Made it to Paeroa, but...

**Edbear** · 21st February 2007, 07:02

Originally Posted by Jim2

Only one - spokes! Buggers to clean. Love the lines of the C50 especially with all the "fruit", as you say.

Yeah, they look good but wasn't too fussed on spokes. 60kg lighter than the C90 and plenty of grunt from the 800, fuel injected, liquid cooled which is better for getting stuck in traffic, the GSX has got very hot at times!

They're basically an update of the Volusia and every time the Volusia is mentioned, the owners seem to be very loyal to them. I'm going to ride the VTX1300 today but haven't been offered anything special pricewise on one. The dealer came straight out with a price for the C50T which made my jaw drop! Maybe as he's a customer of mine as well, not sure, but it was $1000 better than I was planning to negotiate for!

My GSX sold last night on TradeMe. Only listed it before I went to bed, got up this morning and someone had hit the "Buy Now" price! Ringing him today. Of course the Missus says, "I told you it was too cheap!"

**James Deuce** · 21st February 2007, 07:04

Originally Posted by Edbear

My GSX sold last night on TradeMe. Only listed it before I went to bed, got up this morning and someone had hit the "Buy Now" price! Ringing him today. Of course the Missus says, "I told you it was too cheap!"

Bloody good news and ROFL at "the Missus". Isn't that always the case. Take the C50 and the VTX for a ride with the pillion onboard. Can't stress that one enough.

Remember to have fun doing it too!

**Edbear** · 21st February 2007, 07:10

Originally Posted by Jim2

Bloody good news and ROFL at "the Missus". Isn't that always the case. Take the C50 and the VTX for a ride with the pillion onboard. Can't stress that one enough.

Remember to have fun doing it too!

At our stage in life we're right onto fun!

Had a great weekend! She's so far tried out the C90T, a Softail and a Valkyrie and reckons the C90T was the best! I said the C50T is basically the same for her as pillion. NAturally as a woman she has priorities and she was most concerned that the colour was nice...!

It's a metallic grey that does look quite good!

**timorang** · 21st February 2007, 08:15

Hi Edbear, the 800 cc Suzuki v-twin is a sweet little engine and the shaft drive is good, but for pillioning I think you will find it lacking (I have had one albeit in the VX800) and you will be wanting more in a short time. I also had an older vs700, loved the motor, fine for tootling around solo. Also small range tank and luggage options are limited. This bike is even smaller than the 'big' brother 1400 (s83 - intruder) which I think has ergonomics that are too tight for lots of two up work - but it does the grunt. If it is an affordable Jap cruiser you want then I think the c90 (maybe your contact can do a sweet a deal on one for you), and Honda VTX1300 are best value options. My opinion for what it is worth.

Well done on the sale of your bike.

**SPman** · 21st February 2007, 12:48

In a recent Bike magazine readers poll - the XJR1300 was voted 3rd for the most comfortable pillion seat of the 100 bikes voted on!
If its pillion comfort and rideability you want, plus a large dose of fun, go for the GSX/XJR/ZXR 12-13-1400 style of bike.

**Edbear** · 21st February 2007, 21:04

Well, I went for a ride on the VTX1300 today and I was very disappointed! Looks good, sounds great, handles well, goes pretty hard! So what was the disappointment?

The ride! Felt like it had square wheels! My GSX is a Cadillac compared to the VTX! By the time I'd gone 2km I just wanted to get off!

The hard, choppy ride and the pitching, (Woodcocks Rd. Warkworth), was a complete surprise and I couldn't believe it! It absorbed the big bumps well, but I felt the jarring of every litte bump and imperfection in the road!

When I told the Salesman he was "amazed! I've NEVER heard that criticism of the VTX and they sell well!" He said he'd have to go for a ride himself to confirm and suggested I pop into Cyclespot and ride the second hand one in there with a few K's up to see if it was better.

Oh, well, back to the drawing board! I'm trying to get a hold of a C50T to demo, I think the C90T is a bit out of our reach new, but maybe a near-new one could turn up.

I personally like the V-Strom but would have to convince the Missus to try a few different bikes out as she's pretty much settled on a cruiser. After riding the VTX, despite it's shortcomings, I think I could be quite happy with a cruiser as it handled much better and went much better power-wise than I expected. Funds are limited to about $15-$16k max.

Appreciate all your input!

**rogson** · 22nd February 2007, 06:04

The earlier incarnation of the C90 is the VL1500. I don't know what (if any) differences there are - carbs verses EFI perhaps? The VL1500 was first introduced in 1998 (or thereabouts). I imagine a good one could be picked-up for considerably less than a new C50.

