C50 trade up to 90 or 109?

[aeagles]

Originally Posted by Elvis

I thought C50s have 55 horses?

Those are Canadadian Horses.

45ish at the wheel - per the dyno results I've seen...

[Halford]

Hi Guys,

Just checking in quickly with a report on my 'niner pursuit. I test drove one a week ago and it was pure adrenaline. I was warned by the dealership before taking it out, "if you drop it, you've bought it." While this scared the crap outta me, it didn't outweigh my curiousity. The first thing I noticed was the additional 200 pounds which make it a bit of a mother just to back in and out of starting position. Once I got it going though - what a rush! I actually put one on hold, gave myself the weekend to think about it and then...decided to hold off until the end of the season to see if Suzuki drops the price any more. Rumor has it all manufacturers are going to be offering rebates so I'm going to wait it out. IN the meantime, I've lovin' the fiddy and getting better as a rider. Thanks for all the input!

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by Halford

hold off until the end of the season to see if Suzuki drops the price any more. Rumor has it all manufacturers are going to be offering rebates so I'm going to wait it out.

That's smart! Compare the prices here.

Good luck!

[sukimoto]

There R so many bikes! So Much power! It's comes down to preference. A lot of times the more power the more weight, the more money you will end up spending on tires, and over all maintenance, can get to be pretty expensive, but if the power is what matters most then this is what you will want to do. For me right now I just want to be able to ride economicaly. Yes I do want a more powerful, and more awesome ride butt for right now it's the M50 that's giving me pleasure.

[alby]

have you ever thought doing something with the pipes as aftermarket [yes means $$$$ but] or as my wife and i had our m50 and c50 rebuffled which gave us a nice note and bit more power and better fuel mileage
i also wanted to move up after 1 year of riding and saw the c109 and after nagging the wife took one for a test ride, well when i got back she said i was a bit white in the face and just the size of the thing and that tank goes on for ever
well i have put that idea on hold for awhile now and just enjoy my m which all that it cost me is rego and fuel [ no repayments] but one day who knows
best of luck which ever way you go
p.s just dont know how forgivening a 1800cc would be, where with the 800 i can still get away with a little mistake.

[womper]

i think the problem stems that most people who have their Fitty WANT to keep them for years...

think what you need to find out is why you have outgrown. what do you need specifically?

acceleration?
top speed?
comfort?
maneuverability?

not exactly sure how one 'outgrows' a bike. it's either the bike that fits them and their criteria or it doesn't
well, that's my opninion anyhow...

[edit]
personally i'd love to get an M109r stuffed into an M50 chassis...
then again, i like weird crap

[Loki_ca]

Here's the skinny.
Just bought a C109RT (fully dressed) and paid 17 including all the various rapings you get from the dealers).
MSRP in Calgary is 17999.

Halford - I agree about the comments regarding confidence.
I moved to this bike from an 1100 Shadow and it's nearly twice the weight (787 lbs) firstly and it steers completely differently - countersteering and leaning rather than turning the handlebars. It is an amazing bike and there's nothing I'd put even close to it concerning comfort and power, but that power is a bit of a double edged sword.

It's good if you need it and if a rider is experienced enough to handle it. Alot of people die on sportbikes every year for that same reason. Too little experience and FAR too much power.

A curse as a result of the weight is that the C109 is very sluggish in slow maneuvering and doesn't have half the ability the smaller bikes do for quick turns, U turns and that. With some practice, it comes closer, but that was one of the few documented issues ALL of the cruiser mags noted with it.

I bought it because I needed to move up from the 1100 for touring the mountains because I ride 2 up all the time. the 1100 just didn't have the power to pull out and pass if I needed to while on a climb.
If I was riding solo all or most of the time, I'd have gone to a 90.

There's my 2cents

[womper]

good info loki...

[Loki_ca]

Originally Posted by Halford

Geez is there no one out there who thinks this (C50 to C109) just might not be a bad idea? Has no one done this and lived to endorse it? I appreciate all of the input and I'm taking it quite seriously but I have had contrasting ideas from riders whom I've spoken to face to face. I have to make a move on a trade in this weekend. I'm looking at $5800 for the C50 and $13600 for a brand new 109. These are Canadian prices. Any more comments gladly welcomed.

I'd go for it!
Take it easy though, that's alot of power.

[grandpatractor]

I went from a C50T to the C109RT. I also do alot of 2up riding and it does alot better job of hauling my larda$$ around. It is a rush to hit 85mph and realize you still have two more gears to shift.
FWIW, my dealer had 2 of them on the floor. He had them listed for 12,995 +tax and lic.

[Loki_ca]

Originally Posted by grandpatractor

I went from a C50T to the C109RT. I also do alot of 2up riding and it does alot better job of hauling my larda$$ around. It is a rush to hit 85mph and realize you still have two more gears to shift.
FWIW, my dealer had 2 of them on the floor. He had them listed for 12,995 +tax and lic.

Just rode through the rockies and climbing a pass in 4th gear, seeing 2 harleys ahead, riders laying on their tanks to cut down wind resistance......

Was kinda fun to twist the throttle from 1/2 to 3/4 and sail on by.........

[Halford]

Originally Posted by Loki_ca

Here's the skinny.
Just bought a C109RT (fully dressed) and paid 17 including all the various rapings you get from the dealers).
MSRP in Calgary is 17999.

