Suzuki Boulevard M50 Drum Brakes... are they OK?

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BondJamesBond

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I'm looking at Suzuki Boulevard motorcycles and like the M50 and M90 models. The price point on the M50 is really good but the M50 has drum brakes in the rear. Does anyone have any experience with the M50? How are the brakes? I've never driven a bike with drum brakes am a bit apprehensive about them.
 
Don't be. So long as the brakes are in good working order, you'll be fine. My first two bikes had drum brakes, front and back. You can still lock them up, if you're not careful - just not quite as easily as disc brakes.
 
Thanks for the vote of confidence regarding stopping (and lock up) abilities. How are drum brakes when it comes to feel? Are they sloppy? Do they have a nice feel to them?
 
keep them clean and adjusted and they are just fine. ride it in the style it was designed for and you'll have no issues and a good time.
 
Drum brakes on back are fine. Only concern would be that it looks less modern than disc, which should really be no concern at all on that cruiser.
 
I had an M50, brakes are lacking a bit could use a little more stopping power.
Single disc in the front just dosnt cut it.
However if your just gonna be riding leisurely and not treating it like a sport bike you won have any issues.
Never had an issue with the drum brake.
 
My Volusia has that drum on back as well and it works just fine. It's a good brake for the type of bike.
 
Have a drum brake on the rear of my Boulevard C50, which is identical to the M50, and I have no issues with the brakes.

Yes, you can lock them up, but that is with all bikes. But when I have locked them up, the bike has always remained straight up in a line.
 
I had a bike with drums front and rear. I will never have another.

I don't ride a cruiser so my opinions are qualified. I'm not concerned with what type of brake is on the rear. But, I want excellent brakes on the front.

I don't understand the comments that if it isn't a sport bike it's okay or that you just need to ride within the brakes limits. How is it different for a cruiser when little Johny runs out from behind the parked car? For me, whether I'm doing 100 kph on a sport bike, a cruiser or a naked bike, I want to be able to stop as quickly as possible while staying under control. That means good double discs up front.
 
Griffin said:
I don't understand the comments that if it isn't a sport bike it's okay or that you just need to ride within the brakes limits.
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I'll explain it as I have both. The rear brake of a cruiser is generally more effective as there is more weight bias over the rear allowing for a better amount of braking force than a taller and shorter sportbike design. I.E. More traction on the rear rubber when braking in a straight line (before it locks up). The drum (when adjusted properly) will still lock the rear wheel so as far as needing a disc, the point is moot. Discs are lighter and easier to work on so I do prefer them (the wheel does not have to be removed most of the time and they look better) but functionally they are fine for cruiser use.

The comment of riding within the brakes limits is extremely dumb however (for whomever thinks that). Why would you even consider it's okay for your safety equipment to be substandard when you have lateral choices available for the same cost if that's what you believe?
 
Thanks for everyone's point of view. I'm getting the general message that the drum brakes on a M50 are 'OK' but overall the braking on this bike could use improvement. Having come from riding CBR600's and Honda VFR.s (with ABS linked front and read braking), I suspect I will be disspointed with the feel and preformance of the brakes on the M50. It's unfortunate. Maybe I'm not ready for a cruiser :)
 
Drum brakes are awesome, I got it on my bike. Less maintenance, and shoes are cheap. They last aloooooooong time.
 
Four seasons with M50.

No problems with rear drums so far. Smooth, simple, reliable, virtually maintenance free, looks definitely better than disks brakes (actually not visible at all).
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