Changing bikes.. M50 is going, thanks all

[TrOjAnUK]

Hi all,

re: http://www.motorcycle-journal.com/fo...journey-4.html I have today done a deal to trade in y M50 against a Triumph Speedmaster.. be careful out there guys.. there after us.

Thanks all of you that helped me out over the last 2 years..

Keep riding

TrOjAn

[upnorthbiker]

Hi Trojan,
Good luck with the new bike. Believe it or not I was looking at a new Speedmaster just recently, if you get the time please put a post on what they are like compared against the M800.
Cheers,
Jeff.

[gar4mayor]

aw crap. and so goes another wayward soul.

oh well, at least you picked a really nice bike. the black speedmaster with the blacked out engine is one mean looking machine.

[DR-Z125L]

Enjoy ur new bike bud

[TrOjAnUK]

Originally Posted by upnorthbiker

Hi Trojan,
Good luck with the new bike. Believe it or not I was looking at a new Speedmaster just recently, if you get the time please put a post on what they are like compared against the M800.
Cheers,
Jeff.

upnorthbiker,

Heres a shot of the new bike.. I would love to put a post on comparing the 2 bikes but as this is a M50 forum Im not too sure it would be well recieved

If a few people were to post saying they want a comparison then I would be only too willing to do a write up.

Anyway, I enjoyed the M50 for 20 months from new and as you know in my other link / post I did mod it a bit.

Good luck to all on the forums, I got a lot of help from many people on here so THANKS to you all.

TrOjAn

[outlaw]

nice bike. good luck buddy

[SNAFU]

Very Nice! Have fun on your new bike.

Ride Safe.

[texrider]

Love the look of the Speedmaster, congrats.

I have to ask though, since the displacement and power are roughly equal, and you have given up fuel injection and shaft drive, what was the major attraction to go Brit?

[TrOjAnUK]

texrider, as you ask here is the 2 MAIN reasons

It handles like a bike and the brakes are awsome!

I was never happy with the brakes on the M50, but as I had nothing to compare it with I was ignorant of the fact.. once I got my commuter bike I noticed the difference and so tried a few other cruisers.

The handling of the M50 is OK`ish if you dont mess with it, once lowered handling improves but 2 up riding becomes unstable, yes I know people on here will say "its a cruiser what do you want" but for me it handled like a boat and spoilt any enjoyment I wanted. Again it may well have been the handlebars I put on which moved the riding position to a more upright stance.

Anyway, the Triumph handle s like its on rails and stops on a pin so when me and the wife go out its now enjoyable.

I hope no one gets annoyed with this post, I really loved the M50 but its just not for me on our rubbish roads so its now changed..

Safe riding, TrOjAn

[NateHarris]

Knowing nothing about the Speedmaster I speak only from looking at the pictures you posted.

It appears that the seating position is very close, but the bike is taller overall. The trail and rake look similar, but this is just by looking, not very scientific. And I suspect the engine is larger, or at least more powerful. The stock brakes on the M50 do suck IMO, but I am hoping that a set of harder compound pads will resolve this.

All this taken into consideration, does a Stock M50 really handle so much worse than your stock Speedmaster? You stated you lowered the bike, and changed the handlebars. Do you recall how it handled when you bought it?

I have ridden alot of bikes over the years, and find the handling of the M50 to be decent. The biggest complaint I have are the low pegs, but I suspect a forward control kit from johnskits.com will resolve this to some degree.

Nevertheless, I lived in the UK for a couple of years and concur the roads there are crap. I can't say I miss the damp.

The Triumph is a beautiful machine, I hope you enjoy. BTW, where are you in the UK?

[hammersfan]

The Triumph looks great. Hey we are big boys now and should not get our feelings hurt by your opinions so please do post comparisons between the bikes. I really liked the look of the Triumph when I saw it at the motor cycle show in Dec 05 and I believe it has a bit more power now. Trouble around here is the dealer network for Triumph is not too good.
For me to trade bikes it would have to be a big improvement to make it worth while so it would need to be quite a bit more powerful for me to make the change but I hope you are happy with your choice.
There is a rumour out that Triumph will be producing a twin cruiser in the 1500cc range, I look forward to that if it is true.

