Travel on a Suzuki C50

Like a true motorcyclist I prefer riding in the summer, and like a typical motorcyclist when Fall rolls around I tell myself I prefer this season. The changing leaves ad to your favorite road’s beauty, and crisp air means you can ride with all your gear strapped on without overheating. So, when Suzuki phoned me up asking if I would like to sample the 2014 Boulevard C50T I disregarded the cooler weather forecasted for the next few days and headed to a dealership to pick-up the cruiser.

In the North American market Suzuki has been fairly dormant, begrudgingly refreshing models slightly when they absolutely have to and, launching uninspiring models from time-to-time. The TU250 micro bike was their most recent entry-level offering, a GSX-R with uniquely coloured plastics was how they celebrated the 1 millionth GSX-R produced last year and for 2013 the Boulevard C90T was the most exiting thing to come from the Japanese brand. Although any of the three models previously mentioned would be of more relevance the C50T was one of the few models not tied-up with the demo fleet out traveling from Suzuki dealer to Suzuki dealer from one side of the country to the other.

The Boulevard C50 trim levels are positions with the C50 as the base offering priced at a very competitive $8, 899 offered only in black, then for an additional $1, 500 you can step-up to the C50SE which also comes only in black but is nicely dressed with a windscreen, passenger back rest and saddle bags. The top dog is the C50T that has a sticker price of $10, 499 and is decorated with trinkets, but I’ll get to that later. For the C50T the only refresh from last year is two new colour options; a muted white and light grey, or a black and rich red. Thankfully I had the latter two-toned paint option which enhances the steed’s curb appeal. Lifting a leg over the C50T is easy as its modest 27.6 in. seat height will accommodate all but the most vertically challenged. Poking the starter button wakens the 805cc (49.1 cu in) 45 degree V-twin and a short blip of the throttle provides a deep, but inoffensive, rumble from the dual chrome exhaust pipes.