Yamaha X-MAX 400 – Suzuki Burgman 400 MY2018, challenge between champions! [COMPARATIVE TEST VIDEO]

We've tested both, here's our comparison between the two

di Matteo Pozzi 31 August, 2017

Yamaha X-MAX400 - Suzuki Burgman 400 - Two of the most interesting innovations of the year arrive with the season well underway and within a few weeks of each other. We tell you our opinions in a direct comparison between the two highly anticipated 400 MY2018 scooters

Yamaha X-MAX 400 – Suzuki Burgman 400 MY2018, challenge between champions! [COMPARATIVE TEST VIDEO]

At the end of July, almost as if they had reached an agreement between themselves, Yamaha and Suzuki presented and allowed us to try two big innovations (here you will find complete articles on the Suzuki Burgman 400 e here is the test of the Yamaha X-MAX 400).

These are the respective 400 scooters, completely new compared to the models they replace. Especially at Suzuki, the change in style is evident, with the renunciation of a fair portion of the renowned capacity of the under-seat compartment, to go in the direction of greater sportiness. The differences between two models are therefore narrowing which in the past, rather than being in direct competition, divided users between those looking for a more comfortable and spacious vehicle (Burgman 400, obviously), and those looking for a more youthful image for the his scooter, with a more marked sportiness, but something less in terms of practicality and comfort (Yamaha X-MAX400).
Now we can compare them, given that they are in more direct competition, and we are certain that a comparison will be awaited by many of their buyers, given the usefulness it could have in making a choice between the two, even if, let's anticipate, there is no absolute winner, because the differences still exist and justify different choices, depending on personal tastes and needs.

Comfort and versatility

Even if it gives up part of the enormous underseat compartment, the Burgman continues to excel

We said that the new Burgman 400 drops to 42 liters (-20) in terms of underseat compartment capacity, but puts it on the plate two large front storage compartments, one of which has a 12 Volt socket. Its rival has a better shaped compartment than in the past, which can also accommodate 2 helmets, but which remains approximately 5 liters less in total capacity. The X-MAX 400 also has two compartments in front of the driver's knees, we always find a practical electrical socket, but the capacity is decidedly smaller than the total 6.3 liters that its rival offers. In the saddle they are both very comfortable and with well-studied ergonomics, but the Burgman 400 retains a slight advantage, even for those sitting in the back, thanks to a larger and better padded saddle (20 mm thicker than the old model). However, we are entering the sphere of a subjective judgment, because the differences are really minimal, given that both have comfortable, wide saddles and equipped with a backrest for the driver. Also the finishes are of an excellent standard, with a substantial draw between two. As for the footboard, for both it has shapes defined by the frame, with a central element that separates the feet and does not allow you to comfortably load objects like on other scooters, but the space available for the legs is better on the Burgman 400. It allows for greater possibility to move and change position, but also offers a more generous sidecut than in the past, to recover a height from the ground of the seat that has grown by as much as 40 mm (we are now at 755 mm, compared to 766 on the X-MAX 400). The handles for the respective passengers are well designed and generously sized, both on the Yamaha and the Suzuki, just as both facilitate parking even on sloping roads, thanks to the presence of the parking brake. In this, the We will have the opportunity to have our say later, but even in this case the differences are more evident than they might seem in a "theoretical" comparison, without evaluating details, which however can have an important influence on the evaluation. The windshield is contained in dimensions for both, which forces, both in one case and the other, to evaluate the purchase of the increased one, for all those who make significant use of the scooter on the motorway. However, it should be noted that on the X-MAX it is adjustable, with 50 mm of difference between the two available positions, while the Iwata scooter It also allows you to change the position of the handlebars. Among the differences between the two we mention the presence of a practical eyelet, under the right footrest, to tie the Burgman 400 with an anti-theft chain, while the X-MAX 400 is equipped with a Smart Key system, which allows you to keep the electronic key in your pocket and manage the ignition or opening of the compartment under the saddle and the tank from the "manettino", which replaces the block.

Look and aesthetic appearance

The X-MAX remains more modern and youthful, even if the Burgman 400 changes from a sedan to a coupé

Moving on to a mere aesthetic judgment, in our opinion Yamaha's 400 is sportier and more modern also compared to the new Burgman 400, which although rejuvenated in its look and made more streamlined by the new proportions, remains more "traditional". This becomes almost striking if you compare the two instrument clusters, perhaps the real Achilles heel of the Suzuki scooter, on which something more could have been done. Too "old style", which becomes more evident when placed next to the new X-MAX 400, which instead offers a decidedly more captivating, modern and sporty layout. Even though they are both based on the presence of two large circular elements, the display in the middle is richer on the Yamaha, while the shapes of the instruments are more sinuous and better studied. The a little obsolete and too "cheap" for a scooter in this range. Finishes of more or less similar levels, very good, but with some lapses in style in both cases, to be honest, with materials and combinations which, when analyzed and "touched" them in person, are not always impeccable. Suzuki boasts "100% Made in Japan" which promises to be heard in terms of reliability and durability over time, but in this we do not have enough elements to be able to give our concrete opinion.

