TVS Motor Company, the country's third largest two-wheeler maker, today created a launch record of sorts in the Indian automobile market by rolling out seven new vehicles, including a three-wheeler and an electric scooter.
The products will be launched in a phased manner between October and November this year and the prices will be announced at the time of the launch, the company chairman and managing director Venu Srinivasan said.
The company made its first foray in the three-wheeler market with the launch of a 200cc, two-stroke three-wheeler in three versions � petrol, LPG and CNG (factory fitted). The company will manufacture these vehicles at its greenfield facility at Hosur, which has a capacity of 100,000 units per annum.
H S Goindi, sr vice president (three-wheeler), TVS Motor Company said, "The three-wheeler market has grown faster than commercial vehicles, and two-wheelers in the last five years at a rate of 18% CAGR. We feel that as the economy develops, the public transport system will not be able to cope up with the demand. A large section of the public will turn to autorickshaws for their transport. So, there is a big growth potential for us."
Indian three-wheeler output in 2006-07 was 5.56 lakh units, of which, the market leader was Bajaj Auto, accounting for 57% share. But during April-July (2007-08), Piaggio caught up with a market share of 41%, against 42% of Bajaj Auto. Bajaj Auto's products are priced in the range of Rs 56,000 to Rs 75,000 (ex-factory). TVS is likely to price them a bit lower.
Goindi said TVS aims to capture at least 30% of the three-wheeler market in the next three years.
He said the company will also come out with a cargo version of the three-wheeler in petrol, LPG and CNG platforms. The CNG and LPG market is rapidly expanding as more state governments are encouraging cleaner fuels. The company also intends to launch their autos in the 4-stroke engine category in the next 6 months in all the three variants, Goindi added.
The company also aims to export the three-wheelers and is looking at an opportunity to assemble them its Indonesia plant in about a year's time, Goindi said.
The cargo version of the three-wheeler would be in the diesel category at a payload capacity of one-tonne. The vehicle is fitted with a higher capacity engine with the peak torque at lower rpm to take care of gradability without frequent gearshifts.
TVS rolls out 7 vehicles, forays into 3-wheelers
Seen/scene: No roar, no smoke -- the Vectrix scooter is all electric
As the only owner of a Vectrix electric scooter in the state of Washington, Dave Denhart is in a world of his own. He whirs rather than roars down the street, emission-free, never needing a fill-up.
Vectrix Corp. hopes to see more urban commuters like him take to its high- performance, battery-powered scooters. The Green Car Co. of Kirkland, one of only six dealers in the country, had around 70 people test ride the Vectrix at an event a few weeks ago. The scooter has a suggested price of $11,000, excluding taxes, delivery fees, etc.
What else is different about this baby? It has no clutch, no engine and can go from zero to 30 mph in 3.1 seconds. Designed in the U.S. and made in Poland, it's faster than other electric two-wheelers -- reaching up to 62 mph.
Denhart, who commutes to Microsoft from his home east of Redmond, still owns a car and a "dormant" motorcycle. But he said riding the Vectrix makes an impact.
"Electric is a good way to start to get us away from the dependence on oil," he said.
And it's enjoyable, too.
"Part of the fun is you're cruising around and you're not hearing engine noise," he said. "So, you're like, 'This is cool in a Jetsons sort of way.' "
At 48, he fits the local customer profile -- male baby boomers with motorcycle licenses.
"Baby boomers are more willing to embrace something new and environmentally friendly. And they have the money," said Susan Fahnestock of The Green Car Co.
It's intriguing enough that Harley guy -- and self-described internal-combustion engine lover -- Bob Sternoff may buy one.
