honda VS suzuki weight "?"

[Whiskey_williams]

I'm getting an M50 in a couple of weeks now but after sitting on a couple of Honda bikes in the "sale lot" on base and sitting on an M50 at the dealership, i have been wondring if it's just me or do the Hondas feel, I dunno how to say it, I guess clumsier. I sat on 2 Honda shadows, one 2005, one 2002, both a couple hundred smaller in CCs than the M50, and when I stood them up they felt like I had to lug it around more than the M50. Of course the M50 didnt have any gas or anything in it, but when I stood it up it just felt more smooth, easy, and comfortable. It might be just me liking the M50's better, or maybe it has a lower center of gravity or something, I dunno, just thought I'd ask since I'm a small guy and one of my main concerns is buying a bike that is too difficult to move around. I don't have a problem moving the Hondas around, they just seem more clumsy than I expected.

**I guess a better way to put it would be; do the Honda Shadows "feel" heavier than the M50s?**

[raycogxxx]

M50 seems to have a lower center of gravity-same reson I don't like Kaws, they seem very top heavy.

[Oldgoat]

When I bought my M50 last Sept it was next to a C50 & a C50T.
It "felt" much easier to get it vertical off the side stand than either of the C ones. None had any gas in their tanks. As I'm old & feeble I bought the M50.

[peteypete]

I'm on the smaller side as well (5'8", 145lbs) and I have no problems moving my M50 around. You may want to brush up on your slow speed couterbalancing moves (after all it is 500+ lbs), but backing out of parking spaces or pushing up slight inclines is no problem for me.

[subkiller2137]

Go with the C50. I have had experience on both the Honda and Suzuki cruisers. Different wheelbase dimensions, center of gravity, and rake/trail geometry make the difference, among other things. The Suzukis handle quicker and more precisely. Sorry Honda fans.

Subkiller2137

[rscwboy]

we spent a few days(read hours) looking at different bikes. we started with the hondas and i liked them but the wife had problems standing it up and i told her that i wouldnt be around when she layed it over so if she cant stand it up now she wont get it then. we left and stopped by the yamaha place and bought the vstar 650 because it stood straight up and she had no problems. it was too small for me i guess, so we went to the other dealership and got the bigger fastest m50 they had, just so happened to be custom painted from the factory in this grey color and nothing stays with it. the hondas are top heavy and not balanced fore and aft so its way different, keep sitting on them while its free before you buy the wrong one.

[JmalB]

I can attest to the ease of picking up the M50 off of its side.

Of course my dad can attest to the ease of the same manuver on his Goldwing.

[rscwboy]

im not sure bought your situation but i found out the the M does out-weigh the wifes vstar. course we had the M in the truck a couple days ago and she found out that it can bruise the bone if laid into the fender thru her leg

[Whiskey_williams]

Thanx for the help guys, i'll be sticking with the m50 for sure, just one more reason to not go with the Honda that I originally was going to go with a couple months ago.

[JustinOhio]

Yeah the M just feels light, plain and simple.. And when you're moving if feels even lighter.

[wildwolf]

The M109 is the same way....my wife has issues with picking my bike up off the stand and walking it around. She can move the M109 as if it's her 250....very light-weight feel and easy to move around if necessary.

[digitalbroccoli]

wildwolf beat me too it, I was going to mention that the 109 feels the same way.

I looked at shadow 750's when I was looking at the M, and there was definately a difference in the ease of moving them around the garage/showroom. I couldn't put my finger on it, but it was definately there.

The shadow does come in some great retro color schemes though.

[gar4mayor]

before my M, i had a shadow vlx 600. to me, it felt a lot lighter and easier to throw around. i've had to pick up both bikes off the ground a couple of times, and with gas, the shadow wasn't as hard on my back. of course it had a smaller engine, thin front tire, chain drive, and smaller gas tank so it should feel lighter. but at anything faster than parking lot speed, it didn't maneuver near as well as the M. and the shadow was much slower.