Love the M50 but love the twisities???

[Kingby]

I have had my M50 for a couple of months now and finally have been able to start piling on the miles. I originally bought the bike because I was new to street bikes and wanted to learn on something manageable but cool looking.

I started riding with a few older guys as work. They are into cruisers and travelling (they were the ones that convinced me to go for the M50). Well it turns out that a few of my neighbors ride as well, but they are riding sport machines (CBR 900 and a TL1000R). So for the last couple of weeks I have been riding with these guys and we keep heading straight for the twisty roads.

I have been really working on curves and bike control with these guys, and I have finally found the limits of the M50 in the twisties. Lets just say sparks fly on some of the corners.

I just recently did the Canadian equivalent of the MSF and did pretty well ( I think in large part learning how to really control the bike in the curves and also alot of practice at lower speeds helped).

Now My dilema is as follows. Although I still love M50, I am longing for something that will handle a little better in the corners. I have been eying the SV650. Am I crazy for cheating on my M50 like that and thinking about the SV??

I am still in my first year of riding. What advice do you guys have out there. I am trying to convince myself to finish out the season on the M50 and trade in then for something like the SV. Although the idea of trading in a new bike makes me cringe.

[djump]

Different bikes for different things. I've also found the limits with sparks flying, but I also love the classic line I tend to take with the long heavier cruiser.

For me a sports bike is great for twisties, but a pain anywhere else and the worst thing is that a sports bike is really hard to ride sensibly because they just want to GO! (for me anyway) That can be dangerous for a new rider as your confidence can grow faster than your (actual) skill level.

I love my M50 as it gives me the same thrill at a lower speed than my old RGV, but I don't ride with sports bikes anymore either. Your choice.

[Kingby]

Originally Posted by Night_Wolf

How long have you had the M50??? How many miles so far??? IMO keep the M50 and continue to learn and improve your skills. You'll become a better rider going fast on a slow bike than you will going slow on a fast bike.

When you wear out the stock rubber, see if Avon makes a Venom X tire for the M and you'll see a noticable difference in handling. 5000km doesn't mean you know how to ride, it means you can get your carcass down the road

Well only 2 months and about 2500km (I basically go out on a 100km loop almost everyday after work, a few hundred km cruise when I can on the weekends and now that mornings are getting warmer I am starting to do the 30km commute). So still very new (me and the bike ). I suppose I agree that continuing to learn on this bike is the right path.

It's actually quite funny riding with the older guys from work on the weekends. After riding with the sport bikes during the week after work, I blow the old guys away on the curves on the weekend. I swear they only have this narrow little wear strip down the centre of the their tires. They all just seem to want to cruise in a straight line.

[dragbar]

i got older and decided to go with a cruiser. The M50. To me I get more kicks out of turning that cruiser on its side that I would a sport bike, cause It's about taking your current ride to the limits and mastering it.

I don't care that joe shmoe can lean that gixxer over, I can lean off a cruiser and go through the corner gracefully on rails. oh and relax on the ride home.

[Kingby]

Don't get me wrong. I really do love my M50, and really do enjoy riding it. I can also see the joy of riding a bike through some twisty corners on a bike not really built for it faster than someone else on a sport bike made for it.

I can also see myself and the wife doing some touring through the rockies on the M50 in comfort. I really do want to keep this bike. I suppose that I really wish I had the $$$ to add a second bike in the future.

I was thinking of doing a beginner track day later this summer (i need to get my hands on an appropriate bike though). Maybe this will help (or hurt ) my future bike choices.

[Clint]

Get the SV! For a solo rider there's absolutely no drawback from the M other than looks, and that's subjective. As far as riding two-up, ony you can decide. I have Givi bags with a backrest for Jolene and she's happy. We don't do 500 mile days together, but for weekend trips and whatever, it's fine.

If you want the best of both worlds, look at a Yamaha FJR, Honda ST, Ducati ST3/4, BMW, and so on. That's what makes them so popular.

[stp1971]

Or the V-Strom (either one).