"It's a lot quieter than my Harleys, so it's something I can use without ear plugs," said Sternoff, a member of the Kirkland City Council. "I'll still wear my helmet that says 'loud pipes.' "
SCENERY
Some Vectrix stats: weight, 462 pounds; range, 68 miles at 25 mph; maximum speed, 62 mph; battery, nickel metal hydride, 3.7-kilowatt-hour capacity; recharge time, two hours (80 percent charge); estimated operating cost, 2 cents per mile (based on 16 cents per kilowatt hour). More information: vectrix.com,
| Richt teaches 'Scooter 101'
Freshman tailback Caleb King and redshirt freshman tight end NaDerris Ward were arrested last month by campus police for traffic violations while riding their motorized scooters. King was driving the wrong way down a one-way street and had a suspended license; Ward passed cars on the shoulder and did not have his license.
Traffic violations have not resulted in missed game time under Richt, but he felt it was time to address the basics.
"Once you break a rule or break a law, you've basically lost control of what happens," Richt said Saturday.
Richt used former defensive tackle Darrius Swain as an example of what happens when you don't pay tickets or show up in court. Swain had repeat traffic violations on a suspended license and wound up spending 22 days in jail during the summer of 2005.
Former offensive guard Kevin Breedlove (1999-2002) is credited with starting the program's scooter craze. There were nearly 30 of them parked outside the Butts-Mehre athletic complex for Saturday's first practice.
Senior tailback Thomas Brown does not travel by scooter but doesn't understand why scooter arrests become headlines.
"A lot of guys think a scooter is a lot like a bicycle and that you can do whatever when you're on the road, but to me it's not that serious," he said. "Little things we do get blown up, I swear, 10 times more than anything we do positive, and we did a lot of positive things this spring and summer that never got in the paper. Any time we do something negative, it's put out there like, 'Oh, Georgia messed up again,' like it's a big catastrophe."
Joined at the hip
During Richt's first four seasons, the two assistants most joined at the hip were defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder and secondary coach Willie Martinez.
Now the most close-knit tandem is offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and offensive line coach Stacy Searels. Their inseparability is understandable considering Searels is entering his first season at Georgia and Bobo is beginning his first full season calling plays.
"They're like brothers out there," senior center Fernando Velasco said. "Everywhere you see Coach Searels, you see Coach Bobo. Everywhere you see Coach Bobo, you see Coach Searels."
Not needing respect
Despite being ranked No. 13 in the USA Today preseason coaches' poll, the Bulldogs feel they are not getting much respect. Georgia was picked third in the SEC East at the league's annual media days and did not have a single preseason first-team selection.
"I kind of like where the team is right now," senior kicker Brandon Coutu said. "Everybody is trying to count us all out. I'm excited about playing an underdog role. It takes the pressure off everybody, and I think it will allow us to come together."
Odds and ends
Richt said reserve center Ian Smith's decision to leave the team was the result of concussions, neck injuries and migraine headaches. ... Freshman Justin Houston of Statesboro signed as a defensive end but has moved to strongside linebacker, where he is behind Darius Dewberry and Akeem Dent. ... Richt said determining whether junior Brian Mimbs or freshman Drew Butler punts may not occur until the final scrimmage of camp.
By David Paschall
Staff Writer
| Advantages Of Owning A Scooter For Vacations
Being on the go, traveling the world, and seeing new exciting places is all a part of retiring and having fun. If you have had a hip replacement, or a knee replacement, and you are planning a vacation or a trip you should consider a motorized scooter, so you can see the world in style without the pain! A motorized scooter is a method of moving, traveling from place to place, when you are unable to walk long distances due to pain or other distressful situations.
The Benefits Of Owning A Motorized Scooter Owning your own scooter allows you to hop on and go. You can move independently and you don?t have to rely on anyone for anything. You don?t have to wait until someone has the time to take you somewhere. If you are able to walk a bit, you can take your motorized scooter along in the car, or in the bus, and when you feel tired or your legs start hurting too much, you can use the scooter and still enjoy your time away from the home with the convenience of your own.
A motorized scooter allows your body to heal even while you are taking a vacation. Your body will heal from an operation or from a disease, because you are not putting too much strain and stress on your body. The more stress and strain on your legs, the longer you will require for healing. Moving around is always good for you, and walking too much can be painful sometimes, but a motorized scooter gives you a pain free method of getting around.
