This year - earlier than planned I have sold my C50.
I always had the feeling in the back of my head that the C50 won't be the bike that stays with me for the next decade. After riding it for 15000 miles there were a few points that bothered me and I ran into a good offer for a bike that I adored for a few years now.
What bothered me about the C50:
The stock seat - easily remidied with the faboulous Mustang comfort seat. That's a must have.
Low foot pegs (yes I know it's a cruiser), but with so many curved mountain roads next to my house I often felt like driving a truck rather than a motorcycle.
Piston slap when cold - which I couldn't solve even with thicker and thicker oil. I was always worried about damage to the cylinder walls when I heard the pison knocking while the engine was cold.
Complicated but fragile timing chains
The infamous using oil worn out engine despite rather low mileage issue
The missing 6th gear and therefore much more rpm on the highway than needed or than comfortable.
What I miss about my C50
Styling. It simply is the coolest little japanese crusier.
Sound and look of the stock muffler. Could be louder, but hey, that's almost always the issue with the stock exhaust.
Laid back comfortable ride with the mustang seat and big touring screen.
Now what did I think about replacing it with:
BMW R1200/1250GS: I always wanted a GS, I think you have to drive one to really experience one and understand the thrill everyone has. But in the end I didn't buy one simply because of the price (even with 50000+ miles they are expensive, especially in the current market situation)
Guzzi V85: Liked the Styling, the aircooled engine - and also the price was good for the package.
But - while looking at a Honda at the dealer (which was a Honda / Ducati dealer) I found this gem:
A 2019 Supersport S
I always had a soft spot for the Ducati design, especially the front and side fairings which look more like art. (Something japanese sport bikes simply cannot keep up with).
It's a ex demo bike, the price was right, the feeling was right. It's more comfortable than a Panigale, but yet has the indistinguishable look.
Almost love at first sight, sound is right, power is right, just an amazing package.
So this is my new bike. Do I miss my C50? Yes, but everytime I added oil after a higher speed run with high RPM (it only has 53hp at the end of the day) i wondered how much longer would it last? Same with every metallic hammering sound of the slapping piston when cold. And then there's the market situation, the cruiser market is dead in Europe, apart from Harley, Ducati XDiavel and the Kwasaki Vulcan/Honda Rebel. Apart from Harley, non of these are cruisers, the XDiavel is an amazing masterpiece of an power cruiser but not what I want as a cruiser. The Vulcan/Rebel? Meh, naked bikes with cruiser styling. Unfortunately, classic crusier Design only Harley and Indian are left. And both are priced way out of reach in Europe. (Not only by price but also by taxes, where I live every single cc of engine displacement costs tax. F.e. my C800 cost me around 490 US$/year in taxes and basic liability insurance. So a 1800cc is costly.). Same issue applies to the driving washing mashine/drier/toaster/oven called GoldWing. Also a bike that I always was interested in, especially given Honda's reliability.
So next season I will be sports touring around - and then see where I go from there.
Thanks for reading, thanks for the support I got on here with my issues with my C50.
Stay safe, keep the wheels on the ground - and who knows, maybe we'll see again, but next time on a M109!
I always had the feeling in the back of my head that the C50 won't be the bike that stays with me for the next decade. After riding it for 15000 miles there were a few points that bothered me and I ran into a good offer for a bike that I adored for a few years now.
What bothered me about the C50:
The stock seat - easily remidied with the faboulous Mustang comfort seat. That's a must have.
Low foot pegs (yes I know it's a cruiser), but with so many curved mountain roads next to my house I often felt like driving a truck rather than a motorcycle.
Piston slap when cold - which I couldn't solve even with thicker and thicker oil. I was always worried about damage to the cylinder walls when I heard the pison knocking while the engine was cold.
Complicated but fragile timing chains
The infamous using oil worn out engine despite rather low mileage issue
The missing 6th gear and therefore much more rpm on the highway than needed or than comfortable.
What I miss about my C50
Styling. It simply is the coolest little japanese crusier.
Sound and look of the stock muffler. Could be louder, but hey, that's almost always the issue with the stock exhaust.
Laid back comfortable ride with the mustang seat and big touring screen.
Now what did I think about replacing it with:
BMW R1200/1250GS: I always wanted a GS, I think you have to drive one to really experience one and understand the thrill everyone has. But in the end I didn't buy one simply because of the price (even with 50000+ miles they are expensive, especially in the current market situation)
Guzzi V85: Liked the Styling, the aircooled engine - and also the price was good for the package.
But - while looking at a Honda at the dealer (which was a Honda / Ducati dealer) I found this gem:
A 2019 Supersport S

I always had a soft spot for the Ducati design, especially the front and side fairings which look more like art. (Something japanese sport bikes simply cannot keep up with).
It's a ex demo bike, the price was right, the feeling was right. It's more comfortable than a Panigale, but yet has the indistinguishable look.
Almost love at first sight, sound is right, power is right, just an amazing package.
So this is my new bike. Do I miss my C50? Yes, but everytime I added oil after a higher speed run with high RPM (it only has 53hp at the end of the day) i wondered how much longer would it last? Same with every metallic hammering sound of the slapping piston when cold. And then there's the market situation, the cruiser market is dead in Europe, apart from Harley, Ducati XDiavel and the Kwasaki Vulcan/Honda Rebel. Apart from Harley, non of these are cruisers, the XDiavel is an amazing masterpiece of an power cruiser but not what I want as a cruiser. The Vulcan/Rebel? Meh, naked bikes with cruiser styling. Unfortunately, classic crusier Design only Harley and Indian are left. And both are priced way out of reach in Europe. (Not only by price but also by taxes, where I live every single cc of engine displacement costs tax. F.e. my C800 cost me around 490 US$/year in taxes and basic liability insurance. So a 1800cc is costly.). Same issue applies to the driving washing mashine/drier/toaster/oven called GoldWing. Also a bike that I always was interested in, especially given Honda's reliability.
So next season I will be sports touring around - and then see where I go from there.
Thanks for reading, thanks for the support I got on here with my issues with my C50.
Stay safe, keep the wheels on the ground - and who knows, maybe we'll see again, but next time on a M109!