Suzuki Burgman Street Review
Bike Tested: Suzuki Burgman Street; Road Test No. 970; Test Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 80,140/-
The Suzuki Burgman Street is a maxi-scooter in every sense – comfortable, practical and very spacious
In recent times, Suzuki has been mastering the skill of sharing the underpinnings of its existing bike and getting a newer bike. Last month they did it again, but this time it was a scooter and we got to see the Burgman Street. A 125cc maxi-scooter from Suzuki which shares its underpinnings with the Access 125?. We rode the Burgman for the weekend in the city and took it out for highway duties as well. Even after being the same scooter from the inside, the Burgman feels very different on the outside.
Motor Quest: Suzuki launched the Burgman Street in the second half of 2018. Placed above the Access 125, the Burgman shares a lot of mechanical parts with its younger sibling. However, it comes with a slew of features like an LED headlight and extended footboard. The Burgman is also the first maxi-scooter from Suzuki in India.
The LED headlight is very bright and illuminates the road very well
Styling – The main attraction of the Suzuki Burgman Street has to be its design. It is the first maxi-styled scooter to come to India and boy it looks attractive. The large front apron incorporates the LED headlight in between along with the turn indicators nicely placed on either edge. The front windshield is there just as a design element and doesn’t really serve any purpose. A bigger windshield is surely recommended if you really want to travel the distance on the Burgman Street.
Body design is very aerodynamic; edges, moulds and creases everywhere
The Burgman might look bulky in pictures but it looks attractive in-person
The rear of the Burgman Street is equally bulky as the front and the tail-lights are LED too. The tyre size, however, could have been a little bigger as it feels like it has skipped leg day. The engine covers have been sculpted to match the overall design of the scooter. The chunky grab-rail and the beefy looking exhaust complete the rear of the Burgman Street very well. If you are someone who likes attention, then this scooter will get you enough of it with its styling.
Same as the Intruder, the console is placed ahead of the handlebar
Instrument Cluster and Switchgear – The instrument cluster on the Burgman Street is a fully digital black and white unit. It is enclosed inside the same plastic outer body as seen on Suzuki Gixxer, the information display is however completely different. It shows everything from the speed to the fuel-level and it even has a clock. It does not feel feature rich but gets the job done and looks good with the modern nature of the scooter. The digits are well-sized and are visible even under direct sunlight. The digital display is surrounded by tell-tale lights which looks pretty neat. The switchgear is also carried over from the Access 125 and the quality is decent according to scooter standards.
The seating posture is very realxing, you stay comfortable
Ergonomics – The seat height of the Suzuki Burgman Street is 780 mm, this allows people of various heights to hop on easily. Seating posture is upright which makes it quite comfortable. Adding to the comfort are the extended footboards for the rider with which it is easy to stretch out your legs. The seat is long, wide and well-cushioned and can easily accommodate people of various sizes. The pillion sits very comfortably too but the footpegs, like most other scooters, are too front-set. The rearview mirrors don’t feel much functional as they are placed too close to the rider and become useless if the rider has a jacket on.
A decent mid-range helps it lift
Performance – The Suzuki Burgman Street is powered by the same engine as the Access 125. It is the same 124cc SEP motor producing 8.7 PS of power and 10.2 Nm of torque. The power delivery also remains similar, it gets a decent low-end, a strong mid-range and a very happy top-end. The scooter takes time to build up speed but once past 50 km/hr, the powerplant pulls up to 95 km/hr with a very good pace. There is no exhaust note as such but this Japanese scooter does sound good.
The engine has a great pull once past 50 km/hr
Suzuki’s 124cc motor has been a great performer for over a decade now
The engine is super refined and there is no harshness at all. However, some vibrations kick-in as you try to hit the top-end. Every engine has a happy spot and the Burgman’s motor stays happy at 60 km/hr. The Burgman will also return the best fuel efficiency when it’s ridden between 50-60 km/hr. We were expecting the Burgman to come with a bigger motor but for city duties, this 125 feels adequate.
Straight line stability is phenomenal
Riding Dynamics – The Suzuki Burgman Street gets the same suspension setup as the Suzuki Access 125 but it feels more biased for highway duties. The Burgman weighs almost 6 kgs heavier than the Access but the weight distribution is more towards the front and this aids in better straight-line stability. The front telescopic forks take in each and every bump with ease but as the weight has moved forward, the rear suspension feels stiff if the scooter is ridden without a pillion. However, thanks to the similar underpinnings, the scooter still stays just as flickable.
The suspension setup is stiff but not bouncy
The dynamics are just the same, the Suzuki Burgman feels more comfortable and easy to ride at the same time
The extended footboard helps riders stretch their legs. This, with a wide seat, makes a perfect combination for the rider to be comfortable for long distance touring as well. The Burgman gets the same 12-inch wheel at the front and a 10-inch at the rear. Both mated to 90 section MRF tyres, these tyres look too skinny but do their job well. The Burgman gets a disc at the front and drum brakes at the rear, however, it gets combined braking system for more safety. The feedback from the brakes is brilliant and the scooter stops without unsettling too much.
The tail-light unit looks very well with the complete design
Verdict – The Burgman Street is placed above the Access 125 in Suzuki’s 125cc scooter lineup and comes at a premium. But with that extra money you get more storage space, comfortable riding posture, a digital console and LED headlights and tail-lights. It might sound pricey but then getting a modern maxi-scooter at Rs. 81,000/- with good features makes it appealing. The competition is offering various different features but the Burgman is a very unique scooter on its own and it seems it’s here to stay!
Does not hit the ton on normal roads but makes up for the pace
What’s Cool
* The maxi-style of the Burgman is very attractive
* LED headlight is bright and illuminates the road very well at night
* Very comfortable for the rider and spacious for the pillion as well
* Power delivery is linear, has a strong mid-range and opens up in the top-end
What’s Not So Cool
* Competition offers more features at a lesser price
* Skinny tyres don’t make up for the attractive and bulky design
* Underseat storage is big enough but won’t be able to fit a full-size helmet
The overall design is just unconventional
Suzuki Burgman Street Specifications
* Engine: 124cc, Air-Cooled, 2-Valves, SOHC
* Power: 8.7 PS @ 7000 RPM
* Torque: 10.2 Nm @ 5000 RPM
* Transmission: CVT Automatic
* Top Speed: 95 km/hr
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Frame: Underbone Frame
* Suspension: Telescopic Forks (Front); Monoshock (Rear)
* Tyres: 90/90/12 (Front); 90/100/10 (Rear)
* Brakes: Disc (Front); 130 mm Drum (Rear), Combined Braking System
Suzuki Burgman Street Dimensions
* Length x Width x Height: 1880 mm x 675 mm x 1140 mm
* Wheelbase: 1265 mm
* Seat Height: 780 mm
* Ground Clearance: 160 mm
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 5.6-litres
* Kerb weight: 108 kgs
Testers’ Note:
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