Suzuki Boulevard C50T vs. Kawasaki Vulcan 900 LT

I just found this sight today.  The first posting I read is this one.  I was very excited to see it was about the two bikes I am looking at. It has helped me choose the Suzuki.  I rode both, and kept going back to the Suzuki.  I have been riding a 1975 Honda CB500T, second owner.  But after all these years I am making the change.  Thanks to all.  Gunn http://forums.motorcyclecruiser.com/_siteconfigs/_global/images/community/bbcode/grin.gif
 

Exact same evaluation my brother and I are going about. He just choose the 08 C50. He just drove it home last night and is soooo much in love with it.  

Da Bike!

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n104/slaponte/Aponte%20Hogz/Tatitosride2.jpg

I am more of a Kawasaki man so I am going for the 900 Custom. Should have mine by this weekend. Will keep you posted.  

I hope this thread stays active, I am going to buy one of these two bikes next week.  The things that draw me to the Suzuki are: shaft drive and tubeless tires.  The Kawi has a belt and front and rear discs.  I'm confused!  Is the riding position similar on both?  I've been on the C50 but not the Kawi.  Is the Kawi more of a "street" bike (feet more under you) than the C50?  

I had one and loved riding it.  It didnt have enough power for highway speeds in my opinion but it was a killer bike for in town.  If I was picking a cruiser that was never going to get above about 60 mph, the C50 would be it without a doubt based on my experiences.  I have a C90 now and its a beast compared to the 50.  

tnvol,
    I just purchased a new C90T.  How do you like it and have you done any changes to it?  I need to get some floor boards for my wife.  The original pegs are a tad far back. Other than the small gas tank, I'm happy with the bike....  

I bought a 2007 C50T last April 08.  So far I have put on 4200 miles on it cruising in Denver and all over Colorado and Utah.  The bike handles very well and has not given me one problem.  I am 5'9" and about 150 lbs.  I have plenty of power and keep up with a lot bigger bikes.  The C50T is the second bike that I owned.  The last one was a 77 Kawasaki 400 which was a lemon that leaked oil.  The other writer who said that their 900LT that gets 40 miles per gallon can't be right because that would be pretty pitiful.  I average in the 50's with my C50T and have gotten over 60 several times.  I am now a Suzuki fan.  

I have 2500 miles on my Kaw 900LT and love it!!!  Never really  considered the Suzuki.  It's a daily driver to/from work (15 miles one way) and gets about 100+ miles put on it every weekend, weather permitting.  More pep than you think, extremely smooth ride other than the seat which most replace.  (I have the Kaw Gel Seat which is way above the stock "butt banger".)  Mileage runs between 50-55,  

Just bought the 900 Kaw and I love it. I compared the C50 and the VN900, but choose the Kaw because of the sound/power/look. I like the wire wheels and clean front end. My last bike was a BMW K100RT which I put 50k miles on before I sold it, and which I loved. I like this bike more. I don't have many miles on it yet, but it handles the freeway wind blasts nicely, and is rock solid. It could use better rubber and the seat also. I am sold on the Mustang upgrade and am waiting on another paycheck to swap that out. My next door neighbor bought the C50t today after seeing mine, so we will have a chance to compare hood ornaments soon. When I get to ride his, I will report back. If I am not riding....  

Dr. I too was torn between the two bikes I decided on the C50 and I love it. I haven't owned a bike for over 20 years and haven't done much more than putt around on friends bikes over the years. My wife was a very hard sell on getting one in the first place but with gas going up faster than the summer temperatures here in Texas, I was finally able to convince her. The main reason I chose the Suzuki over the Vulcan was the shaft drive. I use mine for commuting to and from work (about 50 miles round trip) mostly highway driving. The C50 is awesome I don't feel any fatigue and it holds the road beautifully. My wife is still a little hesitant to ride with me but we have taken a few short day trips and she is beginning to feel more secure. The C50 has plenty of power with both of us on board and is smooth as silk (No sore tail bones for either of us) I don't think you will be disappointed with either bike I have seen reviews for both and the reviewers are mostly evenly divided so at least your not alone. Just wanted to throw in my two cents worth. Good luck and happy riding.  

I own a 2003 Intruder Volusia after reading Cruiser Magazine on-line reviews about this motorcycle (my learning motorcycle was a 450cc GS Suzuki).
The Volusia is absolutely great for a city with as much traffic as Mexico City yet very maneuverable, with enough power to ride with company, great looks, very comfortable and a lot of fun.
Frequently, I find myself looking at other motorcycles an comparing and can't find a substitute.
I like the looks of the Dynaglide and Electraglide HD but really don't think will be as easier to ride in this city as my Volusia appart from so much more expensive to buy and to keep. Maybe the larger C90 but havn't been able to find one here.  

