Burgman 400 for first scoot?  By  Jarlaxle (Read 6,034 times)

I bought the scooter, took the course, and picked up the scooter and rode it home two weeks later. I had to hit a short stint of freeway (which I was pretty much alone due to low traffic) on the way home. They did not suggest anything they just asked everyone what they planned to ride, I said I bought a 300cc scooter and the instructor said "cool".

I will say that I am not a fearful person so I was not intimdated by the scooter. I did well in the course. There was one kid that did not do well at all and was pretty scared even in the parking lot speeds. I hoped they failed him because he was not ready and he fell during the course. I was a little sketchy for the first couple miles getting used to it out of the dealer but I was on residential roads with no traffic. After a few miles I was decent, and after a couple weeks was really comfortable. I took a couple hundred mile riding day with a friend on some back highways away from traffic with a friend that helped immensly for confidence.

But again it was the size and heft of the bike and not the power that gave me any issue at all. My bike has about the same power to weight as the Burgman, the speed is all up to me though. The burgman is heavier so I think it would have given ME much more trouble but I am small.

I think you can tell alot about your ability during the course. Are you scared by some of it? Do you panic and make mistakes? I am pretty even keel. I won't have the bars turned and grab the front brake, but I saw people do it. I also took the course in an all day rain which bothered some people but I thought was even more valuable.

I think it is wise to wonder if a 400 is too big, I only offer that the size of the bike will be more of a factor, especially if you are not 6'2" and 200 pounds, but the added power is no big deal if you have a head on your shoulders and don't act like a 16 year old with a new crotch rocket. Because it still will get to 60 in about the same as your average 4 cylinder car, it won't be neck snapping acceleration, and he controls the power.

Sure you gotta be careful on dirt and gravel, but you need to do that with any size bike.

I am very saftey conscious believe it or not, but while a 400cc scooter is big for a scooter, they are about as fast and heavy as what are considered 250cc "starter bikes" but with less for the pilot to worry about because no shifting.

If he were asking "Is a VSTAR 250 too big?" we would probably say "no, that is a good place to start" but it will weigh and perform about the same as the Burgman.

The original poster should take the course first, and if he is comfortable with the safety course bikes, a Burgman will probably be fine IMO.