[japgen]

I'm looking for a first bike, and am considering the S50. I'm 5'10" 200 lb, looking for something to scoot around town on weekends, occasional longer ride. No cross country/extended cruises. I've also looked at the Honda Spirit 750 and the Suzuki SV650. The thing that appeals to me about the S50 is its very light weight plus shaft drive. Who's got the S50 and can give me some feedback? thanks

 

[roysclockgun]

After owning a number of motorcycle labels, I bought an S50 last month. I was in FL. to try to get my 88 year old father into assisted care living and had taken the old KZ750 along, as Bike Week began two weeks after my arrival. When I saw and rode the S50, I could not resist, and bought it in Deland, FL. As you said, the bike is relatively light and very agile. There is plenty of power, even with two up, but the bike can be easily controlled, even by a novice rider and is not intimidating. With proper ramps, I can load the bike on my pick-up bed by myself. I like the fact that the bike is built to be trouble free, with water cooled engine and shaft drive. Other then the modern engine/drive train, there are little or no frills on the bike, which is the way I like it. Only because my wife was uncomfortable without a back rest, I bought and installed the Suzuki "sissy bar". I have put 1100 miles on the bike. Now that I am back in Maryland, for a while, the weather is just beginning to get nice enough to take the bike to my shop each work day. I make a 39 mile round trip to my clock shop daily. The bike handles open road and city traffic with no problems. Occasionally, when I must go on interstate highways, the bike will cruise at just under 80mph, w/o even breathing hard (the marked limit is 70mph and I keep the needle just under 80mph, while four wheelers whiz by me!) My impression of the Suzuki S50 Boulevard is that it is for riders not concerned with how big the bike or engine is, but just want a fun to ride, nimble, quick motorcycle that is a joy on twisty back roads and has no problems keeping up with interstate traffic, when called upon to do so. If I am forced to make a complaint, I have to say that I would like the turn signal flasher to be bright amber, instead of green. The green light is harder to see in bright daylight. The only other accessories that I may add to the S50, would be more front and rear lighting. Flashing, oscillating headlights, like on trains would be nice. I am 6ft. tall and weigh 210 lbs. The seating for me is comfortable but not roomy. At 63 years of age I am very happy with this bike and am not intimidated by some riders who claim that they need a 2000cc motorcycle. I've owned Hogs and big Honda "land cruisers" and will never go back to those.
Steve

 

[Pinhy]

as a first bike, please be sure you can handle a bike in general, take the MSF as you hear in EVERY thread about being a new rider, take it slow and always respect the bike and other drivers.

i think the S50 is a great "lighter-weight 800cc" bike. it also appears to be a great handling and easy to ride bike from what everyone says. it has a very classic look and if that is whay you like, its perfect.

good luck and welcome..

BTW: where are you located? put your location in your user info.

.

 

[4652]

S50 as first bike..

I'm looking for a first bike, and am considering the S50. I'm 5'10" 200 lb, looking for something to scoot around town on weekends, occasional longer ride. No cross country/extended cruises. I've also looked at the Honda Spirit 750 and the Suzuki SV650. The thing that appeals to me about the S50 is its very light weight plus shaft drive. Who's got the S50 and can give me some feedback? thanks

I just got the S50 for my wife this weekend. I myself used to ride a GSXR, and moved on to the Honda ST1300, to give a point of reference. My "starter" bike was an '83 GS1100 Sherman Tank, er, Suzuki.

The S50 is not lacking in power at all. It has roll-on power @ 80mph in 4th gear; not so much in 5th. Getting off from a red light is not bad either. It is not a race horce, but, this is also not that kind of bike. It simply has power when you need it, without being a bike to lurch out from underneath you and leave you behind.

Nor is it heavy - it turns nearly as easy as my gixxer. It is a bit heavier at a stop than my gixxer was (no suprise) but overall handling is darn right trivial.

First 17 miles on the bike.. and I've determined that we will _need_ the windscreen. but we'll do that after she has some confidence with the bike, and I have some confidence that she'll make good use of it.

