seems to have been breathed on, rather than applied thoroughly. Brakes too tend to be dodgy and gum up.
I have given thought to a big scooter, but I think I'd have a look at a Yamaha T-Max. The best looking bike, and Yam's QC is better than Honda's. 24 Jul 2010 24 Jul 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z12dft1iflyvyvyse224yfkr1t2nwzjq404:1280038384229000
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Being realistic the T-Max is vastly better than the Burgman 400 in almost all respects. Real suspension, slightly higher top speed, radial tyres. However there's a whole series of things from smaller luggage space, higher seat, lack of cutouts in the footboards, completely unadjustable rear suspension, that make it less useful as a 2-wheeled 'white van' commuter. Running costs are quite a bit higher as well.
One thing in it's favour. They race the things sur le continent. Which means you can get tuning bits without going via ebay Japan.
Even with the T-Max and Yamaha QC, I know of a couple that have had a crankshaft eat into the crankcases, lunching the engine. They can overheat as well if you don't pay attention to cleaning the low mounted radiator. So they're not totally immune to problems.
There's a kind of sweet spot here that the Burgman 400 seems to fill. It is pretty ridiculous to a motorcyclist's eyes and it's not quite fast enough (92mph GPS). But it's also immensely practical, wonderfully comfortable and hilarious to thrash unmercifully. And still light enough to throw around in dense traffic. 25 Jul 2010 25 Jul 2010
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Being realistic the T-Max is vastly better than the Burgman 400 in almost all respects. Real suspension, slightly higher top speed, radial tyres. However there's a whole series of things from smaller luggage space, higher seat, lack of cutouts in the footboards, completely unadjustable rear suspension, that make it less useful as a 2-wheeled 'white van' commuter. Running costs are quite a bit higher as well.
One thing in it's favour. They race the things sur le continent. Which means you can get tuning bits without going via ebay Japan.
Even with the T-Max and Yamaha QC, I know of a couple that have had a crankshaft eat into the crankcases, lunching the engine. They can overheat as well if you don't pay attention to cleaning the low mounted radiator. So they're not totally immune to problems.
There's a kind of sweet spot here that the Burgman 400 seems to fill. It is pretty ridiculous to a motorcyclist's eyes and it's not quite fast enough (92mph GPS). But it's also immensely practical, wonderfully comfortable and hilarious to thrash unmercifully. And still light enough to throw around in dense traffic. 25 Jul 2010 25 Jul 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z12dft1iflyvyvyse224yfkr1t2nwzjq404:1280038636992000
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Yamaha sell huge numbers of T-Max in Italy. Like 10,000 a year. So if you want to try one, I'd suggest getting a 2nd hand one there. Go for the MkII with fuel injection. Ah, That's the other thing about the Burgman 400. You can still get a new old stock 2006 for under £4k. And even a brand new one is still under £5k. That's £2k less than a T-Max.
25 Jul 2010
25 Jul 2010
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Yamaha sell huge numbers of T-Max in Italy. Like 10,000 a year. So if you want to try one, I'd suggest getting a 2nd hand one there. Go for the MkII with fuel injection. Ah, That's the other thing about the Burgman 400. You can still get a new old stock 2006 for under £4k. And even a brand new one is still under £5k. That's £2k less than a T-Max.
25 Jul 2010
25 Jul 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z12dft1iflyvyvyse224yfkr1t2nwzjq404:1280038935031000
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
http://www.bikeweb.com/files/images/jburg400vscmaxpnbweb_7142-867.jpg
T-Max shortcomings as a commuter, grand tourer can be fixed! At a price! 25 Jul 2010 25 Jul 2010
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
http://www.bikeweb.com/files/images/jburg400vscmaxpnbweb_7142-867.jpg
T-Max shortcomings as a commuter, grand tourer can be fixed! At a price! 25 Jul 2010 25 Jul 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z12dft1iflyvyvyse224yfkr1t2nwzjq404:1280044217304000
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
Interesting, thanks Julian, will bear that in mind. And BTW, when I said Yamaha's QC is better than Honda's, I meant better than Suzuki's. Honda have some kind of Terminator T1-style robots ensuring nothing sub-par leaves the factory, on pain of death. Doesn't really get much better than that.
I can see your poiint re: the Burgman 400. One thought that occurs to me, now that you mention white vans, surely a maxi-scooter would make the perfect courier hack. Low maintenance, cheap to run, all the benefits of a bike plus plenty of luggage space. Are there many of them running round London? Or are they using Honda Dullvilles instead? 25 Jul 2010 25 Jul 2010
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
Interesting, thanks Julian, will bear that in mind. And BTW, when I said Yamaha's QC is better than Honda's, I meant better than Suzuki's. Honda have some kind of Terminator T1-style robots ensuring nothing sub-par leaves the factory, on pain of death. Doesn't really get much better than that.
I can see your poiint re: the Burgman 400. One thought that occurs to me, now that you mention white vans, surely a maxi-scooter would make the perfect courier hack. Low maintenance, cheap to run, all the benefits of a bike plus plenty of luggage space. Are there many of them running round London? Or are they using Honda Dullvilles instead? 25 Jul 2010 25 Jul 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z12dft1iflyvyvyse224yfkr1t2nwzjq404:1280050516213000
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
There's a couple of people dispatching Burgervans. Mostly they seem to use CB500s, Deauvilles and such like. But the dispatch rider is a dying breed. There's not much left that absolutely must be delivered physically.
25 Jul 2010
25 Jul 2010
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
There's a couple of people dispatching Burgervans. Mostly they seem to use CB500s, Deauvilles and such like. But the dispatch rider is a dying breed. There's not much left that absolutely must be delivered physically.
25 Jul 2010
25 Jul 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z12dft1iflyvyvyse224yfkr1t2nwzjq404:1280055128257000
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
Sic transit gloria mundi. Unsurprising that dispatch riders would be dying out, really. No stopping progress.
25 Jul 2010
25 Jul 2010
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
Sic transit gloria mundi. Unsurprising that dispatch riders would be dying out, really. No stopping progress.
25 Jul 2010
25 Jul 2010
Suzukis generally are ok, but their quality control is a bit suspect compared with, say, Honda. But I've ridden the Honda Silver Wing and it's a big rubbery thing. 24 Jul 2010 24 Jul 2010