Thanks, guys! Yes, I'll get pics up ASAP!!! I just bought batteries for the camera, so I need to pop those in, clean the beast up some, then get some pictures online.
Personal, review of the M50:
First off, let me just say this bike is GREAT!!! I was on the fence between this and the V-Star 650 Custom. Their styles are very similar, but the M50 has an 800cc engine and is about 75 lbs. heavier.
I was really close to getting the V-Star. It's weight feels just a little bit lower than the M50, but the styling of the M50 kept drawing me back.
Having taken the MSF class a month ago, everything was fairly fresh in my head. Sort of like...riding a bike, I guess.
I have never ridden before, other than moutain biking a few years ago, so all of this motorcycle craziness was brand new to me.
My wife and I headed up to Vincennes, IN (about 45 miles away from where we live) to get the bike. I must admit, all of the way there I was a nervous wreck. I didn't dare show it, though...the wife was about sick, too. We got to the shop, they showed me the bike, showed the ins-outs of it, and then cleaned it up and took it out front.
We finish the paper work, I put on my full-face helmet and we're on our way. I sit on the bike, then realize I forgot my jacket and gloves in the back of the car. Okay...get everything on, get set and pull up to the divided highway. It's a rock parking lot, so that "helps" my nerves...
There is a pretty consistant flow of traffic, so I sit for a bit and breathe deeply and relax. Luckily, the wife and I decided to stop at a Wal-Mart about 5 miles away to pick up some things and eat before heading all of the way home.
Finally the last car goes by and I'm off. Smooth take off. Release the clutch slowly, and boom, I'm in 2nd. Third, fourth, and fifth come and go like nothing. I felt like I was flying on a cloud. The road wasn't the smoothest, but that bike went over the bumps like they were nothing.
Pulled up to the stop sign to turn right, slowly roll on the throttle and I'm on the way, again. So far, so good. No big corners or anything yet, though. I carry on to Wal-Mart. Get off the bike and my wife asks how it was. I take off my helmet and she can see the giant grin on my face, and just smiles back. I put my helmet, gloves, etc in the back seat of the car and we go into Wal-Mart to get our stuff and eat.
I couldn't eat half my sandwich, though. Between being nervous about the upcoming 45 mile ride through some tight corners, and the excitement of actually riding a motorcycle my stomach was as tight and knotted as it could get. No food was going in there.
We head back out. We somehow manage to travel all of the way home with no other cars behind her, so I can "take my time". I continue to cruise about 55-60 mph. I could just tell the bike was wanting more, though...and I wanted to give it more, but I'm still new, still taking my time.
It's a regular, two-lane highway with HEAVY coal truck/semi traffic. I see the first of many semis heading towards me and "brace". It goes by and I feel the gust of the backdraft. The bike just laughs at it, and I in turn laugh, too. Many more trucks and semis come my way, but the bike just nods it's head at them, and we continue on our way as if nothing just went by us at 65 mph.
Now we're to the first set of tight, 90 degree turns. I slow down to the posted speed and go around. The bike laughs at me now and says, "C'mon! You can do better than that!" The next corner is about a 140 degree turn. I slow it down, again, start going through the corner and slowly, smoothly roll onto the throttle. The bike says, "thanks!" and kicks it on. The low-end torque of this puppy just slowly pushed me more firmly into my seat as I rolled onto the throttle. The bike seemed to tell me, "relax...you're in good hands".
I meet five other bikes coming the other direction. The first didn't acknowledge me...that's fine. The next four do...so I'm grinning after waving as these fellow motorcyclists. When we get home, my wife asks what those "signals" were. I say it's just a "bike wave". She laughs and says that's cool. She says that the bike looks great, and wants to know when she gets to ride, too. I told her after I get more practice...to be safe. She gave me the sad puppy dog eyes, then smiles. I get her to sit on it, holding the handlebars and she admits it feels good! Then, I get on, put down the footpegs and she gets on the back. "I think I can handle this," she says. Man, those words were music to my ears.
Rode it to work yesterday morning. The fuel injection is nice. It was about 40 degrees outside when I started off. The bike started right up, and was ready to go. I about froze my honkey off, but that's just something I'll chalk up to "experience", now.
Last night, I rode it up to a friend who has ridden bikes in the past. Hasn't actually owned one in a while, but has been considering a VStar 1100, or a Harley of some sort. He rides the M50 around the block a few times (gets on it a couple of times...and boy you don't know how good it sounds until someone else goes by on it...). He comes back with that same grin on his face. He says, "Okay...I changed my mind. I love this bike."
He loves the styling, loves the power, loves the STOCK sound...
He may end up getting the C50, due to the wider seats up front/back. He also likes the fenders and such more, too.
Anybody curious if the M50 is a good starter bike? If you take the MSF class, sit on it a few times and feel comfortable (lean it back and forth...) with the weight; I personally see no problem with it.
Is the M50 a good bike for someone that's been riding for a while? I cannot personally speak for this, but my friend is ready to go out and get one of his own. He was so impressed with the comfort, power, and feel; all other bikes have been dropped down a notch.
From a newbie perspective, I am not "scared" or "nervous" on this thing at all. It's a "comforting" bike...if there's such a thing.
This thing gets two, frozen turkeys up!!!
Pics to come once the camera is set.
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