The Bar

Hi All Well now i have done it, after riding for years "when i was a lad" (but never passing my bike test (i know im a kn*) and being turned to the dark side by them 4 wheeled things, i have now bought a XV125 Virago. Been thinking about bikes for ages now but always resisted as i know i will be hooked on them again (I had an 80cc sports bike and did 23000 miles in under a year, mad or what) What finally did it was sitting in the queues at the blackwall tunnel for the past 6 weeks and watching with envy as the bikes slip past (well they do by me coz i get out the way) it was getting to be 3 hours to get to work and 2 to get home (only 40 miles) Pick it up…

Hi all New to this biking buisness but allways wanted to to do it. I have just got myself a Yamamha XJ650 (so I have been told) It is a non runner having been kept outside for two years. So it is a little restoration project for me. Some way to learn about bikes So I apolagise now if i ask to many questions. Will know about the bike when I get a copy of the log book from DVLA Can anyone advise me of a club in Central Scotland that might be good for me to attend? Day one untouched

Steering damper What are they and do i need one on my bike? Ive got 2000 R6-heard alot of people fittin them to this bike why?

I am looking into purchasing a set of vacuum gauges to sync my carburetors up. i was specifically looking at this set on ebay. how can i tell if these will work on my bike? will i need a special adapter to make them screw into the vacuum synchronizing screw hole? how will i know when they are set properly? neither the haynes nor the yamaha manual really explain how to make sure that they are set correctly. i want to learn to do this myself, but its difficult when i cant get any good (idiotproof) information. thanks. jeff

Some of you will remember my little XT350.....well it's gone now! Last month it went back to the UK for good....sold to a friend in South Wales. And this week, it's replacement arrived! It's a 98 TDM 850, genuine 8000 miles. Full service history.....in fact I don't think I've ever seen such a full service history in a book. The guy put it in for full main dealer services irrespective of the fact he wasn't using it.....so it's been serviced according to time rather than miles. Serviced at 679/3881/4847/5374/5975/8301.....so it's had 6 oilchanges in 8K miles! Rides very nicely indeed....perfect for further exploration of rural Spain! …

My "new to me", 'custom painted' (sprayed purple :-( ) 1987 Fz-700 is in desperate need of a signal relay (41R-71). I understand that several models from the era had this relay, but I'm finding it nearly impossible to locate a seller. Would any of you have a clue as to what company might carry these relays (used or new)? I found a company that has them, but they want 102 US dollars (I'm in the US)!

Hi All Just to say hello and introduce myself. My name is Andy and i am from Staffordshire, i am a self confessed XS freak as i have a very nice collection of XS 250 not just the ones in my profile. my recent acquisition is a 81 XS250 YICS jap import which is how i found this site as i was searching for a manuel on it CAN ANBODY HELP with this. Anyhoo howdy All Andy

Hi fellow Yamaha riders. Thank you for reading this post as i know it has nothing to do with motorbikes. I am raising money for the Amani Children's Home in Tanzania by battling altitude sickness climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro (the Worlds 4th Highest mountain) on the 1st of September. The Amani Children's Home rescues children from the perils of life on the streets in Tanzania, who face a high risk of HIV transmission and malnutrition. Whilst in Tanzania I will also be visiting the children's home and meeting the children and careers there. Amani really is a fantastic charity. Unlike a large, international charity that has fundraisers sitting in offices writing ad…

Hi and hello to you all I'm an ex telegram boy (boy messenger) from way back in the early seventies. I used to ride BSA Bantams 175 but my own bikes were a Yamaha rd125 and rd350b which were fantastic bikes back then and still are now according to little old me! The bike I always wanted though was the xs650b but never got to get hold of one then due to females etc etc Now i have one and have been restoring her for the last 2 years to a lovely standard and been taking her out for long rides this year everywhere. Brilliant bike and after the restore rides fantastic. Anybody out there got a similar model to mine? 1976 XS650B UK ROADSTER http://i186.photobucket.com/alb…

I never use hearing protection other than my helmet, and I was wondering how the rest of you treat this issue. The people here seem to be worse drivers on average than I have ever had to deal with, so I want to be able to hear whats going on around me more clearly. My bike is pretty loud though, and I am sure that my hearing is being damaged at least a little. So, how often do you use hearing protection? Have you noticed that plugs make you miss anything?

Hi all, New to the forum and wanted to ask experienced Yamaha riders their thoughts on Yamaha Dealersihps/Service Dept's and used bikes. Preferably if you own a Yamaha over 7 yrs old do you have to perform all service/maintenance yourself? Long story short (sort of)... I wanted to start learning how to ride motorcycles & wanted to be mature & responsible about it. I signed up, took & passed our state MSF course and received license. While taking MSF I saw a used Yamaha Seca II on Craigslist for sale, spoke to my instructor in regards to this being a beginner type bike for me & after discussion decided to buy. Excited to have purchased my 1st…

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERY ONE

Hi to you all i have just joined and want to wish you all a happy new year im lucky enough to of just purchased a brand new r1 in graphite i havent got any pictures yet but will add one soon as poss uptill now ive been a 600 gixer owner i have had 3 srads and i currently still have my alstare k3 model think ill probally sell it now i have the r1 , ive wanted an r1 since i first walked into the local bike shop , to get a set of ht leads for my lc 350 back in 98 so its taken ten years but got there eventuallY , , So Hi to you all,,,,,Si

Hi, i'm Steve, 21 from Grimsby. I go to Sheffield Hallam Uni doing Quantity Surveying. Just bought my first 'big bike' which gets delivered to me next week. Its a 06 plate R6 inblack. Not got too much planned for it, just a few carbon goodies. Recently sold my car which was a mag featured show car corsa but i think i have been shown the light with bikes. I'll get some decent pics once it arrives but i'll post up the ones i have now. Cheers, Steve

hey wanting a sports bike, gotta b a 125 coz only got a cbt any surgestions??

HI OUT THERE/ ANYBODY REMEMBER THE SMELL OF" CASTROL R" ; DO u still get it & where; is castrol 747 . the same ???

I'm having trouble deciding whether or not to invest in one of the chain lube systems (scottoiler etc) or stick with the spray lubes. Are the automatic systems too messy ? If spray on is better, which type: thick and sticky or a thinner one.. Any advice would be helpfull. cheers sim666

okay... since im on the west side of the pond ive got to ask... what does A Registration, P Registration and T Registration mean? ive seen this reference in a few posts and im a bit curious... thanks

Hello guys and gals! This is all very new to me, im a complete internet virgin, can u believe it at the age of 28! Anyway, im thinking about fitting a Dyno-jet Power Commander to my beautiful baby. Shes a 2005 YZF R6, i know they are easily fitted and i could prob do it myself. However is the cost of this actually worth the better prefomance? Now im no track racer, but i do like a squeeze round the bends.........the bottom line is, is it worth the money?????

here's an online petition set up by a good guy and OYB bike training owner Alex Pinch, doing the rounds about delaying the launch of the MTC (New Super Test for Bikers) until all centres (across the country) are open. The DSA says they’ll all be open within 12 months, so why can’t they delay until April 09? This will affect the industry at a time when the country is facing a financial crisis. This affects all of us, with some new riders being expected to ride a 3 hour round trip, just to get a licence and that’s not safe. Please pass this on, it deserves our support. Click here and sign up - http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/delaytheMPTC/