I have owned an 04 C50, and a 06 C50T. I presently have an 08 Classic LT 900. The seat problem on the C50T can be handled by purchasing Suzukis jell seat, reasonably priced and made for that machine My 900 is a love story, lower 26.8" seat height, more agile, belt drive, pull back bars, single crank pin for the mellow rumble, lots more chrome catalic conveters,foreward controls,wider floorboards automatic neutral finder, hand brake adjustment to fit the riders hand, better warranty, more color selections,just to name a few things, theres much more. The c50t comes in black or red only, their handlebars are 36" wide and not very confortable for smaller people and the way the back fender is so much higher in the center under the passenger seat looksout of porportion and akward.  

I have owned two Suzuki Boulevards; a 04 C50 and a 05 C50T. I recently bought a Kawasaki Classic LT 900. The 900 is by far the better machine. Some of the features it has that the C50T dosen't: A bigger engine, lots more chrome, front and rear disc brakes, comfortable pull back handle bars ( C50T bars are 36" wide and uncormfortable for smaller persons), more color options ( C50T is black or red/white), five hand brake positions to fit the riders hand, quite ,efficent belt drive, top grain cowhide saddle bags (C50T bags soak through and leak, 5.3 gal fuel tank, 26.8" seat height, more nimble handleing, automatic neutral finder when you stop, key lock seat with helmet hook under it, five position windshield adjustment, saddlebags have quick release device under the strap buckle, easy to remove saddlebags. (C50T are very hard, time consuming to remove for cleaning, single crank pin engine has that mellow rumble associated with Harleys, longer warranty. Altogether a very satisfying ride for 500.00 more and well worth every penny.  

I too am an owner of a 2007 Kaw Vulcan 900 Classic LT.  When I began my study of the under 1000 cc class of bike I looked at all makes of everything that was available in this size of bike (my size limit was based on the time away from riding - 32 years, my intended use - commute and back-road cruises, price - under $10K, and insurance costs).  My ultimate choice was based on features, specs, user/magazine reviews, what small test rides I could get on used bikes, price, financing, overall "bank for the buck", and prior experience with the brand.  All these factors took me to the Kaw 900.

For me, and in addition to its features (above those listed by emax9 - fuel injection, kick-stand engine kill safety feature, no other bike at the time in this size class had rear discs, big driver's floor boards, heel/toe shift, water cooled engine, sissy bar, and easy to read instruments with digital displays), this bike just "felt" right.  The combination of the floor boards, controls, and handle bars allows for varried riding positions from fully upright to leaned back and allows me to keep the bike fully balanced when at a stop with a passenger on back. Smooth response from the throttle and engine makes for delightful acceleration no matter if I'm just taking it easy or pushing it.  I do not fear tight U-turns with the bike and she responds quickly to changes from left to right leaning turns (even if they are hard to find in Kansas!).  Best of all, this bike fits/feels/performs in a manner such that I find I do not have to worry about the bike and its response to my inputs thus leaving me free to enjoy the ride and keep a focus on the elements around me (an important safety feature, if you ask me!).

Would I change anything? Sure!  A more comfortable stock seat -- I'm good for about an hour then its time to stand at a stop sign.  Although I do not do a lot of highway riding, but at 70 to 80 mph, it sure would be nice to give the engine just a bit of a rest by kicking her into a 6th overdrive gear thus bringing both rpms and vibration down a bit.  Other than that, I feel Kawasaki put together one class act for bikes under 1000 cc's -- for $8200 I got a lot of bike that will last quite some time (or until the urge to go to something bigger overtakes me).

Its competitors in this size all offer great rides and bikes that have little to nothing to appologize for, to be sure, and are worth the buyer's time to investigate.  But, in the end, it would be a big mistake NOT to have evaluated the Kaw 900 as a potential buy (and in my opinion, a mistake not to have bought).  

i just bought my vulcan 900 a month ago and have almost 1000 miles on it i was interested in changing my exhaust pipes but i heard from other freinds that my engines parts may need to be changed to better fit the straight pipes is this true?  

If you want to go from comfortably quiet to annoyingly loud, then just change the exhaust system.

If you have some other purpose in mind, then yes you'll need to do more to the bike.

regards,
Joe