Overall, this looks to be a welcome addition to the stable, and I think, quite a decent first bike, especially for someone who expects freeway speeds and doesn't want to manhandle the bike.

 

[roysclockgun]

I was able to ride the naked SV650 and it is a fun bike to ride. For what I wanted, the S50 is more versatile and I am happy with it. The wife was not at all happy riding behind me on the SV650. With the "sissy bar" on the S50, she is quite sucure. I keep looking out the window, hoping that the rain clouds will leave so I can get the S50 out of the garage and ride! I looked at the M50 and C50 and they are great bikes but heavier. If you really want more raw power in a Cruiser, move up to the S83. Bigger engine and same weight as the C50 and M50! Once you putt around a bit on any motorcycle, the difference between the S50 and S83 is not big, in terms of being able to safely handle and control either. The big difference is in which one sings to you when you ride.
Steve

 

[japgen]

thanks to all for the input so far. How important is the shaft drive vs. chain? My take is that if the bike you want happens to have shaft, all the better. But it would not necessarily be the primary selling point. Am I right? Lastly, can I assume the Suzuki's in general and the S50 in particular, are as reliable as the Honda's?

 

[roysclockgun]

Given that opinions are like noses and everybody has one, I will stick my neck out a bit. Chains are much better than they used to be, in terms of lasting longer. However, chain tension is important and a rider with a chain drive needs to check that tension on a regular basis. With shaft, one only has to get regular service, more like the 3000 mile check up on an automobile. A bit of power is lost in making those drive train turns, getting power to the rear wheel via shaft. This is not true with the chain, so two motorcycles having the same engine, but one has chain and the other has shaft drive, will see the chain driven bike delivering a bit more power to the rear wheel. Is this important? That answer is up to the individual rider. For me, less maintenance is important and I will accept the slight loss of power that a shaft drive brings me.
Honda vs. Suzuki?? I do not want to get into any spitting contest. Hondas make fine motorcycles and thousands of happy riders are out there on Hondas. The same can be said for Suzuki. Many riders develop brand prejudice, just as do drivers of Fords and Chevies. If you find what really does it for you in Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki or Harley Davidson, go for it and you most likely will not go wrong. All the major motorcycle makers are competing for their share of the market. Each one takes from the other that which is working and selling. In the 1960s, Japanese ad propaganda was indicating that the V-Twin was old, dying technology, whose days were numbered. In those days, the Japanese were putting in-line fours and even in-line sixes on the market. Now, 40 years later, nearly every Japanese motorcycle manufacturer is touting their V-Twin models! Why is this? IMO, it is because HD would not go away and the Harley mystique continued to grow. The only way that the Japanese motorcycle makers could win against HD, was to create models that looked and sounded like Harleys!! For individual riders to go with market trends is not always good for the rider. Try various bikes and go with what you like and what works for you, given your riding agenda. Do not be spooked into buying a bigger bike then you want, just because the salesperson says that they are now selling more big bikes and that only girls are riding bikes under 1000cc. That is simply not so and does not make good sense. This, especially for new riders, no matter how big their muscles.
If I were starting out in motorcycling today, as a young man, I'd go into the used market and buy an inexpensive, used bike that I'd test ridden, had inspected and liked. That used bike will put you on the road. After riding and doing things like attending rallies and meets, your skills will be improving at the same rate as your knowledge of What's What! You may outgrow that used bike, or you may learn to love it and keep it. Either way, the initial investment is not great and you will be in a great position to get the bike of your dreams later on. Wedding yourself to a new bike before you are certain of what you want may prove to be an expensive mistake.
Steve

 

[hawker]

I have a '01' Intruder VS800 (renamed the S50 this year). This is a fine machine. Very light and fast. Plenty of power, easy on the gas, easy on the maintenance. Not much not to like. Perfect for buzzing around town and short trips. Doesn't wear you out.

Get a Slipstreamer 'Spitfire' windshield (or similar size) which looks good and is the right size/style. A small set of throw over bags so you can haul your 'stuff.' and you should be good to go. You won't be unhappy with your choice.

 

[rider88]

Just bought first bike, S50 and love it!

