The cruiser models from Hamamatsu, Japan fall into three categories: 'M' for Muscle, 'C' for Custom and 'CT' for Custom Touring. Mechanically similar to the two others, the latter serve as more luxurious variants whose ergonomics and comfort levels meet the needs of long-distance riders. The 2011 Suzuki Boulevard C50T is one of those mile-hungry steeds.

Easy and fun to ride, the 2011 Suzuki Boulevard C50T offers plenty of comfort and features at a low price. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Moto123.com)

This small cruiser looks big and uses a liquid-cooled V-twin engine with ideal displacement (805 cc) for those who fear 1,800cc bikes but still want some visual attitude and panache.

The incredibly-sleek and imposing Boulevard C50T truly passes for a larger-displacement motorcycle among lightweight and middleweight contenders. What's more, it stands out from comparable cruisers with assertive styling and finish – the very definition of an upscale custom.

A modern powerplant
The aforementioned twin-cylinder (the same as other Boulevard 50s) is one heck of an asset, with the kind of specs one would see on a more expensive cruiser: 45-degree V-twin, four valves per cylinder, liquid cooling and electronic fuel injection featuring Suzuki Dual Throttle Valve (SDTV), which maintains optimum air velocity in the intake tract for superior low-end torque.

The 5-speed transmission proves solid and sharp, keeping the engine in its sweet spot most of the time. The low-maintenance shaft final drive system is clean running (no noise or mud flying off a chain).

Fundamentally sound
The frame is pretty rigid and teams up with a smartly-calibrated suspension to offer great balance and poise on the road, even if a passenger sits behind. The smooth fork absorbs every imperfection without bottoming out and contributes to good front-wheel grip, no matter how bad the pavement is. The polished aluminum sliders and polished stainless steel stanchion-tube covers ensure a rugged look, while the preload-adjustable single shock in the back (styling prevails over easy access here) provides decent ride quality, once again for solo or two-up riding.

The frame is pretty rigid and teams up with a smartly-calibrated suspension to offer great balance and poise on the road, even if a passenger sits behind. (Photo: Sébastien D'Amour/Moto123.com)