Suzuki C50 trike?

[WindyOne]

In the last few days 2 Suzuki C50 trikes have come on the market used. Both have low miles, one was ran off the road. I tried to find the torque specs on the C50 but couldn't. The engine is a 805cc so I am thinking maybe the torque should be in the 50 ish range? does anyone have any knowledge of these little trikes?

 

[ultraboy]

These are the specs from a 2007 C-50 that I found on Suzuki's web site: Horsepower: 45.1 wheel horsepower
Torque: 45.7 (62 Nm) @ 4000 rpm

 

[WindyOne]

Sorry to see I wasn't far off in the torque amount. This trike doesn't have any storage just a luggage rack on the back. It just seems like this is too small of an engine to be a trike.

 

[hitime]

My wife has a friend with one of the C50 Lehman trikes. She loves it. She doesn't often tour on it - instead she will ride on the back of her husband's GW trike. She says it won't keep up on the highway at 75-80 mph, but for tooling around on the leisurely day rides on country roads, it is just fine. Has a very small trunk and a luggage rack. Probably enough to carry an extra jacket and rain gear for changing weather, but not much else unless you have a T-bag on the rack.<br />
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I seriously considered getting one when we were first looking at triking. Decided I would outgrow it too quickly. Still would like to have one for the wife to ride on the day rides. Maybe I will still get one one of these days.

 

[WindyOne]

Hitime Thanks for confirming the useage of the trike. I was afraid with this small of an engine that it couldn't keep up at higher speeds. The lack of good size trunk space is also a minus. For around town kind of fun I guess it would be ok.

 

[ultraboy]

I'll agree that it's underpowered for a crusing trike. There aren't many performance upgrades out there either, however, there is a PC-3 USB unit available for it. In 2010, Suzuki took the 805 cc powerplant a bit further, adding dual plugs and a 3-D mapped fuel injection system, along with better pipes. Still, the factory figures show 53 HP and 62 NM torque, or 45.7 ft. lb. (using 1 NM = .7375 ft. lb.)

 

[meredog]

i bought one last spring and have put almost 10,000 trouble free miles on it. Wife and I rode it about 1200 miles (round trip) to see our daughter in Va.<br />
rode it 70--75 all the way and averaged about 36 mpg. The only time it really felt "challenged " was when we were climbing a mountain that resembled Mt Everest getting to her house.<br />
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We are now looking to sell it and get a larger trike so we can pull a trike hearse. If we could afford it we would keep it also but----------First 9500.00 takes it<br />
<br />
<img src="http://www.buggy.com/Images/boothillexpress3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br />
<br />
<br />
no reverse but it is not difficult to back manually---Daughter lives east and north of Alderson. My wife and I are wintering in Mission Tx and will be returning to Michigan first week of April-----It steers easy and needs Nothing done to it. We are presently riding the trike every day<br />
<br />
I have added the following items to this trike<br />
350.00 Gman Bullydog FI adjuster <br />
125.00 chrome air cleaner'tool box cover"<br />
950.00 in new tires and premium chrome wheels on rear new tire on front<br />
425.00 stereo system with amplifier<br />
150.00 storage box with chrome rack<br />
325.00 chrome engine rack and foot pegs<br />
350.00 gel built seat cushions<br />
125.00 turn signal beeper indicators<br />
and more<br />
<br />
photos i just took can be viewed @ <a href="http://s222.photobucket.com/albums/dd3/herbert44/Suzuki%20Blvd%20Trike/" target="_blank">Suzuki Blvd Trike pictures by herbert44 - Photobucket</a>

 

[John Luciano]

U have to join to view your photos. Why would you want to tow a Hearse ???

 

[ThirdWheel]

John to haul beer, is there any better reason? If there is, let me know and I will put it under consideration.:beerchug:

 

[WindyOne]

Sssh don't let UB know this can be converted to a beer hauler.

 

[vonkcommish]

I have a 2003 Suzuki Volusia trike, it's a little under powered but it runs along nicely at 68-72 mph on the e-way. It can handle the back roads just fine. I've taken it on several 150-200 mile day trips with no problem and get 36-44 mpg. I bought it with 20,000 miles on the clock and have put 2,000 miles on it my self. It gets more looks than my last 3 Goldwing motorcycles combined. I wouldn't be afraid to take it cross county one up and plan to take it for an extended trip this summer. I call it a "Willy's Jeep" as compared to my Goldwings but it's fun in a different sort of way. I think it is pretty much bullet proof. It's not fun at all in 3:30 in the afternoon traffic. Not enough motor to get you out of the way.
This is my first trike after a horrific crash (10 operations bad.....20 months and more of healing...good Lord was good to me......no it wasn't my fault) on the wing.
Have Bike/Trike Will Travel

 

[Duffy]

I had an 05 C50 bike (bought new) and I put 24K miles on it in 3 years. Nice enough bike but when loaded to the gills it didn't like the mountains. Traded it for the Vulcan 1500.