Additional advantages to taking your scooter on vacation include that you will be able to use your scooter, even if the store or establishment does not have a scooter available. Riding on a new scooter, in a store or at a museum can be difficult to become accustomed to but using your own scooter you will feel comfortable and at ease. You will not be tired during your trip and you won?t be putting yourself through additional pain by avoiding walking too much.
| Peugeot Jet C-Tech 50LC
The arguments will rage on forever between proponents of fuel injection and those preferring the good old carburettor. While there’s no doubt that the more modern way of throwing petrol into an engine can be faultless, one can also argue that the latest in the Peugeot Jet range, the normally aspirated C-Tech, is by far the better of the bunch to date.
Engine and fuelling arguments aside, the real jewel in the Jet’s crown is the chassis. As scooters go this is a pretty fine handling sports bike. Thankfully the machine comes with a pair of pencil eraser soft Hutchinson Funzy tyres providing all the grip needed to make the most of this rock steady and razor sharp beam frame.
Peugeot have, with this machine, established a new set of rules when it comes to scoot handling and hopefully the youth of today will learn to appreciate this ability to the full. Don’t just park up in town centres and talk scoots, or whatever it is you find to talk about. Get out, find some bends and wear some knee slider plastic out. It’s a far better pastime than any computer game yet invented, albeit a little more risky should things go tits-up!
The aluminium beam frame is light years ahead of the old style under-slung cradle tubing previously found holding the wheels of scoots apart, and the stiffness provided by one huge straight piece of metal running from the headstock to the engine mounts gives handling and road-holding beyond belief. With the shock absorber now mounted in front of the engine, the loads that this transmits are handled by the much stronger centre section of the frame rather that the very end of the rear chassis. This keeps the engine running straight within the frame and (as the wheel is, in turn, bolted to this) makes the mid-corner stability very sure-footed and capable of some impressive corner speeds.
The bouncy bits at each end are obviously perfectly matched to the chassis and someone over at the Peugeot R&D department has been putting in some serious track time in the pursuit of C-Tech excellence. The forks are stiff enough to keep the front wheel tracking true while still damping out the potholes and unevenness found on the roads in the UK. Likewise with the rear shock (can we still call it that if it lives in the middle?) This is just the right side of racetrack-like stiff but still compliant enough not to shake your fillings out.
Balance-wise the front/rear bias is spot-on, a rarely seen thing with scooters as the extreme mounting of the engine unit usually sees a large shift of mass towards the back end. But the frame and the large, eight-litre fuel tank serve to counter this, making the front end feel far more planted and secure when diving into bends and also when the throttle is cracked open ready for the exit. Overall the package works brilliantly, enabling the rider to really push and (with the help of those soft Funzies) explore areas not possible before with a standard, out of the showroom, machine.
Braking, too, is up there with power to match the chassis and engine perfectly. The large vented front disc has a bite that does not diminish with constant heavy use and is easily capable of hoisting the back end aloft even at speed. Thankfully the rear is a little less powerful and works in complete harmony and unison with the front to haul the Jet C-Tech up in no time should the need arise.
It really is a sports bike in disguise, such is the fine handling and ride that the scoot rewards you with. As if the ride wasn’t enough I reckon this scoot looks the absolute dog danglies, too. It takes all the very best design cues from the leading machines of the last few years and melts them into the modern and streamlined shape that we see here, not as aggressive as the single-minded Blaster, but more of an acceptable image to present to the world. Add to that the faultless paintwork and detailing and,for the money, you have one hell of a cool scoot.
