[Sorry, no longer for sale.]
Spring is almost here -- in western Oregon, at least. Our bulbs are blooming, and it's going to hurt when I can't ride my much beloved 2009 Suzuki Burgman 650 Exec scooter during warm weather this year. But I've got to sell this beauty. (click on photos for larger images)
If it was up to me, I'd keep the Burgman after my recently-ordered 2011 Mini Cooper S makes its way from England to our carport. However, my wife has put a limit on the number of "boy toys" I can keep in our cramped garage, so the scooter has to, well, scoot.
I've always wanted a Mini Cooper, so now that I'm 62 and on the Social Security gravy train, I decided to fulfill my dream. The Burgman has been a lot of fun, a lot, bringing a smile each and every time I ride it. Whoever buys it will both get a great deal, and loads of two-wheeled enjoyment.
Some particulars: about 3800 miles on it at the moment; never had a problem with it; the scooter has never been laid down or in an accident; it's had all scheduled maintenance. And there's pluses...
l've got an XL Clearview shield on the Burgman, as I wanted less wind noise/buffeting (the screen is clear and has a vent). However, I still have the stock shield, on the left in the photo above, and a Large Clearview (tinted and with a vent) that I used for a while until I decided an XL was better for my six-foot body.
The two Clearview screens cost about $280 each. I'm including them in the asking price. Which, since I can hear you asking, is $7,500.
The Burgman is in almost perfect condition. I researched prices for 2009 Execs via a NADA Guides search and found the average retail price was $7,428. For $7,500 I'm throwing in two additional screens that cost $560, along with a $135 Airhawk seat cushion (air-filled; makes for a much more comfortable ride).
Plus, there's a year left on a three-year maintenance agreement that I purchased with the Burgman when I bought it from Cycle Country here in Salem.
I was told that the next service (due in June, I believe) is the most expensive. The agreement is transferable to the new owner, so that's a significant additional value included in the $7,500. If the new owner doesn't live near Salem, it might be possible for me to have the final service done before the scooter is handed off.
My email address is [email protected] Contact me if you're interested in the 2009 Suzuki Burgman Exec, including your phone number. Assume that it is still for sale unless you see a big red SOLD at the beginning of this post.
If you aren't familiar with how great these scooters are, do some research and likely it won't take long before you get an itch to buy a Burgman.
Some advice, because I want the buyer to be happy with my scooter: it's a 650, not a cute little Vespa. It'll go over 100 mph. It's heavy, so a small woman might find it too daunting. The Burgman 650 has been described as a motorcycle disguised as a scooter, which is pretty accurate. It's faster than a lot of motorcycles, yet without the noise, vibration, and need to shift gears.
And the Burgman 650 Exec has anti-lock brakes, a huge plus.
To stop, I just squeeze on both hand levers as hard as I want with no danger of unsettling the "bike," as is the case with a motorcycle or scooter that doesn't have anti-lock.
To go, I just turn the throttle on the right handlebar. No shifting, ever -- unless you want to (the Burgman can be shifted manually via buttons, but I've never had a reason to do this, other than to play around with the feature a few times.)
The underseat storage is great. I can easily store my helmet and jacket, plus gloves and dark glasses, when I make a stop. No need to carry all your gear around in stores, or wherever. I've found that I can even cram my helmet, protective jacket/pants/gloves, and boots under the seat. So I can head off in shorts and sandals during the summer, then come back and gear up without needing to carry anything around.
This is the instrument panel, showing the mileage as of today. I like the high-tech look. If you want a retro, chromed-up bike that can be heard coming from blocks away, get a Harley. But if you want super-fun, reliable, safe, stylish, 44 mpg transportation, get a Suzuki Burgman.
Hey, I've got one for sale. $7,500. Contact me: [email protected]
Here's a few additional photos. (No, the dog doesn't come with the scooter.)
Of course the best vehicle by far for enjoying warm weather is a bicycle. But I want to talk about those bulbs in bloom. Since my daughter lives in Salem - and I will be moving there - I check Salem weather regularly and I understand you are having a spell of winter cold and snow right now. I hope it doesn't ruin the bulbs (which would be an economic as well as an aesthetic disaster), but is it normal thee to have flowers in bloom in February?
I visited my daughter last year in February and the bulbs were starting to bloom then too and people were walking around in t-shirts and shorts. I was astounded. Here in Boston, February is in the dead of winter - although last Friday it hit 60 degrees and for a few weeks lately temperatures have bounced around between the 50s and the low teens.
Some years we have had flowers in bloom into November and occasionally into early December. Occasionally some spring flowering trees have come briefly into bloom in December or January. Definitely global weirding. Not the way I remember New England winters as a child.
So I'm wondering if bulbs in bloom in February is a normal thing for Salem or more evidence of global warming.
Posted by: Laurie Dougherty | February 24, 2011 at 07:55 AM
I would have got rid of the Cooper (they like to break down ALOT) and kept the Burgman scooter
Posted by: gw | July 20, 2012 at 06:45 AM
gw, I love my Mini Cooper S. Had it for over a year; about 8,500 miles on it. No problems.
Well, the auto wipers sometimes stop doing their automatic thing, but a salesman told me this is a normal quirk. And I don't find the keyless entry system to be as responsive as that in other cars we've owned.
But other than these small things, the Mini has had zero problems. When I bought the S, I asked the salesman about the difference between Consumer Reports' higher ratings of the base Mini, compared to the more problematic S.
He theorized that many S owners drive the car harder, saying that on Monday morning often there are disgruntled S drivers at the dealership wondering why their brakes aren't working properly. Turns out that they've been racing around all weekend.
Posted by: Brian Hines | July 20, 2012 at 10:38 AM