The Bar

I am thinking of changing my bike, I have an XJ750 (pre divi) that is 30+ years old now and it's really a good bike but getting a bit long in the tooth for long runs, so I was thinking of buying an FJR 1300A or the Honda 1300A ST Pan, I have not ridden either of these and wondered if any of you have and what did you think of them, I have checked out the forums on both of these and there seem's to be no major problems other than the FJR has some issues with minor vibration from the engine/frame? what ever that means. I would like to hear from any of you that have any thoughts on either of these or even what you think might be a good alternative, I am really looking to do s…

Sup guys? I was looking for you're guys input on a bike. First off, I'm a new rider, first bike purchase, 22 years old, 160 lbs. I was looking into buying a Yamaha Virago 750. 14,500 miles. Clean title, Says it has no problems and from pictures so far looks very clean. So I was wondering what's your guys' opinions/reviews of this bike? Good first bike? Good cruiser bike but still enough power to have fun? Any common maintenance? Really looking forward to buying a bike, just wanted to see what y'all think.

Today after 11 months of riding my bike was so fucked I had to rsort to a recovery truck. Luckilky I was covered through my insurance. With MCE I get free breakdown recovery within ten miles. It took three hours for the recovery truck to come and they tried their best to get out of sending one but I got one in the end. It was a bit silly really, a big fuck off recovery truck all for my little 125. Set off home and there was a clanking clunking metal sound and my back wheel was wobbling to fuck. I was approx 10 miles from home and I knew there was something seriously wrong. I had two options 1) Leave the bike in my girlfriends garage and pay for the motorcycle garage t…

My eldest has turned 19 today, so gets to unwrap his present and here it is in all its glory

Does anybody know what the Prime Ministers name was in 1967?

so, my restriction is due to be removed on my lincence in june, and i was thinking of getting a newer bike as an upgrade. Currently got a 1997 XJ600n, and that is about as "sporty" as im wanting, dont realy like full fairing race/sports bikes like the r6, r1 ect - dont find them suitable for commuting 60+ a day. any ideas? i quite like the xj6n, but wudnt mind something with a bit more power availability. . thanks

Hi All, Did a stupid mindless thing the other day and tried to drive off with me disc lock still on . . .IDIOT!! I'm normally religious about taking it off before I stick my lid on but something distracted me. Luckily no damage to the forks or calliper but I have popped one of the "floaty bits" on the disc though. I’ve had the disc on the lathe and it’s not bent but as there are only 5 out of 6 fixing now holding the disc it’s getting replaced. I’ve been looking at the Armstrong discs as they seem reasonable (http://www.msa-direct.co.uk/armstrong-front-brake-disc/yamaha-xj6.html), anyone used them? Experiences? Recommend something better? As I need to change both d…

Hello all, wonder if someone can help me - my big fingers have broken the taco needle on a xj750 1982 and i wonder if anyone knows where i can lay my hands on another? any ideas will be welcome..

hey guys, its jonny again and i currently have a Yamaha TZR 50 (2003) just resprayed and added a new piston, and was thinking about adding the front side fairings, the ones that case the sides of the engine. but i cant find any for a tzr 50, anywhere, but i did find a tzr 125 fairing for £20, and was just wondering if it would fit? or i could modify it, like trim it down and add new bolt holes Etc? any ideas guys? thanks in advance

Hi guys I bought my DT as a winter commuter bike, Its being well used in all weathers, and I've clocked up over 280 miles already and I've only had it for 6 weeks. Now I'm looking at putting a rear rack on it for my works bag and chain etc, might even put a removeable topbox, but first i need a rack. I guess the chance of finding a new one specifically for the MX will be remote, nonetheless I thought I'd ask. Does anyone know if a another rack for another bike just happens to fit? or is it a case of make your own/DIY? or any other ideas. I found this photo on the net, i don't think it looks too bad at all. However, before anyone says don't do…

Hi , just getting back into the bike world after 20yrs. I have owned 3 Yamahas previously and found a 1983 Seca XJ 900. I know these are sort of rare and it needs a exhaust.. Will the exhaust from a seca 750 fit? I have been looking and its hard to fing one except on ebay where they are sort of generic 4-1 system. Any info would be helpful as I would love to rebuild this bike. Thanks in advance.

