Does it really get better!?

[Zinje]

So i have had my M50 for a few months now and just have a little over 900 miles. I really like the overall look and the handling on the bike is just awesome. After getting more acquainted with the bike I guess I have been feeling lack of power. It's hard for me to explain... but I feel the bike wanting to go but it just doesn't go. Right now the engine seems kind of ruff so perhaps it needs to loosen up a bit with more miles. I really like this bike but deep inside feeling a little bit of buyers remorse.

I want to know other member experiences and what changes you have felt as the miles passed.

[womper]

got all the maintenance done up on the bike? valves, oils..etc...

lacking power? don't know... i've never ridden anything else so i have nothing to compare it to really...

am i faster than most cars? ya. good enough for me

here's a question though... you riding like it's stolen? don't worry about revving it... it likes revs

it's an 800cc machine... maybe others that have had 800cc cruisers can tell you their experiences, but for the size of motor it's got enough juice.

i think the c50/m50 has about 40-43 hp if i recall, but if i give it WOT it can still snap my head back enough...

[SuzukiBD]

For me, it's the gearing. I find I keep trying to go for that sixth gear out on the highway. I know the power is there but the noise and vibration makes it feel like it isn't. I'm really considering the DJ mod. For now, I use it mostly around town and it's great for that purpose. I've tried earplugs out on the highway which help some.

[diamond_jim]

It seemed like that for me too at first. Then I realized that I was shifting too early. By too early I mean that I was shifting when the rpms hit about halfway through the rpm range, maybe 3800-4000 rpms. When I started stretching out the shift points, shifting when the rpms hit about 3/4 of the band say 5800-6000 rpms, then the elusive 6th gear problem vanished. When I normally accelerate this way, I shift into 5th at about 65mph.

You all know what it's like when you're in too low of a gear. You get that "chug, chug" sound. The bike gets that harley sound. Well, the bike is in too high of a gear at that time. I know it sounds cool but the gearing, rpms and bike speed are not well matched at that moment. If you want that sound all the time, go buy a 2000cc bike.

As you get going a little faster, that "chug" turns into more of a "blurp" sound until eventually, as you keep accelerating and the gearing is matched to speed, the sound smooths out and purrs. For me, if I'm in 5th gear at say 55mph, I'm still getting some of the "chug, chug" sound. At 65mph, it's still blurping a little. At about 80mph, it starts to truly smooth out.

I truly think that if you were deaf (so you couldn't shift by sound) and that you had a shift indicator light that came on at say 6000-6200 rpms (and that's when you shifted), it would feel like a different bike to you.

[JmalB]

Odd... I'll have to run a little experiment. I think 6k in 4th is faster than 65mph... Closer to 75-80. May be not.

But to the original topic... I do feel the lack of power at times. While there is nothing inherently wrong with the output it is on the tame side relative to other classes of motorcycles with similar displacements. Combine that with weight (it's light for a cruiser, but not for other styles) and you get the feeling that it should be faster. But I knew I wasn't getting the fastest motorcycle.

The only buyers remorse I feel is knowing that the M50 is not the ideal motorcycle for me and will eventually be replaced by a Ninja 650R or something similar. Unless I can find the funding to have two motorcycles.

[womper]

i usually get out of 3rd at about 60mph sometimes 65...
get out of 4th at about 75...

most of the time i go from 3rd to 5th...

i don't have buyers remorse... it's my first bike ever...
later, i plan to get another bike or bikes, but i want to hang on to this one for a long time if i can

next bike will be a dual-sport or supermotard.. can't go around the world on a cruiser
(you can, but why would you? )

[vabeachblvd]

personally, i love mine. it does everything i need it to do. i can go 100mph(although the roads here are in such poor shape and full of potholes and speedbumps its not recommended) and get 45-60mpg. is it the fastest bike?? not at all but if i wanted to go real fast i would have bought another sportbike. i bought mine new last year as an 06 leftover and i've put 11000+ miles already. my truck just sits lol.

i dont think i ever got buyers remorse.....i just get the itch and then i want another sportbike.....i need to hurry up and pay this one off because the M wants company in the garage(even though it doesnt spend much time in there)

Mike

[GeorgiaRoller]

Well if you have about a grand laying around you could always add aftermarket pipes, thunder air intake kit & a fuel management system. Then you might get more excited. Other than that just enjoy what you got and don't think that you bought a muscle bike.

