08 C50 or VN900 .... or a VT750 ?

[Gizzit]

My bike has been written off by the insurance co. following my "little off" at Kaihu last saturday while on a KB organised ride.

I have been eyeing up cruisers of late, as I think they fit my philosophy of riding style now.

The bikes I am considering (within my budget) are NEW: the Suzuki C50/M50, Kawasaki VN900 Classic, and possibly .... a Honda Shadow VT750 ??

Any recommendations on any of these .. and why you make your choices, etc.
Thanks.

[Bren]

In my opinion the Kwaka is the one to go for...I am biased, but to me the Vulcan is much better than the Suzuki....and the Honda (who would ride a honda anyhoo?)

[rainman]

Any recommendations on any of these .. and why you make your choices, etc.
Thanks.

Sorry to hear about your off.

I have the older version of the M50 and love it. If I were to buy another bike I'd probably buy an M50. Unless of course I won the lotto then I'd buy a Victory Hammer, and an M50 (and maybe a dual purpose as well, and if it was a really big lotto win a C109. And a new garage).

Reasons are that I really like the look, it's a very solid and comfy ride, and has enough grunt to be a real bike without having so much that I'd be garnishing my pay to keep the speeding tickets covered. It also feels pretty light, although I know compared to a sproty it's heavy - 220kgs or so. (It's just about 100kg lighter than, say a C109 ).

An added plus for me would be the M50 is a shafty, mine is chain drive, but I think all the bikes you list are shaft drive? The Shadow would be my second pick - the Vulcan just seemed a bit stodgy, although to be fair I didn't ride one.

All of these will be a bit slower than a Hornet though!

[Gizzit]

.......... snip..........
Reasons are that I really like the look, it's a very solid and comfy ride, and has enough grunt to be a real bike without having so much that I'd be garnishing my pay to keep the speeding tickets covered. It also feels pretty light, although I know compared to a sproty it's heavy - 220kgs or so. (It's just about 100kg lighter than, say a C109 ).

Those are all very important reasons. I don't want anything TOO grunty either. I am trying to keep my license and avoid tickets !

An added plus for me would be the M50 is a shafty, mine is chain drive, but I think all the bikes you list are shaft drive? The Shadow would be my second pick - the Vulcan just seemed a bit stodgy, although to be fair I didn't ride one.

The Vulcan is a belt drive. The Suzi's and the Honda are shafties.
I've yet to ride any of them, but am hoping to chuck my leg over all of them this week.
Just looking at the new M50, I was wondering what the pillion seat is like ? It looks like it leans down at the front, meaning the passenger would be forever sliding forward ..... just wondered, that's all. Where as the C50 Classic seems to have a better shaped pillion seat. (probably all academic to me anyway ... I usually end up replacing my stock seats with a Rider seat from Mac!).

I was just wondering if the Honda is a bit too small ... being a 750. I often ride two up, and want to be able to pass traffic quickly and easily when needed, and wondered if the Honda has enough grunt?

All of these will be a bit slower than a Hornet though!

Yes they will. That's ok. I would need a much bigger cruiser to keep the same level of grunt/speed as the Hornet. However I don't need/want that anymore. But ..... I don't want a slug either!! Just a mid size cruiser that will get along comfortably, is able to cope with two up, and give me the grin factor every time I see it and/or ride it.

[rainman]

I've yet to ride any of them, but am hoping to chuck my leg over all of them this week.

Always the best plan.

Just looking at the new M50, I was wondering what the pillion seat is like ? It looks like it leans down at the front, meaning the passenger would be forever sliding forward ..... just wondered, that's all.

I think they made the pillion seats a bit comfier on the new bikes - SWMBO isn't that impressed by the comfort of the Marauder seat, and she has a point, it is a bit like sitting on a brick. (Have a look at my profile pic, you can see the older style seat). There is no sliding foward problem, the seat is basically flat..

I was just wondering if the Honda is a bit too small ... being a 750. I often ride two up, and want to be able to pass traffic quickly and easily when needed, and wondered if the Honda has enough grunt?

Mebbe, and test riding will prove that, but being a cruiser it should have a fair bit of pull at the bottom to middle, end and less at the top. My Marauder is fast to pull away at the lights or even to zip past a truck (at around 90ks) but starts to runs out of incremental puff near 120/130. Which is actually a good thing, of course. The previous owner claimed to have been to 160, but with a chestful of wind that would pull my arms off.

Just a mid size cruiser that will get along comfortably, is able to cope with two up, and give me the grin factor every time I see it and/or ride it.

You sound to be a sensible bloke! Mid-size cruisers FTW. Have fun with the test riding...

[AllanB]

Ha in the US the 900 cruisers are 'entry level' but then they are dorks!

Sorry to hear of the Hornets death


Funny thing lately - I've slowed down a bit for the following reason - due to the huge price increases of new bikes, if I write off my Hornet there is not a chance in hell that I could afford to replace it with another new bike!

Whats your physical size? I ask as the Honda 750 is a sweet bike, but is a lot physically smaller than the other two. Excellent if you have a case of 'Ducks Disease' (bum too lose to the ground), not so good if you are 6 foot tall.

As for the Suzuki & Kawaka - ride and pick which on you prefer or you can get the best $ deal on as both are excellent rides.

There is heaps of bling available in the USA (on-line) for the M50.

