At last... my new K7 400 Burgie is here!

[Lazarus]

Yes! My new K7 400 Burgie just got to my local dealer this afternoon and I'm picking it up around noon tomorrow. When I went by the dealership to pay for it, Nick, my saleserson, suggested that I use my camera phone to take a few pics of it in the crate and post them up. I've put a few grainy shots in my gallery:

http://burgmanusa.com/gallery/Lazarus/

I'll post more over the next several days, and give my opinion on the new ride!

[Evelyn]

O.K. Lazarus you need to post better pics so we can see what the dang thing looks like. Anyway since your in Atlanta and a newbee would you like to attend a gathering in Roswell with a couple of other B400 owners in the near future?

Evelyn

[roy_ryall]

A couple of questions. 1) What is the service interval for valve adjustments in the 2007 owner's manual? 2) Ask your dealer what oil filter does the 2007 use.

The 600 mile service will come up pretty quick. I asked my local dealer today and they did not know the answers.

[january14]

Dang Lazarus...

That thing has just been hatched, hasn't it?

Glad you were able to release it from captivity. Congrats on the new ride.

Joe

[Lazarus]

Okey-doke! I just uploaded a bunch 'o new pics to my gallery:

http://burgmanusa.com/gallery/Lazarus/

I put 50 miles on it today and here are my first impressions.

1. It kicks butt - especially on the expressway between 50 and 80

2. Having ridden Honda dirt bikes, Yamaha cruisers and zippy Chinese scooters over the past couple of decades, I am very impressed with the stability and ease-of-handling of the Burgman. It has scooter-like agility at low speed and rock-solid stability at highway speeds. Having never ridden the 13-inch version of the AN400, I don't know if this is characteristic of only the new K7 and the Burgman 650 I've ridden.

3. The engine sounds a little deeper than the K5 AN400 I heard a few weeks ago

4. 2-up riding is fantastic according to my wife, and I found plenty of power up steep inclines, without dropping our speed at all. After reading about the AN400 being deemed "underpowered" by some reviewers, I was worried that hills would hurt the bike's performance.

5. The tires are really grippy. I felt like I was on a sport bike through the twists and turns of the mountain roads I was riding upon this afternoon, yet I'm sitting back in a cruiser riding position (I'm 6'2", so I found the highway foot position preferable and very comfortable). Very strange, different and fun.

6. The CVT feels like, well, a CVT. The 650's CVT is so different from the AN400's that I can't really make a comparison other than to say that the K7 400 feels a bit slippy up to 2500 rpm, then really starts to bite around 3000 rpm. It's power spot looks to be between 5500-6500 RPM, and I have to note that it's interesting and informative to have a tachometer on a CVT, since I've never seen this before on my other scooters.

7. The trunk is freaking huge - you could hide a small person in this. My wife is already filling it in her mind with items from the outlet stores up the highway from us. Since it was her idea that I get the Burgie (after I conveniently had her look at one at a local used bike dealer), she can fill it up with whatever she wishes.

I'll keep posting my impressions over the next couple of weeks!

[william-liu]

Looking forward to more reviews!

[Lazarus]

After taking a nap this evening, I couldn't sleep and took the new Burgie out for 40 miles of night riding, after which I posted pics in my gallery. The spread of light from the new headlamps is excellent, completely consistent in its coverage and illuminated the houses on either side of me as I rode through my neighborhood. Around Atlanta, late at night is the only time I would ever consider expressway riding (my family appreciates this), and opening the bike up for several miles was a blast. My testing showed stability starting to diminish between 80 and 90 mph, but I don't expect to travel anywhere near those speeds again anytime soon.

Important note: the front/back brake link on the left brake lever from previous models is apparently gone. Each lever operates its respective brake independently. However, the dual disc brakes in front are very impressive and highly effective. I felt in complete control in each simulated emergency situation I went through today. I will be conducting stopping distance tests over the weekend and will post up the results I get.

[dannysauer]

Important note: the front/back brake link on the left brake lever from previous models is apparently gone.

Put it up on the center stand, rock it back, spin the front wheel, and grab the "rear only" brake hard. Does the front wheel stop?

It's entirely possible to lock the rear tire up on my 400K5 too, if that's the measure you're using...

[Jim]

The butt stop also looks improved from the earlier years of the 400 & 650. It looks more vertical and useful. Have they done any other improvements Regarding the Seat.

[Lazarus]

Yes, I've tested the wheels separately, and the brakes are completely independent from each other. Additionally, I noticed that the linked brake system is no longer listed as a feature on the 2007 400s on the Suzuki website.

