We all know how well scooter sales have been doing these years, despite the current financial bumps on the road, with small machines selling like hotcakes for urban users.

This new-generation Burgman packs a few exclusive improvements of its own!

The maxi scooter segment has also grown in leaps and bounds, hampered by some bike-level pricing, but attractive because of excellent performance levels, a great set of features and equipment, lots of space for storage and a passenger, and all the comfort and ease of use of the smaller models.

Suzuki was an early believer in this market, launching two Burgman models, a 400 and a 650, in Europe in 2002. These machines were ahead of their time then, and the 2009 Burgman 650 Executive model we rode this past week remains at the leading edge of comfort, equipment and performance to this day.

In fact, this new-generation Burgman packs a few exclusive improvements of its own!

Much Motor
The water-cooled twin delivers 55hp and is willing to play as hard as you want up to its 9,000 rpm red line in Power mode. This compact unit benefits from up to date technology with four valves per cylinder and efficient intake and exhaust systems, as well as a gear-driven countershaft system to reduce engine vibrations.

But it is the electronics governing the ignition, fuel injection and CVT gearbox that are the big story on this machine, with the CVT ratios governed not by the laws of physic (Like on the old “Centrifugal” clutches), but by the ECU, and always according to your wishes in terms of performance and auto/manual shift preferences.

Your first decision will be to select the standard operating mode or push on the “Power” button with your left thumb. This causes the engine to go from a very adequate 4,000 to 7,000 operating range in standard mode, to a 5,000 to 9,000 range on power mode, as well as tell the CVT to shorten the “ratios” and let the motor rev out more before "shifting" gear – I don’t have to tell you that switch in mode changes the personality of the machine, from great to aggressive performance, accompanied by a suitable growl from the engine. And if that is not enough for you to play with, you can push on the “Manual” button and take over ratio changing duties with the help of a toggle switch on the left handlebar.

Your first decision will be to select the standard operating mode or push on the “Power” button with your left thumb. Note the toggle buttons to change ratios manually.