Thinking about upgrading

[Wandering Man]

I took my '06 Suzuki in for its 11,000 mile tune-up, and learned a few things.

First, I was told I have a VZ800, not an M50, which is what I thought I had. What's that mean?

The mechanic told me this, the salesman said its the same bike. I bought the bike second hand from an individual.

Second, I was told why my wife can't ride comfortably on the back seat, the rear suspension is pretty short, and it jars her when I hit bumps, pot holes, etc.

So, I'm thinking about getting a little bigger bike with better suspension. I mostly ride it to and from work, but I'd also like to be able to take my wife on short (less than an hour) trips occassionally.

She's got a bad back, so I'm hoping to get something with better rear suspension.

My questions are:

1) Am I being sold a bill of goods on my bike in the hopes of getting me to trade it in?

2) Would I be getting a better ride by going from an 800 class to a 1500 class bike?

And 3) Any recommendations here?

Thanks,

WM

[internationalballer]

I not 100% sure on how the suzuki's ride but I can tell you the the V-star 1100's ride very smooth thats what I have. I have also heard the new 1300 v-stars are even better. They have quite a bit of cusion in the suspension. Not sure if the 1300 rear seats are any better than the 1100 although I will tell you my wife complains the rear seat isnt the best for long rides. Another thing you could check is to see if teh rear spring or springs (I think the suzukis have 2 rear springs or shocks) are adjustable, you may be able to soften it up a bit.

[Wandering Man]

I have no mechanical skills, so I'm just repeating what I was told:

That the bike has a soft-tail like suspension, and the rear shock is short, giving it very little room to absorb a hit.

WM

[black27696]

I think the best thing would be to go ahead and bring your wife to a showroom to see how the rear seat feels. Based on the sitting still comfort of your bike and the sitting still comfort of a different one it shouldn't be difficult to feel the difference. Organizing a test ride with the dealer might also be an option.

[Wandering Man]

Organizing a test ride with the dealer might also be an option.

That's what I hope to do when we get ready to actually make a decision.

WM

[black27696]

Just don't make a snap decision, gotta make sure when you're throwing money around.

[Rich22]

Is the suspension just stiff or are you bottoming out?

Many shocks are adjustable if yours isn't, have you looked into whether you get an after market shock that is adjustable or has more travel?

Is the bike in a stock set up or has it been slamed?

[Wandering Man]

I bottom out when wife is onboard, and she doesn't weigh all that much.

They shocks are stock. This is what they are supposed to look like (Not my bike, just the best I could find):

http://www.thunderpress.net/MONTH_ARTICLE-pdfs/2007/0907/ShotgunShocks/04ShotgunShockRevClp.jpg


Harley's got a pretty good Adobe Flash at there site for 2008 bikes. You've got to click on Softails, pick a bike, then click on features, then hover on the image of the bike over where the suspension should be, and click on More Info:

http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/2008_Motorcycles/2008_Motorcycles.jsp?locale=en_US


Short strokes.

Yeah, they are adjustable. We haven't tried out the adjusment, yet, but I can't see with that set up that it could be much of an improvement.

I'll remember this when we decide it is time to get a new bike.

In the meantime, the bike is doing what we bought it for: Inexpensive, gets me to and from work, I didn't get anxious when my grown sons tried to learn how to ride on it, and I didn't cry when one of them dropped it.

Next one will be bigger, newer, more to worry about, but also something my wife can ride with me.

WM

[black27696]

Well, if you adjust them you won't bottom out, but the suspension is stiffer so the ride might not be as enjoyable. Might just be time for a new bike.

[Wandering Man]

I finally broke down and tore into the side of the bike.

The previous owner had set the tension to a "7" - the stiffest setting. With much effort, I was able to move it back to a "4". There isn't much room down there, and I didn't feel like learning how to remove the battery box to make things easier on me. :rolleyes:

Anyway, we took the bike to church Sunday morning, and then out to lunch. Wife says the ride is much better. The bike gives a little on the bumps.

I've also found the Mauder M50 Secret Hidaway, and have found much encouragement there.

LINKS TO COMPETITIVE FORUMS NOT ALLOWED HERE- SORRY

I'm still not sure why this bike rates its own forum page, but, I am now less inclined to go looking for a bigger bike. The bike is doing everything I bought it for, now that the ride is a tad softer.

Looks like the local dealerships will have to wait another couple of years before they get my money.

WM

[black27696]

Sounds good. So apparently you weren't bottoming out, your bike had just become a hard tail thanks to the previous owner. :-)

[Wandering Man]

Yeah, the Softail turned into a hardtail, resulting in a soretail!

WM

(Maico, sorry about the link)

(no problem, rule #9)

[Rich22]

Glad that worked out.

[cookietriker]

Hi,

I have an M800 which is the European version of the M50. I can tell you with some experience that there is no need to change the bike just for comfort reasons. My wife routinely joins me on rides (baby sitter permiting!) and doesn't complain about the comfort, but there are things to change from stock for longer rides: -

Rear seat - I bought a C50/Volousia rear seat, as it is far thicker and wider than the M50 stock seat.

Rear Peg extenders - My wife has long legs, so these really helped.

Back rest - we found that the HH back rest is a good choice as it is higher and offers more comfort.

With all the kit on the shock setting of 4 sounds about right, but you also want to make sure that your tyre pressures are correct.

My M800 will curise at 80+, 2 up, with all the kit on no problems and as an example we are riding through Europe (France, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg) 2 up, in a couple of months and my wife no longer worries about the comfort factor

[Wandering Man]

Hi,

I have an M800 which is the European version of the M50. I can tell you with some experience that there is no need to change the bike just for comfort reasons. My wife routinely joins me on rides (baby sitter permiting!) and doesn't complain about the comfort, but there are things to change from stock for longer rides: -

Rear seat - I bought a C50/Volousia rear seat, as it is far thicker and wider than the M50 stock seat.

Rear Peg extenders - My wife has long legs, so these really helped.

Back rest - we found that the HH back rest is a good choice as it is higher and offers more comfort.

With all the kit on the shock setting of 4 sounds about right, but you also want to make sure that your tyre pressures are correct.

My M800 will curise at 80+, 2 up, with all the kit on no problems and as an example we are riding through Europe (France, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg) 2 up, in a couple of months and my wife no longer worries about the comfort factor

Thanks. We have an after market rear seat with back rest, and the footpegs seem about right.

Wife is really happy with the shock adjustment, and now enjoys our short trips together.

In the process of making the adjustment, I dislodged the aftermarket front seat, and realized the guy had just kinda glued it down. The seat didn't fit the bike.

I've put the original seat back on, and found it to be a bit hard. I'll probably be looking for a new seat for myself in a few months.

Other than that, all is well.

WM

[02cutominfl]

I was going to say the same thing Cookie brought up. If you like the overall design and look of your bike, it's a whole lot easier and cheaper to add or change things on the bike you already have, especially if it's paid for or close to it, than to buy a new one. Becaue let's face it, no one buys a stock bike, beit harley, suzuki, yamaha, whatever, and keeps it stock.

[viragochic]

When Hubbs bought his V-star 1100 and took me for the first ride I hated it with a capital H. We went back to the dealer and bought some new Mustang seats with better cushion and a bigger backrest and now I'm comfy as can be back there. It was a $500 investment that was worth every cent.