new memeber lots of questions.

[DF5152]

First I have a new M50 with a little over 100 miles on it nice bike great price. Several complaints some I have seen others have from brousing....first and formost the head light sucks on low beam it bearly light infront of the bike has anyone done anything to improve on this? 2nd the seat is as hard as a rock. Ive been told I need a fatter bottom. And final one for now where is everyone getting there aftermarkets goods. ONe more I saw someone put a bigger tire on the rear what size and did u have to do anything else?

Dan

[chadrob30]

Welcome to the site....the only complaint I have about my bike is that it's not paid off...

[cjjtulsa]

Another newbie here, and I'll second the "not paid off" complaint. I don't have much trouble with the seat, and I've got a skinny butt. The headlight however is kind of like you described; the low beam isn't worth much to me. I run with the high beam on most of the time, and hate it when I have to dim it for other cars. I might just start leaving it on full time - if I get flashed, at least I know they see me. Right now I'm looking into some auxillary lighting for the front, I'm just trying to figure out how to wire it in. I'm used to dealing with cars, not bikes, so I don't want to fry anything. My only other complaint is a new rattle that I can't find, and it's driving me nuts. I have 300 more miles until my 600 mile service, and I'll have the dealer's boys find it when I take it in for that. I'm pretty sure my valves need adjusted as I'll get a "skip" every once in a while at higher RPMs. You can hear it in the exhaust. Other than that, I love the bike, and just look for excuses to ride it.

[chadrob30]

Hey CJJTULSA, I'm just across the border from you, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Got family in Collinsville....anyway, I don't have any rattles yet, but I'm sure it's normal for a bike to get them after a few miles. Like you said, I'd have the dealer shake the bike down and find the rattle. Let them earn the ridiculously high amount they charge for first service.

[Zuki Dude]

Originally Posted by DF5152

First I have a new M50 with a little over 100 miles on it nice bike great price. Several complaints some I have seen others have from brousing....first and formost the head light sucks on low beam it bearly light infront of the bike has anyone done anything to improve on this? 2nd the seat is as hard as a rock. Ive been told I need a fatter bottom. And final one for now where is everyone getting there aftermarkets goods. ONe more I saw someone put a bigger tire on the rear what size and did u have to do anything else?

Dan

Welcome! I haven't noticed any problem with the headlight. You could try swapping the bulb for a Xenon, or even looking into an HID system such as this . As for the seat, the only complaint I have is that I would prefer a higher quality leather and possibly a one piece unit connecting the driver and passenger. Comfort for me has been no issue. i may resort to having a custom one made ... $$$! Lastly, there are many places online you can get parts. These are just a few I can recommend:

Cruiser Customizing
J & P Cycles
Scoot Works
Power Sports Network

I can vouch personally for the excellent customer service from Cruiser Customizing. If you call, which I recommend, speak with Anthony @ 238 ... he'll help you with any questions you have. Also, just because a part is not listed on their site, doesn't mean he can't get it for you! My Vance & Hines exhaust and some Cobra parts were not listed, but I got them through CC regardless.

[cjjtulsa]

Originally Posted by chadrob30

Hey CJJTULSA, I'm just across the border from you, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Got family in Collinsville....anyway, I don't have any rattles yet, but I'm sure it's normal for a bike to get them after a few miles. Like you said, I'd have the dealer shake the bike down and find the rattle. Let them earn the ridiculously high amount they charge for first service.

You should have some excellent back roads down that way - lots of curves and trees. My rattle started at about the 200 mile mark. It almost sounds like an exhaust leak, but it doesn't do it all the time, so I kind of ruled that out. You hear it a lot on downshifts coming up to a stop, and when it is doing it you can hear it when you "blip" the throttle, but not at an idle. And it's pretty loud - loud enough that I'm sure anyone standing around would hear it when I rode by. Weird. The dealer here in Tulsa where I bought it quoted me $144 plus parts for the first service, the one in Bartlesville said something like $90 without checking the valves, $125 for the full monte.

[Pinhy]

i agree with the low beam problem, it doesnt project very far at all, but is very wide. I run high beam pretty much all the time. i leave it on at night too and have only been flashed once. id leave it on till they tell you to go low beam.

seat: lots of ppl have said the back is to thin and you can feel the mounting bracket under it. i really dont notice but have a skinny butt so i guess i dont sit that far back. as for the firmness of the seat...go sit on a VTX or other comparable cruiser and then you will notice how soft our seat is! my buddies vtx is HARD.

welcome to the boards and to the M50 family

.

