Honda Reflex vs Suzuki Burgman 400

[icrorj]

First time buyer and new to the scooter market. So far these two
really appeal to me. Does anyone have any opinions on which one is a
better purchase? I noticed the Reflex is only 250cc while the Burgman
is 400cc... Yet the REFLEX costs slighty more. What am I missing
here?

Suzuki Burgman 400:
http://www.suzukicycles.com/Products/AN400K4/

Honda Reflex ABS:
http://powersports.honda.com/scooters/model.asp?ModelName=Reflex+ABS&ModelYear=2004&ModelId=NSS250AS4&bhcp=1

Any advice much appreciated,
CINCNORAD

[Glyn Best]

If you are comparing these two bikes I think that the Burgman 400 is the
better deal. Honda just prices the Reflex to high to compete with other
scoots on the market, although IMHO Honda makes a better quality
product.

If you have more green to play with you may want to consider a Honda
Silverwing (600cc). I have 16000 on mine and love it, LOTS of power.
The Burgman 650 is also a very good machine.

Glyn
Shreveport, La. USA
02 Silverwing (Sylvia)
16000 trouble free and fast miles.

[mike]

"icrorj" <cinc...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:a6bb8e4c.04030...@posting.google.com...

> First time buyer and new to the scooter market. So far these two
> really appeal to me. Does anyone have any opinions on which one is a
> better purchase? I noticed the Reflex is only 250cc while the Burgman
> is 400cc... Yet the REFLEX costs slighty more. What am I missing
> here?

youre missing honda getting their lunch eaten.

ive got no experience with the reflex, but ive owned 2 helixes and both were
bulletproof. bought a burgman 400 last sept, and i love it. honda shoulda
put a 400 in the reflex and beat suzuki to the punch, but they didnt. now
all suzuki needs to do is bring over the burgman 250 and undercut hondas
price on the reflex.

[VM]

Nether, look at the Aprilia Atlantic 500 .
VM

"icrorj" <cinc...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:a6bb8e4c.04030...@posting.google.com...

[Bryce Ludwig]

"VM" <no_email@.com> wrote in news:404fcf03$1...@newspeer2.tds.net:

I'll second that. If you absolutely had to have a Japanese bike, go for
the Burger.

--
Ciao,
Bryce Ludwig
2003 Peugeot Looxor 150

[VM]

> I'll second that. If you absolutely had to have a Japanese bike, go for
> the Burger.

I agree, IF you buy Jap. go with the Burger.
VM

"Bryce Ludwig" <fiat...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns94A95C4345A9E...@216.168.3.44...

[Steve Wilbur]

In article <a6bb8e4c.04030...@posting.google.com>, icrorj
<cinc...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> First time buyer and new to the scooter market. So far these two
> really appeal to me. Does anyone have any opinions on which one is a
> better purchase? I noticed the Reflex is only 250cc while the Burgman
> is 400cc... Yet the REFLEX costs slighty more. What am I missing
> here?

Are you serious?? The Reflex is a Honda, and therefore a piece of shit.
It costs more too - god only knows why.

Get the Burgman. I have the Reflex and I plan to ditch it for the
Burgman just as soon as I can.

Cheers!
-sw

[mike]

> > First time buyer and new to the scooter market. So far these two
> > really appeal to me. Does anyone have any opinions on which one is a
> > better purchase? I noticed the Reflex is only 250cc while the Burgman
> > is 400cc... Yet the REFLEX costs slighty more. What am I missing
> > here?
>
> Are you serious?? The Reflex is a Honda, and therefore a piece of shit.

in your not so humble opinion. guess the lil 250cc scoot couldnt handle the
20,000+ mile nonstop cross-continental journey without the stator going out
thanks to being overloaded with electrical accessories. not to mention
overloaded, period.

guess that makes it a POS.

> It costs more too - god only knows why.

because honda hasnt realized they arent the only ones in the game now.

