The Suzuki Classic Cruiser bikes capture all the kinetic energy of the crowded boulevard on a hot August night. And right at the head of the lineup is the Boulevard C90, the baddest cruiser on the block. With its long-stroke, 45-degree V-twin powerplant, the Boulevard C90 cranks out monstrous amounts of torque, which you can tap into for a raw rush of acceleration in any gear.

2008 Suzuki Boulevard C90

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2008 Suzuki Boulevard C90
  • Engine/Motor: four-stroke, air/oil cooled, 45 degree V-twin, SOHC, 6-valves
  • Transmission: 5-speed gearbox with shaft final drive

2007 Sea-Doo RXP

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2007 Sea-Doo RXP
  • Engine/Motor: four-stroke, air/oil cooled, 45 degree V-twin, SOHC, 6-valves
  • Transmission: 5-speed gearbox with shaft final drive
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

 

Introduction


Suzuki built the Boulevard C90 as a motorcycle that will be equally at home both in the city and on the wide open highway. That’s where you can kick back and enjoy its wonderfully spacious riding position, witch lets you and your passenger stretch out and ride in comfort all day long. Another thing meant to attract is its bold styling, lustrous paint and sparkling chrome, this is one classic cruise that’s bound to capture attention, weather you’re cruising down the boulevard pr kinking back at a rest stop. The Boulevard C90 stands for the point where classic cruiser styling meets awesome performance.

History


The successful and very well known Suzuki Intruder 1500LC, Suzuki’s one of the best cruisers become in 2005 the C90, incorporating several changes and updates, the most important being fuel injection. The plan was to use the massive V-twin and retain the 45-degree, SOHC, 1462cc mill of its 1500 LC predecessor and provide it with multi-hole injectors and a 32-bit ECU derived from Suzuki’s GSX-R sportbikes. On the other hand, the redesigned, wider fuel tank actually has a diminished capacity of 3.7 gallons.

Other changes had the purpose of making the ride safer and more comfortable so Suzuki mounted dual discs on the C90 and redesigned the seat which ended up with a leaner, more sculpted passenger section. The handlebar was a bit wider and the bike also featured a new multireflector headlight which played its part more efficiently.

The rest of the changes were purely visual but I have to say that Suzuki has done quite a job with the series of paintjobs on the C90 which started black and quickly received blue/gray, silver/gray color schemes in 2006. 2007 brought white/silver, black/red paintjobs, only to be replaced with blue/silver for 2008. It is absolutely necessary to mention that the C90, although changing so many colors, was every year available black painted apart from the rest of the colors.

Competition


The recently transformed Intruder which also received a new name was ready to fight and to win the battles with the rest of the motorcycles found in the class.

One of C90’s strongest opponents can be found at Honda’s and it is called VTX1300R, a motorcycle featuring classic, old-school look. That sums up the VTX1300R, whose “R” stands for retro, by the way. You’ll understand once you get an eyeful of the beauty featuring deeply valanced fenders, chrome-hooded headlight and timeless tank-mounted instruments. Then, of course, there’s the mighty 1312cc V-twin snarling its throaty growl through staggered dual exhaust. Does anything on the market feature a much more classic design? The answer is yes, the Suzuki Boulevard C90.

Another full-sized cruiser is ready for the open road and it features performance and value that’s hard to beat. Its name is Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic and it declares itself suitable for competition with two of the best cruisers in the big category out there.

Exterior


The Suzuki Boulevard C90 was designed to say low riding and its mission is being completed properly. Wide handlebar and seat design, plus wide/low fuel tank shape add to C90’s low slung look and the large floorboard-type footrests invite you to ride in absolute comfort.

But comfort can take many shapes and the beauty of it is that it relaxes your eyes when you take a look at it. Smooth design is what it’s all about when it comes to this awesome looking cruiser.

The front of the C90 is defined through its cool front fender situated between the wide, massive fork supporting the pullback handlebars and round headlight. The tone is being kept all the way through the beautiful-shaped fuel tank (although receives less gasoline it looks bigger than on the Intruder), wide seat and stylish rear fender.

What looks best on cruisers is chrome and the new Boulevard C90 makes no exception at this chapter. Every single piece that could of feature chrome, it did so the headlight features chromed cover, mirrors, handlebars, exhaust system, air intake cover and those beautiful ornaments on each side of the rear fender. The contrast between the chromed pieces and the black paintjob available is absolutely gorgeous and the blue/silver paint scheme seems very appropriate. 

