Best choice

[2wheelover51]

I've been out on mine today riding around doing shopping etc. It's a great machine. I think they're a good compromise between performance and economy, while being light enough for an old duffer like myself to wheel around. I've just got my Haynes manual today off ebay. I'll probably use Micbergsmas' videos more though!

[2wheelover51]

Well I've been out locally again on my "New" Burgman. Here's my opinion so far.
It's all I need really. She starts at the first touch of the button and seems to sip very little fuel on my usual local trips. Although a bit on the heavy side to lug up the incline outside my house with my knee the way it is, on the level she's not too heavy and rolls easily. She handles nicely once on the move.
I came back today after a 20 mile local run, very happy. You can chug along quite smoothly at 20-30mph and accelerate quite quickly to higher speeds. 60 is a nice speed and the balancer shaft makes itself known in the smoothness of the ride. For A roads and motorways there's more than enough power, and most of the parts are quite easy to get to for servicing or repair. I think it handles quite nicely around the corners once you get used to it and you can crank it over quite a way before anything touches down. It's quite stable in the wind as well, as I know coming back with it blowing a gale.
What more could I ask? Well one thing I keep doing is leaving the sidelights on past the steering lock position. Luckily I've found out before I've covered her up. (same on my old TMax). I also find the lockable fuel cap under the flap a bit of a pain with the key on my normal key ring being too big for the space, a minor point really.
I made a bit of a blunder this morning though! Stopping to free off the lock mechanism on my Caberg flip-up, I pulled into the side of the road. As it was an incline I put the handbrake on, fixed my helmet and then pulled away again. I saw a light on the dashboard and, remembering what someone had said about a bike going into emergency low power mode after fluffing the start process I rode quite a way, the bike going slower and slower before I realised I'd left the handbrake on! Hopefully I won't repeat that one again! All in all though a great bike, and I'm really happy with it. Makes me wonder what the latest ones like...

[2wheelover51]

I'm enjoying the Burger but can't help but make comparisons with my old Mark 3 TMax. There are a number of areas where the TMax was far ahead of the Burger.
1) Transmission. The TMax was far smoother for take up than the Burger. No doubt due to the "proper" multiplate clutch as against the Burgers "brake lining" version. The Burger is more prone to juddering and not seeming to be taking up smoothly at low speed.
2) Suspension. The Burger is more "crashy" over bumps and potholes. Probably due to the engine-on-swingarm design and smaller rear wheel (and front wheel) damping also appears less compliant.
3) Steering. Not as precise. Not sure what the reason is but could be related to wheel size?
4) Engine. Vibey at speeds below 60, when the balancer shaft seems to kick in.
Not sure if these are typical Burgman 400, or in part due to my own particular specimen.
Burger is better at:
1) Economy. Burger is a good 10-20 mpg better than my old TMax.
2) Storage space. Pockets on apron are great as is the underseat space.
3) Comfort/fit. Two points where the Burger scores for me: The riders seat backrest can be adjusted to fit my back, whereas the TMaxes couldn't. Also with the TMax I felt like I was sitting perched on top of the scooter, with the Burgman I'm more sitting "in" and more a part of the scooter.
Wind and weather protection I would say was pretty good on both scoots, but both standard screens caused me head buffeting. Lights and brakes are good on both bikes but maybe TMax has a slight edge on the brakes.
Considering the price difference it's no surprise that the TMax wins in a lot of areas. The Burgman is still a great scooter though!

[Red Dog]

18g Dr Pulley sliders cured my judder permanently.

[Data]

A proper clutch clean and maintenance cured my clutch judder permanently. But you need to be careful how you do it. It''s an easy fix and I posted about it years ago on here and Burgmanusa. Also making sure to use the correct method of moving off is important with these dry centrifugal clutches. The T-max is very different and as you may know is a wet clutch. Slipping the clutch on the T-max is not going to cause any issues but letting the clutch unnecessarily slip on the Burgman during moving off is not a good thing to do with these dry centrifugal clutches. They get hot especially in traffic and the resin in the clutch pads glazes the friction material, sticks to the inside of the clutch drum and mixes with clutch dust making the whole thing judder. I'll try and find my old post about fixing it. Once done the clutch will remain smooth for years to come if you use the right move of technique. So use plenty of throttle to move her off to minimise the clutch slip, or feed in the throttle as the bike begins to move so the clutch will lock up quickly. Regulate your speed by backing of a little if you need to.

Red Dog, I think you must of gotten lucky with the sliders as they don't normally fix a clutch that's in need of a clean and maintenance. Two quite separate issues.

[2wheelover51]

Thanks Red Dog for the recommendation.
Data, I will try and find your cleaning procedure, as it would be a nicer ride if it was nice and smooth! It seems worst on uphill starts, a bit juddery and grabby sort of thing, as you say, excessive dust and particles floating around in the drum would certainly explain that.
I have to replace a brake caliper on my car, but after that I will give the clutch a good once over.
You say it needs to be done in a certain procedure? I've got the Haynes manual so I'll have a look to see if there are any tips in there. I bought the bike "Fully serviced" but i suppose this is too much of a specialised job to expect from a general bike dealer.
Thanks for the recommendations.

[Red Dog]

Red Dog, I think you must of gotten lucky with the sliders as they don't normally fix a clutch that's in need of a clean and maintenance. Two quite separate issues.

Well in truth I did do the belt and clean the clutch at the same time as I fitted the sliders so you are probably right.

The judder never returned though.

[2wheelover51]

Data, I did find your cleaning/deglazing procedure both on this site (under Burgman owners, May 2015) and on the USA site, plus plenty of helpful tips etc. Many thanks.

[Data]

Well done Red Dog.

2wheelover51, It's not so much a specialised job, just a job that involves taking a bit of care over. Done correctly it completely eliminates the judder issue. When you take your Burgman in for service most dealers don't clean out the clutch and deglaze the clutch pads. It's not a service item in the schedule. However, any tech worth his salt looks at the clutch when fitting a new belt or if the bike is juddering. Doesn't take long to fix. As a tech I always looked for judder anytime I had one in for service and fixed it. Literally a 20min job. Good luck. Any issues or questions just pm me.

[2wheelover51]

Data the bike was advertised as having had a new belt fitted last year in a "big" service (stated at over £400 in the advert) so while the dust may have been blown out of the housing neither the linings nor the bell could have been treated to a tickle with the emery cloth...
I've fitted the new brake caliper to the car today and all seems well, so the Burgman will be getting my full attention very shortly.