In the market for a new machine - Suzuki Volusia Forums : Intruder Volusia and Boulevard Forum

AxorrAEB · 10-15-2012, 12:29 PM

I lost my beloved 2008 Blue / Silver C50 last Wednesday to a Honda Civic.

I kind of always wanted a little bigger bike for highway rides and just for longer durations between gears. However, I had really come to love how nimble the C50 felt. I also liked it's width.

I took a short ride on a friend's 2009 Yamaha 1300 Touring yesterday and I'm not sure I liked the feel of the belt drive vs the Suzuki's shaft drive. I'm sure I could get used to it, and I'm also sure I was not throttling it well while trying to get used to the extra 'oomph' at my disposal either.

I always wanted a C90 or a C109, but I hear the C109s are too top heavy for city drivin'. In addition, it makes me nervous that Suzuki hasn't shipped a US C90 or C109 in a few years... What's the story there? Are they re-tooling them or are they just gone?

I'm going to test drive a Victory later this week.
And a Kawasaki.
And likely another Yamaha - maybe a 2011-12 Stryker?
Or an HD 1200 Custom.
Maybe a Triumph as well.

Maybe I should just get another C50...

Have any of you been in a similar situation? Liked the C50 but had an opportunity to go larger? Tried larger bikes, but went BACK to a C50? I look to learn from the wisdom of those who have gone before me...

I hate this process. Dammit, I liked my ride!

472viper · 10-15-2012, 12:38 PM

Here ya go http://www.volusiariders.com/51-bike...ic-1600-a.html

...and Lincoln is close enough to Sioux Falls I can deliver.

Lot's of C50 owners have moved up to the 1600 Kawi and love 'em.

I'm selling 'cause I scratched the Harley itch I've had for a few years.

The Kawi is a great bike.

C50TinAB · 10-15-2012, 12:57 PM

Well I had an opportunity to go larger but decided on the 50 as it was big enough for what I planned on using it for. More displacement with a larger gas tank would have been nicer for a highway trip but I don't plan on making any of those. What I've got handles nice around the city which is where the majority of my riding will be done and so I'm quite happy with it. A friend of mine just got rid of his Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe because he found it too big for around town so I took his advice and went a little smaller. I guess it all depends on what your needs are and weight the pros and cons before making a decision.

crawdad · 10-15-2012, 01:35 PM

If you decide to get another c50, put a modified drive on it, then you will love the highway speeds. Makes it a whole different ride . jmo

desim · 10-15-2012, 01:41 PM

Sold my first C50, Blue and Silver in my avatar, for financial reasons. Went shopping and rode on a lot of bikes up to the VTX1800. Went back to another C50 and have yet to be unhappy.

scorpion46 · 10-15-2012, 01:53 PM

sorry to hear about the C-50. I've heard the 950 is a sweet ride.

MoDZuKi · 10-15-2012, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 472viper

Here ya go http://www.volusiariders.com/51-bike...ic-1600-a.html

...and Lincoln is close enough to Sioux Falls I can deliver.

Lot's of C50 owners have moved up to the 1600 Kawi and love 'em.

I'm selling 'cause I scratched the Harley itch I've had for a few years.

The Kawi is a great bike.

Welll Geeez there u go!...
Good luck Guys!

gsimmons · 10-15-2012, 02:23 PM

If you are looking for something smaller and nimble along the same lines as the C50, have a look at the Triumph America/Speedmaster. 50% more horsepower than our C50, plus they are substantially smoother. Chain drive is a bit of a drawback...

danimal · 10-15-2012, 02:27 PM

I went to the Kawi 1600 from the C50. It's an easy jump to make. Much better brakes and a lot more power, heavier of course but it handles pretty easy. Practicing the slow stuff is important on any bike so the more you do the easier it'll get.

rvcycleguy · 10-15-2012, 02:37 PM

I recently test rode the new Victory Boardwalk. Loved it. If I could swing the price this year, I'd be on it today. Was less than 100lbs heavier than the Boulevard and very balanced like the Boulevard that I ride everyday. Weight and nimble is one of the most important aspects to my ride. I also put the modded drive unit in mine and am very satisfied. Makes the bike feel like you upgraded to larger but didn't....

