2010 a done deal.

[05HDRAM]

Originally Posted by DrBob

According to Suzuki's sales data, the M109 outsells the M50 about 10 to 1. The C50 outsells the M50 almost 20 to one. I do not have official data on the new M90, but anecdotal accounts from friends still in the industry indicate it outsells the M50 by a considerable margin also. "Hot" is relative, as motorcycle sales across the board are down considerably due to the bad economy and tight credit...
.

You can dress up the M50 anyway you like, but sales are going to keep dropping due to the increasing price. The M50 sold reasonably well the first couple years because it was a decent looking bike for not a whole lotta cash. Why spend over $7K for an 800cc bike when you can take your pick of just about any used bike you want for less than $10K - Vrods, M109s, VTXs, heck spend a couple more bucks and just get a new M90 - they pretty much look the same now.

[Johnny M50]

OK, guess I now have a Classic ride?

[DrBob]

Originally Posted by cchriste

I take one please

There are plenty out there, despite production stopping over a year ago. Many dealers still have unsold 2007s in the crate, let alone 2008s. They seem to be going brand new for about $7800-8000 for the 2007s and $9000-9500 for the 2008s, a HUGE discount from the original $13,600. So if you want one, it is a good time to grab one.


The recent price increase was unavoidable, due to the weak dollar. The new M50 will be cheaper to produce, so the price should be the same as the current one. But you are correct that the segment is price sensitive. It is absolutely crutial that Suzuki keep the new M50 at $7,999 or below. At this price point they have the advantage over the 750 Shadows, but if they get above that then the Kawasaki 900 Custom is going to clean its clock. And you are correct that smart buyers can have a much bigger and better bike if they buy used. Metric cruisers depreciate very quickly, so if you buy a one or two year old used bike instead of a new one you can have a lot more bike for the money and let someone else take the beating. I have not bought a brand-new bike since 1996, prefering to find one year old ones at a huge savings. But manufacturers and dealers count on the "wow" factor of a brand new bike, plus it is so easy to get special financing and zero down on a new one compared to a used one.

[omegajim]

by the way, what is the big advantage of a 32 bit ecm over say a 16 bit ecm?

other than marketing?

[Thundurburd]

Suzuki took a chance with the original M50, creating a bike with styling you either love or hate.

I didn't hate the M50 I just didn't like it. Didn't like the C50 much either and thought a cross between the two would be better, which the new M50 seems to be. I took me awhile to come around to the newer styling of the two bikes and would be happy with either right now but in particular the new M.

I bought the S50 because I liked the looks, it goes back to an earlier era. Luckily for me the S50 is the perfect bike for me. I have no idea what I would get if I need another bike but the new M50 could be something I'd try.

[05HDRAM]

Originally Posted by omegajim

by the way, what is the big advantage of a 32 bit ecm over say a 16 bit ecm?

other than marketing?

Should equal faster & better processing. I have a plug in fueling module on my Diesel Truck. The first one I had was 16bit, then I upgraded to the new 32bit. The power comes on smoother and it seems to react better with the new 32. I could tell the difference.

[omegajim]

so, pretty soon the new bikes, cars and trucks will say "intel inside" on them?

surprised they stopped at 32 bit; imagine 64 bit will be around the corner, then 128, leading to 256, not to mention 512 and ultimately 1024.

although with 16 bit, you have 32,000 some individual settings/indicators/whatever.

[Burnt]

I am not a huge fan of the new design for the M50. Especially the rear seat. It interrupts any styling flow they are trying to do. I like some of the new components individually, but all together it does look like a parts bin put-together. Maybe I need more views to get a better feel for it. I would like to see what the rear looks like and the cover for the rear seat and the instrument cluster. Would have been nice if they could've worked the engine a bit for more top end. There is too much of a power gap from the M50 to the 90 or 109. But as someone already said, this is a price point bike, that is why I bought it. I like the features and style for the cost. And it goes good enough for me. I still love my bike.