Why buy a Suzuki C50?

[wildwolf]

Originally Posted by Scott58

Actually the 1/4 mile is more of a performance bench mark. Not just for racing. It will also give you a good idea of what to expect when passing and responsiveness in general.

I disagree on the passing part, as I'm entitled to do. I rarely pass (except maybe from a stop light) from a dead stop. It's usually a roll-on, when I'm already cruising at a good clip and just need a burst to get around somebody. The 1/4 mile time to me won't affect that much as it's a cruising speed, not overly high on RPMs, and can easily change from bike to bike depending on where each bike's particular dyno curve indicates is best for the gear/RPM range.

E.g. I may not get much passing "umph" out of my 800 if I'm already cruising at 75-80 mph (top end is somewhere ~105, likely). However, I get a lot of umph from 0 - 60 mph because my bike is geared to have low-end torque.

[Scott58]

Every bike i've ever owned that was slower then the next didn't pass as well either. One of my favorite things on my S50 is 55 to 100mph roll on's. i grab throttle and it goes pretty well. I only weigh 145lbs, but I have yet to find a 15 second motorcycle that passes better then a 13 second one.

[kstateskier]

When I'm rolling down the highway at 65 I rarely find the need to pass anyone! haha at least not yet!

[92Notch]

Originally Posted by Jackalope

In the never ending search for the right motorcycle, I've noticed something particularly disturbing....you can get a lot more motorcycle for close to same money as a C50.

So why is a C50 the best selling mid-size cruiser? Please tell me why it's worth it to spend $6799 for a C50 when I can get a Yamaha V Star Classic (1063 cc) for $8699, a Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic (1470 cc) for $9699 and a Honda Shadow Sabre (1099 cc) $8699.

Is it just the $2K price difference or is there something I don't know that would make you want an 800 cc bike instead of some with almost twice the displacement?

dude, don't buy the c50. trust me. I am so made right now at suzuki.... I think someting is really wrong with my bike .... don't get me wrong, the bike looks good, rides good, and has given me no trouble ... but it will not stand up on the rear wheel like you seee some of the stunta's doing .... i am totally dissapointed, don't buy the c50.

[blackie1491]

Now Dude, that is a picture I would like to see, you doing a wheelie on your C50LE!!!!

[POE-BOY SAMICH]

Originally Posted by 92Notch

dude, don't buy the c50. trust me. I am so made right now at suzuki.... I think someting is really wrong with my bike .... don't get me wrong, the bike looks good, rides good, and has given me no trouble ... but it will not stand up on the rear wheel like you seee some of the stunta's doing .... i am totally dissapointed, don't buy the c50.

Classic!
Best response yet.

[NorthernYankee]

Originally Posted by 92Notch

dude, don't buy the c50. trust me. I am so made right now at suzuki.... I think someting is really wrong with my bike .... don't get me wrong, the bike looks good, rides good, and has given me no trouble ... but it will not stand up on the rear wheel like you seee some of the stunta's doing .... i am totally dissapointed, don't buy the c50.

You can't be serious.

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by 92Notch

dude, don't buy the c50. trust me. I am so made right now at suzuki.... I think someting is really wrong with my bike .... don't get me wrong, the bike looks good, rides good, and has given me no trouble ... but it will not stand up on the rear wheel like you seee some of the stunta's doing .... i am totally dissapointed, don't buy the c50.

Your just not doing it right.

I'm not going to have to come out there and give you riding lessons am I???

[HellBent]

Of course the C50 will wheelie. Get yourself some 6inch pullback risers, a set of 18 inch apehangers and lay them puppies back , wayyyyyyy back, slide your butt back to the pillion seat, stretch your legs forward to the floorboards, your heels will just catch if you have a 34 inch inseam. Oh yeah, you need to wear a spur on your left boot so you can hook it beneath the heel shifter for downshifts. The asphalt will wear down the duckbill on the fender so don't worry about cutting it off, it is plastic anyway.

Curt

[blackie1491]

So that was why I was having trouble, no spur!!!!!!

[scout1]

Originally Posted by Jackalope

In the never ending search for the right motorcycle, I've noticed something particularly disturbing....you can get a lot more motorcycle for close to same money as a C50.

So why is a C50 the best selling mid-size cruiser? Please tell me why it's worth it to spend $6799 for a C50 when I can get a Yamaha V Star Classic (1063 cc) for $8699, a Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic (1470 cc) for $9699 and a Honda Shadow Sabre (1099 cc) $8699.

