c50 and Engine "ping" - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

fatlazza · 02-11-2007, 05:04 PM

G'day,

Up front I'll warn ya, it's a bit of a rant mixed with a solution for someone from this forum, -i think-.

I do shift work - 2200~0600. I'm lucky and get to currently work Wed~ Sunday nights. Who needs a real life eh? 0600 Monday is my bourbon o'clock Fridee (and in the background I hear the freeway traffic of those who work "normal" hours).

cheers. I'm well away now thanks for askin'... i'm in sydney, aust. and as I intimated, it's me fridee night.

During my forever decreasing idle times at work, i search forums etc for similar bike issues, and/or good games of Euchre or Hearts.

geez, i'm pretty sure it was this forum i saw an issue raised (as I
remember "Sgt") that i have an answer to, that worked for me at least.

I have a gorgeous blue '06 Suzuki c50 boulevarde.

I've had it 9, nearly 10 months and have done 21k. ie .. 21,000 kilometres (about 17,000 miles). I don't have a car. I commute and do everything with it - carry home shopping / people. My commuting is now 13k's a day. For 6 months it was 680k's per week. I've relocated, to save my c50; my girl..Kerrie-Anne. Is it weird to give a bike a name? Whatever, that's me.

All conditions. Mainly at night (as these are the hours I live, even on days off), generally at speed (as the dwindling points on my licence indicate - hey but fkn yea!.. i've been ripped off and screwed over a few times.. red light camera photo's don't tell the whole story! you know, we get seriously stung here in Oz. $300 and 3 points - get fkd! (you get 12 points to start with). Fact i had a cage driver harassing me that may have forced me to speed through that light to escape a worse fate, may be irrelevant to them. lessee what the judge has to say, as i dispute that, and choose to have it heard in court. yeah i ride fast, but not stupid. i generally respect speed limit (built up areas) signs, and i bow to speed or red light camera warnings. so, as u may gather, i'm %%%%%in' over this "bluey" (Oz for a fine).

Anyway, Kerrie-Anne used to really "ping" when under strain in the mid-range speed of 70~100kph (45~60 mph - I grew up on feet/inches + miles per hour here in the 60's/70's).

I raised this only recently with the propreiter of the store that joined us together. He said...

"Change your fuel to Premium."

Usually I get regular Unleaded fuel. So now, last 3 fills I've gone Premium (50 cents more - a scandal I know, but let's move on).

Not Premium Premium but middle range Premium.

Since that time, (500k's ago), not had one ping.

Now, I can crank my 805cc sweetheart out and not hear the ping (like an engine under strain - given my build it's a fully justifiable whine) but instead, the steady thump-a-whump-a-thump of a solid engine.

It's a beaut bike. Best around in it's price and size range, for mine, and I looked at, tested, and studied in depth (whilst testing others), prior to buying.

As the ol' Isley Brothers (or in Oz .. Johnny O'Keefe) hit said.. She's My Baby, and I love her so.

If you get a pinging in your c50 Boulevard engine, upgrade your fuel to a "premium" range.

May just be the answer for you too.

Happy Friday Night everyone.

Safe journey to ya's eh.

lazza