Oh, look! The all-new Burgman Fifteen.
Actually, it’s pronounced ‘one-five.’ I made the mistake the first time, too, so you’re forgiven.
This was just launched, right?
Correct. This officially debuted in our market on June 27, and merely a week later, Suzuki Philippines already let us get our hands on it.
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Cool. So how’s it like to ride?
First of all, we can’t summarize everything by answering just one question. There are many things to discuss here. Second, we were given enough seat time for us to give you our first impressions, but not enough for a full-on review.
Very well. What are your first impressions of the Suzuki Burgman 15?
In a few words, it’s pretty darn good. It’s a huge jump from the Burgman Street. It’s bigger, more powerful, and has more features. Just don’t think of this as a bigger version of the Burgman, because it’s an entirely different model in an entirely different segment. This now goes up against the likes of the Yamaha NMax Tech Max and Honda PCX 160.
What did you like about it?
A lot. For starters, its 149cc single-cylinder powertrain with 14.2hp and 14.2Nm of torque is quite peppy. It’s only a two-valve, SOHC engine, which means high-end performance isn’t as impressive as that of its four-valve competitors, but the Burgman 15 more than makes up for it with better low-end torque and overall improved fuel economy. Speaking of which, during our quick ride, one person from our group got the claimed 43km/L figure, which I’m pretty sure can be improved further with more economical riding and with a more broken-in unit.
The Suzuki Burgman 15 also rides well. It’s quite plush on smooth surfaces and remains decent even on roads like EDSA. There aren’t a lot of vibrations felt on either the handlebar or the seat, which should make it a good daily rider in the city. While we weren’t able to ride fast, let alone through twisties, I was able to test the scooter’s braking power, and I can easily say it’s ample. There’s dual-channel ABS available, which I believe is a huge bonus for any small-displacement motorcycle.
Another thing I fancied about it was the looks. I don’t know about you guys, but I think the Burgman 15 is a looker. Whether from up front or out back, it has quite a striking design. And at night? Those front and rear light signatures look quite sleek.
What didn’t you like about it?
Well, I can’t say a lot yet, but there was one thing in particular: The instrument cluster. For one, it’s positioned quite deep into the plastic panels, and you can’t properly see it until you actually tilt your head downward. Not that there’s navigation displayed through that panel so you shouldn’t be looking a lot in that direction anyway, but because of the layout, something as simple as checking the speedometer or fuel gauge should be done with a little extra caution, as it will have your eyes partially away from the road.
Since I mentioned the navigation through the instrument panel, that’s also one pain point. I think Suzuki missed out with the Burgman 15 when it decided not to make the scooter compatible with the Suzuki Ride Connect app. See, smartphone connectivity is something that its competitors already have, so that might be a pain point for potential buyers.
How much is the Suzuki Burgman 15 again?
The Suzuki Burgman 15 stickers for P165,000. It’s a leap from the Burgman Street’s price point, but it’s also quite the huge upgrade.
Can the Suzuki Burgman 15 compete with the NMax and PCX, then?
It has its work cut out for it considering how well-established its direct rivals are, but at first glance, the Suzuki Burgman 15 does look like it has what it takes to compete in this stacked segment. We’ll know more in the future once we get to try this out for a proper review, but for now, what I can tell you is that Suzuki’s new scoot appears to be up for the challenge.