**Edbear** · 22nd February 2007, 06:31

Yeah, my only question over the older VL is that they're carburreted and with only a 15lt tank may have limited range. My Bro-in-Law and a mate have the new C90 and C90T with the fuel injection and they're getting good range from them. May be a near new C90T comes up.

Hopefully I can find a demo C50T to ride. Had a squizz on the net and all owners reports are very complimentary about comfort and performance. The Salesman did point out the 60kg weight difference making up for the fewer cubes and I know the 800 v-twin is the gruntiest of the middleweights, or was until the Kwaka 900 came along. May still have the edge even so.

**90s** · 22nd February 2007, 11:09

Hi Ed, hope you find the perfect replacement for a good sporty tourer. I hope you don't find after a while its a ... GSX600!

I got one specifically for the two-up tourer mode, hoping to tempt the wife onto some longer trips. Posted a report of the first one (see first daytrip post in tourers forum) and the wife seemed to find it a lot better than she expected. Still you're right - need to keep them happy for a good life!
Remember to take the missus along for a test-ride before you part with any cash!

**Edbear** · 22nd February 2007, 11:34

Originally Posted by 90s

need to keep them happy for a good life!
Remember to take the missus along for a test-ride before you part with any cash!

Yup! And she insists she wants to ride with me before we settle on a bike!

The dealer is trying today to find a demo bike,but none are showing in the country at the mo. Not enough hours in the day! We both work, though she has Fridays off, and we're trying to get her assignment into the Tech by Mon. so are flat out on that at the mo, too! (See what a helpful hubby I am?

)

Anyone got a C50 we could try out...?

**Macktheknife** · 22nd February 2007, 12:42

Hi Ed, great to hear you're looking after the misses so well mate!
I reckon you should get her onto the Vstrom for a test, my wife said it was the most comfortable seat she had been on as a pillion, and they are great bikes.
The only issue I had with the c50 I rode was that it lacked a little ground clearance from what I expected. The Vulcan is also supposed to be a really comfy ride for a pillion but I have not ridden one personally.
Best of luck to you both.
Mack

**Edbear** · 22nd February 2007, 13:53

Originally Posted by Macktheknife

Hi Ed, great to hear you're looking after the misses so well mate!
I reckon you should get her onto the Vstrom for a test, my wife said it was the most comfortable seat she had been on as a pillion, and they are great bikes.
The only issue I had with the c50 I rode was that it lacked a little ground clearance from what I expected. The Vulcan is also supposed to be a really comfy ride for a pillion but I have not ridden one personally.
Best of luck to you both.
Mack

Thanks, Mack! Yeah I like the V-strom and hope to try one out. I found a near new C50T on TradeMe locally so he's bringing it around this evening and we'll have a ride on it. Should let us know pretty quick if it will suit us.

I know ground clearance will not match the GSX-F but the VTX I rode was much better than I thought it would be and I could hussle it around the corners quite well. The trip to Paeroa was in company with a C90, two Softails, the Intruder 1400, an old 1100 Shadow and the Valkyrie and believe me, those guys were'nt hanging about! I was impressed with their verve through the twisty bits! Wasn't until we turned down Canal East Rd from Waitakaruru that I got away clean...

The Valkyrie nearly caught up but a little more squirt on the GSX and...

**timorang** · 22nd February 2007, 19:36

Edbear, here is your v-strom. Apart from the looks there is hardly a bad word said about them. With all the kit this should be good value at <10k (18k replpacement for new one in Colemans with all the luggage - saw it today)
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...px?id=88890288

**Edbear** · 22nd February 2007, 20:46

Originally Posted by timorang

Edbear, here is your v-strom. Apart from the looks there is hardly a bad word said about them. With all the kit this should be good value at <10k (18k replpacement for new one in Colemans with all the luggage - saw it today)
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...px?id=88890288

Ta for dat, timorang! Might take one for a blat, but I have to say the guy with the C50T popped around this evening and me and the Missus took it for a ride. I loved it!

Smooth-as compared with the VTX and plenty of grunt! Didn't seem to notice we were two-up and although I tried to find every bump I could, (had to see if the wife noticed them of course...

), it was lotsa fun!

Had standard pipes and they sounded loud and meaty, had to ask if they were aftermarket but he said they were stock! All the extras and looks cool in the gunmetal grey! Gonna have a debrief with her good self now and see what she thought. The Suzuki dealer rang back tonight to say he wasn't able to find a new demo bike but I told him we were trying out this '06 model and would let him know how we liked it. He then informs me that as part of the Summerfest promo, I'd also get a Boulevard leather jacket worth about $300 or so! Gotta say, after the ride tonight, I's very tempted...

Now, if I do go ahead and get the new one, do I get the jacket in my size or the Missus' size...? Mmmm maybe ask how much extra for one each...