>
> Get the Burgman. I have the Reflex and I plan to ditch it for the
> Burgman just as soon as I can.

youll find something wrong with it, too. maybe complain that you cant tow a
catamaran with it, or something.

ive got a 400, and its great. it would probably be able to do a cross
continental trip, too but im not about to try.

[icrorj]

Thanks for the tips everyone. Ended up getting a Burgman 400 today as
advised. They just delivered it... and I'm quite happy with the
decision.

Regards,
CINCNORAD

[Steve Wilbur]

In article <KsM4c.8008$_w.241651@attbi_s53>, mike

<mikein562...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> in your not so humble opinion. guess the lil 250cc scoot couldnt handle the
> 20,000+ mile nonstop cross-continental journey without the stator going out
> thanks to being overloaded with electrical accessories.

What electrical accessories are you talking about?

> not to mention overloaded, period.

Actually not. I was under the manufacturer's specified maximum weight
load the entire time.

[Steve Wilbur]

In article <a6bb8e4c.04031...@posting.google.com>, icrorj
<cinc...@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Thanks for the tips everyone. Ended up getting a Burgman 400 today as
> advised. They just delivered it... and I'm quite happy with the
> decision.

Congrats! (:

[Steve Michelson]

So now it's Honda's quality that is bad, and not just Honda's customer
service?

"Steve Wilbur" <no...@pleasegoaway.com> wrote in message
news:130320041142028851%no...@pleasegoaway.com...

[Steve Wilbur]

In article <8B55c.3844$CJ5....@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net>,

Steve Michelson <njch...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> So now it's Honda's quality that is bad, and not just Honda's customer
> service?

Yeah, that has been the conclusion I've come to since returning to
Alaska. The constant exhaust system fixing has just gotten out of hand.
Had I not gotten the extended warranty, I would have been completely
screwed, multiple times over.

Nevertheless, I can't wait for the snow to melt so I can ride. (:

[germantown]

I realize you already have the Buger, but I wanted to give my .02 in
anyway. First of all, I own a Burger Van 400 ... love it. I also think
the Reflex is a beautiful bike as well.

I choose the Burger because if the larger engine, and to be sure I could
tow my wife on the back :-). I like the lines of the Reflex better
though. I think it just looks a little nicer ... not much mind you ...
just a little. In the end however, I love my Burger, now with 6k miles,
it continues to be the best part of my day.

Someone one told me that when you ride a bike, you understand why dogs
stick their heads out car windows. And I think when your bike is a
scooter, the enjoyment is only better. I don't worry about chokes,
gears, sloshing the fuel tank, adjusting the chain, and the list just
goes on. Your choice of a scooter is a good one, and I wish you and all
our other list readers only the best ... ride on dude ...

Ride safe, and enjoy the ride! If you ever in the Memphis area, look us
up at http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/msgts

Rick

[Steve Michelson]

It's too bad you had such a bad experience. I am quite happy with my Reflex,
which I've had for two years
and haven't had a problem with. Looking forward to a third year of riding on
it. Perhaps next year
would consider moving up to a Burger 650, but we'll see.

"Steve Wilbur" <no...@pleasegoaway.com> wrote in message

news:140320041615006725%no...@pleasegoaway.com...

[Steve Wilbur]

I imagine I will have mine, uh, let's see - at least 2 more years.

In article <APo5c.4917$CJ5....@newsread2.news.atl.earthlink.net>,

[mike]

> I imagine I will have mine, uh, let's see - at least 2 more years.

or you can just cut your losses now.

its not going to be any easier to sell it when its 2 years older, and
completely out of warranty. by then, there will be gently used burgman 400s
and 650s on the market. a used hi-mileage reflex will have all the appeal of
an 18 year old helix.

[Steve Wilbur]

In article <DUu5c.18531$1p.334251@attbi_s54>, mike

<mikein562...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> its not going to be any easier to sell it when its 2 years older, and
> completely out of warranty. by then, there will be gently used burgman 400s
> and 650s on the market. a used hi-mileage reflex will have all the appeal of
> an 18 year old helix.

Incidentially, in two years, it will still have some warranty. I got
the 5 year extended, so it should be good until about June 2006.

