Hi folks,
I am re-enetering the bike fold, and am seriously looking at buying a c 5 classic. Looked last year after my scooter was nicked, but thought they were carburrated, and thought another hotwire might be too easy. Also, as I am a short female rider, so it was a bit tall. Thus I bought a Vespa 300 ie, and that also is tall and now has caused hip problems one footing all the time, so I am faced with getting something else.
The C-5 is one of the two on the short list after trying LOTs of different bikes, from harleys to Hondas. The dealership even snapped on some lowered hagons and lowered the stock seat to try, and I felt comfortable enough to trial a bike. Basically I am happy with the bike and it's handling, and it's easy to make a pack horse, since I ride for commuting and errands most days of the week.
My real comlaint - and surprise, is the piddely poor rear brake. It's almost not there, even after adjusted for my foot. I got talks about it not being seated in, so forth and so on, but I have never had any bike I have tried in the last six months not offer solid braking, drum or disk. Sure, disk does better, and my current ride stops on a dime, but I shouldn;t have to try and stand on my toe. They adjusted it until they said it was dragging slightly, but it made virtually difference. I did some reading and even found a youtube video that showed how they didn't even really assemble them correctly so the brake wasn't working right. Reviews give it so so on the brakes, but this isn't so so. This is not there.
I am a rear brake user for smoother throttle control at higher revs, and stops on on hills. I am weigh far too little to hold a bike like that on a hill with my legs.
Any ideas? I doubt I will buying that exact one because I like a different colour, but really don't feel I can buy the bike if this is the best it can offer.