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Test Drive


Being situated between the M50 and C109R, the C90 makes no economy when it comes to proportions, but this is what you would expect from a cruiser of this size. Despite its generous dimensions and weight, the bike that completes the Boulevard line of cruisers is quite easy to push around the parking lot, not to mention its road abilities.

I know that this is no GSX-R but handling amazed me right from the start and I have to say that it is more than satisfying. Although the floorboards will probably touch the road as you try to find the bike’s limits (which are far beyond) the satisfaction of gently leaning the Suzuki in a corner is nowhere else found. This is mostly due to the performance suspensions ready to do their duty at any time.

But the C90 isn’t only about calm rides under a light breeze. The great amount of torque provided by the powerful V-twin featuring a 96.0mm bore x 101.0mm stroke gives the cruiser more than the necessary energy needed. As fast as you pull out the clutch and widely opening the throttle you can witness the monster coming to life and the exhaust system joining him. That is the stage that tells you what you are dealing with and that a gentle touch would be more appropriate, at least at slow speeds.

I certainly loved the way I was received on the Boulevard C90. The 4-position adjustable brake and clutch levers come in very handy for smaller hands or if it’s needed to switch from summer gloves to bulky winter gloves. The tanktop instrument is also very well positioned and gives an elegant touch together with the electronic speedometer featuring a LCD screen for the odometers, dual tripmeters, fuel gauge and clock. On the other hand, what I noticed is that none of the Boulevards offers self-canceling turn signals a system which used without proper care can confuse the traffic participants but most of the times is just annoying.

Braking system implies dual hydraulic discs up front which give a very strong braking feel, and a single hydraulic rear disc having the task of finishing the job started by the front brakes.

I would like to say that this Boulevard, like the rest of the bikes from the same line, presents so many positive points that it annihilates the already few negative ones.

Price


With an MSRP of $10, 299, the Boulevard C90 has the quality of being affordable apart from all the characteristics that I have previously mentioned. If the thought of buying the C90 was already present, the price will surely have a defining role in your decision.

Conclusion


The thrill of owning a Suzuki Boulevard C90 is given by the bike’s unique cruising abilities combined with aggressive but yet stylish look combined with different color schemes for easier individualization. The fact that the line of products has only a few years in the back can only mean that the process of branding is in a process of full development. 

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SPECIFICATIONS

 

Engine and Transmission


Displacement: 90 cubic inch
Type: four-stroke, air/oil cooled, 45 degree V-twin, SOHC, 6-valves
Bore x Stroke: 96.0 x 101.0mm
Compression Ratio: 8.5:1
Fuel System: Fuel Injection
Lubrication: Wet Sump
Ignition: Digital
Transmission: 5-speed
Final Drive: Shaft Drive

Chassis and Dimensions


Suspension Front: Telescopic, coil spring, oil damped
Suspension Rear: Link-type, oil damped, 5-way adjustable spring preload
Brakes Front: Dual hydraulic disc
Brakes Rear: Single hydraulic disc
Tires Front: 150/80-16
Tires Rear: 180/70-15 M/C
Overall Length: 2525mm (99.4 in.)
Overall Width: 1000mm (39.4 in.)
Overall Height: 1030mm (40.6 in.)
Seat Height: 700mm (27.6 in.)
Ground Clearance: 140mm (5.5 in.)
Wheelbase: 1700mm (66.9 in.)
Dry Weight: 302kg (665 lbs.)
Fuel Tank Capacity: 14.0 liter (3.7 gal.)

Other


Color: Black, Blue/Silver

Technical Features

 

Engine Features

-Fuel-injected, 90 cubic inch, 6-valve, air/oil-cooled engine designed for maximum low/mid-range torque and acceleration
-45 degree phase, dual-pin crankshaft minimizes vibration, plus added flywheel mass enhances low/mid-rpm power
-Electronic fuel injection system features the Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve System (SDTV) – maintains optimum air velocity in the intake tract for smooth low-to-mid rpm throttle response and high torque output – includes Auto Fast Idle System (AFIS)
-32-bit ECM provides precise control of ignition timing and multi-hole-type injectors ensuring quick startup and excellent drivability under all conditions
-SCEM (Suzuki Composite Electro-chemical Material) cylinder plating is durable, minimizes cylinder size & weight and improves heat dissipation
-Efficient SACS air/oil cooling system with additional piston-jet cooling and engine oil cooler
-Hydraulic valve lash adjusters eliminate valve adjustment maintenance and ensure quiet engine operation
-Silent operation cam chains with automatic tensioners reduce engine noise and maintenance
-Hydraulic clutch with back-torque limiter ensures smooth downshifts
-Smooth-shifting 5-speed transmission with low maintenance, low-torque-reactive shaft final drive – gear ratios set for low engine rpm at cruising speed
-Right-side-mounted exhaust system with slash-cut-style mufflers tuned for low-rpm power and a throaty exhaust sound
-Pulsed-secondary air-injection system introduces air into the exhaust ports to ignite unburned hydrocarbons and reduce emissions – CA. model is equipped with a catalyst for further emission reduction

