C50 trade up to 90 or 109?

[blackie1491]

1500 kms is not much riding before moving up to a larger bike.
Your bike is not broken in yet.
At 6,000, your bike has loosened up, the pipes sound better, the motor really feels and performs better.

I am around 36,000 kms and am enjoying this bike.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by blackie1491

1500 kms is not much riding before moving up to a larger bike.

if 1500 kms is your total riding experience, I think it's too soon for a larger bike. Outgrowing a bike is a dealer's BS.

[Loki_ca]

Originally Posted by Elvis

if 1500 kms is your total riding experience, I think it's too soon for a larger bike. Outgrowing a bike is a dealer's BS.

Not only that, it's a BIG jump too.

800 to 1800cc is riding two completely different bikes.

news-Calgary man dies in motorcycle accident

These are all too familiar stories and usually happen when someone has more power than respect for the vehicle they're operating.

JIMO

[BudTheGrey]

Kinda back on-topic....

I seem to recall our local dealer telling us that there will not be an '09 C90, but don't take that as gospel.

On the other hand, that would leave a gap in the lines at the 1300cc level. It would be a golden opportunity for Suzuki to introduce the C83. Give it cast wheels, a 4-5 gallon tank, disc brakes all around, and hydraulic valves, and I am SO trading for one.

[Halford]

Sounds like a cool alternative to the 50 or 90. Has anyone else heard of a pending 90 discontinuation?

[TonyS50]

A 500 Vulcan took me from Virginia to Maine and back, gear and all, with no problem - no need for a big bike - heck, 30 years ago people were touring all over on 250's.

My old Virago at 1100ccs had loads of power and near-supernatural acceleration, making passing the trucks and cruising the interstates at 75mph a piece of cake for hours on end. A great bike that could easliy carry two-up plus gear.

My new 800 is light, fast and nimble for year-round commuting in Washington D.C. traffic, and big enough for multistate riding in the summer. I would prefer the old 1100 for traveling interstate with a passenger and gear, but might eventually feel the same with the 800.

[womper]

need or no need, i really think jumping to a 90 or 109 is a huge jump...

here's a question... have you dropped your fitty yet? if not, you're sure to drop the 90 or 109

i haven't outgrown my fitty yet... it's my first bike and i only have 30,000km on it.
i've been on 1000km day trips and travelled 8000km in 17 days LOADED UP.

yes, it would have been nice to go on the trans-can highway and just cruise nicely, but i hate big highways...

loaded up, max speed was 163km/hr

i also like to throw around the fitty in the corners... it's a hoot...
hell... the s50 must be a real hoot, with 100lbs less

if the 90 or 109 call your name, then do it... just want to make sure you are completely ready and won't eat pavement the first little while you have the newer bike...

once you go through the 4 phases... you'll know when and why you want a bigger/different bike...

i went through the 4 phases... i crashed. i was overconfident
knowing the difference between skill and overconfidence is hard sometimes

also with the extra weight... i wouldn't be taking the 109 on the beach like i did to the fitty

[blackie1491]

Al, it looks like you did not have room for the kitchen sink!!!

[GeorgiaRoller]

Originally Posted by womper

need or no need, i really think jumping to a 90 or 109 is a huge jump...

here's a question... have you dropped your fitty yet? if not, you're sure to drop the 90 or 109

i haven't outgrown my fitty yet... it's my first bike and i only have 30,000km on it.
i've been on 1000km day trips and travelled 8000km in 17 days LOADED UP.

yes, it would have been nice to go on the trans-can highway and just cruise nicely, but i hate big highways...

loaded up, max speed was 163km/hr

i also like to throw around the fitty in the corners... it's a hoot...
hell... the s50 must be a real hoot, with 100lbs less

if the 90 or 109 call your name, then do it... just want to make sure you are completely ready and won't eat pavement the first little while you have the newer bike...

once you go through the 4 phases... you'll know when and why you want a bigger/different bike...

i went through the 4 phases... i crashed. i was overconfident
knowing the difference between skill and overconfidence is hard sometimes

also with the extra weight... i wouldn't be taking the 109 on the beach like i did to the fitty

So your the guy who stole bigfoot's body. He could easy fit in all that luggage. Holy saa-molie!

[hammersfan]

Originally Posted by blackie1491

Just how many Kms do you have on the bike.
One problem that pops up with new riders in the first year is overconfidence.
My C50 is my 4th bike and I downsized from a Wing.
At 20,000 miles, I do not feel any lack of power. The rev limit is a lot higher than most cruisers. I just read a write up on the C109, there was no road trip involved. They said the road trip would be next issue. The Mag. was Motorcycle Cruiser. The mileage was 34-37 MPG US.