The bike is easy to handle for a 5'4" rider who is new.

 

[inspiron]

@roysclockgun: Shaft vs Chain - there is more to the picture than just "maintenance yes or no". A chain gives you the opportunity to change some characteristics of the bike, by using a larger or smaller sprocket. Also, chain technology is less complicated, so there is less to repair if something breaks. The other side of the coin is the higher maintenance needs (greasing, adjusting), and more 'jerky' response to throttle changes.

In the V-2 versus I-4 discussion, the jury is still out. I have an I-4 because I wanted a bike with low RPMs. My last bike, a 125 V-2, would scream along at 7000 to 9000 RPM on the streets - it sounded like it was screaming. My 1400 now cruises the highway at 3000 rpm - a nice 'growl' but no scream. Others love the V-2 because it responds quickly, because it makes the bike much smaller (the engine block on my bike is more than a foot wide, whereas a good V-2 is less than 8 inches), and because it's lighter. Yes, H-D has a V-2 engine, but I don't think that's the reason. There are lots of V-2's out there - 72°, 90°, or the BMW boxer 180°. What about the Triumph Triple? A 3 cylinder engine ... (and a damn nice looking bike).

I fully support your suggestion to start out with a small, cheap, used bike. Noobies will drop their bikes - there are those who have dropped their bikes, and those who will. Dropping a brand new $7000 bike is hard on your wallet ... dropping an old $1000 bike isn't as big a deal...

 

[roysclockgun]

Insiron wrote: "Yes, H-D has a V-2 engine, but I don't think that's the reason."

Not only does HD have the V twin, but they have had it for nearly one hundred years and save for a few other failed manufacturers, they stood alone in having the V twin for much of that time.
Do you believe that the Japanese mototcycle makers came up with the inspiration to build a better V engine because they believe that the V was a superior piston configuration? I do not think so. While I respect your opinion, I believe that Harley survived for a number of reasons. (1) For years they practically owned the AMA. A good example of how HD impacted AMA is the fact that for some time, Brit bikes with overhead valves were limited to 500cc, racing against HD side valve engines of 750cc. (2) HD sought and received Fed. protection and low interest Gov'mt loans to stay afloat during hard years and (3) The "Harley Mystique", which is difficult to lay one's finger on, but never the less, has put Harley riders in the realm of somehow appearing as modern day cowboy, rugid individualists.
I am convinced that the genius designers of motorcycle engines in Japan were put to work building a better V engine, in the main, because the Japanese manufacturers wanted to more deeply cut into HDs market....and they did.
There used to be some problems with the rear cylinder on air cooled V engines overheating and the Japanese solved that problem. The HD V engine was never noted for smooth running and after a long ride, one's hands, feet and butt could still feel the vibration. While the Japanese V engines are smoother, they have never attained the smoothness of the in line fours and still do give a definite buzz feeling to the rider.
I have to agree on the compactness and lightness of some of the V Twin engines, as opposed to in line fours of the same displacement. Add to that the fact that one can get a lower, better balanced motorcycle in a V than in the old upright British twins, and we have another reason for the success of the current line of V twin engines.
Still, it all goes back to the Harley and the need to give the public what the public wanted. If one strolls down main street Daytona during Bike Week, one has to have a practiced eye to quickly discern between real Hogs and Japanese look-alike Hogs. That fact did not come about by accident. There is still a large segment of the motorcycle buying public that wants the HD, or at the very least, the HD look. We never got that from the in line fours.
Steve

 

[inspiron]

That may be true if you look only at the cruiser market, but I'm not conviced when looking at the whole motorcycle market.

BMW and Moto Guzzi have been selling their twins (the BMW 180° Boxer, the Guzzi 90° traverse mounted V) for years, and other Italian sport bikes (most noticably Ducati) also have a long tradition of V-twin bikes.

I would say that the Japanese manufacturers started building cruisers to try and get at Harley's market share, but as you mentioned, the "Harley way of life" can't be duplicated.

Harley's vibrate because the engines are imbalanced (by design). The cylinders fire like

pop .. pop .......... pop .. pop .......... pop .. pop .........