Boys, if you can’t pull with one of these you are going to spend a lot of time pulling something else! Ladies, get one and you will know what the saying ‘flies around shit’ means instantly.
| How To Buy A Scooter
Motor scooters are the most fun and economical means of transportation. Adults and children can learn to use scooters within minutes for getting around town. Most stand-up scooters are lightweight and usually fold up, they're a practical means of transportation as well. The larger 49cc scooters are great for riding to work or a quick run to the store. Motor Scooters come in several styles and sizes for different riding needs. So how you plan to use your scooter is the most critical factor to determine which scooter model is right for you to buy. 50cc scooters in some states do not require insurance or a scooter license driving permit. Check your sate DOT scooter laws.
Types of Motor Scooters
If your looking to get from point A to point B or just a scooter to use for fun, buying the correct scooter model is
Gas-Powered Scooters
* Faster and more powerful than other scooter types.
* They have a gasoline scooter engine.
* Fast 50cc scooters are great for the highway driving.
* Scooters have great gas mileage to save money on gas expense.
* Gas scooters have a long range depending on the fuel tank size.
When riding gas-powered scooters in public roadways make sure to learn your local scooter laws to see if you need a scooter permit.
Electric Scooters
* Bigger, heavier scooters designed to transport you short distances, such as around campus or your neighborhood
* Battery-powered motors travel upwards of 10 to 20 miles per hour for up to 8 to 16 miles a trip before you need to recharge the battery
* Most electric scooters are made out of very durable aluminum
* Rear hand brakes allow you to control your speed and stop easily.
* The electric scooter battery size will determine how fast and how far the scooter can go between recharges. The electric scooter that will suit your needs is one of the most important buying decisions.
* Also make sure you check your local scooter laws before you ride an electric scooter in public roadways.
Folding Scooters
* This popular style of scooter is usually purchased for children or young adults, the standard folding scooter can be used to glide around the neighborhood, go to work, or even do scooter tricks. Always wear protective DOT scooter helmets.
* Folding scooters are designed to balance compact size and lightweight construction for a smooth ride.
* You can collapse these scooters in just a few seconds, making them small enough to carry easily.
* Two-wheeled scooters usually have polyurethane wheels like those on inline skates, but larger.
*
* Most folding scooters are made of lightweight aluminum or steel and have fender brakes where you step on the rear fender until it presses against the wheel and stops the scooter.
* The Scooter kicktail is a portion of the deck that extends upward over the rear wheel and provides more freestyle riding and leverage you need to do scooter tricks. Most freestyle scooters also have handbrakes since the kicktail prevents use of a scooter fender brake.
* The three-wheeled scooters or scooter trikes use 100 mm inline skate style wheels like a folding scooter, with two up front and one in the rear for extra scooter stability.
Don't Overpay for your Scooter
Beware of a Misleading Sales Pitch from Direct Scooter Manufacturer's.
"buy direct and save" sounds logical... but don't believe the hype!
Most people who buy direct from a scooter manufacturer spend considerably more for their scooter ... $500.00 to $1,000 more - than they would have if they bought from a authorized scooter dealer. People just figure that they are saving money if they buy direct from the scooter manufacturer. In most cases this is not true. Buying your scooter from an authorized scooter dealer will usually get you the best price because scooter dealers buy in bulk and can save you a considerable amount of money on your next scooter purchase. Scooters dealers buy for much much less then the general public and pass the savings on to you the scooter consumer. Any real quality Scooter manufacture does not sell direct to the public but points the public to there local distributor scooter dealership. and remember judge a scooter by its warranty.
| New helmet anyone!
CTA the importer for Nolan helmets has just released an open face helmet range that has a colour to match any style.
Allen Drysdale
Stocks are limited so see your local scooter specialist while stocks last.
Traveling the Country by Scooter
Both are 24 years old and work in film. They live in LA and decided first to walk from LA to San Diego, which they did. You Tube picked it up and then they decided to do another walk. This led them to consider scooters. Together they left LA on June 13th, headed for NY. Along the way, the film each other and post their journeys on Intransit.tv
They can only go 25 mph so they don't travel the freeways. They stop in small towns and meet very interesting people and share their observations and experiences. Josh said they've seen some of the "weirdest things of his life" while on this trip. He also said one day he might be married and have a family and he won't be able to travel the country by scooter.