I was at a dealer yesterday and he had a C109RT and a C109SE, the T was $2,602 off MSR for 11,999 and the SE was $2,102 off. The SE looked better colour wise.
VL1500T VL1500SE Corrected
What shocked me was the price for Freight $449, dealer prep $449.
There was a Nomad there with $4,100 off and Freight at $249 and Prep at $249.

There are a lot who tour 2up on the C50, so I don't think it lacks power.

2 cents

I read a comparison test (with the other mega V-twins in Rider and Motorcycle Cruiser, I beleive neither of them rate the C109 as that great. Too heavy, too long TOO BIG !!!

[hammersfan]

I miss the handling of my M50, or should that be fitty !

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by womper

..

Hey Al, now I know what you mean when you said you needed large and heavy duty saddle bags in the leatherlyke thread! I really think nothing but a trailer will cut it for you. BTW, is that a GPS unit? How does it do with vibration and do you use an audio cable for directions or just the screen? Thanks.

[Loki_ca]

Originally Posted by hammersfan

I read a comparison test (with the other mega V-twins in Rider and Motorcycle Cruiser, I beleive neither of them rate the C109 as that great. Too heavy, too long TOO BIG !!!

Only one of the rags gave it (109) a less than stellar rating and even in that mag it was rated as 2nd or 3rd (with the Victory) out of 5 tested. The Stratoliner got top marks in those tests.

The rest of the mags I've read (Canadian Biker, Mojo, and 1-2 others) called it "untouchable" and "redefining the future of touring cruisers".

Bike reviews are like movie reviews - they don't mean anything unless you have the same tastes and wants from it as the person reviewing it. You have to ride it, or any bike to truly decide whether it suits you or not.

I've put on 9500 km in 8 weeks and have truly never ridden anything like this.
It IS heavy and if you're used to how a more nimble bike like the C50 or C40 handle in turns, you WILL find the 109 very bulky in the turns, but on the straight roads there's no catching up to it.
I just ran the twisties in New Denver and Nakusp BC and had no issues with it's handling whatsoever.
I wasn't taking the 30 km turns at the speeds the crotch rockets were, but it didn't take me long to catch them once out of the turns.



A week from Calgary to Vancouver and back - bike, 2 riders and gear scaled at 1350 lbs.

Where the weight and size come in handy is in wind, rain and airflow from large vehicles passing.
I don't feel a thing.
In wind and rain, it handles with the security of a car.

JIMO

[womper]

Originally Posted by Elvis

Hey Al, now I know what you mean when you said you needed large and heavy duty saddle bags in the leatherlyke thread! I really think nothing but a trailer will cut it for you. BTW, is that a GPS unit? How does it do with vibration and do you use an audio cable for directions or just the screen? Thanks.

i wouldn't be loaded like that again, but since i put the bike anywhere i feel like going... it's gotta be tough
don't think the trailer would like the beach either!

yup.. it's a Garmin Zumo 550... vibrations are fine for the most part... i may have minor troubles with the mount.. i think water got in it... for the most part it's awesome..
i use the audio cable (i have an extension mounted on the bike) and listen to the mp3's and directions
don't really need to look down with it... i play with the buttons by feel...


sorry to hijack the thread..

at any rate... if you do get another bike, let us know!

[grandpatractor]

Originally Posted by Loki_ca

Only one of the rags gave it (109) a less than stellar rating and even in that mag it was rated as 2nd or 3rd (with the Victory) out of 5 tested. The Stratoliner got top marks in those tests.

The rest of the mags I've read (Canadian Biker, Mojo, and 1-2 others) called it "untouchable" and "redefining the future of touring cruisers".

Bike reviews are like movie reviews - they don't mean anything unless you have the same tastes and wants from it as the person reviewing it. You have to ride it, or any bike to truly decide whether it suits you or not.

I've put on 9500 km in 8 weeks and have truly never ridden anything like this.
It IS heavy and if you're used to how a more nimble bike like the C50 or C40 handle in turns, you WILL find the 109 very bulky in the turns, but on the straight roads there's no catching up to it.
I just ran the twisties in New Denver and Nakusp BC and had no issues with it's handling whatsoever.
I wasn't taking the 30 km turns at the speeds the crotch rockets were, but it didn't take me long to catch them once out of the turns.



A week from Calgary to Vancouver and back - bike, 2 riders and gear scaled at 1350 lbs.

Where the weight and size come in handy is in wind, rain and airflow from large vehicles passing.
I don't feel a thing.
In wind and rain, it handles with the security of a car.

JIMO

My son-in law took it for a spin and he said it was like a giant croch rocket.
It is a fun bike to drive. It does well in the twisties and is a blast to ride.
I've put 2600 miles on in the last month. Just me, the bike and my daily gear scaled at 1180 lbs.