1st 150 Miles..

[Sandman]

Good Morning All,

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am having the time of my life on the new bike. Now let the bling begin! I have on order saddle bag supports & chrome lowers & ANOTHER jacket, the TourMaster Jett. I haven't decided on the OEM windshield or Memphis Fats. Are there any pro's or con's to either?

I changed the oil at 100 miles. Only minimal metal filings in the filter caught by the magnet I attached to it. Went to the dealer for the oil & filter, never again $21.95. THANKS TO THIS SITE, I knew to make sure the old oil filter gasket is accounted for before putting on the new one! It did NOT come off with the old filter. In all my years of changing oil in cars I never had this happen, I would've missed it.

Also had my first fill up yesterday. The gas light started blinking at 133 miles, so I filled it at 135. It only took 2.8 gallons. 48.22 mpg! (Fyi, 37% of those miles were at speeds 65+.)

Against my better judgement I gave the wife & kids each a ride last night, though it was only twice around the bus loop (1/2 mile) at the school up the street. I started with the lightest and went up from there. It was fun for them and good experience for me. By no means am I trying to rush things, but I do want to experience all facets of riding pertaining to my situation, and learn how the bike handles differently with the added weight. I didn't feel a whole lot of difference with an extra 100 lbs, but add 50 on top of that and it made a difference. Though I think it was more the inexperienced passengers (not sitting still & not holding on as tight as I think they should have) as it was my own inexperience. Anyway, mission accomplished, experience gained, I'll hold off for a while on 2 up riding.

-Sandman

[Clint]

Great to hear all's going well.

[blackie1491]

And the Grin gets bigger!!!!!

Enjoy.

[stp1971]

Keep the practicing up!!!!! Don't rush the 2up riding. Better for them to wait till you are ready and alot more stable with the bike. My first time riding 2up went pretty well but alot of that was because the person I had riding with me was an experienced passenger.

[Clintoysterwood]

If you read the different threads about windshields, you will find that which ever one someone has works for them just fine. I purchased the OEM and I am happy with it once I added value accessories lowers. Many windshied threads talk about the buffeting that comes up around the tank and hits you one the back of the helmet. Memphis has more colors etc. Take a look at the galleries and pick the one that looks best to you. It is an easy bike to double up, very forgiving. But I agree, spent the time now practicing all the basic moves by yourself. You don't want to try them for the first time with someone you love on board, hell, you'll be in trouble too. Get the basics down solid. Have lots of fun.

[tlwisner]

Keep on riding, it keeps getting better.

[Time4me2ride]

Glad you're having fun Sandman. I still smile every time I throw a leg over. Just watch your wallet, that bling gets addictive.

Stay safe.

[BudTheGrey]

I got the Mephis windsheild on my C50LE, 'cause I wanted the tinted lower portion. The OEM has the cool (IMHO) boulevard badging. As Clint sez, everybody's pretty happy with whatever they have, so it's whatever appeals most to you, I think.

Adding the lowers / wind deflectors from Value Accessories is advised as well.

[Atlas68]

Good to hear you're having so much fun on the new toy.
In time, enjoy sharing the experience with your family. My family loves the adventure as well. Be safe and take care.

[keylo4life]

Glad that you're happy and your family as well. It feels great when your family enjoys the ride as much as you. Get more solo time in though, practice builds more awareness. Also, check out the Memphis Shades for that shield.

[gtcjohn]

Do we need to change oil at first 100 miles?? I have asked a sales man when I bought mine, he said that we do not need it. I have now 70 miles on my new c50t. Any opinion?

[Sandman]

Thanks for all the responses so far, I am holding off on the 2up for a while. I need more practice turning, especially from a stop. (Usually take them wider than I'd like.)

I ordered a set of the Value Accessories chrome lowers last week and will be installing them this weekend. Have been looking at bikes on this site all along and Danr's bike really caught my eye. But I know I will never be able to keep my bike as clean!!

-Sandman

[DS06C50T]

Sandman:

Ditto! I had the exact same reaction with my new '06 C50T when I got it last November. I felt the same, too, with my wife on-board: combo of me not being a very experienced driver, and her being too stiff a passenger. Oh well, that'll change with time/experience.

As far as windshields, I have the OEM since it came with my bike. In hindsight, building your own set-up definitely increases your options. The OEM limits the lightbar choices, which affects your freeway bar set-up choices, which affects your turn signals style choices... you get the picture.

So, the long way around a short answer: go with the Memphis Fats! You can also accommodate the "lowers". These are additional wind buffeters that attach to the forks and essentially continue the windshield downward. These are said to make a big difference in the head buffeting you get from below while riding at speed. Here's a link to one kind of "lowers":

http://store.valueaccessories.net/in...arch=GO&Page=1

Hope this helps; fire away if you have more questions...

Daryl

[Sandman]

gtcjohn - It is not a requirement, it was a personal preference of mine to change the oil at 100 miles, to promptly remove any metal filings created from the initial use. I was reading old posts on ths site, and came across a discussion about this and it seems logical that there might be more, or larger than normal filings existing in a brand new engine and I wanted to make sure they were not circulating for the first 600 miles of use. I also have a strong magnet attached to my oil filter to capture any additional free floating particles. Excessive? Maybe, but it sure can't hurt.

-Sandman

[gtcjohn]

Sandman,
Yea, you might be right. But, how about the filter? Did you change the filter too?

-John

[Sandman]

Yup, oil & filter. Sorry I wasn't clear enough earlier. I will also be keeping a magnet or two on my oil filter from now on. (Magnets are from an old hard drive.)

-Sandman