2014–2019 · Scooter · Buyer's Guide
Maximum Daily Return, Zero Fuss
The Burgman 400Z is a maxi-scooter built around one idea: make the daily ride easier than taking the car. A liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 400 cc single makes 34 hp and 27 lb-ft and drives through a CVT automatic. There's no clutch and no shifting, you twist and go. The steel-tube frame carries an 11.1 gal (42 L) underseat bay and broad bodywork that keeps the weather off, and a center stand and ABS come standard. That's classic Suzuki: little fuss, a lot of real-world return and an ownership bill that stays fair.
In town it's easy to live with. The 28.0 in (710 mm) seat is low, the handling is friendly at city speeds, and the engine has enough in reserve to hold highway pace when the commute gets longer. It isn't light, though. At 474 lb (215 kg) wet you feel the weight every time you paddle it backward into a tight spot. Ownership is mostly quiet. If you ride through salted winters, watch the alloy casings and fasteners for corrosion. Also learn where the ignition's Park position is before it drains your battery. Buy it if you want a scooter that simply gets on with the job.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 34 hp (25 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 27 lb-ft (36 Nm) |
| Displacement | 400 cc |
| Engine | Single-cylinder |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Front tire | 120/80-14 |
| Rear tire | 150/70-13 |
| Seat height | 28.0 in (710 mm) |
| Wet weight | 474 lb (215 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 3.6 gal (13.5 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Drivetrain
Safety
I've heard a lot about this Burgman over the years: in the paddock, over coffee with owners, at club nights, and in the messages riders send me once they've lived with one for a while. What comes out of all that talk is very consistent. Owners describe a comfortable, practical daily tool that's cheap to keep running. The complaints come up less often: bulk, finish and a few rough edges.
The praise riders repeat most is about what fits under the seat. Owners call the space the best in its class, big enough for two full-face helmets or a proper shopping run, and several use it for touring as well as the commute. Comfort comes up just as often. Riders talk about a plush seat, a relaxed riding position and bodywork that keeps wind and rain off well enough to make long days easy to take. Running costs round it out, with owners reporting fuel economy in the mid-50s mpg and maintenance bills they describe as low.
Plenty of riders are surprised by how the Burgman moves. Despite its size, they say it feels light and agile in town, and they point to the low center of gravity as what gives them confidence in traffic. The CVT gets steady credit for instant throttle response, and owners describe pulling away ahead of most cars and other scooters.
The gripes are fewer and more scattered. The one that comes up most is size: next to smaller scooters, some owners find it big and cumbersome in tight spots and at low speed. Others report corrosion on fasteners and alloy engine parts after exposure to winter road salt, which takes the shine off the finish. The rest are one-off remarks. One owner warns that the bright green ECO light on the dash is easy to mistake for a turn signal left on. Another finds the single noisy and coarse next to smoother parallel twins. A third mentions a jarring ride over potholes and uneven pavement and blames the small wheels.
Battery drain from ignition park position
The ignition switch has a Park position one click past Lock; if left there, the tail light stays on and drains the battery.
Difficult air filter access
The redesigned airbox housing (post-2018) makes removing the cover to replace the air filter challenging.
Corrosion on alloy components
Engine casings and fasteners corrode after a few winters, especially on UK bikes ridden on salted roads.
Metallic noise at low speeds
A metallic sound reported at lower speeds when decelerating or idling, possibly from the CVT or exhaust shield.
Where this Suzuki Burgman 400Z pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Burgman 400Z is actually built for.
This is your machine. A low seat, twist-and-go, a trunk under the seat and low running costs make city riding simple. Just know that 474 lb gets noticeable when you park it by hand.
Made for Austin · Los Angeles · Miami Beach / Miami
It nails the weekday city commute and takes ridge roads calmly. But 34 hp on a scooter chassis means you'll cruise Skyline, not chase anyone on it. Buy it for the commute first.
Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Suzuki Burgman 400Z. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2018–2020
City Easy, Highway Capable
Competitor · 2018–2020
BMW Badge, City Soul
Roughly $1,000 cheaper used than this bike at 7 yr
Competitor · 2015–2019
City Traffic's Easy Rider
Roughly $3,300 cheaper used than this bike at 7 yr