Been window shopping on CL for bikes - like the look of the boulevard S50.  Looks a lot like the S40 with the low seat, etc, simple lines.  I know it is v-twin, shaft drived, air cooled, etc. but it looks like it might be more economical than comparable hondas and kawasakis.  Any opinions/scuttlebut on these bikes?

water-cooled...

...good power, top heavy, more cramped seating, more difficult and expensive to maintain....

I have been looking at these as well.  I have also been wondering about how the leg length feel for them.  I'm going to try and find a used one that someone will let me test drive so I can feel it.

the S 50 is a good bike, if you are looking for a lot more power over the S 40, you won't get it from the S 50, it's ~150cc's more power but it weighs ~100 lbs more so it almost cancels out. the seating position is the same between the S 40 and S 50, so if you are comfortable with the S 40 you will feel the same on the S 50,  depending on your weight I guess will depend on how much you feel the pick up speed at speed, it accelerates faster at speed at least.

If you want a bigger bike without the big bike weight try an S 83, same styling, almost exactly the same seating as a S 50 just a bit more reach for both feet and hands.

The S 50 is a bear to work on though, it has two carbs, and 2 air filters, the air filters can be a pain to get to, I want to change mine soon, and I'm kinda dreading it a bit, you have to take the carbs and tank and a bunch of stuff off to check the valves, then, well, valves are valves so there's 4 for each cylinder, with an S 83, the valves have hydraulic lifters so you don't have to worry with them.

so if you really want something different, get an S 83/intruder 1400

the handling is okay, I guess, I can't really tell you too much I do a lot of straight line cruising, no real turny roads around here so I don't have much experience knowing how turns should feel on a good handling bike.

gas mileage is 40-50 or so, and riding habits can make that vary drastically.  

they are built solid, they have a 20 year production history so there are lots of books and internet resources and parts and everything isn't hard to find.

personally I wish I would have kept my S 40 and then got a S 83 or a sport bike/triumph bonneville if I found one that was a great buy.

there's not enough of a difference between the S 40 and S 50 to really justify a change and the S 40 has a lot more real customizable options and is more fun to work on.  with the S 50, you get what you get, doesn't make a good bobber, no way to make it into a cafe style.

hope that helps

oh, well, just a small addition, the s-50, s-83 can make pretty cool choppers with a long raked front end, if you're into that kinda thing  

Tanker2Biker wrote on 12/22/10 at 17:46:52:


tomorrow no good, sent you a pm