As longtime RideApart readers may know, I've had a soft spot in my heart for scooters since forever. In particular, living where I do, I've rocked a maxi-scoot for well over a decade now. Is it the most fun thing in the world? No, but it's hella practical, and it's still way more fun and nimbler than a car.
The way I figure it is, there are plenty of other bikes for fun. But my trusty ancient Suzuki Burgman 400 is an absolute workhorse.
I've put thousands of miles on it, replaced the belt and the totally consumable transmission a few times now (movable drive face, fixed drive face, variator, and more!), rebuilt the top end including cylinder honing; you name it. And despite the abuse I've put it through, it's come through an absolute champ. It's not the prettiest, with mismatched bodywork and plenty of scuffs, but it's also got a multiplicity of stickers and even more character to go with it.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
But still, I've thought about getting a different maxi scoot in recent time, especially after I spent a bunch of time on a Honda ADV150 a couple of years ago. I've toyed with the idea of joining the Scooter Cannonball madness more than once, you see. Maybe I will one day, but there are displacement restrictions, and the Burgman 400 wouldn't exactly qualify.
Neither would the Honda ADV 350, but that isn't likely to matter to me any time soon, since it's not offered in the US anyway. But do I wish it was? Of course. Especially now that the 2025 ADV 350 gets a few key updates to make it an even more enticing maxi-scooter option than ever before.
The engine hasn't changed. It's still a 330cc single-cylinder mill that makes a claimed 29 horsepower at 7,500 rpm, along with 31.5 newton-meters of torque (about 23.2 pound-feet) at 5,250 rpm. It has single disc brakes, both front and rear; with a 15-inch front wheel and a 14-inch rear. Seat height is a nice, approachable 795mm (about 31.2 inches), and curb weight is 186 kg (about 410 pounds).
But the 2025 update gets twin rear shock absorbers with preload adjustability, LED lighting, and a sweet new five-inch, full-color TFT display up front. Honda RoadSync connectivity is now available for 2025, the indicators are now self-canceling, and the 48-liter under-seat storage area now gets a light so you can see in the dark.
OK, that last one is actually a little bit of a head-scratcher; my almost 20-year-old Burgman had a switchable light in the underseat storage compartment since it was new. But the rest of the 2025 ADV 350 updates sound pretty excellent, to my ears. It also gets a USB-C socket, adjustable windscreen, and Honda's SmartKey key fob.
It's got the great, modern, angular styling found on Honda's other ADV scooter models, but in a mid-size that makes it eminently practical for everyday activities where I live. See, while I loved my time with the ADV150, and I'd absolutely consider either it or an ADV160 if I wanted to finally take on Scooter Cannonball, it wouldn't be the best option if I needed to hop on a local expressway; something I can absolutely do (and have done many times) with my Burgman 400.
I mean, I've also been a little salty in the past about the fact that Honda has so far never offered the X-ADV in the States as well, but I think there might be a slightly better case to be made for the ADV350. That argument is: Pricing. In Europe, the ADV350 runs 6,599€ in France (about US $6,802 at the time of writing). In the US, a shiny new ADV160 starts at $4,499.
But in Europe, the X-ADV is nearly twice as much as the ADV 350. Even I, who am admittedly predisposed to like scooters more than a lot of people, can understand that most everyday potential buyers in the US would laugh you clear into the ocean if you wanted them to fork over US $13K or more for a new scooter.
Still, we live in the world we live in; not the world I wish we lived in. Currently, the ADV160 and PCX are the largest-displacement scooters in American Honda's lineup, and that doesn't seem likely to change anytime soon.
Do you have an ADV350 that you love? If so, please feel free to tell me about it, and don't mind my envious muttering from an ocean (or more) away.
