The M50 is a great little bike that runs out of steam too early compared to the V-star. It handles well, has good breaks and is usually a good buy. However, the V-star has excellent manners, a motor that is nearly bullet proof and insanely long intervals between vavle adjustments. The V-Star will have a much larger selection aftermarket goodies and is easier to re-sell in the event you decide to move on to the next bike. Remember, you have entered the twilight zone when conversing with this crowd. We have more than our fair share of smarta$$es here, but it's all in good fun.
Suzuki M50 or Yamaha V Star - same cost, which is better? 800cc vs 1100cc
I'm new here and hope to find this to be my new home. I left the Honda Shadow forums when I sold my 1983 VT750 a few weeks back. I now have an opportunity to buy a Suzuki M50 or a Yamaha V Star 1100 for the same money. Both bikes are in great condition with low miles. Given that my wife likes to ride too and the 750 seemed to lack power, is the 800 enough of a jump or is the 1100 the way to go? I'm lured in by the fuel injected liquid cooled M50 over the carburated air cooled V Star but I don't want to get a bike that won't pick up the pace where my 750 lacked. Neither one of us is big. I'm 160lbs and she's 120.
Advice is appreciated. Thanks all.
- Mark
Advice is appreciated. Thanks all.
- Mark
1 - 20 of 25 Posts
An 1100 V-star, from reports I've gotten from people who had them, steers heavily. You'll need strength to handle the bike well. I don't know about the Suzuki.
You can also find reviews of the bikes here:
M50:
http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/suzuki/2005-suzuki-m50-boulevard-17923.html
(I don't know why the link title says it's for 2003 BMWs. It is for the M50)
V-Star 1100
http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/honda-shadow-ace-v-yamaha-vstar-1100-15563.html
M50:
http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/suzuki/2005-suzuki-m50-boulevard-17923.html
(I don't know why the link title says it's for 2003 BMWs. It is for the M50)
V-Star 1100
http://www.motorcycle.com/shoot-outs/honda-shadow-ace-v-yamaha-vstar-1100-15563.html
I've found a ton of V Stars for sale. I had assumed either people didn't like them or they are so popular everyone has an extra. I've found very few M50's for sale so it seems like when I find one, I must be getting a deal.
So there's no concern over the whole air cooled thing?
Also, would you say a fuel injected 800 is near equivalent in power to a carbed 1100?
I've got both sellers standing by. I'm sure they would weigh in if they knew I was asking.
So there's no concern over the whole air cooled thing?
Also, would you say a fuel injected 800 is near equivalent in power to a carbed 1100?
I've got both sellers standing by. I'm sure they would weigh in if they knew I was asking.
No.
The Vstar isn't high enough output for air cooling to make much difference. At least you don't have to worry about coolant leaks and water pumps. The Japanese like to use technology for technology's sake sometimes, not because of any real needs for it. Witness overhead cams on Vtwins with 6000 rpm redlines... completely unecessary.
Fuel injection has many attributes but it won't give you that much HP gain over well set up carbs. No way EFI is gonna make an 800 Vtwim equal to a 1100 Vtwin.I've found a ton of V Stars for sale. I had assumed either people didn't like them or they are so popular everyone has an extra. I've found very few M50's for sale so it seems like when I find one, I must be getting a deal.
So there's no concern over the whole air cooled thing?
Also, would you say a fuel injected 800 is near equivalent in power to a carbed 1100?
I've got both sellers standing by. I'm sure they would weigh in if they knew I was asking.
The Vstar isn't high enough output for air cooling to make much difference. At least you don't have to worry about coolant leaks and water pumps. The Japanese like to use technology for technology's sake sometimes, not because of any real needs for it. Witness overhead cams on Vtwins with 6000 rpm redlines... completely unecessary.
There are more VStars for sale because it was a much bigger seller than the M50.I've found a ton of V Stars for sale. I had assumed either people didn't like them or they are so popular everyone has an extra. I've found very few M50's for sale so it seems like when I find one, I must be getting a deal.
So there's no concern over the whole air cooled thing?
Also, would you say a fuel injected 800 is near equivalent in power to a carbed 1100?
I've got both sellers standing by. I'm sure they would weigh in if they knew I was asking.
Don't let the air-cooled thing deter you. On low RPM motors, liquid cooling and 4 valve heads don't mean squat. The AC motors look nicer anyway.
I'd go with the Yamaha but that's just me.
Pretty simple really- Suzuki has only made the M50 since 2005. Yamaha has been building the V-stars since 1999- I think. The power output on the V-star and teh M50 should be similar but the torque on the V-Star wins the show. They've been making air-cooled bikes for 100+ years- Don't think for a minute that you should have problems out of the bike- unless you leave it sitting for an hour + idling.I've found a ton of V Stars for sale. I had assumed either people didn't like them or they are so popular everyone has an extra. I've found very few M50's for sale so it seems like when I find one, I must be getting a deal.
So there's no concern over the whole air cooled thing?
Also, would you say a fuel injected 800 is near equivalent in power to a carbed 1100?
I've got both sellers standing by. I'm sure they would weigh in if they knew I was asking.