Also, the passenger backrest is no longer standard and is a $200 item according to the Suzuki rep that my guy, Nick at Motions Suzuki, spoke with this afternoon. Since this is the same rep that managed to put the new burgie in my hot little hands in a matter of 4 days, I trust that he's right even though the Suzuki website isn't listing the backrest as an option. My wife and a friend have ridden as passengers for several miles and they don't care about the backrest, so I may pass on that. I have a Givi monolock case that I intend to install on the K7 400, but Givi seems to think it will be a little while before it's available. I'm not hurting on cargo space, so this can easily wait for the time being.

Regarding the driver backrest, it is extremely comfortable - I can ride for hours without getting sore. I've put over 120 miles on the bike in the last 26 hours, so I can attest to its comfort.

[asolof]

Lazarus,

Are you choosing to ignore the "break in" period or are you unaware of it?

[WildBillPurdue]

Lazarus,

Are you choosing to ignore the "break in" period or are you unaware of it?

I did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Twice even!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Suzuki shop says just bring it in when service is due (as close as possible). Otherwise............Ride It Like I Stole It!!!!!!!!

[NormanB]

I like it - I like it a lot.
The seat and butt rest looks more sculptured and if you have room at 6' 2" this would suggest more leg room.

The single brake line front confirms no combination braking.

The additional storage appears to have been achieved by sculpting a wheel shape so the storage either side is a wee bit deeper

I do not like the finish on the muffler end cover (no biggy).

Whats it like accessing tyre pressure up front?

I likes it. The K7 400 - A Sculpted Svelte!!

[WildBillPurdue]

I likes it. The K7 400 - A Sculpted Svelte!!

Horsey even! I like too!

[gunrun69]

I've never owned a 400, have test ridden a 05 and was impressed. My wife wants one and I've been watching to see what folks say about the 07. I wish it didn't have those same old ugly mirrors that look like they were stuck on as an afterthought, other than that, I think it's pretty cool.

[Lazarus]

For those that are interested, I have posted a pic of the maintenance schedule for the K7 400 from its manual:

http://burgmanusa.com/gallery/Lazarus/mainschedule.jpg.html

[Lazarus]

Asolof, I decided to follow a much more effective break in schedule as detailed here:

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

I have used this break-in procedure for several years personally, from Mopar drag car engines to Chinese scooters, and the results are rock solid and completely consistent. Indeed, I asked a manager at my dealer what kind of break-in he suggested, and he began with the typical, "In accordance with the written break-in schedule from the manufacturer, I recommend that you follow their instructions." He went on: "But for the 11 motorcycles I personally own, along with all of the cars, trucks and planes I've rebuilt, I've always followed the Mototune method of break-in." That spoke volumes to me.

Since I got the bike with .5 miles on it, I got the chance to seal the piston ring perfectly. I'm at 151 miles already, so I'm dumping the old oil and replacing it early, as detailed in the Mototune break-in, which eliminates any filings in the oil from the engine's manufacture and assembly. I just picked up new oil from the dealer, and I'm going to wait to hear from Suzuki as to whether I should switch to synthetic or not for the 600 or 4000 mile oil change.

[Jim]

The biggest upgrade, 14,500 valve check. That alone is worth it.

[jeff_MDR]

Lazerus - thanks for all this info we've been dying for. The maintenance schedule and the passenger backrest option (my wife insists), have sold me on upgrading from my 05 to the 07!!

[asolof]

Wow! What an improvement in the maintenance schedule. Especially the valves. And not to have to mess with the oily air cleaner every 1500 miles! Do you know if they improved the access to the CVT Fan Filter so you don't have to remove tupperware to get to it?

[asolof]

Lazarus,

I followed the manufacturer's break-in schedule, so, according to that I am SOOL .

[sledderjim]

Lazarus:

What are the white clips below the seat?

( Seen in this photo: http://burgmanusa.com/gallery/Lazarus/L ... 6.jpg.html )

-Jim

[roy_ryall]

Jim, I think those are tie down points. Suzuki started putting on the 400s in 2005.

[roy_ryall]

Lazarous, did Suzuki remove the 1000 RPM drop in the 20 to 50 MPH range? Do you feel the new WS is any higher than the earlier models? You indicated that your height is 6'2". What is you inseam?

[william-liu]

Wow! What an improvement in the maintenance schedule. Especially the valves. And not to have to mess with the oily air cleaner every 1500 miles! Do you know if they improved the access to the CVT Fan Filter so you don't have to remove tupperware to get to it?

From this pic: http://burgmanusa.com/gallery/Lazarus/L ... 5.jpg.html

Looks like if you wanted to remove the CVT cover, you'll still be hindered by the plastic below the LHS passenger floorboard... Wished they did it like the Honda Silverwing instead.

But other than this, the K7 looks like an all-round improvement over the older models!