[trini0]

Dont own an M, but on my C, the low beam was like pointing at 5 feet in front of me when I first got it.
I read the owners manual, and Im able to adjust where the headlight points,
so I raised it.
Now I normally run with just the low beam, and use high beam, where I feel
its neccessary.

[Pinhy]

hmmm...reading the owners manual....interesting thought,but just might work!

[The BeatKat]

I agree with the headlight issue...but I've looked at the headlight mount and there appears to be no way to adjust the beam up or down... I'm also experiencing quite a bit of valve train ticking at about 350 miles..and a fairly audible whine from the motor/drivetrain especially when letting off the throttle suddenly without pulling in the clutch. As for the seat, I have been presently surprised with mine...I tend to sit right up to the tank and find it quite comfortable....I've ridden as much as 3 hours at once with no sore *** prob's.

[golftee]

BeatKat...there are 2 adjusting screws on the M50 headlight, i have adjusted mine up already....saw it in the owners manual.

[cjjtulsa]

Originally Posted by The BeatKat

I agree with the headlight issue...but I've looked at the headlight mount and there appears to be no way to adjust the beam up or down... I'm also experiencing quite a bit of valve train ticking at about 350 miles..and a fairly audible whine from the motor/drivetrain especially when letting off the throttle suddenly without pulling in the clutch. As for the seat, I have been presently surprised with mine...I tend to sit right up to the tank and find it quite comfortable....I've ridden as much as 3 hours at once with no sore *** prob's.

I've seen the adjusting screws on the light and in the manual, but I'd like more light still to keep from hitting all of the night creatures that are all over the roads here. I've also heard the loud whine when backing off the throttle, but figured it was just normal gear noise from abruptly dropping the power. I hope that isn't something too, or my dealer will have mine for a week when it gets the 600 mile work-over! Hate to be nit picky, but I'm paying for it every month. It might as well be as close to perfect as it can get. It seems like it's getting a little more power as the miles come on. Now if I can just lose the funny noises.

[blackie1491]

My C50 also makes a noise after being ridden for awhile. Down shifting coming to a stop abou the second shift being blipped. I describe it as a snort. I checked and it is at the intake, a result of the factory lean conditions. Is the M50 FI also.
I have a fuel management system being instaled at first service, some have said they were going to have theirs remapped.

[The BeatKat]

Hmmmmm....re--checking the manual...how'd I miss that???? I would also like to add more lights so keep us posted as you investigate the optioins...I also want to scrap the "roadrunner" horn and add a car horn. The "K" car horns are small and powerfull.....and my Explorer has a great horn...my local junkyard charges $3 to take any that you want...but I don't think I can squeeze it into the existing space...so maybe I'll have to fab a bracket in front of the radiator and paint it all gloss back....

[cjjtulsa]

Originally Posted by The BeatKat

Hmmmmm....re--checking the manual...how'd I miss that???? I would also like to add more lights so keep us posted as you investigate the optioins...I also want to scrap the "roadrunner" horn and add a car horn. The "K" car horns are small and powerfull.....and my Explorer has a great horn...my local junkyard charges $3 to take any that you want...but I don't think I can squeeze it into the existing space...so maybe I'll have to fab a bracket in front of the radiator and paint it all gloss back....

Odd that you mention that horn - I had the same idea and was trying to figure out how to mount an early 70s Full size Mercury horn under there! I've been looking at the Kuryakyn Silver Bullet lights, though I don't know if I want the large or small. They make a "P" style clamp for 41mm forks, and they also make a front fork mounting kit, so I'll keep digging to see how they might work. I figure maybe mount them just above the turn signals? I just need to figure out how to wire them into the headlight circuit so that nothing smokes. I want them to always be on with the headlight (no switch), and I want maximum protection from opossums, skunks, coons and armadillos. I'm sure hitting a 'dillo at about 50 mph would be a religious experience. Might have more than a rattle and gear whine after that.

[The BeatKat]

Actually if you saw it coming you could probably shift your weight back, stand up slightly and with a well timed pull on the handlebars JUMP the DAMN thing! There are some tapped holes under the turn signals in between the forks for mounting things....I had a 70's Cadillac horn for a while that sounded great, but it was rather big...keep us posted or PM me with your progress on both those fronts.....