Their motto is "it's the journey, not the destination". Recently, one scooter broke down. After that, they both rode on one scooter for 1500 miles, later that scooter also broke down. A scooter company might give them new scooters.
They're currently in negotiations with some TV networks and Internet companies that want to carry their "show" or do some type of reality thing. After their scooter trip they intend to take some time off and consider the "business side" of their travels.
For their next "trick" or "trip" they're considering taking paddle boats the length of the Mississippi.
Christopher Donovan
Tune injected scooters
if you own a fuel-injected scooter and fancy a little bit more speed, then you'll be intersted in the ECU conversion kit just released by Malossi.
The ECU fits Aprilia, Gilera, Peugeot, and Piaggio fuel-injected scooters. It costs £186. Contact: 0115-9462991
Save with scooter book
If you've decided on a scooter to save money on petrol, you won't want to spend more on servicing than you need to.
The Twist and Go Service and Repair manual from Haynes covers scooters from 50cc-250cc and reveals that some expensive service jobs can actually be done by a beginner with some experience for a lot less cash.
The Haynes 'Twist and Go' Scooters Service and Repair Manual costs £14.99. Contact: 01963-440635.
Dainese for scooter fans
Scooter fans can now get kit that’s just as stylish as bikers, with Dainese tying up with Piaggio for a new range of clothing. Inspired by hiking gear, the Executive Jacket is made from soft-touch material. Inside are CE protectors at the shoulders and elbows with a pocket for an optional back protector. It has a waist adjustment and zipped darts at the base. Protection against the rain is provided by the patented FLAP system of waterproof and adjustable knee covers tucked inside the jacket pockets. The Executive costs £249.99. It is available in black or sand in sizes S to XXL.
The GT4 Jacket looks like a classic motorcycle jacket with four front pockets, buckle belt and suede trip on the collar and cuffs. It is made from a polyamide material and also features the FLAP system knee covers. The GT4 costs £239.99. It is available in black or red in size XS to XXL. Finally, the Lady Jacket is made from a high-tenacity polyamide stretch fabric offering a tailored and more comfortable fit. The sleeves are pre-shaped for CE protectors if the wearer wants them and darts at the waist can be unzipped when seated on the scooter. The Lady Jacket costs £224.99. It is available in black or sand in size S to L. All three jackets include a waterproof Dryline membrane and zip-out thermal lining. Contact your local Piaggio dealer or call 01179-770466.
112BHP V4 Scooter
Specials & customs
Small scooters are known for being twitchy and a bit rubbish at going round corners – so imagine what this one’s like with three extra cylinders and 112bhp.
Eco Geek Chic: Hybrid Scooter
While sales of hybrid vehicles continue to rise there are some places where even hybrid vehicles can feel excessive and over sized. Luckily, Piaggio has announced a HyS, which is a “parallel” hybrid scooter in which a combustion engine and an electric motor are mechanically and electronically linked and simultaneously supply power to the wheel.
Piaggio HyS will look like the well known Vespa LX, Piaggio X8 or MP3 models and will feature a battery charge indicator on the dashboard. The battery can be recharged from an electricity source by inserting a normal cable into the plug provided for this purpose. Charging time is about three hours. If that isn't geek chic, I don't know what is.
You'll see them all over the streets
Toronto - Need to get around quickly? A Vespa just might do the trick. You'll see them all over the streets of Toronto as the popularity of the scooter continues to soar. The scooter is a favourite for many reasons - it's more environmentally friendly, cheap on gas and parking, and can hold its own on the road. The playful Vespa was even featured in this summer's blockbuster "Transformers". Sarah Donofrio works at Motoretta, a Vespa dealership on College Street. She tells OMNI Television the goods are authentically Italian. "All of the bikes we have here are made in Italy, they're all brought over from Europe," she said. No matter how much you hate rush hour, enthusiasts say the ease of scooters make commuting a breeze. By: Nisha Patel
Scooters are becoming a more popular way to travel in the summer. (Photo courtesy of OMNI Television)
Nashua man’s stolen scooter is returned
Wayne Demanche was so overjoyed when Elizabeth Cummings came by to return his stolen scooter that he kissed her.
