Trying to decide between Vulcan and Boulevard?

Question

I am wanting something to commute to work Monday through Friday, an hour each way. I also want to travel on weekends at times.

I have a little Honda Rebel 250, as a learner bike, but I'm ready to trade it in for a real cruiser.

I'm 5'8 and can touch flat footed on each bike. The vulcan seemed a little to wide to be comfortable but a better seat may fix that.

What are the pros and cons of these bikes or what are your experiences?

Answer 1

Check out the Victory Vegas Low. Any Victory dealer will allow you to test ride one.

Answer 2

Yamaha 650 V Star

Kawasaki Vulcan 500 is a nice bike, very good engine power for a 500

STAY AWAY from the Suzuki Boulevard's S50-C50-M50, junk, made cheap and generic and very much underpowered and heavy

but the best in my opinion is the Yamaha 650 V Star, rock solid reliable, easy to ride, low seat height, powerful, even more powerful than the Suzuki 50's and the Honda 750

Answer 3

Put this between your legs

if you dare

Answer 4

I haven't ridden the Suzuki. I have ridden a Vulcan Custom on several occasions and really like that bike. The V-Star would be an excellent choice as well.

Answer 5

Check out the articles in Women rider's now about the bikes.

Here is an article on the boulevard:

http://www.womenridersnow.com/PublicFile...

If the vulcan seems to wide for you now, it will really cause a problem if you are riding it every day. I would say find someone who has one or a dealership that will maybe let you test drive used ones and see how you feel.

Happy riding.

Answer 6

I can't speak for the Boulevard.

But I owned the Kawasaki Vulcan 500.  I love it. It is easy to ride and enough power for hwy cruising.  Sounds great and great looking (lots of compliments).  The older Vulcans also had belt drive for low maintenance.

The 500 cc Vulcan looks even better than the larger vulcans because the exhaust pipes are on both sides. The larger Vulcan look weird with the left side with no pipes.

Good Luck...

Answer 7

I would say what ever feels right (ergonomically) and then a second to what makes your heart go thump.  If you have a dealer that sells both suzuki and kawasaki you can jump from bike to bike.  I learned on a kawasaki vulcan 750 and I had no complaints.  I love the positive neutral finder on the kawasaki.

I recently went bike shopping myself with plans on buying either a kawasaki or suzuki, but fell in love with a Harley Lowrider that I found while my hubby was picking out his harley.  It just felt good for me.  So, point being, sit on many bikes and find what is "just right" for you.

Reading lots of reviews of the bikes may influence what to sit on, but stradle your steed and give her a wiggle and you will know.

Oh, and I was out to buy a Kawasaki vulcan 500cc at one time and it is a great bike.  I was upset when they switch to chain drive.