Burgman 400 vs Burgman 650

[Data]

At the time I was working as engine design and development engineer. It meant lots of travel to do my thing once a set of engine prototypes were up and running. These could be in the Uk or overseas, so me and the bike would travel to where we were tasked for scheduled blueprinting of motors. No one was allowed to work on them in the early days except for me. At my height I was covering 50,000+ miles pa. I loved it, but am glad I took early retirement now. Trouble is, I now have a bottom shaped like a motorcycle seat!!

[Bluebottle]

I think its important to distinguish between the pre 2007 400 and the later one when reading comments, they are completely different.

I found the older one was a good bike and the later one an excellent bike. A rare case where the improved everything and spoiled nothing (more oomph, more comfort, better ride and doesn't lose oil to mention a few).

[Bluebottle]

The SWT 400 was probably the only thing that would have tempted me away from the burgman at the time.
Seen lots of them in Paris, Toulouse, Bordeaux but never got down to a nitty gritty comparison because they weren't available back home.

[VOZZA]

Many people find it more exciting to ride a smaller bike or scooter near it's limit, than to ride a larger machine at perhaps half of it's ability.
It's like doing the long way round on a C90 instead of a GS.
I found the same between the 650 and 400 Burgmans although to a lesser degree than the above example.

[avalon27]

Sometimes riding my 400 I get the thought that if it were a 400 twin it would be near perfect - smoother, possibly a wee bit more stomp for minimal weight gain.

[Data]

I think that's the problem, a twin would add quite a bit of weight. It's not just the motor but the frame also that would need to be different, wider, stronger etc. But I get your drift.

[Bluebottle]

A twin would also have a different torque delivery, I think that is probably one of the reasons they stuck to a single thumper.

So that's torque, weight, complexity and less machining (cost) so I'm happy for it to stay a thumper.
Smooth is nice but I don't notice any vibeyness (vibeosity?) possibly because my previous bike was a single pot too. Some thumpers have been horrible and made my hands go numb but I don't get that on mine.

[avalon27]

My 400 is slightly vibey @3k - but it goes through it quickly enough, and if I can I help it traffic allowing I welly it. I simply see it as a characteristic of a single,(unless is has a problem) X9 500 I had as a crap weather hack was similar at a certain rev band. That apart it is too long since I has a single to remember - had a Norton ES2 as a teenager, it wasn't going much and I could hardly kick it over to start it!