The Bar

Hi there, I have a 1997 XJ600n and I am thinking of turning it into a Café Racer,, Has anyone got an experience of this? are there any do's or don'ts that I should be aware of? also are there any parts that can be swapped from one machine to another, like rear wheels or swing, rear suspension. At the moment im just trying to gather as much info as I can before I start cutting it about. Any Info would be very much appreciated Many thanks Al

just worked mine out, average over 3 years, it's 5K per annum, doesn't seem that much really but I suppose there are substantial periods over the winter when I don't venture out much on the bikes.

Took the bike up to the garage this morning and the gearbox is shagged. He said by the time they removed and split the engine it would be cheaper to put a new one in. I think this is it now, I'm going to carry on riding the bike until it doesn't work at all and then I am bikeless. I had some money saved for a 2T but I have just had my hours cut at work so I used most of that to pay off my credit card. Realistically it will be September when I have a few grand for a new bike, could go down the finance route but things are uncertain at work. On my way home the fucking kickstart fell off ffs. I could curl up in a ball and start crying.

don't agree with this blog. saying its akin to wearing a seat belt WTF? no amount of reflective light emissions is going to stop motorists from seeing you, for one they need to have headlamps on. two they need to actually acknowledge you're there and three seatbelt - sticker, sticker - seatbelt, nope can't see a link read for your self http://getgearedforbikers.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/french-helmets-law-5-things-to-know.html

Forwarded message: "All Some help please, I am currently running a camp in Helmand Province in Afghanistan and I would like to get as many people as possible to send my blokes( many are v keen motorbikers) your read bike mags. I appologises for the direct approach but due to having to cater for everyones tastes bike mags are not delivered as part of our Operational welfare package. The postage is free (up to 2kg), all it would cost is the envelope. The postal address if you would like to help is: QM TFH Lashkar Gar BFPO 715 Any help will be greatly appreciated and all mags will be read many times. Thanks, Major Andy Lothian"

So I'm getting a 2013 Fazer 8 and it's coming in Matte Grey. Has anyone any experience on if/how you should clean this paintwork? Part of me thinks you shouldn't polish it due to matte not supposed to have any shine, but thought I'd ask... Thanks Dan

I am looking for high res photos or engineering drawings of the tank shroud latch assembly, does anyone have any intel on this subject please?

2000 reg fazer fzs 600 constant petrol dripping from over flow r breather tube which runs down nxt to exhaust till I moved it . Lol any idea what s causing it . When parked up at nite nxt mprning theres about a litre of petrol in the tub under bike . Now he just tolde he does fill the tank to the top but would it cause this much to leak out ?

guys im considering selling my bike and for the life of me cant understand the ebay jargon can someone tell me straight how much does it cost to sell your bike on ebay and any ebay tips thanks

Hey lads, My Virago 535 doesn't do more then 100 km/h ( at it is an exact thing, always shots down at this speed) I was suspecting an exhaust restriction but there is nothing in the pipes. I have cleaned the carb and the jets are good size i think. My only other guess is the cdi ignition box ( I think air filter is standard as well) Does anyone know what part number might be printed on a restricted cdi box? If any at all? If the numbers printed actually does not tell about restriction then is there any test to find out whether this is causing the cut off at 100km/h or might be something else ( I can't think of anything else any more but any suggestion is we…

Recently seen a picture of myself on my 98 Divvy 600N and I look like Donkey Kong on a Monkey bike. I need something with a bigger frame at least, gotta be naked too. Really taken with the XJR. Also looking at the CB1300 & ZRX... Neither have to really recent. I'm wondering what else there is out there with similar frame sizes.... Big suzuki's are obviously in there too. Any suggestions peeps? Ta!

well im going to fix up my dt and sell her in the next couple of weeks, im looking at a change of riding style so more the 2 stroke racing look rather than enduro!! got a few options so ill throw ones im looking at see if you lot have any ideas on the best choice!! derbi gpr125r honda nsr jc20 aprilia rs125 cagiva mito anymore i should consider? im looking at spending in region of £1.5k im leaning more towards the nsr jc20 ive always liked them cheers ken

is there any plans to get this forum native on an app such as tapatalk? i use tapatalk for all the other forums im on and its so much easier to use than using a browser window on the iphone

Hi everyone, I have an engine number on the bike 2yl-292024 wich doesn't match the number under the handle bar first of all (2yl-292252) I have no vin number at all. I would like to get more info on the bike but without a 17 character long vin number I can't seem to find any site that would give details about the bike. Any idea what this bike is? It is a virago 535 and '97 but can you get more info then that? Also if you have no vin number on the bike what can you do? Is it possible that this one doesn't have one? Many thanks Gabor

I noticed this year when my road tax renewal came, it did not give me the option of 6 months only 12! I assume this is to stop people taxing for the summer and putting on a sorn for the winter and so dodge the new insurance rules ?

In light traffic, raining lightly so road wet. Keeping good distance from the Fiesta in front. About to pass parked cars, on a road which I drive my Primera on a regular basis, when she suddenly pulls an emergency stop! The reason? There was a Smart car coming the other way in a gap big enough for my car and a bus!!! I had no choice but to pull the brakes hard. As doing so noticed the awful shimmer if a rainbow on the road. My front wheel locked up and started going sideways. This has happened before on my #cough# Piaggio twist and go and so I was expecting to have a get off! Great shitting myself I realised I had managed to keep upright!!! Could not believe my luck. I kn…

Can anyone recommend any paper maps that are particularly good for motorcycle use? It's just for UK really, and I generally use a satnav but thought it would be nice to go back to a paper map in the tank-bag Otherwise I'll just go get any old map off Amazon that fits the size.

yes all brand new action staring the grouch episode 1 Not again ffs & wtf is wrong with my mountain bike now, tune in to hear all about grouch's woe's and mishaps! this week grouch looses a brake block, how the f#%k did that happen, he took it to the bike shop, it cost £154 WTF!! and it's still not right I'm such a Knob

As much as I love my little XJ6, I've taken quite a fancy to the FZ8N and was just wondering if anyone has one, or has any experience of what they are like? Husband rode an FZ1 and he said that, while it's a great bike, it's very twitchy and tends to be to the extremes of all or nothing with the throttle - snatchy acceleration and not particularly smooth. He said it's a bit mental Is the FZ8 like that too? Or is it a bit more 'rounded' in terms of rideability? I don't want anything that's hard work. My XJ6 is easy to get on with and I'm wondering if the FZ8 is just a bigger version, or is it more like a smaller mad-machine like the FZ1? Yes I know I really ou…

Slowly getting the 83 XJ900 together, fuel tank repaired, painted and side covers painted with new petcock on the tank. What I need help with is when I got the bike nothing was hooked up. I need to know the routing of the fuel & vacuum lines. I have a CD manual but doesn't show me anything. Does someone have a diagram that would help me. Once thats done air filter and battery and we'll see what happens . Thanks