“When I saw her come up the ramp. . . .” Demanche said as he reached out his hands and mimicked planting a big one on Cummings’ cheek. “I was just happy to see my scooter – my legs,” he said.
At 12:45 a.m. Sunday, Demanche’s neighbor Liz DeCosta heard a crash and shortly thereafter saw teenagers driving down the street on the scooter.
“I saw there was a kid driving, a kid standing on the back and two running behind it,” she said.
The scooter was taken from the indoor porch, where it was had been charging overnight. The loud noise could have come from the scooter crashing into the corner of the access ramp, where part of the railing was reduced to splintered wood.
Four motor scooter riders announce 600-mile ride to Vermont from Maryland
FINKSBURG, MARYLAND - On August 20, four motor scooter riders are leaving from Central Maryland to undertake a 600-mile back-road journey to Central Vermont.
The destination is Randolph, Vermont to ride in the 140-mile Last Mile Ride that starts and ends there on August 25. The Last Mile Ride benefits and is sponsored by Gifford Memorial Hospital in Randolph.
"Both my boyfriend Dwayne and I grew up in Vermont, and I'm riding in honor of his father Charles 'Shod' McCullough, who died in February in the Garden Room of Gifford Memorial Hospital," says Crystal Waters, one of the organizers of the ride. "The Last Mile Ride is to benefit Gifford's end-of-life care, including the Garden Room, and it means the world to me to be able to ride in Shod's memory and raise money for this cause."
So far, Waters has raised more than $3,000 for the hospital, and will be riding her 150cc 2004 Vespa ET4 motor scooter to Vermont and in the Last Mile Ride.
A few weeks ago, Waters and fellow scooter-club member Pascal Girard started talking about how they would both like to ride from the DC area to Vermont before the Last Mile Ride on their scooters. Within days, they were planning the 600-mile ride. The riders' scooters, ranging in engine size from 125-250ccs, are legally registered as motorcycles, requiring a motorcycle endorsement.
Two other riders were asked to join them. Susan Dominica is flying in from Colorado to do the ride and is riding a borrowed 125cc Yamaha Vino. Chevon Jay from Baltimore faces a tougher challenge: On July 27, her 2006 Piaggio Fly 150 scooter and sole means of transportation was stolen from her back yard in Baltimore. Her fellow riders and scooter community are pulling together to find her a scooter and gear to complete the ride.
Do you 'scooter' to job? Park free at city garage
To encourage fuel saving and ease traffic congestion, city offers scooter slots at Prince Street Parking Garage.
Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray quietly rolled his little black motor scooter into a spot in the city's Prince Street Parking Garage on Wednesday, removed his helmet and was on his way to the office.
Well, almost. First, Gray had to stop and have his photo taken.
The mayor is hoping that other people will follow his example and ride scooters to work in the city.
As part of his strategic plan to encourage alternative forms of transportation, the mayor and the Lancaster Parking Authority quietly unveiled 15 free parking spaces dedicated to scooters in the downtown parking garage.
The small spaces are on two sides of the garage's curving exit ramp. The area had not previously been used.
Gray is promoting the use of scooters as a means of saving fuel, reducing air pollution and traffic congestion and easing tight parking.
"It's the future, and we see more and more scooters in town," said Gray. "I see no negatives and all positives."
Along with scooters, which can get more than 100 miles per gallon of fuel, the city is also encouraging the use of motorcycles and bicycles.
Tom Matthews, the Parking Authority's executive director, said the Prince Street garage is being used for a pilot program.
"We'll see how they're used," Matthews said of the scooter parking spaces. "If they're not used heavily, we'll add motorcycles."
