Fuel economy is pretty reasonable. Our average of 5.5 L/100km may seem unimpressive compared to the average subcompact car, but still, it won’t cost much to fill up.

A recent addition to the Burgman is antilock brakes, complementing the dual front disc and single rear disc setup. Stopping power is great, and when the ABS kicks in, that pulsation you feel through a car’s brake pedal is felt through the bike’s brake handles. In short, it works marvellously.

A recent addition to the Burgman is antilock brakes, complementing the dual front disc and single rear disc setup. (Photo:Sébastien D'Amour/Moto123.com)

Oh-so comfortable ride
Riding the Burgman, you sit straight and rest all your weight on your derrière, not through your arms. It’s easy to ride and you feel in total control, as you’re not leaning down over a gas tank. There’s plenty of room on the floor for your feet, and you can also rest them in a 45-degree position, which is nice.

The seat is designed to accommodate two occupants, and the pilot’s seatback is adjustable fore and aft to maximize comfort. The curb weight might seem like a handful to keep upright, but again, the mass is mainly located down low, so it’s easy to hold your position at intersections.

Lift the seat, and you benefit from a lockable storage compartment that can swallow two full-faced helmets. Or a helmet, a jacket and gloves. Or my backpack carrying my laptop. There are also covered storage bins and a lockable glove box up front, which further increases the Burgman’s versatility.

The instrument panel includes a speedo and tach, fuel and temperature gauges and a trip computer with fuel economy readout. You also get heated handgrips and a very effective windshield that’s curved at the top and channels most of the draft above your head; only your shoulders will likely get winded out, which isn’t a big deal.

The instrument panel includes a speedo and tach, fuel and temperature gauges and a trip computer with fuel economy readout. (Photo:Sébastien D'Amour/Moto123.com)