This gives them that "trademark" Harley sound.

​

A japanese engine fires consistently:

pop ..... pop ..... pop ..... pop ..... pop ..... pop

which is smoother, but will never sound like a Harley, even with the same pipes.
​

 

[Pinhy]

right...so you spend $7000 less on a Honda Shadow (looks a lot like a harley, very classic) and then $500 on pipes/slip-ons and rejet and you sound and look like a harley and have money to actually have some fun on it.

;-)

.

 

[inspiron]

Yes, but if you really want to live the life, you need to spend another $500 on tattoos, $1000 on a leather vest, leather jacket, a useless braincap helmet, and a wallet with a chain. Then you should go for a ride, stopping every 45 minutes to check that no important bolts have come loose, and that your lights and electronics are still working :twisted:

 

[stp1971]

Don't forgot the road debris liability insurance

You left off one more important cost of ownership for a Harley,, the extra insurance they have to have in order to cover the bike when traveling. This is to cover the surrounding automobiles from damage from the parts that fall off while going down the road. :smile:

 

[inspiron]

Like they say ... 90% of all Harleys ever produced are still on the road ...







The other 10% made it home.
:twisted:

 

[St0nkingByte]

...Harley's vibrate because the engines are imbalanced (by design). The cylinders fire like

pop .. pop .......... pop .. pop .......... pop .. pop .........

This gives them that "trademark" Harley sound.

​

A japanese engine fires consistently:

pop ..... pop ..... pop ..... pop ..... pop ..... pop

which is smoother, but will never sound like a Harley, even with the same pipes.
​

I wonder if this imbalance is why I keep reading about HD riders with the ~800cc engine having to get them bored out to 1100 or whatever it is so they can get some decent get up and go. I've seen all this and the accessories referred to as 'the Harley tax'.

 

[St0nkingByte]

I found a good explanation of the Harley sound here:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/harley3.htm

In a two-cylinder, horizontally opposed engine, the pistons are timed so that one fires on one revolution of the crankshaft and the other fires on the next revolution -- so one of the two pistons fires on every revolution of the crankshaft. This seems logical and gives the engine a balanced feeling. To create this type of engine, the crankshaft has two separate pins for the connecting rods from the pistons. The pins are 180 degrees apart from one another.

A Harley engine has two pistons. The difference in the Harley engine is that the crankshaft has only one pin, and both piston rods connect to it. This design, combined with the V arrangement of the cylinders, means that the pistons cannot fire at even intervals. Instead of one piston firing every 360 degrees, a Harley engine goes like this:

* A piston fires.
* The next piston fires at 315 degrees.
* There is a 405-degree gap.
* A piston fires.
* The next piston fires at 315 degrees.
* There is a 405-degree gap.

And the cycle continues.

At idle, you can hear the pop-pop sound followed by a pause. So the sound of a Harley is pop-pop...pop-pop...pop-pop. That is the unique sound of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Sounds somewhat inefficient to me but hey that's not what HD is about.

 

[roysclockgun]

I have owned a number of Harleys. The only positive event in the ownership of all of them, was that when I sold them, I received more then I had paid for them. My love/hate relationship with Harleys goes back to a 1956 KHK, side valve 55cu.in. in 1959. Probably the best Harley that I had was a '49 EL, 61cu.in. dresser that had been a Boumi Temple parade bike. The thing had about a thousand lights on it and I got them all to work! The first buyer who came along did not asked me to start the engine, he merely wanted to see it lit up before going for his wallet. Then, I had a series of 74cu.in. dressers to include '53 and '66. My last Harley, which I bought new was an '85, 80cu.in. dresser. I fell for the propaganda regarding the block head engine and belt drive. Right out of warrantee, the rear jug began spouting oil and had to be torn down. After more problems, I sold the bike, never again to own a Harley. All of this is anecdotal, of course, but enough negative experiences to convince me not to again get burned by Harley. Now, I understand that Harley engines are being made in Japan, so they may be able to lure me back!!
Steve in Md.

 

[tlwisner]

Check out the M50 at the Suzuki Dealer. That's my input!