Chassis Features

-Long 1700mm wheelbase chassis with 32” rake angle set-up for low seat height with comfortable seating and control positions
-Wide handlebar and seat design, plus wide/low fuel tank shape add to C90’s low-slung look
-Double-cradle steel frame is made of large diameter steel tubing for strength and rigidity – bolt-on sections use painted mounting bolts and caps for a detailed look
-Dual-disc front brake system and single disc rear with 4-piston caliper for strong braking performance
-Link-type rear suspension with preload adjustment combined with 41mm front forks provide a comfortable, compliant ride
-Fuel filter located below a locking cover to maintain sleek appearance with fuel tank mounted below the seat for a low center-of-gravity
-Electronic speedometer with LCD fuel gauge, odometer & twin tripmeters
-Powerful multi-reflector headlight houses in an attractive case with stylish headlight rim – headlight switches off during startup to reduce load on battery
-Standard 4-way emergency flasher and high beam passing switch
-Bright, multi-reflector turn signals designed for high visibility and attractive appearance
-Large floorboard-type footrests
-Wide 150/80-16 front and 180/70-15 rear tire are mounted on custom-styled machined aluminum wheels

Optional Accessories

-Windshield
-Light Bar
-Saddlebags
-Engine Guards
-Custom Seats
-Billet Aluminum Items

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Versions Available


One a very competitive market, Suzuki had to widen the range of products known under the name of Boulevard so different models ended up available in different versions, satisfying the customer’s every wish.

This is also the case with the new Boulevard C90 as this motorcycle is available in four different versions for the same number of tastes and preferences.

The model that I considered is more appropriate to discuss is the one available black painted and which incorporates the classic lines of a cruiser in communion with the most reflecting paintjob.

But the C90 became know for its two tone paintjobs and no mistakes were made there, believe me. For 2008, the C90 is available in a blue/silver paint scheme with a difference of only $200. The fact is that the motorcycle is identical with the black version but the brighter color seems to contribute to the branding process that Suzuki developed for the Boulevard line.

Suzuki Boulevard C90T


You may have seen the Suzuki Boulevard C90 around town, but with a stunning new two tone white/gold color combination, it’ll be sure to capture the spotlight wherever it goes. Now we have the chance to experience its awesome V-twin performance and enjoy the benefits of key features designed for the open road. Meet the Boulevard C90T. Like the C90, it boasts a fuel-injected 45-degree V-twin engine that cranks out a load of torque down low, matched by exciting top-end performance. It also has a spacious riding position and smooth suspension for comfortable cruising. With a multitude of features, the C90T established its own unique identity. The C90T has an aerodynamic windshield and a custom-designed backrest, encouraging you to take to the open highway for true long-range cruising in maximum comfort. The C90T also has a range of custom features, from whitewall tires to studded seats, for its own bold look. This classic cruiser is as comfortable as it is stylish.

Competition


If the classic version of the Boulevard C90 is competing with Honda VTX1300R, it is logical to say that the touring version of Suzuki Boulevard C90 competes with the touring version of its strongest opponent, the VTX1300.

Price


Another significant difference is the fact that the touring version of the C90 forces its future owners to deep deeper in their pockets. With a retail price of $11,499, the touring version costs with $1000 more than the blue/silver paint version.

Competition

 

Price

-Stunning new two tone white/gold color combination

Features of the touring model

-Custom-designed windshield provides classic styling and full wind protection – includes unique chrome garnish with Boulevard emblem
-Attractive studded seats, plus matching touring-style backrest with unique pivoting backrest pad for increased passenger comfort
-Large capacity, textured leather saddle bags with Boulevard emblems and convenient twist-lock fasteners
-Large white-faced speedometer
-Stylish white-wall tires – 150/80-16 front and 180/70-15 rear tire mounted on custom-styled machined aluminum wheels

Optional Accessories

-All other Suzuki Boulevard Authentic Accessories will fit the C90T