Ergonomics
In order to sit on the Burgman 650, you have to stride over the centre frame beam, which is rather unusual for a scooter. Once underway, the riding position feels natural thanks to a pair of well-designed cut-away floorboards that also provide more space for your legs when putting your feet down. However, they have been positioned slightly farther back than the Burgman 400's. The large rider seat is comfortable, especially with the convenient lever-adjustable backrest.

The Burgman 650 offers a high level of comfort.

Meanwhile, the controls are intuitively laid out, except for the manual mode. The info provided by the digital gauges is easy to locate and read. It doesn't take long before getting used to the side mirrors, which are located underneath the handlebars; they are pleasantly wide and feature integrated turn signals. As mentioned earlier, the Executive version of the Burgman 650 is equipped with retractable mirrors, which is great when you have to thread your way through a narrow path or simply to park in tight spaces. The passenger also finds a comfortable position thanks to a standard adjustable backrest. Moreover, the illuminated 55-litre under-seat trunk is large enough to stow two full-face helmets. That's not all: there are also three smaller compartments below the handlebars, including a lockable one with DC-electrical accessory outlet. That said, I found them to be less ergonomic than the 400's. On the flip side, the fuel door is located on the side of the scooter.

On the road
Helped by its weight and tremendous balance, the Burgman 650 tackles the road with confidence, remaining very stable in corners and during strong winds. This scooter surprised me with the way it easily maintains the rider's intended path. Its power is also surprising: I constantly found myself sprinting beyond the speed limits. Passing maneuvers are a breeze; safety is never compromised. While the automatic transmission is good in normal riding conditions, the manual mode is better suited in the traffic; it allows you to maintain the optimum engine speed to keep pace with the other vehicles. This machine accelerates from 80 to 120 km/h in 5.5 seconds in normal mode and in 4.8 seconds in Power mode. With only a quarter turn at idle, the throttle handle delivers brisk takeoffs. It's okay for city riding, but you always have to keep in mind the bike's weight and to make sure that you hold it perfectly upright. The 650 is decidedly more nimble on the highway, but it won't have any problems when you're running errands around town. I should point out that the Burgman 400 is more at ease in urban areas than its big brother.

A sound and predictable behaviour, even in curves.