Taking it easy: the 2005 Suzuki Boulevard C90.(Ridden & Rated)

Earlier this year Suzuki announced plans to revamp its entire cruiser line, which includes the Intruder, Savage, Volusia and Marauder models. We've chewed our nails down to the quick in anticipation of what would take the place of these dependable metric cruisers, especially the top-selling Volusia and the easy-riding Intruder.

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First off, say sayonara to the familiar cruiser names listed above. Suzuki felt the line needed more clarity and immediate recognition, so for 2005 all of its cruiser models are called Boulevards, with alphanumeric monikers defining the styling and displacement in cubic inches of each bike. You can think of the three styling designations this way: S for sophisticated, C for classic or custom, and M for muscle. The bikes get new names but for now their styling and engine configurations are essentially lifted from the 2004 models. For example, the 800cc Volusia was considered a classic model and has a 50-cubic-inch motor, so now it's the C50. The 1500 Intruder falls in the classic category and has a 90-cubic-inch motor; hence it becomes the C90.

Later this year Suzuki will roll out C50T and C90T touring versions with windscreens, leather bags, sissy-bars and whitewall tires. In addition, Suzuki plans to introduce a new Boulevard cruiser model every year for the next several years, starting with a reportedly all-new line of "muscle" bikes due to be released in January '05 (the first of which at least, the M50, will carryover some details from the former Marauder 800 model and have fuel injection).

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We went straight to the biggest, most changed model among the Boulevard lineup, the C90, for a test, especially because the Intruder 1500 LC upon which it is based is very popular with our readers.

Apparently someone in Suzuki's engineering department asked, "Why mess with a good thing?" Indeed, fuel injection on the C90 replaces the two 36mm Mikuni carbs on the Intruder, but otherwise the C90 carries the same engine and chassis as the former 1500 Intruder and its styling is reminiscent of the bygone Volusia.