Last ride of "Summer"

[Deleted User 796]

You get yourself a 650 Burgman and when winter comes you'll realise what a pain in the arse it is to clean off winter road crap especially around the rear end of the scooter.

You're right there...the big Burger was a nightmare to get clean - so many awkward bits. The Tmax is easier to clean...but seems to get incredibly filthy if you even see a puddle!

What is this cleaning you speak of?

[Data]

Arrrrh...I see! Glad to hear you are continuing to use the bike Sylar. Meldrew, any scooter in my book is easier to clean than my GSX1400 or Vstrom 1000. They were so fiddly and could easily take 2-3hours of cleaning and detailing. My Burgman is a complete doddle by comparison. I've got to say the wheels on the 400z are indeed difficult to clean, being slightly rough cast, but managable if you don't rush and avoiding the razor blade that serves as the abs ring as you say. I confess to liking the style of the Silverwing with regards to cleaning. But I really do wish they'd bring in the newer model so we could get our hands on one. I'd really consider it along with the 650 Burgman if they did. I don't supose you've heard anything to the contrary about the new 'Wing' coming in have you?

[Data]

Very nice too Meldrew! It's very close to the 650 Burgman but without the complication of that transmission. I met a guy down at the port of Harwich who was going home on his 'Wing'. He had covered over 40,000 trouble free miles on his touring 'Urop'. You could see he was very happy with it, but he yearned for a double disc setup on the front as he suffered brake fade in the Alps when travelling down a long mountain pass two up. Bet that changed the colour of his underpants!!

[pikey]

Could have been brake fluid as it boils at lower temp at altitude if water absorbed in it .Cant say been 2 up on a silverwing in Alps although Italians we met were and no probs. Its better to do short bursts on brakes than hold them on with long descents let engine braking do the work I think

[MrGrumpy]

Very nice too Meldrew! It's very close to the 650 Burgman but without the complication of that transmission. I met a guy down at the port of Harwich who was going home on his 'Wing'. He had covered over 40,000 trouble free miles on his touring 'Urop'. You could see he was very happy with it, but he yearned for a double disc setup on the front as he suffered brake fade in the Alps when travelling down a long mountain pass two up. Bet that changed the colour of his underpants!!

I guess the other part of the problem is that it doesn't have a lot in the way of engine braking?? That was one good thing about the 650 Burger - quite a bit of engine and a huge amount in Power mode. In power mode, you could let it trundle down even very steep hills (10%+) and you would never even need to brake!

[Data]

Yes, I think you are right Grumpy. From what he said it was lack of engine braking, meaning he had to use the brakes all the time over several miles of very steep decent. With a passenger and luggage that's a lot for a single disc setup to do, and even for a double disc setup I suspect. I don't think it was a brake fluid/water boiling thing either. But more an almost red hot disc, glazing pads etc. He did have to replace the pads afterwards he said. These days very little heat is passed into the brake fluid because of the way brake calipers and pistons are designed. Discs can be almost red hot and almost no heat is transfered to the fluid, although I guess over several miles of heavy load some heat will eventually influence the system and even small amounts of water vapour and air (there is always some) will make the lever spongy. His comments about how robust generally the SilverWing is were worth listening to though. It's his second 'Wing'. Very interesting.

[pikey]

Theres no lack of engine braking on silverwing its just 650 burger has more .I love Alpine riding 4 Silverwings last year on our Alps tour 3 did Stelvio no one complained of brake fade .Approach them sensibly and no probs ride it like a sport bike maybe .


If you add on Italians we met 3 on silverwing 600's one on the new 400 silverwing we all did loop from Andermatt 4 passes and back no problemo

[Data]

Like you guys I've done my fair share of touring too but always on bikes like the Vstrom 1000's etc. When load fully I've had to use the gearbox to it's fullest extent to hold her back on some of those very long, very steep downward decents to avoid overusing the brakes and heating them up. I know my Burgman doesn't have the same sort of engine braking available that my Vstrom has so braking is I suspect more of an issue if you are fully loaded on a maxi I believe under extreme circumstances except maybe on the Burger 650. I don't imagine the SilverWing is any different to most other maxi's in the engine braking department though and I'm sure it's more than adequate for most situations. I have to say I've been down some frighteningly long, steep decents on the continent where I would be wondering just how well a 400 Burgmans brakes would cope with the tremdous heat generated. At low speeds the engine braking is of little use in those situations especially when you have to brake right down to take a hard left hander and the clutch disengages! I'll be finding out next year first hand!

[pikey]

Basically your asking to do something they weren't designed to do so you have to compromise and adjust riding style you dont see many in the Alps but quite capable of doing it .You dont need over 1000 cc as some bikers seem to think

[Data]

Pikey, you're absolutely right. I'm looking forward to taking the B400 on it's first intercontinental trip. I've toured before on many smaller bikes too, even 250's in my mis-spent yoof! I think the Burger 400 will be just fine and as you say I'll adjust to some of the more challenging parts of the trip without a problem I'm sure. Gotta say that so far the Burgman 400 has far surpassed my expectations. There doesn't seem to be anything that it doesn't do ok for me.