 

[HDI_IA]

Glad to see this thread about the C50 trike. I just joined your forum to learn a bit more about trike riding and other things in general, so this is my first post here.

I just finished a short time back building a Suzuki C50 trike for my Father. He's 76 now and has issues with balance due partially to his arthritis....this has kept him from riding on 2, so now I have him on 3.

I have read a bit about the lack of power, but have not really seen that on his. Just for a background I'm the Technical Moderator for the Intruder Alert website and have had many years experience with their cruisers.

When we first got the C50 I too thought it was a little lacking in power, but I have since put a Gman Industries Bully controller (to replace the OEM FI controller) and am using a modified K&N filter. I also have V&H cruzer pipes on it as well.

After my Father went down the last time (couple miles an hour so he was not hurt) I started looking for a kit and didn't want a 'training wheels' kit for him. I ended up using a Cass County Choppers trike kit.

The install was pretty easy and it was nice having the hydraulic rear brake that the original didn't have.

I have put the trike through it's paces and so far I have not had any issues getting it up to 90 miles an hour. Did have some slow speed wobble issues, but they where resolved via a Lehman Tramp steering stabilizer addition.

This is the trike after completion....Still doing a little fine tuning

Anyway I stopped by to learn a bit more about trikes and riding them compared to riding a standard bike....Really look forward to hearing what everyone has to say about trikes and all.

 

[Nana]

You've built a great trike for your dad. He is lucky to have your help! Welcome to TrikeTalk. Please suggest that your dad reads through the information in this thread: http://www.triketalk.com/forum/general-discussion/242-experianced-trike-riders-please-post-here.html
Our experienced members add notes to it, all in the hope of making the transition easier for those moving to three from two wheels.

 

[MarciaG]

I'm really glad to see this. I just triked my C-50. It does 70mph, no problem. Haven't had it any faster yet. I have an outrigger kit (triggtrikes). If I'd known the licensing laws and had known about Cass County, I would have gone that route. Glad to know it's an option if I have to.....

MarciaG

 

[Gorilla]

nice trike welcome aboard

 

[HDI_IA]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments. I really enjoyed building this trike for my Father in hopes that it keeps us both mobile since it is just the two of us left.

Honestly I kind of went into this blind which is something I seldom do, but it was like I wasn't getting a lot of info on trikes with the exception of the Lehman product.

The one thing that really stands out for me with this conversion is the change from a rear drum brake to the rear hydraulic brake with a pretty beefy rotor.

As soon as I can I will take more pictures from up under the trike to show any others that might be giving this kit consideration a little more info. It is always kind of nice to be able to see something before you purchase, but I didn't have that option....So I'll try to make it available to others.

I am still extremely pleased with how well this trike rides and turns. It's working very well for my Father and that's pretty much all I ask of it!

Oh and I will be posting some more pictures as he did put the mudflaps on with some brushes (you'll see in the pictures). It seems to work very well for him and we did up some flaps that have tweety bird on them.....Everyone gets a chuckle out of seeing it ThumbUp

 

[MarciaG]

Thanks HDI. Did the kit come with good directions? I may actually have to swap out my "outrigger kit" for a true trike and have been considering Cass County. I'd love to know more of the technical stuff. I'll look forward to seeing the pictures too!

MarciaG

 

[HDI_IA]

The instructions where not too bad, but I think they are missing a few things. They should have a parts list that explains all that comes in the kit and then there should be some pictures as to what goes where.

I would suggest if you getting one to look the instructions BEFORE you start the build and if you have any issues talk with Ron at Cass.

Also you will have to make your own hydraulic line for the brake. For me is was not an issue as I've done this MANY times in the past for friends and myself.

Take your time with the build....I'd say anywhere from 4 to 8 hours to get the kit installed.

 

[Ol' Grey]

HDI IA........Good on ya for building the trike for your Dad and it came out GREAT! ThumbUp

Have been maintaining a 2002 Suzuki/Lehman trike (VS800) for a friend and it'll cruise easily at 75 mph, no problem.

Noticed that you're active with the Intruder Alert cafe and without meaning to hijack the thread, was wondering if I could pick your brain a bit here. The owner of this '02 Intruder trike wants more sound from the exhaust, but I'm not interested in doing extensive mods, re-jetting, etc.

My experience has been that if one alters both intake and exhaust, then a re-jet is pretty much a must-do item. But if one alters only intake OR exhaust (one or the other, but not both) and is able to maintain the proper back pressure if choosing to do an exhaust mod, that a re-jet isn't always needed.

Have noticed that the stock cross-over tube is between the mufflers and not between the headers on this VS800. Do you know if anyone from the Intruder Alert cafe has been able to simply change out the mufflers (only) with some aftermarket slip-ons, while keeping the intake stock, to gain more sound, retain the needed back pressure and not have to re-jet ?

I may experiment with some EMGO Shorties (still have to measure the stock headers to see if they'll fit) and if it doesn't work out, I can always put the stock mufflers back on. Any input would be appreciated........

Thanx and Ride Safe........