The bikes depreciate at about the same rate so 2005 models are worth about $1300-1500 less than new retail. So, for me it goes back to which would be easier to sell in an emergency- my pick would be the Yamaha.
"So there's no concern over the whole air cooled thing?"
No, none. I had a 650 v-star in Arizona. And the summers there tend to get a little warm.
Not directed at you personally, but why do people always get concerned about air-cooled bikes? I've always found them to be less troublesome. Less to go wrong. That's not to say I don't like water cooled bikes. I don't really have a preference, but it was more in defense of the air cooled option.
No, none. I had a 650 v-star in Arizona. And the summers there tend to get a little warm.
Not directed at you personally, but why do people always get concerned about air-cooled bikes? I've always found them to be less troublesome. Less to go wrong. That's not to say I don't like water cooled bikes. I don't really have a preference, but it was more in defense of the air cooled option.
Is there any cruiser that doesn't?An 1100 V-star, from reports I've gotten from people who had them, steers heavily. You'll need strength to handle the bike well. I don't know about the Suzuki.
Yeah, it's weird isn't it. One of the most bullet proof motors in the world was the old Suz GSF1200 motors. You can't break it! My Yamaha XJ was reliable as they get. Never let me down. Water-cooled is nice if your commute involves 30 miles (1 hour plus) of stopped traffic, but in most cases cruiser owners never really get the true benefits of water-cooling, anyway."So there's no concern over the whole air cooled thing?"
No, none. I had a 650 v-star in Arizona. And the summers there tend to get a little warm.
Not directed at you personally, but why do people always get concerned about air-cooled bikes? I've always found them to be less troublesome. Less to go wrong. That's not to say I don't like water cooled bikes. I don't really have a preference, but it was more in defense of the air cooled option.
The M50 also looks like they cut corners on quality sometimes. The fenders and tank look more plastic looking. And it also has Suzuki's wonderful paint schemes...which usually cheapen up a bike. In all black it looks much better. But I guess that is the case with most bikes.
Doesn't the M50 have better ground clearance/lean angle, though? I thought I read that on an article somewhere that the M50 was more "sporty"...for a cruiser at least.
Doesn't the M50 have better ground clearance/lean angle, though? I thought I read that on an article somewhere that the M50 was more "sporty"...for a cruiser at least.
Cornering is better with the M50 and the Redbike looks pretty cool, but the Midnight Stars are sweet looking little rides. Also, you can get the Sivlerado version and never have to buy a thing for it.The M50 also looks like they cut corners on quality sometimes. The fenders and tank look more plastic looking. And it also has Suzuki's wonderful paint schemes...which usually cheapen up a bike. In all black it looks much better. But I guess that is the case with most bikes.
Doesn't the M50 have better ground clearance/lean angle, though? I thought I read that on an article somewhere that the M50 was more "sporty"...for a cruiser at least.
A 750 not enough for two fairly light people? Glad I don't ride cruisers.
I remember riding 2 up from Worms to Frankfurt and back on an SR500. On the Autobahn. In the dark.
I remember riding 2 up from Worms to Frankfurt and back on an SR500. On the Autobahn. In the dark.
It's all in what you are comfortable doing. I've heard stories of people doing two up on a 250 virago across several states and "were quite comfortable the entire trip". Me? It would have annoyed the hell out of me. I took a virago on the highway once. Sure I got it up to an indicated 85mph, but I'll be damned if I thought it was a comfortable ride. It was screaming and vibrating. I felt like a Giraffe on a hopped-up unicycle stuck in the carpool lane.
Was I really going 85? Not sure. The speedometer was probably off by just a little bit.
Was I really going 85? Not sure. The speedometer was probably off by just a little bit.
haha, good imageryI felt like a Giraffe on a hopped-up unicycle stuck in the carpool lane.
I've found that bike speedos tend to get increasingly inaccurate as speed rises. The speedo on my Tuono reads about 4-5 mph faster than actual speed once the 60 mph barrier is crossed.Was I really going 85? Not sure. The speedometer was probably off by a just a little bit.
Pretty good for an Italian bike
Makes me feel really fast though!
My Ducati ST4 was (GPS measured) 8 mph over and my GT1000 seems to be at least 10.haha, good imagery
I've found that bike speedos tend to get increasingly inaccurate as speed rises. The speedo on my Tuono reads about 4-5 mph faster than actual speed once the 60 mph barrier is crossed.
Makes me feel really fast though!
Well yeah. A lot of my friends have cruisers in various sizes, and we've noticed that the 1100 cc Yamaha causes problems. One of our riders had one and had TERRIBLE issues with it. She finally sold it and bought a Vulcan that handles much, much more easily. Two other friends have or had 1100 cc Yamahas and have similar comments about it. It's just not easy to move around, and that's in comparison with other bikes.Is there any cruiser that doesn't?
It's far from unrideable if you are prepared to use your strength with it.
I included the "off by just a little bit" as a bit of sarcasm as the Virago is kind of known for being...optimistic...about it's rate of travel 
How is the Retro Duc? Better than you hoped? Or not?
I ask because I really want one.
I ask because I really want one.
1 - 20 of 25 Posts
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