I think you're missing a few things here. I'm not hanging on to it
thinking it will be worth more. I'm hanging on to it because I can't
afford to replace it with something better. In two years, I might be
able to do so.

When I do replace it, I will probably donate it to the YMCA or
something and take a big tax write off, rather than trying to sell it
for the 50 cents I would get for it. Or hell, maybe I will just keep it
in the shed for backup transportation or something. Or, if I want to
score real points, I'll give it to one of my employees as a reward for
good work. Who knows? (:

[Charles Pisano]

I'm months away from buying another scoot, but all this talk about how
good the Burgman is made me take a second look.
I must agree it blows away the reflex in value and style. And I was
going to get a used helix, but I think I 'll skip that step and move
right into the one I'm going to end up with anyway. Seems to be the path
I see others have followed. When do the '05's come out? I may want to
wait to see the new ones then try to make a deal on a left over '04.

I would like more color choices and a little more room to stretch my
legs , but otherwise ....
CP

[moof]

Hey, I like my 18 year helix.

Think of the Reflex as the Sportbike version of a scooter and the
Helix as the cruiser.

The Helix is lower, has a huge trunk, doesn't look stupid with the
huge box on top and the seat is lower to the ground.

Well, that and the darn thing keeps going and going and going. They
probably should have redesigned the nose though. But oh well, still
lots of fun.

and 18 years later. still going and going and going....

Maybe I should paint the darn thing pink too......

and it will STILL be going and going and going.....

So the question is... 18 years later and the helix is still going and
going and going and going...

Was the near overpriced $3K back then STILL overpriced?

And is the $5K they're asking for a Helix today still overpriced
knowing you'll probably be hitting at least 100K with it?

[germantown]

New models ('05) would not be out until early 2005. Of course, it's
impossible to speculate what might be available in color, etc. except to
note the colors currently being offered to other markets. You should
also note that the Burgman just ('03) went through a redesign, so
another is probably 2-3 years off.

You can see a history of the evolution at ...

http://www.suzukicycles.org/AN-series/AN400-Burgman.shtml

That said, IF dealers have scooter stock left in August, you can count
on discounts.

Rick
'03 AN400 6k Miles

[Charles Pisano]

Thanks. Great web page. I like the helix too. But it just has not been
modernized enough. But it doesn't matter what I think. It was obviously
liked well enough and the demand was such that they had to bring it
back.

They should get rid of the reflex. It has a cheap feel to it compared
to the burgman.
CP

[mike]

"moof" <mo...@moof.com> wrote in message
news:lnqi50p75cl620shf...@4ax.com...

> Hey, I like my 18 year helix.
>
> Think of the Reflex as the Sportbike version of a scooter and the
> Helix as the cruiser.
>
> The Helix is lower, has a huge trunk, doesn't look stupid with the
> huge box on top and the seat is lower to the ground.
>
> Well, that and the darn thing keeps going and going and going. They
> probably should have redesigned the nose though. But oh well, still
> lots of fun.
>
> and 18 years later. still going and going and going....
>
> Maybe I should paint the darn thing pink too......
>
> and it will STILL be going and going and going.....
>
> So the question is... 18 years later and the helix is still going and
> going and going and going...
>
> Was the near overpriced $3K back then STILL overpriced?

it was too much for me back in 87, but i ended up getting a new elite 80 for
$1200 out the door.

>
> And is the $5K they're asking for a Helix today still overpriced
> knowing you'll probably be hitting at least 100K with it?

id either call it overpriced compared to the burgman 400, or call the 400 an
extremely exceptional value. since the tooling is paid off, and theyre doing
no R&D work on it, it shouldnt be that epensive to make.

ive owned 2 myself, and loved em. but man, the 400 is a world of difference.

[mike]

"Charles Pisano" <pisan...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:25025-40...@storefull-3271.bay.webtv.net...

or drop the price on the helix, to make it an "entry level cruiser". then
give the reflex a 400cc engine to compete with the burgman.