H O M E
The ride, by the numbers, because I know that at least 3.14159% of you can count...
Total distance piloting this 2018 Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive w/Hannigan Classic sidecar rig...aka...Burgy/Hannah ll...aka Mobius
1,139 miles
Total time spent doing this...NOT including time spent during Hotel Stops
22.5 hours
That was 5 hours exactly the first day, in temperatures exceeding 108* F
Then 10.5 hours the 2nd day, in temperatures exceeding 107* F
Then 7 hours exactly today, in temperatures that started at 77* F, then dropped down to 53* F, and rose back up to 80 by the time I got home.
Total time, including 4 gas stops the first day, 5 gas stops the 2nd day, and 4 gas stops the 3rd day, all-in, all time considered, except Hotel stops.... = 22.5 hours
Ergo, 1,139 miles in 22.5 hours
This Suzuki "Scooter" sidecar rig needed to be tested, because it is for my wife, so you can understand WHY I did the things I did next...
Really comfortable engine at 60 to 70 mph.
Redline is....8,000 rpm
60 mph = 4,000 rpm
70 mph = 4,750 rpm
80 mph = 6,000 rpm
90 mph = 7,000 rpm
(and yes, I did have to TRY this rig at those speeds, to either confirm, or deny, that it was capable, and there would be not wiggle waggle issues at a higher speed. Now that this has been done, and knowing that my wife is NOT going to be hitting 90 mph....I can confirm that the bike/sidecar rig is steady, it is solid, it handles very well AT SPEED, and still had a lot more throttle available.)
Fuel consumption is not something that I fret over, and doing a ride like this... a Git 'n Go ride...doesn't give you a good reading on fuel consumption, as too many odd factors involved, but I can conclude that in "normal" piloting of this sidecar rig it will get close to 45 mpg.
That's not what I got, because I am not normal, and Thane will tell you that "normal" is a setting on your dryer.
(Thane, I have never sat on your dryer, in case that discussion ever comes up) 
Very happy with how this rig was assembled. The Seller knew what he was doing (except his electrical connections, which I will fix), but structurally it is absolutely solid, and with NO trail reduction (yet), this thing handles curves AT SPEED with no flying of the chair.
However...we did have a bit of a kerfluffle, a maylay, a showdown....as this new sidecar rig...Burgy/Hannah ll got into a spat (that is what they are calling it) with my '59 Morris Minor Traveller, as to which one was going to occupy the shop, and get up on the lift.
Quite a bit of noise that no one could understand when one of them is cursing the other out in Japanese, and the other is trying to be heard in speaking olde Brit Speak. Apparently Burgy/Hannah ll threatened Morris that he would throw a glass of Saki inside Morris, and Morris responded with "make it a shot of Glenfiddich, and I will give ya this spot, ya bloody bastard".
It was a madhouse, it was almost tires vs tires being thrown at each other.
I finally convinced Morris that he still gets his prime spot in the shop, parked in the lift area, and that tomorrow....I will park Morris in the shade, whilst I do an oil and filter change on Burgy/Hannah ll.
Morris said..."okay...but make it quick, ya wanker."
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Temperatures rising....84 when I left the Seller's house....106 as I was climbing up Interstate 5 on the Grapevine.... engine on the bike is at max temperature
Air Temperature climbed to 110, and the bike temperature gauge vacillated between 3 and 4 bars...of the 5 bars possible.
I remember riding from Northern California to Southern California every other weekend. Those temps can take alot out of you. I always tried to ride at night when at all possible. I have not done that though since 1989.
Handbags at Dawn perfect =) Does this rig feel different as it seems as though you sit in it rather than astride?
Walk with Joy
Steve Ives
Handbags at Dawn perfect =) Does this rig feel different as it seems as though you sit in it rather than astride?
Steve, and MY dawg Cy, if I am understanding your Brit speak, these Suzuki Burgman scooters are just that, a "scooter" design, so getting ONTO it is simply swinging one leg over the central console, just in front of the seat. In your case (as keeper of my dawg) this would be a very easy bike for you to mount, as you scoot your butt up against the seat, swing your right leg up just high enough to clear that central console, then rest your right foot down onto the running board on the right side. Frankly, this would be an ideal bike for you to mount, and with a sidecar attached to it, makes it all that much steadier.
What truly separates the Suzuki Burgman 650 from all other "scooters" that I am aware of, is the 638cc TWO cylinder engine, fuel injected, producing 56 hp, and both auto mode and manual mode, very similar in driving experience to the Goldwings with the DCT transmission.
Additionally, the Suzuki Burgman 650 "scooter" does NOT have a chain or belt drive to the rear wheel...it has 5 planetary gears that go inline from the transmission to the final drive unit, to drive that rear wheel.