[Danr]

Originally Posted by texrider

Love the look of the Speedmaster, congrats.

I have to ask though, since the displacement and power are roughly equal, and you have given up fuel injection and shaft drive, what was the major attraction to go Brit?

I will get flamed but the answer is "character", just as in Italian or German bikes, Japanese bikes although fit, finish and quality are A+++ they don't instill any Soul. Please take no offense, some will get it and others not.

Harley is another story altogether.

[texrider]

I can dig it, but I do love my Asian beauties!

Was stationed at RAF Bentwaters in the mid 70's, and rode in all kinds of weather. (Mostly bad)

Found myself in a position to trade my red M for a 900 Vulcan last year, but would still take another M anytime!

Nice Guzzi collection Dan!

[Danr]

Originally Posted by texrider

I can dig it, but I do love my Asian beauties!

Was stationed at RAF Bentwaters in the mid 70's, and rode in all kinds of weather. (Mostly bad)

Found myself in a position to trade my red M for a 900 Vulcan last year, but would still take another M anytime!

Nice Guzzi collection Dan!

Thanks !

I will add a Japanese bike that I would give homage to and would give it space in my garage

1969 Honda CB750 in Gold color !

Like the Bible says in the Beginning....

Well there was the CB750

[upnorthbiker]

Hi Trojan,
Thanks for the reply,
I for one would love you to write a comparison, not just about the handling and brakes, how does the performance compare, comfort, fuel consumption ect. your the one in the riding seat and can tell us what they are like.
Is your new Speedy a 790 or 865 cc and is it stock apart from the exhausts? I know its now summer (lol) here in the uk but do you think it will be cold blooded, do you have to choke it a lot now ?
Thanks and good riding,
Jeff.

[TrOjAnUK]

Thanks for the positive replies

Its an 800, same as the M50

Sitting on the speedmaster (as standard) is lower by about 1 - 2 inches to a standard M50.

The footpegs are a LOT higher so no grounding.

The frame is also 1 - 2 inches higher from the ground.

The tank is smaller across (left to right) and thinner at the rear (between the legs) so I find it very comfortable.

Its returning around 48 - 50 MPG so is about the same as the M50.

As said before, brakes are awsome and handling is very positive, I can really crank it up when I want to without worrying about getting around turns! (me and the wife had real concerns on the M50)

The handlebars are slightly narrower than the stock M50`s and theres a very small wobble at speeds, might be balancing or just crap UK roads.

Ride position is real comfortable, Im about 5`.8" and 170lbs, on the M50 after an hour most people get a sore arse (butt to you lot). The updated seat is a GEL one so my longest ride so far, about 2 hours and had NO desire to dismount for a stretch

The tone of the exhaust is a bit more appealing to me than the V&H Cruisers on the M50.

As for engine power, think the M50 had the edge from pull away to about 30, possibly down to the drive shaft (I found the M50 to twitch at the back on hard acceleration) but the power band is very similar, top speed of around 110 mph is the same, the Speedmaster has a rev meter that limits at 7500 and is a sweet sound

Theres a unit I can buy to up the limiter to 8500 which I may consider.

The Triumph has extras of: Factory Alarm, Custom Seat, Fly Screen, Short Exhausts and Triumph Panniers.

I paid extra to have the air kit removed and plugged to stop most of the popping through the shorter exhausts.

Thats about it, all in all I think I got a good deal, all the extras and a sweet ride, great brakes, comfortable.... what can I say? I wish I had this from new instead of the M50.

The M50 was good, this is great..

TrOjAn

[geoffsimpson]

SELL OUT! Nah I'm just kidding, I'm happy for you Bud.

Now get lost, we don't like your kinda 'round here

[TrOjAnUK]

Originally Posted by geoffsimpson

SELL OUT! Nah I'm just kidding, I'm happy for you Bud.

Now get lost, we don't like your kinda 'round here

LOL, funny..

TrOjAn

[geoffsimpson]

You're officially on the outside looking in...but you'll get special treatment, don't worry