Suzuki C50 (Volusia) or Triumph America?

[Aquaduct]

Well, to be perfectly honest, I don't think maintenance of any sort is too much of a concern for you. Most riders in North America (I assume that's where you are) put relatively few miles on bikes, so maintenance never really becomes much of an issue.

However, I put 500-600 miles a week on my bike commuting and I do the actual work on the bike, so here's the perspective from someone who is concerned with these things.

In general, there are 3 maintenance "issues" that matter, the chain, the carburetors, and the valves. Most of the other maintenance items (spark plugs, oil changes, etc.) Aren't that tough to do and they typically are spaced out enough that you won't notice unless you ride a lot.

Of the 3, chains are the easiest to deal with. Should just lube them every couple hundred miles. Just takes a little spray. Nothing to it really. It takes me 5 minutes once a week, although real maintenance nuts will claim you shouldn't wait that long. I wouldn't let a chain drive influence your decision.

Likewise carburetors. Fuel injection doesn't need adjusting where carbs need a choke and sometimes some twists of the adjustment screws. My bike has 4 carbs and every now and again they need to be dialed in to work right with each other. And my bike has a fairing and other problems in getting at the carbs to do the adjusting. The C50 has fuel injection and the America has carbs. But the America only has 2 carbs. And they are out there in the open. Yeah, slight disadvantage, but not much.

Valve adjustment is the biggest headache. You actually have to get in the top of the engine. And there's a gasket that can break when you do it. On my bike, getting at the carbs is duck soup compared to the valves. And I've got a 4 cylinder with 4 valves per cylinder (16 valves to adjust). And to top it off, my bike requires an adjustment every 6000 miles (every 3 months for me).

Sheesh.

But I don't think that will matter to you. Both bikes are 2 cylinders, maybe 2 valves/cylinder? Everything's real accessible on both bikes. And the adjustment interval for the America is 12,000 miles (don't know about the C50). I'm betting that's every year or 3 for you.

Both bikes are fine machines and I wouldn't let maintenance sway you much.

Of course, I'm a Brit bike fan. I ride a Triumph Trophy 1200. Mostly because it fits me and they're just generally stylish, unique, and cool.

So get the America.

[oehlerts]

WOW! Everyone has been so helpful, I really appreciate all of it. I'll try to answer some of the things that have been brought up in this discussion to clarify some things.

to Lion_Lady regarding the type of riding I want to do: I am looking for a bike I can commute with, but I also want one that I can take long road trips with. I live in the Seattle area and we have some beautiful places up here for riding. Not to mention riding down to the Oregon Coast. And as ZooTech mentioned, I have gone to the shop and sat on many a cruiser, standard and sportbike (my boyfriend has a sportbike that I've ridden also). I have done a ton of research online and in bike shops, which is how I narrowed it down to these two bikes. Comfort, reliability, type of riding, word-of-mouth and professional reviews have all helped me. You are right, deciding the type of riding you want to do is very important in the type of bike to choose.

to Sevulturus: I have taken the MSF course; in fact, the instructors asked me if I'd be willing to be an instructor after more experience. Thus, my search for a bike (you have to have one and actively ride to be an instructor). I agree that the course is very important for beginning riders.

to ZooTech and Sevulturus regarding my sitting position and bike comfort: I have found these two bikes to be the most comfortable so far. I have a slight problem with my right knee and foot, and being able to stretch my right leg out a bit is much more comfortable and I have fewer problems than when it is bent too far and back (like on a sportbike).

to Aquaduct: Thank you so much for your input. Even if you don't have experience directly with the America, it's so hard to find anyone that has a Triumph at all (at least for me!). Your input is greatly appreciated! Although now I'm even more torn as I was leaning toward the C50 before you chimed in! HA!

Again, thanks for the input, looks like I'll be back at the bike shop this weekend sitting on them again!

If anyone else has any experience with the America or Triumph's in general, please let me know!

[Sev]

My Aunt has problems with her back on her V-star 1100 during long trips. While she can handle my Uncles goldwing fine for a full day trip.

The V-Star 1100's stock seat umm...well...SUCKS! It's sloped forward and puts pressure on your tailbone. But you can't throw the baby out with the bath water so, she just needs a new seat.

Which is why she had a flat seat with a fold to the upper area made out of memory foam. There is nothing that actually touches the tailbone unless you scoot all the way back on the seat, and with thicker softer foam which also prevents her from bouncing on the hard plastic backing she has after many thousand km identified the problem, herself, as the way she has to sit to reach the controls. Her spine being straight up and down creates a great deal of pressure on her lower vertibrae. Floorboards helped because they will shift the way your hips sit, but she still has problems on longer trips.

A cruiser sticks your arms and legs out in front of you, which will force your spine into a stacked postion, every vertibrae is directly above the next. So it'll compact over the course of the ride. Switching to something that requires a slight lean forward solves this problem.

Ideally, she would be buying something that she has had the chance to test drive, for a long time. Like borrow a friends bike for the day or something similar, but that usually isn't an option.

Bike test drives are virtually non-existant. We have all rolled off the showroom floor with our fingers crossed.

Which is why I said Ideally, and friends bike, and usually isn't an option.

[vol245]

Get the Triumph - everyone rides the Harley clones.

[bikeguy joe]

I have a Volusia, it's great for trips, around town or freeway. Good all purpose bike. I ride it to work and on weekend trips up to a couple hundred miles one way.

I can't comment on the Triumph other than to say it's a sweet looking bike.

The Volusia (C-50) is reliable as a rock.

Now having said that, I will say I'm 5'9" tall and the Volusia fits me perfectly. The seat is big, wide and comfortable, but the passenger accomedations are bad. (my wife can go about 40 miles before she's hitting me on the back and saying "when are we stopping?")

IMHO the Volusia is an aquired taste as far as the "looks" dept goes-(kinda looks like and 'anime version' of a Harley)

I have aquired that taste!