10-15-2012, 12:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
AxorrAEB VR Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 152 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	In the market for a new machine I lost my beloved 2008 Blue / Silver C50 last Wednesday to a Honda Civic. I kind of always wanted a little bigger bike for highway rides and just for longer durations between gears. However, I had really come to love how nimble the C50 felt. I also liked it's width. I took a short ride on a friend's 2009 Yamaha 1300 Touring yesterday and I'm not sure I liked the feel of the belt drive vs the Suzuki's shaft drive. I'm sure I could get used to it, and I'm also sure I was not throttling it well while trying to get used to the extra 'oomph' at my disposal either. I always wanted a C90 or a C109, but I hear the C109s are too top heavy for city drivin'. In addition, it makes me nervous that Suzuki hasn't shipped a US C90 or C109 in a few years... What's the story there? Are they re-tooling them or are they just gone? I'm going to test drive a Victory later this week. And a Kawasaki. And likely another Yamaha - maybe a 2011-12 Stryker? Or an HD 1200 Custom. Maybe a Triumph as well. Maybe I should just get another C50... Have any of you been in a similar situation? Liked the C50 but had an opportunity to go larger? Tried larger bikes, but went BACK to a C50? I look to learn from the wisdom of those who have gone before me... I hate this process. Dammit, I liked my ride! Last edited by AxorrAEB; 10-17-2012 at 01:41 AM. Reason: Typo.

10-15-2012, 12:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
472viper Senior VR Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: So. Dak. Sioux Falls Posts: 23,726 Thanks: 750 Thanked 1,521 Times in 1,193 Posts	Here ya go http://www.volusiariders.com/51-bike...ic-1600-a.html ...and Lincoln is close enough to Sioux Falls I can deliver. Lot's of C50 owners have moved up to the 1600 Kawi and love 'em. I'm selling 'cause I scratched the Harley itch I've had for a few years. The Kawi is a great bike. __________________ 2006 M50/C50/109fender/ SE 50 wheels and HD bags 2007 1600 Kawasaki ClassicSOLD 2008 FLHX Street Glide 105th Anniversary #1387 USAF 1973-1977 SoDak ANG 1977-2010 Run my fingers across the bars of his cage and make the little monkey dance

10-15-2012, 02:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
rvcycleguy Senior VR Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,101 Thanks: 321 Thanked 290 Times in 225 Posts	I recently test rode the new Victory Boardwalk. Loved it. If I could swing the price this year, I'd be on it today. Was less than 100lbs heavier than the Boulevard and very balanced like the Boulevard that I ride everyday. Weight and nimble is one of the most important aspects to my ride. I also put the modded drive unit in mine and am very satisfied. Makes the bike feel like you upgraded to larger but didn't.... __________________ 2006 C50c White with ghost flames Pwr commander, K&N, leatherlyke bags, tour backrest, 3 pc mustang, Cobra bars, Cobra boards, OEM light bar w/ driving lights, stk shield, vista cruiser, tank bib, stebel horn, Metzler white walls, dj drive, luggage rack, blue led lights. 2010-Guanajuato, Mexico 3 Sisters- Texas Hill Country 2011-Key West, FL Sedona,Grand Canyon, AZ 2012-Big Bend,Texas Santa Fe, NM and Colorado Rockies PCH- LA to SF rt.

10-15-2012, 01:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
crawdad Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: north of toronto Posts: 39 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	If you decide to get another c50, put a modified drive on it, then you will love the highway speeds. Makes it a whole different ride . jmo

10-15-2012, 02:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
gsimmons Senior VR Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: South-Western Ontario Posts: 368 Thanks: 14 Thanked 12 Times in 12 Posts	If you are looking for something smaller and nimble along the same lines as the C50, have a look at the Triumph America/Speedmaster. 50% more horsepower than our C50, plus they are substantially smoother. Chain drive is a bit of a drawback...

10-15-2012, 02:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
danimal Senior VR Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Smyrna, DE Posts: 3,972 Thanks: 111 Thanked 258 Times in 177 Posts	I went to the Kawi 1600 from the C50. It's an easy jump to make. Much better brakes and a lot more power, heavier of course but it handles pretty easy. Practicing the slow stuff is important on any bike so the more you do the easier it'll get.

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