Halford - I agree about the comments regarding confidence.
I moved to this bike from an 1100 Shadow and it's nearly twice the weight (787 lbs) firstly and it steers completely differently - countersteering and leaning rather than turning the handlebars. It is an amazing bike and there's nothing I'd put even close to it concerning comfort and power, but that power is a bit of a double edged sword.

It's good if you need it and if a rider is experienced enough to handle it. Alot of people die on sportbikes every year for that same reason. Too little experience and FAR too much power.

A curse as a result of the weight is that the C109 is very sluggish in slow maneuvering and doesn't have half the ability the smaller bikes do for quick turns, U turns and that. With some practice, it comes closer, but that was one of the few documented issues ALL of the cruiser mags noted with it.

I bought it because I needed to move up from the 1100 for touring the mountains because I ride 2 up all the time. the 1100 just didn't have the power to pull out and pass if I needed to while on a climb.
If I was riding solo all or most of the time, I'd have gone to a 90.

There's my 2cents

Hi Don,
Thanks for all this but you're confusing me. As a relatively new rider I'm fresh off the training program (and gobs of reading) which insists that counter-steering is essential to operating ALL motorcycles. Why would it be any different with the 109?

[Big-E]

just put a DJ modded final drive on your C50 and you will enjoy it more.

[Loki_ca]

Originally Posted by Halford

Hi Don,
Thanks for all this but you're confusing me. As a relatively new rider I'm fresh off the training program (and gobs of reading) which insists that counter-steering is essential to operating ALL motorcycles. Why would it be any different with the 109?

The 109 steers completely different than my 1100 Shadow did and is nearly 4 times my body weight. It is nowhere near as maneuverable at slower speeds as a smaller bike and can be sluggish at slower speeds. As much as it's power is great on the open road, you've got to be able to handle it at slower speeds as well, should you ever need to react in an emergency situation, or in a slow scenario.

If it was me, I'd take another year or two and work my way to a larger bike. It's tough, wanting something larger, but I can't say enough about the need for experience on the more powerful and heavier bikes. Far too many new riders kill themselves or ARE killed and injured every year because they had more power than experience and didn't know how to react in some dicey situations.

If you decide to get it - take ALOT of time and ride it, ride it on corners and practice alot in slow speed riding and cornering.

I'm not preaching, that's just my opinion.

[Halford]

Thanks again Don. As this thread suggests you're definitely in the majority of advising caution rather than power. I'll see how the rest of the season goes and if I feel the confidence and see a good deal on the niner, I'll make the move. I'm really enjoying the 50 for now and gaining lots of exp with each km. You're so right about the slow speed stuff, though. I think this is the often overlooked skill of riding.

[Loki_ca]

Originally Posted by Halford

Thanks again Don. As this thread suggests you're definitely in the majority of advising caution rather than power. I'll see how the rest of the season goes and if I feel the confidence and see a good deal on the niner, I'll make the move. I'm really enjoying the 50 for now and gaining lots of exp with each km. You're so right about the slow speed stuff, though. I think this is the often overlooked skill of riding.

Within a club we belong to there's a woman who got her license last year and bought a Buell Blast and at 500cc that was a good starter bike. The bike was dropped a couple of times last year in slow speed and gravel corners. She bought an 1100cc Yamaha at the bike show this year and had even more trouble on corners, dropping it in a 30km corner as well. Power just means you can be going faster when you have an "Oops".

Again, just my opinion and it's not like I'm an expert either.

[Halford]

Thanks again Don. Just when I think you've inadvertantly talked me into it, you inadvertantly talked me out of it. I think it's going to happen this riding season. It's just a matter of choosing the best buying time. Don't want to run the risk of dealers selling out either as I'm sure they won't be ordering more '08s in...Walt Healy said the C109s have been slow sellers compared to the M's. Anyway, I have another question for you regarding the 109.
Does that additional weight provided more stability when riding in strong winds? I find my C50 tends to get tossed around quite a bit.

Originally Posted by Loki_ca

Within a club we belong to there's a woman who got her license last year and bought a Buell Blast and at 500cc that was a good starter bike. The bike was dropped a couple of times last year in slow speed and gravel corners. She bought an 1100cc Yamaha at the bike show this year and had even more trouble on corners, dropping it in a 30km corner as well. Power just means you can be going faster when you have an "Oops".

Again, just my opinion and it's not like I'm an expert either.

[Loki_ca]

Originally Posted by Halford

Thanks again Don. Just when I think you've inadvertantly talked me into it, you inadvertantly talked me out of it. I think it's going to happen this riding season. It's just a matter of choosing the best buying time. Don't want to run the risk of dealers selling out either as I'm sure they won't be ordering more '08s in...Walt Healy said the C109s have been slow sellers compared to the M's. Anyway, I have another question for you regarding the 109.
Does that additional weight provided more stability when riding in strong winds? I find my C50 tends to get tossed around quite a bit.

The lowers and the additional weight DO provide more stability and we don't feel anything as far as wind and trucks passing, etc.


Odd about Walt Healy saying that. They told me the opposite when they were trying to sell me one.

Go see Will Preston at Blackfoot.

[Halford]

I should rename this thread because there has not been much discussion around the 90. I'm thinking of trading my 50 up to the 109. Does anyone have an idea of what you would charge a dealer for an '08 C50 naked with 1,500kms (850 miles)?

[Loki_ca]

The asking price for 07's on Kijiji.ca is 6500.00 to 7500.00

Those are Calgary listings, not american and most of those models are fully dressed with bags, etc.
More miles than you have though.