[nativenyerintexas]

I'm a shift famatic. I hardly ever get past 40 mph without being in fifth gear. Sometimes if I'm on a local road for a while where the speed limit is 30 I'll shift into fifth and cruise about 35. I'm all about saving $$ on gas mileage so i shift early and I consistently get 48 - 49 mpg. THis is my second bike, the fist was a Honda Reflex. Yeah, it's a scooter but it was highway legal in all states and required a motorcycle endorement so even though it wasn't a 'true' motorcycle, I still considered it was. I had that for four years and bought it brand new in June 2004 and when I traded it in for the M50 it had over 15,100 miles on it. I have me M50 for a little over two months and I already have over 3,000 miles on it. When the Honda it would have taken me 8 or 10 months to put that amount of miles on it. The only thing I'm regretting about my pruchase is... sorry, I can't think of anything. I was looking at the Shadow Spirit 750 before I bought this bike but the M50 is everything the Shadow 750 isn't. it has bigger, tubeless tires, fuel injection, bigger engine, nicer lines, more comfortable, inverted forks... the list goes on and on. Everyone was telling me the Shadow 750 was too under powered for longer trips and would struggle on the highway at 75 or 80. I don't know how true that is but I don't see that with the M50. At 70mph (indicated, 65 true according to my GPS), if some idiot comes up too close behind me, all I have to do is twist the throttle and I'm gone. Within a few seconds he/she is a spec in my mirror... and I like it that way. I'm sure it's not the fastest bike in the world but it's a hell of a lot more powerful than what I upgraded from. And what's best is now I'm not afraid to get on the highways anymore.

[geoffsimpson]

Originally Posted by diamond_jim

It seemed like that for me too at first. Then I realized that I was shifting too early. By too early I mean that I was shifting when the rpms hit about halfway through the rpm range, maybe 3800-4000 rpms. When I started stretching out the shift points, shifting when the rpms hit about 3/4 of the band say 5800-6000 rpms, then the elusive 6th gear problem vanished. When I normally accelerate this way, I shift into 5th at about 65mph.

You all know what it's like when you're in too low of a gear. You get that "chug, chug" sound. The bike gets that harley sound. Well, the bike is in too high of a gear at that time. I know it sounds cool but the gearing, rpms and bike speed are not well matched at that moment. If you want that sound all the time, go buy a 2000cc bike.

As you get going a little faster, that "chug" turns into more of a "blurp" sound until eventually, as you keep accelerating and the gearing is matched to speed, the sound smooths out and purrs. For me, if I'm in 5th gear at say 55mph, I'm still getting some of the "chug, chug" sound. At 65mph, it's still blurping a little. At about 80mph, it starts to truly smooth out.

I truly think that if you were deaf (so you couldn't shift by sound) and that you had a shift indicator light that came on at say 6000-6200 rpms (and that's when you shifted), it would feel like a different bike to you.

What he said

[GadZooks]

I felt a bit of remorse due to the difference in power when I first got my M50 compared to my last bike ( Honda VTR 1000). Of course the m50 has about half the HP of the VTR I was bound to feel a difference in power. However, after riding for a few months I absolutely love this bike. As others have said, when you find the sweet spots for shifting the lack of power feeling will diminish. Also, this bike handles like it's on rails. Now I feel like the VTR had nothing on this bike other than being able to go at ridiculous speeds ( However, I found that I'm still able to get speeding tickets on the M ). My joy of riding the M50 was reinforced last weekend when I was transporting a buddies 03 VFR for him ( no license ) and I found that the low end torque was just as good.

Give it more of a chance, once you starting scrapping pegs, you see what I'm talking about.

After these first concerns passed, I absolutely love this bike.

[Zinje]

Hey guys... thanks for your input.