Driving

A more interesting extension for the X-MAX, a refined rear shock absorber for the Burgman

In both cases the manufacturers promise big steps forward compared to the models they replace the two newcomers. New and lighter frames they are in fact the basis of these projects, with considerable savings on the item weight in running order, which drops by 5 kg for the scooter from the Iwata company and even by 7 for the one from Hamamatsu, with curb weights that are time to 210 for the X-MAX versus 215 for the Burgman. I am now in both cases the rims have 13 and 15" rims, given that the Burgman gains an inch at the front, which has a positive impact on driving handling. The More refined solution for the rear suspension of the Burgman, which features a high-quality adjustable monoshock with PRO-LINK type attachment, while the X-MAX adopts a simpler and more economical double shock absorber. As for the brakes, three discs stop the two Japanese 400s, 260 mm for the front pair of the Suzuki, 267 for the Yamaha, while at the rear they are 210 and 267 mm respectively.

Both proved to be excellent scooters, with a substantial draw in the city context, where both are brilliant and very easy to handle, well balanced and with a low center of gravity, which makes maneuvering from a standstill simple, even if their respective sizes are not those of a "fifty". Maybe he can offer something better the Burgman from this point of view, but it is in extra-urban driving is it stretches more decisively than its rival, due to the big difference between the refined rear PRO-LINK, as opposed to the double shock absorber of the X-MAX, which can easily go into crisis in sportier riding, somewhat limiting the ambitions of Yamaha's single-cylinder flagship. The engines balance themselves quite well, they are obviously both Euro 4 and have similar power, 31 horsepower of the Burgman, which reach 6.500 rpm, 33.3 to 7.000 for the X-MAX, which has the same maximum torque value, 36 Nm, albeit at different speeds (the Suzuki engine reaches it at 4.800 rpm, the Yamaha one at 6.000). The thing that stands out in real use, because if in the medium - low range the two 400s are both excellent and very close in terms of full-bodied delivery, in the long run the Iwata single cylinder offers something more.

Price and consumption

The Burgman promises more quality, but a demanding price list, the launch offer brings it closer to its opponent

Let's start with consumption, with declared values very close, which are 4.35 l/100km for the Suzuki 400, 4.18 for the Yamaha one. In practice, but we would need to test them in more depth, it seems that the Burgman, especially in an extra-urban context, manages to be slightly more efficient (during our test it almost reached the 30 km/l threshold! ), overturning the declared values, but we are on values of excellence for both contenders. Autonomies, needless to say, practically equivalent, given that the tanks are 13 and 13.5 litres, with only half a liter more for the X-MAX.

Suzuki declares quite explicitly that the new Burgman 400 is "100% Made in Japan", which translates, at least in theory, into a quality and reliability that should be very high. Even if in the two tests the level of finish, attention to detail and assembly proved to be completely similar, it must be admitted that in some technical choices the Burgman prevails in terms of refinement, first of all that linked to the rear suspension . It must be said, however, that Yamaha entices quite a bit by seasoning the new X-MAX 400 with details that Hamamatsu's opponent lacks, such as the KeyLess system, traction control and an adjustable windshield. Two substantially different approaches, between which it is difficult to choose. Putting the pros and cons of both on the scales, we are in an almost perfect balance situation. Then the price could make the difference, especially since the respective price lists talk about 7.899 euros for the new Suzuki Burgman 400, a good 1.200 less for the Yamaha X-MAX 400, that it stops at 6.690 euros. Suzuki, however, offers its MY2018 at a much more competitive price for the launch, with a 600 euro discount and a figure that goes down to 7.290 until the end of October.

We close with a small aside regarding the two X-MAX brothers, in the 300 and 400 displacements. In the past the 250 was a long way from the 400, which is why they were aimed at different customers, with more "urban" needs for the former. The new In our test, however, we were able to see first-hand the differences between the two, which fully justify the thousand euros that separate them. We are talking about a double disc brake, a parking brake and richer equipment and finishes, but also a power delivery that offers greater satisfaction than the 8 horsepower would make you believe.

Here you can find the video of our test of the Burgman 400 MY2018

Here is our video test of the X-MAX 400 MY2018

Judging by the views of our two video tests, the Iwata house seems to prevail, but they are both among the most viewed reviews in the month of August, testifying to the interest that revolves around these two models. The verdict is yours...and the purchase!