Suzuki's new Burgman 650 Executive is possibly the most comfortable scooter ever made. Harry Mottram enjoyed its many comforts.

Back in 1975 I had a Suzuki scooter. It was very economic, comfortable and although it was only a 70cc model it kept up with the traffic. Ultimately it died in the mud at the Watchfield Free Festival in Wiltshire, but not before it had taken me on several holidays to Cornwall and Wales.

The new Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive is a different animal, although in some ways shares that comfortable ride my old bike gave back in the days of Steely Dan, King Crimson and Curved Air. The seats are well padded, with moulded back comforts which prevent you sliding around and the sitting position is relaxed – rather like slipping into a favourite armchair. You are protected from the worst of the wind with a bulky storage unit on the front forks and a retractable windscreen which pops up and down at the touch of a button. It has more of a feel of driving a small family car than bumping along the cobbles of Welsh Back on a traditional scooter.

The comforts don't end there. Its braking is about as smooth as I've ever known on a bike. The ABS are applied by hand giving a smooth skid-free and jerk-free brake as you glide up to the lights or reign back an overtaking manoeuvre as a juggernaught appears round a corner.

With my poor circulation I appreciated the heated handlebar grips. Whatever you wear on your hands, eventually your fingers will chill on a long journey – even my 20 mile commute into Bristol from Somerset leaves me with cold hands, so heated handgrips for me are a bonus. The bike is very stable but to achieve this, Suzuki have made it quite a heavy bike so you need to think about where you are going to park before you ease into first. It's not an easy bike to push around once you are on foot.

On the A37 and A38, it's a super bike to be riding. Fast, with a quick turn of speed to leave motorists standing at the lights, it's easily swift enough to overtake cars and lorries at will. And on the motorway, the bike comes into its own. Press the button and up glides the windscreen to maximum height. Sit back and relax without the usual buffeting from cross winds or the slipstreams of trucks. Above 70mph and it does begin to feel a bit wobbly and according to Motorcycle News, the bike will reach 110mph, but I resisted the temptation for a burn up on the M32.

It's also not really designed for slow heavy traffic although I had no problems in Bristol's rush hour. I managed to weave in and out of the endless crawl along The Feeder or Newfoundland Road, and you can electronically fold in the wing mirrors with the touch of another button – useful when slipping into a narrow parking space or inching along between stationery traffic at Temple Meads.

With Bristol's traffic problems continuing to increase then this is a bike that will attract car owners with a bike licence. Alternatively it may appeal to older bikers who want a machine that's a little easier to swing their leg over for their regular weekend ride-out.

Our steer on the Burgman 650

Price: £6,449

Engine size: 638cc

Power: 54bhp

Top speed: 110mph

Insurance group: 10

Verdict: comfortable cruiser ideal for weekend jaunts or longer commuting

Harry Mottram