Is it just the $2K price difference or is there something I don't know that would make you want an 800 cc bike instead of some with almost twice the displacement?

Get vwhat you want-Volusia riders go with the ease of maint/alongside the easy mods which are many and are simply into the spirit of cruisin' alongside a fraternal link to a resource-volusiariders.com/ride on!

[Philly Rider]

Originally Posted by GregR1
1/4-mile funnies:

Suzuki M50 = 15.49 sec.; 83.2 mph
Suzuki Marauder 1600 = 13.60 sec. @ 98.21 mph
Victory Hammer = 12.98 second @ 99.7 mph
Harley Fat Boy = 13.51 sec. @ 97.91 mph
Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 = 14.21 sec. @ 90.24 mph


courtesy of Motorcycle Road Test Finder - Index - Motorcycle Cruiser

Not so funny. That 15.49 time is what I'm afraid of. My Miata does that. You mean to tell me a bike that gets smoked by two seconds by a Harley Fat Boy has good acceleration????

I find this speed/acceleration discussion disingenuous . If you are regulary riding in a situtation where you get up to 80+/90+ mph in 15 seconds or under then you should be on a track and talking about a sport bike/racer not a street bike.

[GregR1]

Originally Posted by Philly Rider

I find this speed/acceleration discussion disingenuous . If you are regulary riding in a situtation where you get up to 80+/90+ mph in 15 seconds or under then you should be on a track and talking about a sport bike/racer not a street bike.

bikes goes on highways and need to pass other cars / trucks, so just because a bike is a cruiser doesn't mean it should be incapable of getting you past a slow or dangerously moving car, or a truck with poorly secured cargo in the back.

from what i've been able to learn, the 1/4-mile stuff is useful for more than just getting 1320 feet down the road from a standstill

[omegajim]

from what i've been able to learn, the 1/4-mile stuff is useful for more than just getting 1320 feet down the road from a standstill

More and more, 40 - 60 times are being recorded, and in all reality 50 - 75 times would most reflect regular driving when you pass people.

The 1/4 times only prove that all these bikes are close. If 1/4 mile times are that crucial to you, these bikes are not for you.

Although it is interesting the Hammer lives up to it's name.

[GregR1]

they should be relevant (maybe not crucial, though), as i surely wouldn't want a motorbike that does the 1/4 in 45sec with a trap speed of 33mph cuz that would just be a pitiful piece of machinery with a weed-wacker of an engine (heck, i could prolly do that on a bicycle)

it's valid to evaluate or compare two bikes of the same type using the 1/4-mile numbers, and perhpas toss in a sportbike as a benchmark. i wouldn't lose sleep over the fact that the M50 can't keep up with a Hayabusa, but i'd be worried if the M50 can't do it faster than a scooter.

[GregR1]

since we're talking about the suzuki c-series.... i am SO tempted to buy that suzuki c90 that it's not even funny. it's an '05 with around 2100 miles on it for around $7300 US. the one and only thing keeping me is shaft drive. i really should get over that and just buy it.

[omegajim]

shaft drive isn't bad. You'll get used to it. Not having to futz with a chain, yeah you'll get used to it.

[GregR1]

you think that's a fair asking price for the age / mileage?

[omegajim]

kelley blue book seems to think so. kbb.com

However, with that kind of mileage, I'd say it's worth it. I would reckon a bike that's 2 years old of this size, 4 - 5 k per year would be common. So with 2100 miles, yes.

Carfax should also get you info. I think they do bikes now, and for the $30 it runs you could find out any potentially bad things about it. Not that it's likely, but it's like insurance.

Shaft drive rarely requires maintenance, and the maintenance is like changing the oil in a differential. Haven't done that? Well, they have drain and fill plugs, so that isn't too hard either.

Plus, shaft drive is impervious to schmutz. Like the schmutz that always gets on a chain. Had one too many bad experiences with chain drive that I just won't go back.

[Rangerdave]

Little late to chime in on this note, but what the heck
I'm 6'3" with a 36" inseam (and only 160lbs to boot) So I know a little somthing about the long and lanky aspects.

The C50 fit me exceptionally well for a middleweight (anyweight for that matter)
I was a step away from buying one for myself when a loaner plopped in my lap.

(Good buddy of mine has gone and enlisted in the USMC, and las left me his 2006 Triumph Bonneville t100 to scoot around on)

The point is, tall does not preclude middleweight bikes, and fast really isn't the point of a cruiser.
Want to put around and only occasionlly break the law, then a C50 will do you just fine.
Want to chase helecopters, then get a Squidder. Or even a bonnie.

D,