2009 Suzuki Boulevard M90 Review – A Review of the 2009 Suzuki M90 Cruiser

The Bottom Line
Pros
M109R styling for $3,100 less
Plenty of power from the 1,462cc V-twin
Impressive handling considering its (relative) bulk
Cons
Handlebars might be a long reach for some riders
Though softer than the M109R, the ride is still firm
200mm rear tire is thick, but doesn’t fill the rear fender as nicely as the M109R’s 240mm rubber
Description
MSRP: $9,999
Liquid-cooled, fuel-injected 1,462 cc V-twin
5-speed transmission with shaft final drive (as opposed to chain, or belt drive)
Front suspension: Inverted telescopic, coil spring
Rear suspension: Link type, oil damped, coil spring
Seat height: 28.2 inches
Twin 290 mm disc, 2-piston front brake calipers, single 275mm disc, 2-piston rear caliper
4.7 gallon fuel capacity
Available in black, blue, or red
Guide Review – 2009 Suzuki Boulevard M90 Review
Is less more? The Suzuki Boulevard M90, little brother to the massive M109R. begs the question. It wears a new chassis framing a smaller, 1,462cc V-twin (versus the M109R’s 1,783cc behemoth.) Ergonomics are more manageable, with a handlebar that’s .8 inches closer to the seat, which sits 1.1 inches closer to the footrests (where you’ll find a nicely finished, knurled brake lever .) And though an ungainly radiator rests in front of the engine, nice details include a tidy steering head cover and an attractive view from the saddle. which is 28.2 inches high.
The M90’s saddle is big and comfy, and the engine produces a pleasing rumble- Suzuki engineers worked hard to tune the exhaust note, which shows when you wind up the engine. The handlebars still require a stretch, and the riding posture is tilted forward in that power cruiser tradition. Most power resides at low engine rpms, though pulling from extra slow engine speeds produces a bit of chatter. But the V-twin pulls quite strongly, providing plenty of arm-stretching acceleration.
And not only does it ride more smoothly, the fact that it weighs roughly 40 lbs less than the M109R improves handling and enhances maneuverability. There’s still a bit of stiffness to the ride, but the 200mm rear tire offers much more compliance than the M109R’s 240mm rubber. You’ll hear the usual peg-scraping sounds when lean angles get tight, but nothing out of the ordinary for low slung cruisers in this class.
Non-linked brakes offer decent stopping power, though we would have liked to see ABS, at least as an option.
At the end of the day, the Suzuki Boulevard M90 offers a fun, performance-oriented cruiser for 3,100 less clams than the M109R; it may lack outright bragging rights, but as an everyday bike it fits the bill for most sport-oriented cruiser enthusiasts.
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