Best scooter for NYC?
If your world is NYC or Miami Beach traffic and tight parking, this is the tool for the job. Cheap to run, easy to place, and roomy enough to swallow your gear on every trip.
Made for Austin · Los Angeles · Miami Beach / Miami
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2007–2016 · Scooter · Buyer's Guide
Burgman 400 (AN400 C)
Commuter Comfort Done Right
The Machine's Character
The Burgman 400 is Suzuki's answer to the rider who wants a car's convenience on two wheels without giving up the ability to jump on the interstate. A 400 cc liquid-cooled single spins out 34 hp and 27 lb-ft, fed through a CVT and belt drive, so there's no clutch and no shifting. You roll on and go. The step-through frame hides genuinely cavernous underseat storage, and the big fairing does real work against wind and weather. This is a maxi-scooter built for people who measure a bike by what it does for them every single day.
On the road it feels planted and unbothered, the kind of machine you stop thinking about and simply use. At 489 lb it isn't a featherweight, but the low 28.0-inch seat and easy controls make it approachable the moment you sit down, and it holds up well over years of hard commuting duty. Who's it for? Riders who prize errands, parking, and low running costs over drama. The honest caveat: the CVT belt and clutch rollers wear and need periodic replacement, and there's no ABS on this model, so budget your maintenance and ride within that.
Hard Numbers
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
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| Power | 34 hp (25 kW) @ 7,600 rpm |
|---|---|
| Torque | 27 lb-ft (36 Nm) @ 6,000 rpm |
| Displacement | 400 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Final drive | Belt |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front tire | 120/80-14 |
| Rear tire | 150/70-13 |
| Seat height | 28.0 in (710 mm) |
| Wet weight | 489 lb (222 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.6 gal (13.6 L) |
| Fuel economy | 50 mpg (US) |
Equipment check
Chassis
- Rear Suspension Adjustable Standard
Comfort
- Heated Grips Optional
The Voice of Experience
The test ride
Settle in and the first thing you notice is how little the Burgman asks of you. The seat is broad and genuinely plush, the backrest gives your lower back something to lean into on a long slog, and your feet drop onto a flat floorboard instead of pegs. The single thrums away under you at a low, steady hum, never harsh, and the fairing pushes enough air over your chest and hands that highway speeds stay calm rather than punishing. Thumb the controls and everything sits right where your hands expect it. Around town you paddle it through tight gaps with your knees together and your eyes up. On a full 3.6-gallon tank returning around 50 mpg, you cover real distance between fill-ups, and you climb off far less worn out than the mileage suggests.
The Truth on the Street
This section carries the community's voice, not my own test verdict. Over many years I've paid attention to what Burgman owners tell me, in long-running online back-and-forth, in conversations at rider get-togethers, and in the messages that come straight to me. For this generation the pattern holds firm: a relaxed, dependable everyday machine with a short list of honest caveats.
What keeps owners loyal
The praise centers on comfort and long-run trust. Owners describe an easygoing commuter that handles daily city and suburban work without complaint, and dependability follows close behind, with plenty crediting the big, active owner community for their confidence. Riders with shorter inseams call out the reachable seat and balanced low-speed feel, and the deep underseat bin gets regular nods for swallowing helmets and gear.
Where the gripes show up
The knocks are few but consistent. Weight leads: at low speed the scooter feels like a lot to muscle around, turning parking moves and stop-and-go filtering into a workout. A smaller group reports the stability going loose at higher speeds, with some wandering and mild head shake on grooved pavement and gusty crosswinds. And off a standstill, several describe the getaway as sluggish, needing more throttle than they'd like to move off with any urgency.
Known issues
Regulator/rectifier failure (recall)
Moisture intrusion into wiring could cause regulator/rectifier failure, leading to engine stalling. A safety recall affected 2008 models and possibly others from 2008-2012.
CVT belt wear and clutch roller degradation
Some owners report CVT belt wear and clutch roller degradation causing slipping, squeaking, and reduced performance, requiring periodic replacement.
The Expert Benchmark
Where this Suzuki Burgman 400 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
What kind of bike this is — character vs. the class
Head-to-head: Suzuki Burgman 400 vs. its rivals
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
The 'Should I Buy It?' Score
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Burgman 400 is actually built for.
Best motorcycle for Bay Area?
You'll love the commuter comfort and the effortless city stint. Just know the Burgman is built for calm competence, not carving Skyline, so temper your expectations on the twisty stuff.
Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant
What's new versus the previous generation
If you're cross-shopping the older generation, here's what changed.
Previous generation · 2004–2006
Suzuki Burgman 400 (AN400 B)
The Daily Grind Erased
Compare to the previous model →