BuckBuckNo1 thinking - Suzuki Boulevard S50 - Feedback please

[terbang]

BB#1

Here's some advice, for what it's worth: Don't buy a cruiser of 750cc or less. They're gutless. You may as well stick with the GN! Smaller cruisers may be OK if you never plan to ride outside of a 50kmh area, but I get the impression you want to go touring, so I would recommend something that would eat kilometres without suffering emphysema. I reckon the best of the current "mid-size" cruisers is the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 (although it does have spokes), followed by the Suzuki M90.

But if you're worried about your back, then cruisers can be a bit jarring. There is a range of bikes with what I would describe as a "natural" riding position. The BMW F650 range is possibly the best of these, as well as the Honda Transalp. But any of the bigger nakeds would probably do the job for you as well. Use a Honda Hornet as your benchmark for comparisons, remembering that there is a good selection of aftermarket bars, pegs and seats available to help customise your riding position.

You're always welcome to take the FJR for a strop!

What he said plus, though I don't know a lot about spine injuries, I do find cruisers a bit harder on my back than perhaps a big naked. A lot are a bit short on rear suspension travel and the upright sitting position gets me as well.

[Terminated]

Yep, had it 3 weeks from new. Done 1300ks. No problems yet, apart from the infamous squeaky front brake.
Traded up from the S40 (old Savage - single 650) because I wanted something with a bit more grunt on the motorway, bit more weight for the high winds (and V Twins are cooler than singles...)

I am so short that I can only flat foot a very few bikes which is why I went for the Boulevard line, and I think the price is good and Suzukis are pretty reliable in my experience.

I find it comfy and easy to ride but hasn't got the clearance the S40 or a sports bike would have, definately a "cruiser". So you will be limited to just how fast you can whip over the Takas.
And being a shaft drive not the smoothness of a belt drive.
I haven't had enough experience with any other bikes to compare it with.

Pete at Wgtn motorcycles let me test ride the one I bought cos he knew I was very serious, but if you have problems getting a ride PM me, if you wanted to try it out and we could work something out.
But you are right about the seating position, if GN is OK for you then I am guessing S50 will be to.
Apparently the new colours will be white and black, but I got this years "silver" which is actually more blue than silver.

Also this site full of useful info http://boulevardowners.com/

Good luck

Thanks very much magicfairy for this feedback, I have sat on the S50, and it does feel very comfortable, being near 6ft I was wondering whether I could be too tall but a case of waiting and seeing. The GN though small, has been quite comfortable for me and so the S50 I would hope will be just as comfortable too. The colour you chose is quite extraordinary and I was somewhat thinking that colour too. Thanks again for the feedback.

[Terminated]

BB#1

Here's some advice, for what it's worth: Don't buy a cruiser of 750cc or less. They're gutless. You may as well stick with the GN! Smaller cruisers may be OK if you never plan to ride outside of a 50kmh area, but I get the impression you want to go touring, so I would recommend something that would eat kilometres without suffering emphysema. I reckon the best of the current "mid-size" cruisers is the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 (although it does have spokes), followed by the Suzuki M90.

But if you're worried about your back, then cruisers can be a bit jarring. There is a range of bikes with what I would describe as a "natural" riding position. The BMW F650 range is possibly the best of these, as well as the Honda Transalp. But any of the bigger nakeds would probably do the job for you as well. Use a Honda Hornet as your benchmark for comparisons, remembering that there is a good selection of aftermarket bars, pegs and seats available to help customise your riding position.

You're always welcome to take the FJR for a strop!

Thanks Hitcher, good feedback and will take all that onboard. 'M90' you mean M50 or C90? How are these larger heavier bikes on tyres?

Appreciate the offer of the strop, around autumn perhaps. Thanks again.
Thanks again.

[Terminated]

What he said plus, though I don't know a lot about spine injuries, I do find cruisers a bit harder on my back than perhaps a big naked. A lot are a bit short on rear suspension travel and the upright sitting position gets me as well.

Thanks terbang, that has definitely been a major consideration, visualising a 90 degree spine / thigh ergonomic has not escaped the longer term implication factor. Though GN is pretty much 90 s/thigh I have not been out there longer than 5 hrs, and that has only been once. I do get neurological spasms/numbness that requires stopping and stretching [throwing the head in a vice so to speak and twisting - ouch].If there was a major concern about the cruiser you have brought it to the fore.

Appreciate you thoughtfulness in the feedback.

[Terminated]

Oh - one thing I forgot to mention. Fuel tank on S50 is the size of a thimble. approx 140k and your'e on reserve around town. 170ish if open road. Probably go around 200k with reserve but haven't had to find out yet.
And yes, cruisers can be quite jarring, suspension not great. I find it fine but I don't have a bad back.

Thanks magicfairy, two good points you have raised for me. Appreciate it.

[Terminated]

You need to take my Z for a ride mate.

Give me a yell.

'Yell!!' in autumn though J2. Appreciate the offer.

[SwanTiger]

Gidday boomer, really haven't considered the Buel, but will bring it into the loop in autumn. Appreciate the feedback

Hi BuckBuck,

Definitely give the Buell XB12X some consideration. Thanks to a few wheelies gone wrong (compliments of youthfull stupidness and a lack of protective gear) I have problems with my back too. The XB12X keeps popping up as the best choice based on ergonomics.

Big Dave, you are invited to preach

[James Deuce]

'Yell!!' in autumn though J2. Appreciate the offer.

Done.

This 10 character thing really is getting tedious. People use all sorts of marvelously descriptive terms in their normal posts, and I hardly think that the average 12 year old spends a great deal of time on KB, so being able to respond in monosyllabic fashion is probably quite appropriate for the average adult, though that rather brings up the question of how one defines and identifies an adult within the realms of a virtual community which is often disparaged for being little more than the playing field upon which one can live out the demands of the childish alter ego that still haunts one's lizard brain, but then that would make Time Magazine look a bit silly in voting their Man of 2006 "You" for grasping cyberspace by its virtual gonads and making it our own.

10fc.

[Terminated]

Hi BuckBuck,

Definitely give the Buell XB12X some consideration. Thanks to a few wheelies gone wrong (compliments of youthfull stupidness and a lack of protective gear) I have problems with my back too. The XB12X keeps popping up as the best choice based on ergonomics.

Big Dave, you are invited to preach

Just googled some 'images' and read a few links, very impressive must say. I am going to have a lot to think about I see next autumn.

[BuckBuck#1]

Somethings take time, but got the S50 today - six autumns later.

Blog Link: Somethings Take Time

Feedback appreciated:
The S50 is one of the bikes I am considering when I get my Full licence.

I've had spinal surgery, bone removed from several vertabra in cervical spine to decompress main root nerves. So the seat and foot ergonomics are a key consideration: a sports bike is definitely out of the equation [as I will not want to have my head tilted up as this puts pressure on back of neck]and a cruiser with the pegs way out in front too would be out [as this sends vibration straight up spine.]

The S50 has a pretty good setup as the pegs are not too far forward and the bars leave me with a slight bend at the elbow, while the head position is upright. Generally not too dissimilar to the GN actually but on a larger scale and with a greater rake and trail than the GN of course. I am able to get my weight on the GN pegs and stretch and flex quite easily, and expect/want to be able to achieve this with the S50.

I am 183cm and 95kg. All my riding is purely recreational and I intend doing some longer rides overnight stay weekends with the next bike after the current GN.

Longer term will be some Nth and Sth Island extended touring and I am initially thinking V-Strom. This bike is very good ergonomically too for me, and possibly will be the third bike to enable me to do these bigger Nth and Sth touring rides.

Much appreciate feedback on the S50.

Heads Up and Enjoy

[Old Steve]

Somethings take time, but got the S50 today - six autumns later.

Congrats Buckbuck, nice bike - same mechanicals os the C50 and M50. All good things are worth waiting for.

[merv]

Good on ya Buckbuck

[GrayWolf]

Somethings take time, but got the S50 today - six autumns later.
[INDENT][URL="http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/entry.php/2488-UncleB-and-Somethings-Take-Time-From-2006-to-2012"]Blog Link: [U]Somethings Take Time

Nice one, enjoy

[BuckBuck#1]

Thanks for your recent comments.

The S50 is a very good ride for me, and makes me appreciate the recent years and bikes I have owned. I must say that there may be some irony but at the end of the day coming back to a preferred bike of choice, albeit six years later, well it feels really good.

I remarked today to my brother-in-law, who actually got me into riding, that this Boulevard is in its own way 'non-threatening' - I shift up around, 40-50kph, then 60-70, then 80-90, and around 100kph. With the rumble of the pipes it is a constant smile, and blipping the throttle down-shifting occurs at a very good sedate speed. Finally the actual riding ergonomic is perfect for me, particularly the pegs that are positioned at a reasonable mid point, and not your typically outstretching forward peg reach, and although the seat is low the cross steering bar however is at a good height and reach. These ergonomic elements were all important to me back in 2006 and with the amount of riding I have done on the various bikes the switch now to this rare S50 model Boulevard is timely. I actually wonder whether Suzuki may bring the S50 back to New Zealand, this bike is very much in between the naked road bike and the cruiser.

I have ridden 550km in the past week and I find that the overall setup is very good. With up to two hours non-stop riding I am not encountering any pain. The highlight of my riding in the Wellington region this week was riding from the Pauatahanui Inlet up to Paekakariki Hill particulary the stretch to Battle Hill then on to the summit, and down to SH1 with an immediate turning around and riding back again. The gearing on the bike and the ability to shift weight on the mid-point pegs when setting up for bends, made for a very enjoyable ride.

Coming back down from the summit to Pauatahanui I was reminded of my second Advanced Rider course in 2009 with Andrew Templeton and descending (not using the brakes) setting/positioning the bike up, safety margins, selecting the right gear, entry/apex/exit, and a steady slightly increasing throttle. I reflected on the more recent bikes, the Honda 900cc Hornet, the Kawasaki 250R, and the last bike the Suzuki GSR600 and the characteristics of each of these bikes on that particular descending ride. Each were very enjoyable in their own way, but the striking thing I find now with the Boulevard S50 is that I can reflect and mentally compare. I can be confident in saying that the Boulevard is a better ride/better fit for me now as it ticks a lot of the 'psychological boxes' so to speak.

In a nutshell this VS800 45 degree v-twin fits my preferred riding manner, a non-threatening ride that has plenty of grunt (for me) and sings a good note.