The BurgmanUSA.com forum is a wealth of great information and connection for fellow Suzuki Burgman riders. The BurgmanUSA.com site is the brainchild of Bryan McFalls and wll of of Suzuki Burgman lovers owe Bryan a pat on the back for his great site and hard work in helping to promote the Burgman.

Here is my recent interview with Bryan.

Q1: So Bryan, here we are talking about the Burgman motorcycle and anyone who has done any research about the Burgman online will most certainly have stumbled across your BurgmanUSA.com site and great forum. When did you start the forum and more importantly, why?

A1: I started the forum in Aug of 2003. I bought my Burgman in July of 03. (First one registered in the state of NV.) I searched the web for info and only found Yahoo Groups. My experience with Yahoo Groups format is that you either love it or hate it. I hated it! So I had the idea of starting my own normal forum. I used Yahoo and paid $99 for a web spot and registered the name BurgmanUSA. I was going to use the name Burgman.com but it was already taken by someone as a memorial to someone who had passed.

Q2: Do you have a Burgman yourself? How often do you ride?

A2: Yes I have a Burgman. I had a 2003 650cc and now have a 2006 Executive 650. Back in 2003 I only had one child and I lived in Vegas. I used to put on 1500+ miles per month. Since I’ve moved to Germany 18 months ago, I don’t ride anymore. I have four young boys ages 7,5,4 and 2 yrs of age.

I met my wife back in 1989 in Germany. We now live in her hometown therefore I commute 60 miles one way to work at Ramstein AFB. The weather in Germany is so unpredictable I won’t do the 120-mile commute each day. So basically the boys occupy any free time I have and the weather is too bad for commuting. It appears that I may be selling my Burg in the next few months because it just sits at the house covered.

Q3: What has surprised you, in a good way, about those people you’ve met that love the Burgman?

A3: I have only met a few people in person who have owned a Burgman. They are still a rare bike to be seen on the road. What I do notice of Burgman Owners is the lack of a “chip” on their shoulder. Not trying to stereotype V-twin or crotch rocket drivers. I just think that people who are willing to ride a “scooter” are people who don’t care what other people think and are just out to ride something fun and sensible.

Q4: I notice that Suzuki refers to the Burgman as a scooter in advertising but as a motorcycle in owners information. So what is your take on the whole scooter motorcycle identifier with the Burgman? Is it a scooter or a motorcycle or does it matter.

A4: By law, in most places, anything over 49cc is considered a motorcycle regardless of how it’s propelled or its designed. Ex: Gears, CVT, brakes on floor vs. just hand brakes…etc. I think it’s a scooter by design. Step thru and sit, just twist and go. A cruiser is a cruiser and a sport bike is a sport bike. Just a name for its design and they are ALL motorcycles. Doesn’t matter.

Q5: Bryan, did you ride a motorcycle or scooter before you landed on the Burgman? How did they compare to your experience on the Burgman.

A5: My first motorized two-wheeler was a moped when I was 16 yrs old. I was able to drive it on a learners permit.

My next 3 vehicles, before my first car, were motorcycles. 1971 Honda 125 cc, 1982 Honda 360cc, 1975 Kawasaki 500cc two-stroke. These were all owned in 1987.

After I bought my first car in 1987 I did not drive another bike until 2003. I bought the Burgman because I needed something to drive that was under 650cc for the next 2 years so my insurance wouldn’t be so high.

I’m a gadget junkie so the Burgman got my attention right away. It was also a bargain since people didn’t want to buy a “scooter”. Two years later I bought a 2005 1700cc Yamaha Road Star Warrior to compliment my Burgman.

I felt “cool” and badass on my giant V-twin but found myself favoring the Burgman 90% of the time. On the V-twin the “cool” factor was only experienced with the presence of sidewalk bystanders. Once out on the open road, I preferred the Burgman to the groin furnace, arm stretching, bug slapping ride of the V-twin. The body knows better than the mind, which is better for it. I sold the V-twin a year later with only 750 miles on it. Shortly later I sold my 2003 Burg for a 2006 Burgman Executive. Yeah Burgmans RULE!

Q6: Many people don’t realize that you are actually currently serving in the military overseas. Do you mind sharing what you’re doing in the military? We’d love to know.

A6: Actually I’m not in the Military anymore. I was active duty Army from 1987-1995. I became a contractor in 1995 working for the US Air Force. Presently working down the street from my very first duty station back in 1989. This time Im serving overseas as a civilian. I currently provide Depot Level support to the Air Force for a group of satellite communication terminals. The previous 10 years I was a technical adviser for the Predator Unmanned (Drone) Air Vehicle. I spent over 52 months deployed to combat zones during that time.

Q7: How much time does it take for you to keep the BurgmanUSA.com site up and running?

A7: With great moderators and a great right hand technical man AKA Bill Meek, the site basically runs itself. In the beginning I participated in threads all the time. I was constantly adjusting the unknown recipe for a successful forum. After a few years the site began to run smoothly, on its own, like a fine tuned Italian motor. Just like an Italian motor, if let unattended, it will exhibit problems. Presently I attend mostly to the admin functions of the site and allow the moderators and Bill to email me when there is something that I need to make a decision on or give comment to a certain post. Constant monitoring but very little hands on at the moment.

Q8: What do you think is the attitude difference of riders that go for the deep Harley rumble and those that choose the Burgman as their ride of choice? Or is there a difference?

A8: I think I touched on it a bit, in an earlier question. I think there are two types of drivers. Those who “are” and those who “want to be”. I think that most of us have had a Hollywood movie star image of driving a certain type of bike. The big V-twins and tattoos, or wearing Leathers on an Italian Cafe’ racer. These are some images that come to mind.

Once we become motorcycle drivers we realize what we really are. My point? I believe there are many “posers” on crotch rockets and Harleys. With that may come facade (fake) attitudes. I don’t believe there are many people choosing a Burgman for any type of movie image.

I think Burgman drivers ride them because of its practicality and sensibility. I think that some lie to themselves and buy into an image. I believe that a majority of them buy into the Harley and Sport Bike image. Of course this is my American answer. In Europe and Japan the image may be entirely different.

Q9: When you think back about riding the Burgman, do you have a particular type of ride that makes you smile? Maybe it is a twisty back road or long highway ride.

A9: The Las Vegas Strip on any given night. Driving up to Mt.Charleston for a 30 degree drop in temp to escape the burn from Vegas in the summer.

Q10: What modifications to the standard Burgman have you seen that you thought were brilliant?

A10: The “Halfabusa” paint job. (A play on words. Half of a Hyabusa. Burgman has 650cc and 120 MPH. The Hyabusa has 1300cc and 240 MPH.) Any aftermarket seat. I have the original prototype from Corbin. However there are many I have not seen or experienced. The Trike mod is one of them I think may be quite remarkable.

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