I think that's what i'm worried about. I want to keep it in gear a little longer but it starts to get whiney I have no problem with power on 4 and 5th at higher rpms. It's the lower gears. It's just not smooth.

Did your bikes start to smooth out with breakin. How many miles do you guys have? What is breakin miles on these bikes anyways?

[Michigunman]

My bike has about 4500 miles on it and it has been what I would call smooth from day 1. I have never noticed anything that I would call roughness in the engine. Now it will "chug" as others have said if I have in to high a gear. From a start running through the gears I'd have to say it's really smooth. Wondering if you don't have some sort of tune issue if you are noticing roughness.

[Rockyrikoko]

Originally Posted by Zinje

So i have had my M50 for a few months now and just have a little over 900 miles. I really like the overall look and the handling on the bike is just awesome. After getting more acquainted with the bike I guess I have been feeling lack of power. It's hard for me to explain... but I feel the bike wanting to go but it just doesn't go. Right now the engine seems kind of ruff so perhaps it needs to loosen up a bit with more miles. I really like this bike but deep inside feeling a little bit of buyers remorse.

I want to know other member experiences and what changes you have felt as the miles passed.

It does get better after a while. I was the same as you when i first got the M. If you de-baffle or put on different pipes it only makes it louder. After a while you change and get used to shifting at higher rpms, but the bike never changes.

[jmckell]

I guess it depends on what type of riding you are doing.

I bought my M50 over a sport bike because I didn't feel the need to race from traffic light to traffic light. With my M50 I enjoy the ride and can careless if I get passed by someone.

I don't feel the any lack of power with my M50 with the type of riding I do.

[boooya]

Originally Posted by Zinje

So i have had my M50 for a few months now and just have a little over 900 miles. I really like the overall look and the handling on the bike is just awesome. After getting more acquainted with the bike I guess I have been feeling lack of power. It's hard for me to explain... but I feel the bike wanting to go but it just doesn't go. Right now the engine seems kind of ruff so perhaps it needs to loosen up a bit with more miles. I really like this bike but deep inside feeling a little bit of buyers remorse.

I want to know other member experiences and what changes you have felt as the miles passed.

To answer your question without any NO IT DOSN'T GET ANY FASTER
In fact it seems to get slower the more you get used to it. But don't feel like you got the wrong bike. A V-twin is designed for torqe not speed. For what the M-50 retails for you can't buy a better all around cruiser, its one of the faster 800 vtwins and definatly out handles any other cruiser I have ever been on.

[cyclechris]

I had a Bandit 1200 before and then a Katana 1100 and those bikes were FAST! But this M50? Man I am real glad I got it, it is not as powerful but it just fits and makes riding such a pleasure. It has plenty of oomph for me and it's great to commute on. Plus it handles better than I think a cruiser should be allowed to. It is just a great, fun, competent bike, and it looks damn good!

My own bike only has a few months on it, but it is getting better as far as I can tell. I think the mileage is actually getting better and the thrust seems better than at first, maybe the rings setting or something? It seems to be a nice, smooth bike. If it feels rough to you maybe have someone you trust ride it and see what they think.

I say give it some time. Ride it at least a year, if you still feel it is not enough for you in the power department, trade up. Actually you will probably get a better value if you sell it and use the cash on your next bike.

[diamond_jim]

If you spend most of your time on your M50/C50 riding 85mph like on long stretches of interstate, and then drop down and cruise at 70mph, you realize very quickly that the bike isn't working hard at all at 70mph.

Conversely, if you spend a lot of time riding in downtown traffic, red light to red light, rarely going over 45-50mph, and then you hit a stretch of highway and run 70mph, then the engine suddenly feels like it's working hard.

It's all in perspective.

[womper]

i'm always going light to light 40-50mph downtown... in 2nd

going 65 in 5th is bogging the engine...

[nativenyerintexas]

Originally Posted by womper

i'm always going light to light 40-50mph downtown... in 2nd

going 65 in 5th is bogging the engine...

I'm always in 5th by 40 mph and no bogging on my M50.... maybe that's because Silver and Black is better.