written by newcomer21 on 11/07/2009
Good Points
Packaging, handling, efficiency, fuel injection, easy starting, comfortable riding, long range cruiser. After 28,000 kms my C50 causes me no issues and I suspect 100,000 kms is within easy reach. The admission fee into cruiserdom can't be lower than with the C50. Fully dressed and out the door for less than $8,000 CAD. Wind screen, saddle bags, floor boards, heel and toe shifter, back rest. What more does a man require??
Bad Points
A bit weak in the braking department. Double discs up front instead of the single 300mm unit or a single disc instead of the drum at the rear would be appreciated to scrub speed more effortlessly. Chromed plastic bits look fine but are not as classy or as durable as a chrome metal finish. The tank seam along the lower perimeter betrays the stamping press assembly process and this could have been trimmed or concealed in some other way ala Yamaha 950 or Kawasaki 900 at a similar price point. Some drive shaft whine at lower speeds or off throttle but such is the nature of this maintenance free automotive approach to propulsion in most shaft driven cruisers.
General Comments
I ride a 2005 Suzuki C50 with the SE package, essentially the touring package, sans decorative studs on the ample saddle bags and seat. As a first time rider, I wanted a comfortable easy to ride cruiser that I could take for a 3000 km road trip, if so desired. After four riding seasons, shortened by our famous Canadian frigid weather, what I didn't expect was an agile and tossable "big" bike that passes for a cruiser with twice the displacement. The C50 has a longer wheel base at 65.2 inches than most Harleys, also bigger tires, lighter weight, and better fuel economy. This is wrapped in a chassis that is tuned for handling, comfort, and ease of maintenance considering the shaft drive, fuel injection, and liquid cooling. Suzuki has figured that the essense of the cruiser is the feel on the open road and here the C50 combines all the mechanical bits into a tossable comfortable long range cruiser that sells for half the price of much bigger and supposedly much better cruisers. Well done Suzuki!
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Lovit's Response to newcomer21's Review
Written on: 03/05/2012
Took the words out of my mouth