Prime time scooting
The 125cc scooter has been rapidly evolving and Suzuki joins in the race with the Burgman Street, carrying maxi-scooter styling along with the brand name of Suzuki’s high-capacity scooters
Suzuki pioneered the modern 125cc automatic scooter with the Access and Swish 125 offerings. With the scooters gaining popularity for their performance and quality, the Access spearheaded the company’s position in the segment on the road as well as their sales charts. Looking at the newly launched Suzuki Burgman Street at the press event, I wondered if this was a perplexing case of why fix it when it ain’t broke versus let’s do it anyway.
As I mentioned before, the Access’ strong point is its engine. Powerful, geared right, it packs a punch off the line and continues the momentum till its top speed. The same engine has been carried forward and placed into the Burgman Street and even though the latter weighs 7kg more whilst still producing the same power outputs, the Burgman displays the same enthusiastic acceleration. Moreover, the engine seems a bit smoother and displays impeccable throttle response even at speed. This is especially helpful while slicing through city traffic and never once
THE BURGMAN SPORTS THE SAME ENGINE AS THE ACCESS AND DESPITE WEIGHING 7KG MORE, IT ACCELERATES AS ENTHUSIASTICALLY
WHETHER FLICKED INTO A CORNER OR TAKEN THROUGH A ROUGH PATCH, THE CHASSIS REMAINED STABLE AND THE SUSPENSION, AS COMPLIANT
did the Burgman feel out of breath. In fact, the scooter feels powerful just as a 125cc engine should and just for the record, I managed a top speed of 98kmph which is mighty impressive.
What is also equally remarkable is the chassis that again comes from the Access and displays rock solid stability irrespective of the demands. Whether I flicked it into a corner or came across a rough patch of road, the chassis remained stable and the suspension, as compliant. The suspension isn’t the most plush but offers a feel of the road surface while being able to absorb broken roads, speed bumps and other undulations with minimal transfer of shocks to the rider.
That was the why fix it when it ain’t broke part. Lest you frown at
me for not mentioning the aesthetics of the Burgman. Undoubtedly, the Burgman looks smashing with the maxi-scooter lineage visibly evident in the design lines of the Burgman Street. The massive front section never felt cumbersome when I was stuck in traffic or while threading through it. It also grabbed a handful of curious eyeballs that were impressed with the LED headlamps and overall looks. Inside the large front-end bodywork reside a couple of nifty storage options complete with a charging socket while the underseat storage claiming a 21.5-litre capacity has a few protrusions that eat up into the space. Another interesting benefit of the front fairing is the extra legroom that affords the rider with a stretched out riding position if so desired, especially on long rides. Also worth mentioning is the feel of the rider cockpit that’s closer to a motorcycle. The clear visor, fixed digital display and handlebar make for an unhindered view of the road ahead. It also makes the ergonomics feel particularly sporty. The large body work looks beautiful but what takes away from it are the tiny 10-inch rear wheel and skinny tyre that especially make the rear section look disproportionate.