It performs more like a 650cc twin motorcycle, than any scooter.
Ideal for my wife, as she isn't into "throwing a leg" over the rear of a standard motorcycle anymore (she is only 5' tall, and overweight, so it becomes difficult for her to get on a standard motorcycle, whereas a sidecar rig is sturdy enough she can engage the patented Steve Ives methodology of mount and dismount.
Here is a side view of a Suzuki Burgman 650 (although this is the view of the right side, you can imagine the same for the left side).
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Question, Miles. Does the 400 have a similar transmission as the 650? I'm considering a small two wheeler as a runabout.
Mr. President, the short answer is NO.
The Burgman 400 has the typical CVT transmission with a belt drive to the rear wheel. And is a single cylinder engine.
I would be concerned that the Burgman 400 would be too small for comfort, given your physical size.
A Burgman 650 might be the better choice for you, but still find one to sit one....to see if you could stand its size.
The used Burgman 650s are not expensive in the resale market, but they are far superior to the Burgman 400, or 200.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Congratulations on successfully making it home. You two could be in for a great fall and winter riding season if things pan out. Will look forward to future ride reports.
What a nice rig. Any decal plans yet?
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
Question, Miles. Does the 400 have a similar transmission as the 650? I'm considering a small two wheeler as a runabout.
Mr. President, the short answer is NO.
The Burgman 400 has the typical CVT transmission with a belt drive to the rear wheel. And is a single cylinder engine.
I would be concerned that the Burgman 400 would be too small for comfort, given your physical size.
A Burgman 650 might be the better choice for you, but still find one to sit one....to see if you could stand its size.
The used Burgman 650s are not expensive in the resale market, but they are far superior to the Burgman 400, or 200.
Good to know. The quick research I did showed CVT for recent iterations of the 400 but I didn’t know if that had changed. Im not wanting a liter bike and have been considering a pc800 but a Burgman 650 might be just the right choice.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
Question, Miles. Does the 400 have a similar transmission as the 650? I'm considering a small two wheeler as a runabout.
Mr. President, the short answer is NO.
The Burgman 400 has the typical CVT transmission with a belt drive to the rear wheel. And is a single cylinder engine.
I would be concerned that the Burgman 400 would be too small for comfort, given your physical size.
A Burgman 650 might be the better choice for you, but still find one to sit one....to see if you could stand its size.
The used Burgman 650s are not expensive in the resale market, but they are far superior to the Burgman 400, or 200.
Good to know. The quick research I did showed CVT for recent iterations of the 400 but I didn’t know if that had changed. Im not wanting a liter bike and have been considering a pc800 but a Burgman 650 might be just the right choice.
Well, Mr. President, I have owned at least 3 Burgman 650s, maybe 4, and I am always impressed by what that bike will do.
I would not own a PC800, too much Tupperware, and too little of power. Olde technology, in an antiquated platform.
We also currently have a 2022 Burgman 200, the last of the Burgman 200s.....and oddly, this 2018 Burgman 650 is the last of the Burgman 650s.
The Burgman 400 feels small to me, and you are larger than me.
I would search CL for a Burgman 650....go sit on it, then think about it.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Miles
Thanks for the detailed breakdown about the Burgman. They do sound interesting for sure, but then i like my GL1800 =) Cy jumps in faster than i get aboard; the sidecar is also his supervisors position.
Finally got the Helibars in the right position, well pleased!
Walk with Joy
Steve Ives
Miles
Good to see you made it home safe & sound.
I have some questions, my wife has expressed an interest in riding a rig, I have access to a small sidecar that I could get for a song. I'm contemplating getting it and maybe a Bergman to put it on for her. there are a lot of 400's around our area cheap and just a couple 650, is the 400 really that bad as far as reliability and ability. she is 5"7 and 115 soaking wet. Next, at some point can you take some pics of the mounting points for the car to give me an idea what I would be up against where I to entertain this idea. is there a steering mod out there to fit the Bergmans and do you feel it is even needed.
that's it for now as I'm just in the thinking sages right now
Miles
Good to see you made it home safe & sound.
I have some questions, my wife has expressed an interest in riding a rig, I have access to a small sidecar that I could get for a song. I'm contemplating getting it and maybe a Bergman to put it on for her. there are a lot of 400's around our area cheap and just a couple 650, is the 400 really that bad as far as reliability and ability. she is 5"7 and 115 soaking wet. Next, at some point can you take some pics of the mounting points for the car to give me an idea what I would be up against where I to entertain this idea. is there a steering mod out there to fit the Bergmans and do you feel it is even needed.
that's it for now as I'm just in the thinking sages right now
Ace, all good questions, as usual from you...a guy with experience that can still think.
