2013 BMW C 650 GT Vs Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive: The Roads Are Nice !
The Suzuki Burgman 650 had reigned without competition for ten years in the GT maxiscooter market, but the arrival of the BMW C 650 GT forced the Japanese manufacturer to review its flagship. What about today ? Big GT scooters face to face.
The German lumberjack faces Japanese sumo
In the growing family of maxiscooters, there are two now very distinct branches: sports and GTs. If the first is outrageously dominated by the Yamaha Tmax, despite the increasing power of the competition (read in particular our), it is clear that until now, the Burgman 650 was rather quiet on its niche (read in particular our).
But the arrival in 2012 of forced Suzuki to react to change – finally! – its GT-oriented maxiscooter. An evolution more than a revolution, since the technical and aesthetic base remains very (too?) Close to the previous vintage: read our .
However, it was difficult to blame Suzuki, as the base was so good. Aesthetically, the new Burgman is a little sharper, especially at the rear part, which is less wide by 25 mm. A transformation which unfortunately costs him four liters of capacity in his baggage compartment.
Some will find it more harmonious, while others will consider that it has lost a lot of its statutory side of "mini-Goldwing" … Apart from a brand new more elegant dashboard, the rest hardly changes. However, an effort has been made to the injection in order to reduce fuel consumption – Suzuki promises "a decrease of 15%"- as well as on the final drive which offers much less friction.
Same engine capacity as the Burgman 650, same imposing size, same huge trunk: the BMW C 650 GT clearly comes to trample the flower beds of its Japanese competitor! Unveiled in 2012, he immediately convinced us, almost more ultimately than his highly anticipated "false twin", the. The engine and the cycle part – common to both – indeed match even better during utility / GT use.
The Bavarian offer
If the German scooter seems cut with a billhook with its sharp edges, the Japanese evoke more of a "Barbapapa manga style": less "stylish", the Suzuki seems a little less rewarding and it is especially much more consensual than the C 650 GT. Conversely, BMW dared a daring design that will not leave anyone indifferent. In its burgundy color, its harmonious proportions are highlighted at first glance.
But on closer examination, the BMW scooter disappoints: the quality of the plastics, the paints (that of the floor, in particular) and of certain assemblies leaves something to be desired (read "Feedback and answers from BMW" on the following pages ).
On our test scooter, which displayed less than 2000 km on the odometer, the gas hatch cover suffered from erratic operation: poorly adjusted, it rubbed on the saddle, wearing away the paint and forcing the rider to open the hatch with the fingers, even with the nails! This hatch is however supposed to open with a simple rotation of the key in the contactor: at more than 12,000 euros the machine, it annoys !
Ironically, the gas hatch cover was also the weak point of the old Burgman 650. Present by our side during this confrontation, Bruno can attest to this: this convinced "Burgman-iste" (more than 70,000 km on two Burgman 650) changed four times before giving up !
On the new Burgman, the problem seems to be solved with a "beefy" cover and an ad hoc hinge. For the rest, the quality of the Suzuki is correct, without being exceptional: all the parts and coverings are not of extreme quality (storage pockets and handlebar cover, in particular), but the whole is adjusted correctly..
On the other hand, the use of multiple colors (blue, garish orange, flashing yellow, black, light gray and red) on the commodos visually swears: this does not play in favor of the perceived quality, nor the cable surrounded by chatterton out of the basic control of the heated grips…
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