My friend Ken bought a C50 in July of 2009, after owning a 750 BMW for years. November 2009 I bought a V-Star 950T. In October 2010, he traded for a V-Star 950T.

The C50 was "seviced" at the dealer for its' 600 mile check-up. Around $400 & I'm pretty sure they did not adjust the valves. I can say that because it didn't sound any different until I adjusted the valves at 6000 miles, a ROYAL PITA. I only did it because the local dealer lied to Ken & told him they needed to order shims to do the job. You also have to check the cooling system & change the final drive fluid.

The 950 is aircooled & has a belt.

Soon after that, he had the rear tire replaced. The dealer didn't bother to tell him the rim had a huge dent from hitting a curb. I found that & straightened it a month later when he picked up a screw & used his roadside asssistance to have it brought to my place. BTW, the dealer charged $45.95+ tax for a Kenda tube.

The 950 has mags. (tubeless)

He traded at 15 months and just over 12,000 miles, time for another valve adjustment & not too  long before another tire.

The 950 gets a valve adjustment at 16,000 miles.

The 950 consistently gets better fuel mileage than the C50. We rode many miles together, filling at the same time, same stations. The final straw was the Three Sisters, near Bandera. On a 117 mile stretch, I got over 59 mpg, C50 = 44 mpg.

When we started for home the next day, we stopped at Destination Cycles in Kerrville for his brother to get a helmet. Before we left, he traded. But not for the price the salesman wanted. Nothing like having someone with you who knows more about the bike than the salesman!The final deal was made with the owner of the business.

The V-Star 950 is more like the Savage than any of the Suzuki cruisers.