hello there children of the corn, i was looking on ebay at bikes for want of a better word 'window shopping 'and i discoverd a lot of xs400's that have been altered to look like oldish school bobbers or cafe racer type looking machines they seam to fetch around the 900 quid margin and some of them look real nice a look that i would love to obtain,, i wondered if anyone has any experiance of these machines and how they are to handle ie.. do you need to be an experianced biker to ride one or are they to be considered a user friendly machine..if you get me...? also i was thinking the time will soon come for me to upgrade beyond the power of my 125 and go for a poss 250 or 40…

Got overtaken by a DT today, probably some teenager, I couldn't do out because a van was in the way. A DT would beat my 4T XT 125 anyway. It was pretty embarrassing to be honest. One thing I noticed as he was in front of me is that the wheels on his bike looked really thin, ridiculously thin.

hey folks..any dt experts out there no if the thermostat its the same on r aswell as the re models?? looking for 1 but only can find a older1 second hand-(quiet expensive for what they are from yam dealer) but happy to pay a tenner for it second they do normally have a good life span dont they? cheers dtluke,

Hi New to the site and had a look to see if this was covered before. Just got a DT125R 1994 and the neutral light and the oil lights do not come on when the ignition is switch on. Battery is charged, bulbs are ok and bike is in neutral Is there a single feed from the battery to these lights? Any ideas before I start stripping down the wiring loom. Cheers

HI all, I'm new here and in fact a new bike enthusiast. I'm 21 and I bought a Thundercat 600 in January with all my tests booked before the new laws came in. Unfortunately my test was cancelled 3 times because of the snow which means now I must abide by the new laws. I already have a good idea of what I can and cannot do but there is one rule that is causing me problems: "You cannot restrict a bike more than 50% its total bhp". Now, brand new my bike would have been producing 100bhp meaning getting it to the legal 46bhp would be illegal.. just. But since its now 14 years old, I'm fairly sure it will have lost a few horses. If I was to somehow prove it was now 92bhp…

Please can anyone help, if they have already fitted heated grips to their XVS950......? I have bought Oxford-style heated grips. (They are "On Tour" but look like they may be made by Oxford for On Tour) - 22mm diameter for clutch side, and 25.6mm for throttle. After removing the bar ends and then the rubber grip on the throttle side, the plastic sleeve that the new grip goes over seems to large - it also has big ribs all along it. The inside of the new heated throttle grip has a hard sleeve in it, which I assume slips over the plastic sleeve on the handle, but they seem exactly the same size (ignoring the ribs, which would need to be shaved off or cut down. H…

hey people.. ive noticed on my last 2 outings on my trusty steed that she doesnt seem as healthy as she was, im going to try explain whats happening and what ive done... well going through the revs i can get her up to 9,000rpm but she starts to run out of guts i mean if i get her into 4th on the flat there doesnt feel any kinda pull no feel to go up to the next gear but if you do the revs drop off and i have to shift down again. i am missing the feel of the powerband its just a steady rise in rpm i was getting max 45mph - 50mph (hard pushing) on a 60mph road wich was a little frustrating knowing i have been along the road before 60mph no problem with more in the…

Hi peeps, Was looking through some of my various XJ Turbo bits and pieces on my laptop trying to re-familiarise myself with how it goes back together, i already have a parts catalog which helps a fair bit but was wondering if anybody had a link to a service manual online? i have one for the DT50 which goes into great detail about how/where the wires should route e.t.c and would be a great thing to have for the turbo aswell any help appreciated Foameh

Hello, I was wondering if anyone thought a 2000-2002 R6 was a target for theft. I live in Brooklyn New York and have been riding older cheaper yamaha's since I started riding about 5 years ago. I don't do track or particularly long rides. It's really just a way for me to get around. Initially it was because of my budget limitations but then I realized that it's great to be able to park right outside your apartment and hop on and go whenever the mood strikes and knowing that it will still be where you last parked. Then I bought an FZR600 and fell in love with inline 4 sportbikes. For 3 years it was kept on the street and never stolen. Got knocked over a few times…