Yamaha Customs

Hi folks im wondering if anyone can help me? I have just bought a xv125 Virago on a W/2000 plate. Just mot'd it and it started running rough then fine again. Then he next day it wouldnt start. Finally got it started and it wont rev properly or go above 25mph. Carb now taken off and cleaned thoroughly and its starting now on the button but still wont go above 25 mph. Im stumped any ideas folks???????????

Hi folks, as above, lately I've noticed my engine makes a ticking sound that gets louder when I've ridden a few miles. I know V-twins are noisy motors, but the ticking does get louder the warmer the engine is. Doesn't seem to be affecting performance at the mo. Is it just the valves opening and closing or could I be looking at something more serious?

Has anyone fitted a rev counter to their XVS650? I read on here that at 100kph the 650 is doing 4,000 revs in top gear. Can anyone tell me what revs the bike would be running at 50kph in 3rd and 4th?. With the rumbling and growling from the transmission, it's hard to tell whether the engine is staggering, or pulling freely. It does seem to pull away in top from 50kph ( 2,000 rpm? ) smoothly, without any hesitation.

Hello Guys after long time.. My bike's starter motor making a very rusty CRAAAASH noise when I hit the start button every time..sometimes the motor or the wheels in its gear set seems to be like very rusty and motor appears to struggle to rotate them...could be the wheel set or the brushes of the motor.. I am thinking of disassembling the motor and its wheel set attaching the flywheel/ engine. Has any of you ever done this? Is it tough to do by myself? Please someone give me necessary guidelines..I think I should brush off the oxides on copper/metal surfaces in motor.. Ur help greatly appreciated Am reading this but I would like yo to shar…

Hi there, I joined up here a while back but never posted, sorry! Could use a little help if anyone is willing. I've picked up a '97 Virago XV 125 for a bargain price, but it has minor crash damage. The most prominent being slightly bent handlebars. There doesn't seem to be any 'proper' bars for sale on eBay, but I was wondering f any others will fit? I'd actually prefer straighter bars anyway Would standard renthal bars fit? (Chrome of course to match..) Other issues, the speedometer has no working light so is unreadable at night, is this user serviceable? In other words is it hard to replace the bulb? The last issue is the fact that it just won't idl…

wonder if any one cud help me my virago 125 which is a 52 plate was running fine untill 2 days ago .as i was riding along it just cut out.... after further inspection i noticed under the seat a fuse blown .changed the fuse and went along on my journey..... .then 20 mins later it went again.......so when i got home i tried a little experimen......t i ran the bike with the fuse in and disconnected the regulator for about 20 mins the bike was fine.... .then ran same test again but this time with regulator plugged back in..... about 15 mins later the fuse blew .would this mean my regulaor has died or over charging any ideas or input would be a great help thx ............ :eu…

when i accelerate from gear 1 - 2 it seems to misfire before i go anywhere does anyone know any way of solving this or what has gone wrong? thank you in advance

Hi, after many phone calls and trawling the internet, it seems there are no 170/70-b16 tyres in the country untill at least october. this size fits the xvs1300 midnight star and i believe the xvs 950. i'm sure somewhere some dealer must have one in stock. does anyone know where there is one? ta

Has anyone ever seen or heard of a sidecar being fitted to a cruiser? I reckon the XVS650 would loan itself quite well to a sidecar. Low gearing, engine torque at the right end of the revs, heavy enough in the frame to handle the forces of the additional loading.

Hi everybody can anybody tell me what the differences are between the classic and the custom. would the same work shop manual cover them both. thank you in advance for any help. dave

Hi all, as above, speedo/odometer has stopped working, strangely right after the bike got washed (by hand, no pressure hose or jet spray). I assume some cable somewhere has come undone or snapped? Anybody know if this is an easy job to fix (an how to do it?) -Edit- the front wheel cable connection was a bit loose, I'll unscrew the speedo housing and see if the cable has come loose that side.

First off a big hello from a newbie to the forum! I bought my first bike in well over a decade, a silver Dragstar custom 650 from 2002 last week - very happy with her, she's a beaut! Naturally enough, I've hardly had the bike 5 minutes, and I'm already making changes! Changed the footpegs back to the original ones (previous owner had installed boards), new tear-drop mirrors to replace the somewhat worn-around-the-edges rectangular ones, saddlebags on the way... I'm also going to replace the heated grips installed by the prevous owner, with regular chrome and leather ones. The heated grips don't look very nice, they've got no endcaps, and I frankly fail to see the point …

I know , handlebars have been discussed at length on this forum but i need to change my stock handlebars for something more up to date and not to mension comfortable to give my back and wrists a break. I've done a search but i haven't found anything conclusive. i'd love to hear some suggestions of what can be put on. I dont wanna just run off and buy the first bars i see . I know that with some bars you have to replace the mirror's after. I don't wanna go down that road as i don't have the cash. The stock bars on it now are 7/8's diameter with a 27 inch width and about a 6 inch rise. I like the look of the more straighter bar but not totally straigh…

MY XVS 1300 NEEDS A NEW REAR TYRE AFTER 10,000 MILES, CAN ANY OTHER OWNERS RECOMMEND A REAR TYRE THAT HAS GOOD MILEAGE TO IT AND WOULD IT MIX WITH THE STOCK FRONT DUNLOP THAT STILL HAS GOOD TREAD ON IT, THERE ARE A LOT OF CHOICES OF MAKE SO ANY ADVICE WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED, THANKS

i am looking for a twin engine to go into a suzuki intruder 125 or pistons, piston pots timing chain and the engine bearing please let me know as i am getting sick of this now

The original exhaust has the lower muffler fixed to the rear header pipe via a balance pipe. Is there a particular reason for the existence of the balance pipe? I had wondered if this was essential to maintain the correct back pressure of the exhaust gases? Do after market exhausts bother with this?

I have recently sold my XJ900S Diversion and bought a XVS650 Dragstar, which I'm very pleased with save for one thing............... motorway riding. At speeds in excess of 60mph (which is another niggle to be honest, it's not very rapid 85 - 90 absolute max) it takes a gargantuan effort to hold on to the hadlebars, my full face helmet is shoved right back into my nasal passage and keeping my head from being either pushed up or down is nigh on impossible. So I was thinking about a screen, they look pretty awful but I was hoping someone might have something constructive to say about fitting one. Will it transform the XVS650 into a useable machine for motorway cruising, or …

On my 1300 I have some spotlights on a light bar. they are pretty loose and will rotate 180 after about 2 min of riding. so i got some time to fix it the other day to find this Allan screw with a wire coming out of it. the wires were run though the light bar before they were terminated as they dont fit though with the lugs on them. so i have to tighten it with the cable in there :S. I have tried to get a flathead screw driver in there, with no luck. I have some old Allan keys that i will try angle grinding a grove in on the weekend. Perhaps im missing something. thought someone here might have a simple genius idea for me.

hi all purchaced a lovely bike 1300a midnightstar got it's first service last week . asked the dealer re: rear luggage rack Butlooked at it and i mentioned that the number plate is in the way and you would not be able to fit it . has any one got any useful solutions

My dragstar has a windshield fitted but I need to set it up to suit me. I realise I need to see over it as looking thruought it does not feel right. Any tips on best angled, height etc. To get the best results from it