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2007 Suzuki C50T Boulevard (VL 800C K7) - Ed Smith switches from sports-tourer to cruiser

2007 Suzuki C50T Boulevard - turns heads wherever it goes... or stops come to think of it After three enjoyable years with a 1989 Suzuki GSX600F it was time for something else. I wanted my wife to get back out with me, but she refused, preferring four wheels, heating and all that jazz.

However… a couple we'd known for many years bought a '96 Bandit 1200S and my wife's best friend gently applied the pressure on her to get back into her riding gear. After 30 years and without so much as a ride round the block, she was launched into an eight hour ride! Perhaps not the best introduction, but she enjoyed herself and said she'd like to do more, but with more comfort.

She said the GSX-F was not comfortable enough for tripping around on and if I wanted her to come with me again, I'd have to get a more comfortable bike! She had a ride on my mates C90T Boulevard, my Bro-in-law's Harley Softail and another mate's Honda Valkyrie, declaring the C90T very comfortable!

So we tried a C50T (VL 800C K7) - and found it smooth, comfy, with plenty of grunt and 70kg lighter than the C90T. I'd never bought a brand new bike before and was still in a dream state as I rode it home!

I wasn't prepared for the attention I received each time I rode the Boulevard! On the GSX-F I was seemingly invisible, it was just another bike, but on the C50T - everywhere, people seemed to stop and look as I rode by! When I went to the Supermarket to get a few groceries, I was accosted by young and old alike! Have to admit, it's a good looking bike - all shiny paint and chrome, and the sound from the stock pipes is addictive!

I felt good cruising down the Motorway, settling into the bike and just mixing with the traffic at an easy pace. I found the bike easy to ride, plenty of power for passing slower traffic despite being conscious of the newness of the motor and riding so as to vary load, speed and revs, giving it a bit of a squirt and then throttling back to easy pace.

The handling was a bit of a surprise. Low speed manoeuvring was a bit more ponderous compared to the GSX-F but easy with the weight set low, making for a lower centre of gravity. Footing it around was easier than the GSX-F and it didn't feel 46kg, (105lb), heavier. At speed, I was surprised to find a slight weave and wallow in bumpier corners, where the old 'F' was rock solid! Not worrisome, and in a strange way kind of enjoyable! Sounds weird, but it seemed a 'friendly' movement and somehow natural. Such would be completely unacceptable on a sports bike! Suspension was fine and bumps I was tensing for in anticipation passed under the wheels quite smoothly, displaying a suppleness the old bike didn't have. Not that the GSX-F was hard, far from it, but it was a sports bike and could jar a bit at times whereas the Boulevard just floated along by comparison.

The windscreen does a good job of deflecting wind though I could hear rather than feel the wind buffeting. If I fully closed my visor, the vacuum behind the screen actually sucks it partly open again!

The sound from the pipes is subdued at steady cruising speeds but barks loud enough when you blip the throttle that one is tempted to do so at every opportunity! Winding on the gas to overtake and blipping on the down-change brings a smile to the dial, for sure!

Once in top you ride it like an automatic and revs become of little importance there being ample torque and simply winding on throttle was all that was required for hills and overtaking. Even two-up the 805cc V-twin is plenty strong and I have yet to feel it needs more power. It hardly notices my wife on pillion as far as power is concerned and even the stock suspension settings are fine. Two-up just makes the ride a little softer and smoother with little effect on handling. As I become more confident in the bike, I may find that familiarity leads to greater expectations, but thus far have little to criticise.

Of course you have to remember that cruisers are not sports bikes when the road becomes tight and twisty! Casually rolling into 25mph corners at my usual 75-80km/h I was startled to hear a very loud and horrible grinding/scraping sound and the right side footboard folded up! The bike ran wide towards the verge and I hastily adjusted speed and muscled it back on line! Oops! Maybe a bit slower? Adjusting my pace a bit meant no more noises and I relaxed again as the road straightened out. Slower-in, faster-out and I was able to hear that subdued bark of the V-twin accelerating which made me smile again!

The Boulevard had carried me quickly and comfortably with plenty of power over a mix of Motorway, State Highway and back country roads with, aside from the aforementioned cornering incidents, no drama. Just enjoyable cruising with just the right aural stimulation from the mid-size V-twin! I'd passed and been passed by a few other bikes, coming and going with the usual biker acknowledgements from most.

Tank mounted 'old fashioned' clock is clear to read Coming home the next day began in drizzling rain. I wasn't pleased about it but had little choice. However the C50T surprised me again with its excellent weather protection form that large screen, even deflecting the rain away from my gloves! The only wet area was from the knees down. Helmet visor, gloves, everywhere from the knees up remained completely dry and only in heavy rain did I need to drop the visor down as some splashed into my eyes.

Another advantage of the C50T - liquid-cooling! Liquid cooling was one of the deciding features of the smaller bike when considering which to buy. I feel that while the C90 has a growing and deserved reputation, I prefer the C50 for this reason. It keeps its cool under hot conditions!

Power of the C50T is still impressive, and I have little doubt it will easily top the old ton, (160km/h), should I be so inclined, maybe even two-up! Certainly, roll-on acceleration is ample and one can dawdle down to quite low speeds in the overdrive 5th gear and accelerate smoothly away with light throttle. A down-change to fourth in the 'chunky', (but I'm learning to change smoother!), gearbox is better if one is pressed for space and time and the bike fairly leaps forward! There's a wide gap between 4th and 5th though and without a tacho I'm a bit cautious about revving it out until I become more familiar with the bike.

So to sum up thus far! A beautiful looking bike, though much plastic which time will tell regards durability. Saves weight, I guess! Smooth ride, plenty of room on the seats to move around and get comfy. Footboards mean the ability to shuffle feet around and not be stuck in one position as well. Folding footboards mean less drama when trying to corner like a sports bike…! Genuine leather saddle bags, (from Kentucky Drive, USA, no less!) and a genuine Givi backrest means enough storage for two for a weekend and security and comfort for the pillion.

Fuel injection for instant starting and economy, liquid-cooling for peace of mind in slow traffic and a multi-function digital dash for all the info you need, though I'd prefer a fuel gauge rather than just the low-fuel warning light. The Speedo is an attractive old-style and clear to read.

Verdict Overall, I am very pleased with my choice. I admit my choice of a cruiser was to an extent influenced by the fact that the majority of those we ride with own cruisers and looks-wise, the C50T is a real poser's bike and attracts favourable attention everywhere it goes. Shallow reasoning? Maybe, but when one can only have one bike and one finds one as capable and as good looking as the Suzuki C50T Boulevard, it's hard to go past!

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