I know that oil useage on the older Burgman 400s was an issue, anyone know how much a new one should use. While running in up to 600 miles mine used around 100ml, and since then over another 750 miles its used another 100ml. I know it doesnt seem a huge amount but my Xevo 400 only used around 250ml in 6000 miles!

If my math is correct, at that rate you'd lose about 600 ml between scheduled oil changes - assuming that the change is scheduled for 4,000 miles. That doesn't seem excessive to me for breaking-in. I'm inclined to change my oil more frequently than recommended, though. Cheap insurance.

I guess its because my last Maxi used virtually no oil that Im a little concerned. Well, if it uses half its oil between services then no need to change more often as itll have had half an oil change between each service

Piston rings often take a while to bed in. Hard riding once properly warmed up helps. Some breathers cause oil to get burned, so running a Vespa 250 with oil at full would cause oil level to drop. Conversely, running at minimum would cause no loss. I wonder if this is applicable to the Burgman?

Ah yes! The old Burgman 400 oil consumption thing! My 2006 model used to get through a phenomenal amount. I was always topping it up. What is more I have spoken to a few other owners and they say the same. A look through the net turns up other similar experiences. Nobody seems to be able to come up with an explanation for it.
Don't know about the latest ones though. I get one in March so I will report back then.

I think it was the Burgman USA site where I read about somebody who moved the little one-way valve inside the breather pipe to the end farthest from the engine, so it didn't act as a pump for any splashes that came up the tube. It seemed to work for him. Me? I'm too lazy, and just top it up.

Whatsisname wrote:snip......... Me? I'm too lazy, and just top it up.

At least when you top up, you add fresh clean oil and providing you do not get dirt into the engine, it can only be a good thing.

I think it may also be that Suzuki design the engine with an oil cooling spray that is 'fired' at the underside of the piston on most of their engines. I think it is the same on the Burgman too. If that is the case the Burgman will suffer some small amount of oil usage on longer faster runs where the piston gets super heated at highway/motorway speeds causing some oil to literally evaporate and the vapour exit through the engine breather. My big Vtwin Vstrom is the same when doing long fast runs. If the engine is still very young as has already been said, the rings may not yet be bedded in fully and that's another cause. I wouldn't worry about it as it will almost certainly settle down as you put more miles on it. Just keep checking your level.

If you are too gentle with the break in or follow Suzuki's ludicrous 4,000rpm break in advice then high oil useage is a lot more likely.

Geoff.