If they are used, the Parking Authority will consider adding scooter spaces to its three other garages. It may also add designated scooter and bicycle parking areas to the new garage now planned for the 100 block of East King Street, he said.
It will not be as easy to add the scooter parking to the King Street, Duke Street and Water Street garages, he said, as there is not as much "dead space" going unused.
New Suzuki breaks all the scooter rules
And the 650 Executive model, which is what I rode, is definitely in a class all its own. It comes with an ABS, a parking brake, CVT transmission with two settings, an electrically adjustable windscreen, electrically powered foldaway mirrors, a clock, a gas gauge, and even an automotive-style gas filler flap. If this is a scooter, I’m a basketball player.
The thing is, it’s an absolute blast to drive. You climb aboard, just as you would any scooter, turn the key, and away you go. No gears to fuss with and no clutch. Power delivery is a little on the snatchy side, especially when exiting a turn, but the Burgman has all kinds of get-up-and-go. It’ll cruise effortlessly at 120 to 130 kilometres per hour and so keeps up easily with city and freeway traffic. I took my test bike up to 160 in no time at all, and it surprised the hell out of me. Scooters aren’t supposed to have this much snap.
Power is provided by a 638cc twin with dual overhead camshafts, fuel injection, liquid cooling, and four valves per cylinder. Suzuki doesn’t release horsepower or torque numbers for its products, but if I had to guess, I’d say the Burgman 650 Executive is good for at least 40 horses. You can hardly hear the engine tucked away below you at the back of the bike, and it has a honkin’ big, chrome, canister-style exhaust pipe that blends in nicely with the bike’s lines. The aforementioned two-speed CVT can be set via a handlebar-mounted button to “power” or “normal” mode, with the former setting dropping engine revs down about 1,000 rpm to provide a sportier riding experience.
That in itself is oxymoronic for a scooter. Since when has sport had anything to do with scooter riding? Radial tires are standard equipment, and braking duties are handled by a pair of dual discs up front and a single disc in back. Both levers on the handlebars operate the brakes and I’m hard-pressed to think of any other scooter I’ve ridden that scrubs off speed this well. These are outstanding brakes.
I also loved the power folding mirrors. Need to squeeze in between some cars or in a narrow alleyway? Just hit a button on the left handlebar—or do it by hand—and they’re out of the way. And if you have to carry something with you, the seat pivots up to reveal an absolutely cavernous storage compartment—55 litres, in fact, enough to accommodate a couple of full-size helmets. There is also a pair of fairing-mounted storage pockets up front good enough for a camera or cellphone, which is handy. And, like most scooters, the Burgman 650 has a side stand and centre stand, both of which are easy to get at and operate.
Sizewise, the Burgman 650 Executive is about as long as a typical full-size cruiser, tipping the scales at 235 kilograms. It’s not light, which is good for extended highway riding and not so good for city schlepping. This must be one of the few scooters around that can be taken on long-distance touring jaunts without compromising comfort or performance. Suzuki also sells a 400cc version of the Burgman, and although very similar in performance and size, it lacks that extra bit of oomph that makes the 650 so enjoyable and ridable.
Once aboard, you can stretch your legs out in front or leave them in the traditional perpendicular position when you ride. There’s also a nice little lumbar support that really comes into its own over the long haul, plus this is one scooter that can actually handle a rear passenger. I’m still not that fond of having to step through a bike when I mount it, as opposed to throwing a leg over it, but maybe I’d get used to it after a while—it does come with the scooter territory.
In fact, the Burgman 650 Executive really caught me off guard. I enjoyed the hell out of this bike and took it out every chance I could. It still has a substantial dork factor that I struggled with, but that aside, it’s a fun-to-ride, lively, and versatile bike that breaks most of the rules when it comes to scooters.
Uh-oh. Am I a closet scooter buff?
Prices for the Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive start at $11,899, about $900 more than the regular 650 model.