I don't believe the Burgman 400 will comfortably fit your 5'7" wife, as it is smaller in configuration. The only way for any of us to know if it will fit, or any bike will fit, is for us to actually sit on one, and move around on it, to see if we can ergonomically fit, and be comfortable, and not just sitting there, but let's say for a 100 mile ride, etc.
Yes, there is a big difference between the Burgy 400 and the 650....but BOTH are reliable.
The Burgy 400 is a true scooter, a single cylinder engine, it is fuel injected, but with a CVT trans, and a belt drive to the final drive.
The Burgy 650 is closer to being a motorcycle (think if the Honda Goldwing w/DCT trans downsized, and made a easier to mount bike)
It's a 2 cylinder, parallel twin, fuel injected, and there is an assembly of 5 planetary gears inline with one another to feed the power to the rear differential, and it is as bullet-proof as a Goldwing.
As for trail reduction steering mods available, yes...they are available, "IF" it is needed on the rig you may build.
Example: The 2015 Burgy 650 that I handed off to the "former" DMC sidecars, along with the used (fake) Hannigan Classic sidecar, for them to attach the side to the Burgy 650....they did not do a great job on that, and the steering was not great at all. Seriously considered having a trail reducing triple trees made, and installing that, but decided to sell the rig first.
However: This 2018 Burgy 650 with real Hannigan Classic sidecar, this was 100% assembled and attached by the previous owner, and he did it right ! Having direct comparison of the previous rig, and this newest rig, this one handles and steers far better, and as I told my wife, I think it is fine, it handles SO much better, that I don't think it "needs" the trail reducing triple trees...BUT...I am open to doing that if she feels the need or desire to make it that much easier for her.
The BIGGEST difference is in WHERE the mounts to the burgy 650 were located, as the "former" DMC sidecar guys used very different locations on the bike to attach the mounts, whereas the previous owner of this newest rig went directly by the instructions from Hannigan, and it is much better.
I know who makes these trail reducing triple trees, and there is a difference between the older Burgy 650 triple, trees and the newer Burgy 650 triple trees, they were changed somewhere around 2012 or 2013...I would need to check to be exact....BUT (again) I am of the opinion that a set of trail reducing triple trees made for a (example) 2009 Burgy 650 WILL work just fine on our 2018 Burgy 650.
The guy that makes these is Bill, at Bill's Custom Triple Trees, and I have spoken with him. He has everything in house to make the former version, but would need to do a lot of work and experimentation to make the newest version, which is why I am leaning towards the former version of the Burgy 650 triple trees...IF it is necessary to be done.
For ME, I can easily live with hos well this 2018 rig handles and steers, but I will leave that up to my wife to make her own decision.
YES...Ace, I will take pictures of the mounting, and specifically mounting location, but be aware that "some" of the attachments to the bike are hidden under the bodywork.
Finally....this 2018 Burgy 650 w/Hannigan Classic "MAY" be up for sale in the next year or two, as my wife is undecided whether she wants to continue riding 2 or 3 wheels, and so we MAY have a 2022 Burgy 200 for sale (last of the Burgman 200's), and we MAY have this sidecar rig up for sale (last of the Burgman 650's)
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Thank you for that informative description, as I mentioned my wife at this point has only expressed some interest, she really likes the way I can just load up the big dogs and hit the road, while she on her current trike either has to dawn a shoulder carry pouch or worse I have to dawn the shoulder carry pouch to take one of little girls. still working on how to carry both of them together, hence her interest in a sidecar
Ah, another question, do you feel the 650 + car could handle pulling a trailer, lets say 250 lbs. total weight. this would be a deal breaker as we have a nice little travel trailer she pulls with her trike.
Thank you for that informative description, as I mentioned my wife at this point has only expressed some interest, she really likes the way I can just load up the big dogs and hit the road, while she on her current trike either has to dawn a shoulder carry pouch or worse I have to dawn the shoulder carry pouch to take one of little girls. still working on how to carry both of them together, hence her interest in a sidecar
Ah, another question, do you feel the 650 + car could handle pulling a trailer, lets say 250 lbs. total weight. this would be a deal breaker as we have a nice little travel trailer she pulls with her trike.
Ace, the short answer is YES...the Burgman 650 can pull a small trailer, when the bike is a Sidecar rig. As you know, preferably with the trailer centered behind the bike/Sidecar....and not directly behind the bike.
If this Burgy 650 Sidecar rig, with my 240 lbs on it, and luggage in the Sidecar, can roll at 90 mph, and still have throttle available for more, then no problem towing a small trailer, when your 115 lb wife is piloting the Sidecar rig, and she is less inclined to do above 80 mph.
So....YES.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort