Harley or Suzuki cruiser?

[awayatc]

Went to "Just motorcycles" on saturday and took a Suzuki Boulevard for a little testride.....
It looks very much like a Harley, leather bags on the back, running boards etc.
Looks great, ride is very smooth and manouvrable...
Only 800cc, but quite responsive.Very low mileage, near new, wel priced.Felt a lot smaller on the road then what it looks on the stand.
In short I could live with it quite comfortably immediately...could not fault it.

But since it looked so much like a Harley obviously....why not compare it with the real thing?....
So Ian kindly allowed me to take a nice looking "Fatboy" out for a spin.....
A lot smoother then the Harleys of old.. And a lot easier to handle....And surprisingly userfriendly as well.
Twice the price, But it is a Harley..The original.
The Suzuki makes probably more sense when deciding with your head....
But I am also deciding with my heart......

Not interested in Bashing either bike, I liked both......
Hard to make up my mind.....

[Hitcher]

Mrs H has had two 800 Marauders. They're great fun to ride, and bulletproof in that typical Suzuki manner. Run them on Pirellis or Michelins instead of Dunlops and you'll be amazed at how well they can handle.

[Swoop]

Have you looked into the price of "consumables" for each make?
Genuine or aftermarket accessories?

It might make an interesting bit of research.

[Crisis management]

You are obviously not taking the drugs, thinking of cruisers, I'm horrified!!

However, if your going to, buy with your heart and if it was my choice I'd be looking at the Harley, they have a great presence and feel of quality...having said that I'd be after an XR1200 rather than a fat arse bike.

Just an aside, given you've been riding dual sport, will the cruiser allow you to go places you want to? I ask this as yesterday I was chatting to some tassled riders at a country pub and they were bemoaning the fact that SH1 was gridlocked with traffic (sunday avo near the city, joy!). I suggested they take an alternative route but realised that probably wasn't viable given the cost of rechroming.
I had an hours country road blast by myself back to Auckland.

You need to ride a big Katoom.

[southernmike]

I interesting problem which I have faced many times and I always bought the Harley. Much to the Stealer's delight! Going by feel, it just felt right. ANd I would probably do it again.

The Sportbikes I have owned have been all nationalities but I could never get comfortable with a non HD cruiser. I don't know why not. Guess that 'real thing' feeling came in to it (read 'Marketing Victim'!). I always find it strange how some people rave on about the authenticity of their HD (especially Shovel owners comparing theirs to a 'It's all made in China' late model HD) but they spend most of their lives driving a Jap import car. Two wheels wins over four anytime in my book.

I guess my advice would be go what you feel happy with. You're the one riding it. All the talk about resale value etc in my experience is just that...talk.

[awayatc]

I hear you crisis management....I did buy the Pegaso as a multipurpose bike, which it is indeed, so I do want to keep it.

BUT I find that I quite enjoy just doodling along and "go places"....To pack up the Pegaso takes up a bit of doing.
So i thought I would like a good solid laid back Cruiser bike to stay within the speedlimits and go for overnight trips with all the creature comfort goodies strapped on the back somewhere....
Always had nippy smaller bikes for dirt and gravel, never been long distance on the tarseal all that much.
Trouble with throtles is that I can't just just em a little bit.....unless "cruising" hopefully.
My Cage of choice is my trusty Landrover Diesel....love it, easy to stay within the limits... Also have Saab, MG and Aprillia, so definitely have a Non japanese preference....
And yes I know,I know....it comes at a cost.....
Personalities always do...

[Badjelly]

Never mind.

[Toaster]

Go with the one that gets you hardest.

[martybabe]

That is actually a really tough call, both are very nice and competant bikes for what they do.

Clearly the cost difference doesn't put you off and if you've got the money up front you will lose very little on the Harley anyway come re-sale time, so the money isn't really an issue, if you can find it in the first place. I'm sure I could have put that better.

I really can't separate them on, reliability, performance, handling, even looks but the fact remains, every where you park the Suzi (civilians) will ask you if it's a Harley, when you take the money out the bank and they ask you what your buying, when you say, a boulevard, they'll carry on counting, if you say a Harley fat-boy, you'll have a lovely, if misinformed, chat about Harleys and the Terminator and ooh how lovely.

The reality is, no matter how good the japanese get, there is only one original and That is Harley Davidson, are they the best, bloomin unlikely but your Garage already has some tasty/different stuff in there, why not add a real Hog.

Also it's piss easy to upgrade the Harley's engine, brakes, anything really, if you've got the money of course.

Having said all that bollocks, I'd be thrilled to have A Boulevard in my Garage, contrary Mary that I am.

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

Depends on what your after!!
If its the 'whole package' go for the Harley, its got the name, the following, the heritage and a catalogue the size of an Auckland phone book for extras you can bling her up with. If its simply the cruising your up for the Suzuki wins simply on price. The resale price may influence your decision so check that out too.

[Divot]

Go with your heart. A mate of mine brought a 800 Suzuki cruiser as he didnt have the money for a harley and thought that it would do. His other half had a 1200 sporty custom and after a south island trip he came back and traded his suzuki for a Harley road king as he couldn't keep up with the sporty loaded up on hills etc.

If you want a bike to ride any bike will do, if you want a bike that will make friends then a harley is the bike. Have a harley then join HOG and you will meet a great bunch of people and have many great rides.

But what ever you decide, Ride and Have Fun

[Griffin]

I had a similar dillemma when it came to buying my Cruiser. I looked at both Suzuki (C50T) and Harley (Heritage). The difference for me is that I couldnt come up with the readys for the Harley. Then the zuke C50T came up on a special deal too good to pass up... so the Boulevard won... this time.

If I had the money - or the means to pay it back, I would go for the Harley. The options post sale are limited only by your imagination and wallet. You can buy endless amounts of bling to make you HD stand out.

Unfortunately - as good as the Boulevard is - the accessories / bling are severely limited and as such makes it hard for you to 'individualise' your ride.

Plus there is also the whole HOG factor, the sound of a Harley, the feel of a Harley, the cameraderie and the admiration that they command.

My next bike will be a HD - no offense to the C50T... its a great bike and I love it. It just aint a Harley

[slimjim]

yes as money is not a problem..in the end its your choice.. harley is a higher insurance.. suz nice and easy to insure.. however its what you'll be happy on..both are top bikes... personally Harley..awesome amount of chromeeee bits bolt on...

[Tank]

I looked at both and indeed the HD is made of better materials and you can see where some of the difference in $$$$ goes - but I thought the Boulevard (I got the M50) was far better value for money - and I liked the shape more than the majority of HD's. Never had any one 'dis it because it wasnt a HD.

Regarding resale - I traded my M50 with 8000km on the clock for $500 less than what I paid new for it - as long as you are willing to look around (and keep the bike in top shape) you should not have it dropping hugely in value.

Personally - I'd ignore the badge and buy the bike I liked the look and feel of best. The bage is secondary. Buy the bike for you and not others.

Good luck.

[Tank]

yes as money is not a problem..in the end its your choice.. harley is a higher insurance.. suz nice and easy to insure.. however its what you'll be happy on..both are top bikes... personally Harley..awesome amount of chromeeee bits bolt on...

Just as a clarification here - I checked with the insurers when compairing bikes H/D and Suzuki- and BOTH were the same - they insure on $$$ value not make / model.

May be different for sportbikes mind - or your own insurer.