[MagnumForce]

Originally Posted by dragbar

i got older and decided to go with a cruiser. The M50. To me I get more kicks out of turning that cruiser on its side that I would a sport bike, cause It's about taking your current ride to the limits and mastering it.

I don't care that joe shmoe can lean that gixxer over, I can lean off a cruiser and go through the corner gracefully on rails. oh and relax on the ride home.

Your post reminds me of a commentary I remember reading from an old issue of Road Bike magazine. I was curious enough to dig through a huge pile of bike mags in my bathroom and lo and behold, it's the June 2005 issue. Here's the scan of the commentary I was talking about:

[Clint]

Hehe. "Like a preschooler on a big-wheel". If that's your thing, I guess.

[MYC50T]

Originally Posted by Night_Wolf

When you wear out the stock rubber, see if Avon makes a Venom X tire for the M and you'll see a noticable difference in handling.

Unfortunately I have looked, Avon doesn't make the Venom in our sizes, possibly if we swamped them with emails they would make it, after all the M50 & C50 & C50T have got to have been sold and selling in large numbers and the Venom X would be a great tire for these bikes, All those in favor say aye, all those apposed can move along to another forum!

[Kingby]

Originally Posted by MYC50T

Unfortunately I have looked, Avon doesn't make the Venom in our sizes, possibly if we swamped them with emails they would make it, after all the M50 & C50 & C50T have got to have been sold and selling in large numbers and the Venom X would be a great tire for these bikes, All those in favor say aye, all those apposed can move along to another forum!

Just had a look myself and they make a Venom AM42 (not sure if this is similar to a Venom X, but could not find a reference for a Venom X on Avon's site) in 170/10-15 and on in 200/70 - 15 (I have noted that some of you have swapped for metzlers in this size) for the rear, but could not find an equivalent 130/90-16 for the front. They mention aN MT90B16 for the front. How does this sizing designation work?

[texrider]

I too, like the "power cruiser" approach to having fun riding. It's for sure you need to be aware of the limitations of the machine, but bucket-loads of torque and big tires makes for a darn good time! (Old fart that I am)

On the M, try more rear spring preload. You will be amazed at the increase in cornering ground clearance.....

[MagnumForce]

Originally Posted by RowdyRed94

Hehe. "Like a preschooler on a big-wheel". If that's your thing, I guess.

This image seems to come to mind. "Respect my authoritah!"

[intimid8er]

Originally Posted by texrider

On the M, try more rear spring preload. You will be amazed at the increase in cornering ground clearance.....

Nor will it push like a dump truck anymore!

Before I added more pre-load, I'd go into a corner, and the front end would want to go straight. I put more pre-load into it (setting 6), and it handles alot better.

Adjust....ride it.....

Repeat as necessary.

[jmelvin]

This is my first time back here in a while and I just saw this post. Although I know the M50 is no sportbike I love taking advantage of the twisties we have here in Arizona and after about 13,500 miles I finally have both of my peg feelers completely ground down to nothingness. I have my rear spring preload set to the next to the last tightest notch and the bike does just fine in corners. I am considering changing the front fork oil to see what kind of results that will give me, but I have yet to do it. Don't be afraid to grind them peg feelers down in the corners as you should still have plenty of clearance left after they're gone based on my experience. If you still need some help, check out some books on advanced riding and pick up the techniques regarding how to take corners. Typically if you do your slowing prior to the corner, and start to roll back onto the throttle as you enter the corner you will shift the weight of the bike to the rear. With that be sure to give plenty of countersteer and you may be amazed that you'll have a deeper angle available for lean as the front suspension will be uncompressed as you get through the corner. If you have access to a MSF course, take your bike there when no school is in session and practice putting that thing further and further down onto the pegs and picking up speed as you go around the practice loop. This may also give you some idea as to what the limits of adhesion are for your rear wheel and you may feel some slide as you pick up speed. Once you've mastered the oval, start the figure 8s to develop the quick back and forth turning skills. Good luck with it!

[Smurf]

I thought grinding the pegs was par for the course on the M.