Suzuki VL800 opinions?

[zx10ruser]

hey guys iam looking at a 2007 thats at turners auctions this week and was wondering what the people thought of them that owned them? comfortable for a long ride? they seem like a good bit of bike for the money and ive seen some stuff go really cheap at turners so hoping to get a deal there!

[98tls]

All i can say is ride the thing for a lengthy period before going ahead,rode the Honda offering and could think of nothing worse on a long trip,no doubt not a problem comfort wise but incredibly gutless and the constant gear changing to simply maintain forward movement is annoying,the next one up would be a better bet methinks.

[Edbear]

hey guys iam looking at a 2007 thats at turners auctions this week and was wondering what the people thought of them that owned them? comfortable for a long ride? they seem like a good bit of bike for the money and ive seen some stuff go really cheap at turners so hoping to get a deal there!


All i can say is ride the thing for a lengthy period before going ahead,rode the Honda offering and could think of nothing worse on a long trip,no doubt not a problem comfort wise but incredibly gutless and the constant gear changing to simply maintain forward movement is annoying,the next one up would be a better bet methinks.

My C50T is plenty grunty enough. The Honda 750 is pretty tame, power-wise. I rarely need to change down and with everyone two-up on our last 5-day trip with a GSX1400 and a 1200S Bandit, we were far from disgraced with the 1400 rider asking if my bike was in fact a thou.

If you do use the gears it is rather lively and a top speed, (also 2-up and at the pillion's urging on a "closed private road", you understand..), of just nudging 170km/h, I doubt you would be disappointed. The only times I've wanted more power was up steep hills, again two-up, in company with a C90, a 1600 Softail and a 1450 Dyna when I needed to change down to 4th to keep up with them in their top gears.

Handles about the best of the cruisers and even with a single disc up front and a drum rear brake, I've never wanted for stopping power. I find it roomy and comfy although my wife would prefer a better pillion seat for the longer trips.

A 2007 model should be the Boulevard in C50 guise. Mine was the last of the '06 builds and the last in gunmetal grey. I bought it Feb. 07. Fuel injection = 60mpg average and liquid cooling means peace of mind in traffic. 26,000km and still on the original tyres, only requires regular services.

[9rider]

I had one for 14 months the S50.800cc. It is a small bike but I had a lot of fun on it, with no complaints.

[Top Cat]

My son has a M50 800cc. Bike handles real well, is comfortable and has heaps of what you want...when you want it.:scooter:

[duckonin]

Hi zx10ruser..Have had our C50T which has now done 105,000 in the last three and a half years never had a problem good on the gas and has had enough power to carry the both of us around we also tow a trailer behind the bike to diff rallys in my view a very good motorbike..had to change the pillion compartment from pegs to plates, then the wife was a happy camper..

[Smifffy]

When I bought mine it had an after-market pillion seat, and rear boards instead of pegs. Very happy with it so far.

[duckonin]

When I bought mine it had an after-market pillion seat, and rear boards instead of pegs. Very happy with it so far.

Plates set me back $600 Smiffy but they make my pillion real happy, never have I had a bad day riding on this bike, and we have ridin to Welly and back in two days to Hokitika for the Woodstock rally two days, Invercargill to Picton in one day, then on to Waihi the next day and never had a prob with being sore after the K's...Good bikes for the big hikes and not too heavy..

[Smifffy]

Plates set me back $600 Smiffy but they make my pillion real happy, never have I had a bad day riding on this bike, and we have ridin to Welly and back in two days to Hokitika for the Woodstock rally two days, Invercargill to Picton in one day, then on to Waihi the next day and never had a prob with being sore after the K's...Good bikes for the big hikes and not too heavy..

We're over in the BOP quite regularly be good to catch up some time!

[retro asian]

I love my VL800

[Jerry74]

I had the M50 for a couple of years nice bike, only draw back is a bit underpowered with 2 up as mentioned above.

Pillion seat was a bit on the hard side for the missus

Depends on what you like I guess, mine was just a fill in until I got my Harley.

[AllanC]

I've had an S50 since Feb. It's quite a small bike but that can be a bonus in that, for an 800, they are pretty quick. Seems to have plenty of torque, carries my wife and I without any noticeable difficulty anyway. Gotta say I'm quickly becoming a big fan of it, handles really well (another benefit of being a bit smaller / thinner I guess) and only weighs 216kg so pretty easy to manouvre around. And, of all the 800 Boulevards, they sound the best:)

[Festo]

Yeah I recently traded the M50 for a new C50 as I wanted this for the warbirds over wanaka trip at Easter. Very happy with this bike and with the larger more sumptuous seat than the M50 it proved its worth on the long hauls. The power is ample as I only ride 1 up. What a magic ride. the longest haul was Auck to Welly in one day and was following my mates Harley Dyna and had no probs keeping up with him. No sore arse and cant wait for the next S.I. ride. The roads down there are bloody unbelievable especially the Crown Range road. Just had to stop at the Cardrona for a couple. But overall the C50 is brilliant for the job as I use it around town a lot and it aint too heavy for an old fart. Cheers Paul

[bluebird]

I've had an S50 since Feb. It's quite a small bike but that can be a bonus in that, for an 800, they are pretty quick. Seems to have plenty of torque, carries my wife and I without any noticeable difficulty anyway. Gotta say I'm quickly becoming a big fan of it, handles really well (another benefit of being a bit smaller / thinner I guess) and only weighs 216kg so pretty easy to manouvre around. And, of all the 800 Boulevards, they sound the best:)

It's not a light blue metalic one from colmans is it? If it is I owned it last, a great bike and I really looked after it.

[Festo]

Hi Bluebird. I did buy this one from Colemans as I did the 06 M50 but i traded it on their demo C50 which is ruby red in colour. Beautiful looking bike but a hard colour to keep clean. Comfy bike for distance though.

[AllanC]

I was about to buy the light blue one from Colemans but they sold it the day before I was going in to buy it! You did look after it well, it was a beautiful bike. I ended up buying another light blue one from MotosportGP in Mt Maunganui (which had a few less k's but no sissy bar) and luckily it's also been well loved and was very tidy. i've since put a sissy bar on (pleased my wife greatly:)). Love the bike.

[outlawtorn]

hey guys iam looking at a 2007 thats at turners auctions this week and was wondering what the people thought of them that owned them? comfortable for a long ride? they seem like a good bit of bike for the money and ive seen some stuff go really cheap at turners so hoping to get a deal there!

Love the VL800, lovely bike to ride, however if you can get the latest Boulevard version then you get some better power, but it is a wonderful bike, checkout my gallery of my Volusia and you'll see what I lovely bike it is! Wish I still had it!

[Winston001]

Oops my bad looks like a Honda/Suzuki love-in here didn't mean to intrude you're all consenting adults I'm sure go ahead just one word to leave you with......



DUCATI

[iYRe]

I've got a 2001 Volusia (VL 800). Has a few foibles, but then, I guess I shouldnt try and ride it like a sports bike :D Tank slappers are a bit like getting a truck and trailer rig outta control :P

but, comfortable as.. quite a big community and information about them at http://www.volusiariders.com.

The Volusia is quite a big bike really - 237KG dry, and no smaller than a harley sportster or something.. I have standard pipes with the baffles cut out... sounds awesome.. might go to custom chambers for some new pipes one day when I am rich and famous.