www.BurgmanUSA.com

by **GAWildKat** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 14:28 14

I'm doing research into a scoot for me, could be months or years down the road. But alot of my biker friends have suggested a triked Burgman for my needs. My husband is getting used to the idea he won't be able to get me a C50 and make it an automatic to fit my needs. I will also mention that I'm disabled. I'm 40% paralyzed on my right side, about 10% on my left. I'm very mobile and get about well, drive a car without aids, but finding a bike/scooter to fit my needs has proven a challenge. Most people in passing never notice I'm disabled.
I have a few questions regarding possible mods on the Burgman.

Can the throttle be moved easily to the left handle bar? I realize this requires routing cables to the left as well.

Could the brakes routed easily to one set of brake pulls? One of the aids alot of disabled bikers use is put both brakes on 2 pulls on the same handlebar.

Are aftermarket accessories like seats, backrests, and such easy to find?

I'm sure I'll have more questions and answers as the feedback on this thread grows.

Thank you all for your time and interest in aiding me.

Kat

by **Buffalo** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 16:05 16

GAWildKat wrote:I'm doing research into a scoot for me, could be months or years down the road. But alot of my biker friends have suggested a triked Burgman for my needs. My husband is getting used to the idea he won't be able to get me a C50 and make it an automatic to fit my needs. I will also mention that I'm disabled. I'm 40% paralyzed on my right side, about 10% on my left. I'm very mobile and get about well, drive a car without aids, but finding a bike/scooter to fit my needs has proven a challenge. Most people in passing never notice I'm disabled.
I have a few questions regarding possible mods on the Burgman.

Can the throttle be moved easily to the left handle bar? I realize this requires routing cables to the left as well.

Could the brakes routed easily to one set of brake pulls? One of the aids alot of disabled bikers use is put both brakes on 2 pulls on the same handlebar.

Are aftermarket accessories like seats, backrests, and such easy to find?

I'm sure I'll have more questions and answers as the feedback on this thread grows.

Thank you all for your time and interest in aiding me.

Kat

After market seats, backrests, windshields, top cases etc are available from several manufacturers.

As for your other two questions. They probably could be done but I don't know how easy it would be.

I can see a number of problems that could complicate moving the throttle mostly to do with the switch housings. A better option might be to use a after market throttle assemble to make the left grip into a throttle and leave the right one alone. You also need to consider that the switches that control functions on the bike are split between the two grips. Most are on the left so if you have limited use of you right hand that is probably a good thing.

For the brakes you already have reservoirs and levers on both sides but I don't know if either would have the capacity to handle three discs if you combined them. If you went with the Executive you would also likely run into problems making the ABS function correctly. In case you don't know the left lever works the rear disc and the right lever works the front two disc on the 650. On the ABS equipped Executive models the ABS circuits function independently on the front and back. If the ABS unit senses the rear wheel is locking up it will pulse the rear brake circuit. If it senses the front wheel is locking up it pulses the front brake circuit. I don't know if you could plumb it to pulse only the correct wheel if they are working off one lever.

by **GAWildKat** » Mon Feb 06, 2012 20:53 20

Thank you for the response. I stopped by the local dealer today to sit on the Burgman 400 and 650, the 400 was ok but edged on feeling too small. The 650 was a much better fit and had the leg room I need. At 5'6" I'm short, but I have longer legs than most women my height. I asked the sales guy about moving the throttle and he said without asking the mechanics he felt it could be done, or finding something aftermarket to fit my needs, He said if we get closer to a goal date to buy stop in and remind one of the sales guys of my needs and they'll work with me, or if I find a used burgman at a steal let them know.

On the brakes, I think you misunderstood the question or I didn't describe well or both. One of the configurations on brakes I have seen is to have 2 brake levers together and you grip both at once to decelerate.instead of having one on each handlebar, they would be on either the left or right side only. When I took the MSF last year the school started me on a rebel 250 before giving me my own scooter. Unfortunately, by the time they decided to give me the scooter I had injured my knee and wasn't able to finish the course.

by **Buffalo** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:49 09

I've never seen a brake configuration like that. Not sure how it would work. I assume it must have one of the master cylinders remotely mounted with some kind of linkage or cable to actuate it from the second lever. If it can be done on other bikes then I don't see why it couldn't be done on the 650. Having the two systems still separated would resolve any issues with ABS compatibility.

by **GeeGusKahn** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 18:24 18

Just some thoughts on this.
Not trying to steer you in any particular direction just some ideas.

Some scooters have linked brakes. Not sure which ones but I think some of the Honda and others.
On the linked brakes, if you activate the rear, it turns on the rear and also turns on one piston on the front disk.
Something like this might be much easier to modify to work all the brakes from one handle.

Foolish assumption, from your handle I would guess you live in GA.

What part of GA are you in?

by **GAWildKat** » Tue Feb 07, 2012 20:07 20

I live in the Warner Robins area just south of Macon. I might be thinking too much, however when I took the MSF last year I had gotten used to the clutch (just not pairing the foot with it) and when the instructors swapped me to a honda scooter I made the mistake of grabbing the left brake and the scoot tossed me around like a bad tempered horse before I landed on my (bad) knee a 3rd time that day and withdraw from the course. The honda scoots feel awkward even just sittin on them, almost like they are too narrow. the burgman 650 is the 1st scoot save the hubby's volusia stock seat that seems wide enough to support me. Let's just not go into the stock pillion on a volusia shall we?

by **MLavore** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 15:02 15

The left throttle is definitely a non-issue as i've seen it done many times for disabled bikers, as far as having both brake levers moved to the left, that may be a bit more complicated. In reality you can either use majority front brake or an even mix of front/rear, that even mix makes me wonder if you couldn't brace the two levers and shorten the second one (make sense in my head) so that you have one full lever that actuates both in an even manner.

It can be done, just finding someone who would know where to start may be the issue.

by **alloo** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 12:31 12

You might get a Silverwing since the brakes are linked.

by **MLavore** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 19:20 19

alloo wrote:You might get a Silverwing since the brakes are linked.

One thing to note is that the left hand brake is actually a combination brake- Applies rear and front brake together when initiated. The right brake is front only.