I'm 140 lbs and tipped my 2006 suzuki boulevard twice. I was able to pick it right back up twice no troubles. It's a good lighter bike that still has great stabilization
Just bought my first bike. It's a 2011 Suzuki Boulevard C50. I got my beginner's permit, so I'm practicing on it right now, just in the parking lot. I take my course August 10th weekend.
Best best best bike I have 2007 with 23;000 miles. Just using full synthetic oil changing oil just after 2;500 miles. That's it nothing more and it looks far bigger than it's original cc. Best acceleration best fuel consumption
He rides a dirt bike but complains of the C50t seat. does not make any sense. i have never been uncomfortable on any motorcycle seat. i hvae never upgraded a seat.
I've never ridden a Suzuki C50 before, but I have had a lot of cruisers over the past several decades, small ones, midsized ones, and large ones, and found them all to be very comfortable. I'm 65, and started riding on the street at 16. I've had over 40 bikes, over 2/3 of them have been cruisers. I like cruisers because they are by far the most comfortable bikes out there. I have ridden about a million miles, including several Iron Butt rides. All of my long distance rides were done on cruisers. I have owned a couple of Goldwings, but they were too much like driving a car to me. I want to be out in the wind. I don't use windshields and didn't like the huge fairings on the Goldwings. I like to sit completely upright, with most of my weight supported by the seat, my knees at close to a 90 degree angle, and a good bend in my elbows. The one thing I absolutely don't want is any of my weight supported by my arms and shoulders, and my neck bent way back to see where I'm going. My favorite midsize cruiser is the Kawasaki Vulcan 750. I have well over 200,000 miles on them. I've had 2 new ones and one used one. They are super comfortable, and, with 66hp, much of it at higher rpms, they do great on the highway. If you are cruising at 70-80 mph on the highway (which is only about halfway to redline) all you have to do is whack the throttle open. They have a great top end rush.
There is quite a bit of wrong info in this video, not sure if things have changed in 4 years. You must hold the M1 license for 60 days and no longer than 90 days before upgrading to the M2 license
Given this particular topic, this being an old thread really doesn't matter, so I think there is a difference between learning on a 250-300cc and a 500-550cc and it's a major difference. Caveat before we get started, don't buy bikes based on CC, it means nothing at all to the rider and it is no way differentiates one bike from another in an apples to apples way. You want to buy bikes based on Horsepower(top speed you need to run), Torque (how much of the horsepower can be planted into the road right now to make me launch this bike), Weight (do you want to deal with 200 pounds falling on you while your are learning or 1200 pounds), and finally stopping power. This last one doesn't really have a nice neat metric attached to it, so you need to learn about braking system and its associated features like ABS. In 2024 do not buy a new bike what doesn't have ABS if you are a brand new rider. That out of the way, the biggest difference for a brand new rider between a 250cc and a 500cc (ignoring torque) is going to be that the weight of the bike is generally going to double and that will radically affect how well you learn how to ride the bike. Its not even about having to pick it up when it falls over, it is that every single thing about learning how to ride will be orders of magnitude more difficult by starting with a bike that is twice the weight and what happens to many people is they never learn to ride the bike effectively at slow speed, then they end up dropping it, then they put it in the garage and will it to the grand kids. Start with no more than 25 hp/25 nm of torque and less than 450 pounds...preferably with the weight evenly distributed and down low.
Though this video was about the Boulevard C50 but 3/4 way through and not much about it. I will be picking up my third one, hope in a week or so. Had a couple and loved them but just like to try different bikes. about one a year lately. Versy 300 rev way to high on the highway. KTM 390 great bike but to many visits to the shop, very seldom fixed the problem with out going back two or more times, up to four times for the same problem, Suzuki DR 650 had to put a 20 liter tank on it to get some range with out having to start looking for gas, Honda 300 L just to tall fore these old bones, Now a Honda CB500X adventure, great bike but after the KTK 390 a bit of a disappointment, and off road forget it. Now at 75 finding the Honda CB500X a bit top heavy, with all the bags on it. For a fun ride have the Honda trail 125, great run about bike, put a 46 liter trunk on it, and a small tool box in front of it, but of course not good on the highways, good for 80 Km as long as not heading into a strong wind, or long up hill. Keeping the Trail125 , but trading in the CB500X Hopping to get a lot of highway miles on in the next couple of years, at 75 and health failing not sure how much more I will be riding. If they sold the Urals 2 wheel drive here on the island think that would be my pick, had two and loved them but need to be near a dealer. Driven bikes form 50 cc to over 1000 cc and love them all, but never found a do it all, closest one not sure but may be the KTM if not for all the problems, and one grate won was the Royal Enfield 500 with the army side bags on it, the Honda Varadero another great ride. Lots of bikes to remember lots of great rides and stories. Must of been over 30 altogether. Well back to the video and may be he will talk about the subject the Boulevard C50.
Really helpful and honest review! Thank you. I have been looking at this bike as well as the Transalp 750. The price difference is $3500 more. Seems like the 500x will work for what I need.
This isn’t a C50 problem, this is a guy who clearly isn’t a cruiser person problem. Just wish I didn’t have to wait 5 minutes into the video to find that out.
YES! I had same bike and SAME back problem. NOTHING in the world hit my tailbone like the C50 did. Literally as if I broke my coccyx. Just from riding. Weeks of pain. Crazy. Had to get rid of it.
I have an S40 big single and this is a logical next step for me. Only I want to keep weight in check as I am partially disabled. How heavy does the bike feel to move around the garage? thanks
Had mine on interstate, highway, state roads, county roads, township roads even gravel wash board roads. Even had it on a dirt trail for a short time. No issues😊
Be nice, folks. He's just making a video and sharing his thoughts. I think cruisers can cause some backache after long rides, depending on the rider's height, although it's not that big a deal. For its price the C50 is fantastic, and looks like a far more expensive bike. I've had three C50s and one M50 over the years. Currently own a 2010 with only 23000 KM on it, that I bought late last year. Looking forward to getting to know it this season. Ride safely all...
Ffs, it's not a new bike, seats lose their comfort with use. You bought it for peanuts, could you really not stretch to a nice, comfy after market seat? There's even one with a back rest.
It’s definitely a bike the grows on you. Mine just seems to get better the more I ride it. Mustang seat, hyper charger air intake and free flowing pipes. It rips.
Any piece of equipment, cars and motorcycles, it takes several weeks for your body to adapt to the seating style of the vehicle. Everything from shifting levers, clutch handle, back position and etc. Your body adapts to the position.
I had two C90T Suzuki Boulevards over a 20 year span. Best motorcycle out of 8 others I have owned, including 1982 Goldwing. My wife and I went coast to coast on long trips on these motorcycles . Low maintenance with oil cooling. Just put it away in the winter and start up in the spring. Of course change oil as needed. The long wheel base made for a comfortable highway ride.
I totally understand what you mean. I had always rode Hondas, cb's, shadows, etc. I wanted a big cruiser, so I sold the other bikes and bought a harley road king. It was an amazing highway cruiser, comfort, power, handling was all amazing...but...in the city, it was like riding a Cadillac on a go-kart track, it and I hated stop and go, inclined parking lot entrances/exits and long lights. Sure I could have gotten used to it and perfected my style, but thats not what I paid for. When you pay thousands for a bike, or anything for that matter...it should be exactly what you want it to be.
I have the 2015 M50 and I don't vibrate until 70+mph. Is the issue ALL cruisers or you? Hmmm? Modded bikes do change the ride so maybe your bike has a unique ride. I also questioned the rear drum but without ABS it works fine. Cruisers don't instantly go and stop and often times that is what the young want.