[Gizzit]

..... snip .........
Sorry to hear of the Hornets death

Hi Allan, .... Yes I am too. It came as a shock! Apparently it has a bent sub frame, amoungst other damage, and all in all it just isn't "economic" to repair it.
It was a very nice bike. The Hornets are very underrated bikes. They are certainly very capable of commuting, Sunday "hooning" if you want to hoon! ... and touring. And ... it had enough boogie for me!

Funny thing lately - I've slowed down a bit for the following reason - due to the huge price increases of new bikes, if I write off my Hornet there is not a chance in hell that I could afford to replace it with another new bike!

Yes ... well I hadn't slowed down for that reason ..... (I hadn't really thought about the possibility of writing my bike off!!) I have been more conscious of speed lately, and getting a ticket/loosing my licence (which I need for my job), and just generally the sense that I need to slow down to stay alive! (age related ??!! lol.)

Whats your physical size? I ask as the Honda 750 is a sweet bike, but is a lot physically smaller than the other two. Excellent if you have a case of 'Ducks Disease' (bum too lose to the ground), not so good if you are 6 foot tall.

I'm 5'11 in the old measurement! 179cm ? 95Kg. Ducks disease not a real issue for me, but I do like to have my feet down flat down, especially on a heavier bike, like the cruisers are compared to sports bikes. And I do have my doubts about the lack of size on the Honda VT750, especially two up. More though, that it had enough grunt to safely ride with a pillion out on the highway?

As for the Suzuki & Kawaka - ride and pick which you prefer or you can get the best $ deal on as both are excellent rides.
There is heaps of bling available in the USA (on-line) for the M50.

Yes getting a good deal on an 08 model was what I had in mind. I'm sure either bike will fill the bill for what I want. I'm not concerned about commuting now, as on Friday I went and bought a new Yamaha Jog scooter to get me to work. I think it will do the job well, and save the motor, brakes, etc on my bike (when I get one!), so the cruiser will be just for weekend rides and touring. The other thing about that, is I ride every day to work, as I don't have a car (SWMBO has a nice car!), so a scoot will mean I'm not always cleaning and polishing chrome on a cruiser!!

And yes ... that's another thing about cruisers eh, .... you can "bling" them if you are into that !!

[P38]

Test Ride the C50 and the C50T, you'll love them.
Try the others, but they would be my choices.
But then I'm pretty much bisaed when it comes to the Boulevards.

My friend rides the Honda Shadow and she swears by it.
But then I recon she's pretty much biased too.

The Vulcan is also very nice, a work mate has one and he also swears by it too.

All look and sound great cruising down the road, and all will turn heads when you stop for a break too.

At the end of the day your spoilt for choice and unless you got your heart set on one in particular your gonna be faced with lots to choose from.

Good Luck and what ever you settle on it'll be a great bike for sure.

[Gizzit]

Test Ride the C50 and the C50T, you'll love them.
Try the others, but they would be my choices.
But then I'm pretty much bisaed when it comes to the Boulevards.

My friend rides the Honda Shadow and she swears by it.
But then I recon she's pretty much biased too.

The Vulcan is also very nice, a work mate has one and he also swears by it too.

All look and sound great cruising down the road, and all will turn heads when you stop for a break too.

At the end of the day your spoilt for choice and unless you got your heart set on one in particular your gonna be faced with lots to choose from.

Good Luck and what ever you settle on it'll be a great bike for sure.

You are completely right mate. Any of the bikes will do .... maybe with exception of the Honda VT750 .... as I feel it may be just a bit too small and lacking in power .... when compared with the other two, especially for two up riding.
I have always had an inclination towards the C50 (C50T and M50), as the price on the 08 models are reasonable. The VN900 is a bit dearer.

If I buy second hand .... with low K's on .... and I'm happy to do that too with the right bike, I may get a bit more for my money.
How do you find the C50 for power ?
Whats it like overtaking on the open road ?
How about two up overtaking ?
I'm not used to cruisers at all, having only ridden naked standards / sports type bikes in the last couple of years. Prior to that, it was pretty much dirt bikes ....

[jafar]

VT750 is an old design & underpowered, the VT750c2 is fuel injected & more up to date than the old VT750.Either will do for solo riding but if your passenger has been @ the meat pies then you will notice the difference.
VTX1300 ? Good value on the face of it, be worth investing in some decent wheels though, the standard Honda ones are odd sizes & getting replacement rubber can be an issue.
VTX1800, yeehah this baby can haul ass

Yamaha Star 1300

[P38]

No worries with power

If you wanna pass... just open the throttle and away you go.

Two up isnt much difference, maybe drop one gear just to be sure but still more power than you really need.

I think my C50T actually rides better two up, but then the wife aint no heavey weight contender.

[Gizzit]

No worries with power

If you wanna pass... just open the throttle and away you go.

Two up isnt much difference, maybe drop one gear just to be sure but still more power than you really need.

I think my C50T actually rides better two up, but then the wife aint no heavey weight contender.

COOL .. pleased to hear that! And .... as soon as these ribs are healed .... I'll be able to try out the new C50 !! I'm looking forward to it!
Cheers.

[James Deuce]

Yamaha V-Star 950

[Gizzit]

Those V Stars certainly are cool looking bikes !!

[jafar]

Yamaha V-Star 950

That is a nice looking machine