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The 650 Burgman's are pretty large machines, but you'd be surprised how efficient and fast they are. The executive model has paddle shifters so you can row the gears I believe.
I was on my ST 1300 on I 64 down in Kentucky and spotted a single headlight approaching me from behind at a fast clip. All of a sudden a 650 Burgman with saddlebags and a trunk blew past me. I caught up with him and followed him for about 15 miles at um above the speed limit, and approaching an exit the rider waved me over. We pulled over in a gas station and he offered to buy me a soft drink which I turned down. We chatted for awhile. He was an older guy from Colorado that had ridden the Burgman to the east coast and was on his way home. After a bit we wished each other safe travels and parted ways. I took a pic of him during our break, and emailed it to him. When he got home he emailed back saying thanks for the pic and the conversation, and commenting on the great trip he had. Nice guy.
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Was on a HD 883 trying to catch up to a Mana 850 (an Uber Super moto scooter) that whizzed by and I almost blew the HD engine up (quite startling). I never did catch up.
BTW: The Mana eats rear tires and has onboard storage for a helmet, including an integrated light and a 12V socket. If it wasn't for the complex operation to change its belt (heavy duty belt like those found on performance snowmobiles), the bike could have been an Ideal Beater candidate.
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well, to be fair, a HD 883 is about as "fast" as most other 400 or 500 CC bikes, so it's not surprising than an italian with that much engine outpaced it.
and, you mentioned a belt, but i'm clearly looking at a chain the picture. what am i missing?
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(04-23-2019, 11:28 AM)misterprofessionality_imp Wrote: well, to be fair, a HD 883 is about as "fast" as most other 400 or 500 CC bikes, so it's not surprising than an italian with that much engine outpaced it.
and, you mentioned a belt, but i'm clearly looking at a chain the picture. what am i missing?
I realize the 883 ain't much, but I reamed the machine and it seriously just about blew up. Ah well, it was an HD.
Regarding the belt: The transmission is belt driven. The final drive is chain.
It wasn't an outpace, it was lightning bolt fast disappearing into infinity. The Mana is seriously fast, but probably only for the first few hundred yards. I am sure the CB1100 would work hard all the way up 180 km/h. A sport bike would win long no problem.
Not bad for a "scooter".
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i don't know if scooter can be used to define that one though. seems like just an automatic bike, like the CTX700 (DCT). It's not underbone either.
looks like a very cool oddity though. the first thing i thought when i saw it was that it's just a big automatic Shiver, and shivers were fast for their size too. Never match wits with a sicilian and never match acceleration with an italian.
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(04-23-2019, 12:11 PM)misterprofessionality_imp Wrote: i don't know if scooter can be used to define that one though. seems like just an automatic bike, like the CTX700 (DCT). It's not underbone either.
looks like a very cool oddity though. the first thing i thought when i saw it was that it's just a big automatic Shiver, and shivers were fast for their size too. Never match wits with a sicilian and never match acceleration with an italian.
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Mana: CVT
CTX700: DCT
Totally different gearbox behaviour between the two. I reckon if riders had to choose, they'd choose the DCT. The Mana's transmission feels like a "sling shot". This is the weird rush one feels when it takes off. "Mana" means supernatural force or power. The Mana can kill its rider, I don't think the CTX behaves like that.
Aprilia was going to use the Shiver 750 DOHC V-twin on the Mana, but realized it had too much power. Hence, a SOHC 839 with less power but more torque was used. I guess the rubber band can only take so much revs.
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(04-22-2019, 10:56 PM)misterprofessionality_imp Wrote: legend has it that some of the best lap times on The Tail of the Dragon are held by Suzuki Burgman riders.
I too have heard tales of Burg’s overtaking capable motorcycles on The Dragon and other famous twisties. They sound like serious business.
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(04-23-2019, 10:19 PM)m in sc_imp Wrote: i've personally seen a kawasaki g3ss chase down bigger bikes at deals gap. that's a 45 year old 90 2 stroke single. it really boils down to rider skill.
And risk tolerance , mine is a lot less than 40 years ago !
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The fellow in Australia that I got my Russell Day Long for the Griso from - a huge Griso fan. Has a Mana and loves it. Never has mentioned anything about the tranny belt.
