Yamaha Customs

I am still looking for my first bike (650 or 1000) and now moving house so need a bike for daily use really. I see a lot that have never seen rain, but does anyone use these bikes for daily commute and if so, are they still a good buy for city center driving etc. Maybe I should buy an older model Star so not too worried about dirt, salt, rain etc Or do I need to be looking at an alternative bike? Thanks

Hello! Hope you are all well! I've noticed some areas of rusting on the wheels of my XVS650 as well as on the frame (swing arm section) and was wondering if anyone has delt with the problem before? I know there are many different options (steel wool, sandpaper, vinegar, foil and coke!), however, my plan was to try the following: FRAME: Rub down with steel brush Clean with soapy water Rub with sandpaper/copper wool Apply Vactan Paint over Anyone have any thoughts on how effective the above might be? Not sure if anyone has used Vactan or a similar rust converter? I've heard good things though. I would need to repaint after application - does anyone kno…

First Hi & Hello to everyone, just took delivery of a nice & shiny 1998 650 Dragstar Classic in the Gold & Bronze colour. Question 1. There is no tax disc holder on the bike, I am going to pick one up later but where abouts on this bike are they usually mounted? There is a couple of small holes on the bottom of the nearside (UK) front mudguard, and I also notice a small L bracket on the fram below the horn. Question 2. In the rear bag I found a smallish piece of chromed metal, which I have worked out is the outer piece of the heat shiled on the curve where the back cylinders pipe curves round, there is the large heat shield with two holes one has a…

hi guys, im new to the forum so be gentle with me. lol. i want to remove the hypercharger from my xvs650. 97model. reasons for removal are, it gets in the way of my leg on long journeys, its starting to look tatty, and i dont think it makes any improvment to performance. anyway back to the main topic, is it just a matter of pulling the hypercharger off and fitting the standard filter and cover or is there more to it. there seems to be a few hoses running into the hypercharger. many thanks for any advice given. wolf.

About to give my 650 its 1st oil change since buying. I'm not sure what grade or brand the previous ( original) owner used. Has anyone found that diferent brands make any difference to the gearbox rumblings, noise, gear shifting, and to general engine performance? I'll probably go with a semi synthetic. Also, has anyone heard of engine failures due to aftermarket oil filters as opposed to OE. filters?

my 99 650 vstar is going to need a new speedo, its going to be the easyest way to get it legal, does anyone know if one from a different year is a straght swap, or do i need a 99 like one of these for example http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-XVS650A-DRAG-CLASSIC-SPEEDO-ASSY-NEW-5SC8358010-/260825810294?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3cba6e0576 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-XVS650-2006-Speedo-Clock-and-Mounting-Trim-/350470012480?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item5199a3fe40

guys various parts of my bike are now lookin the worse for wear, mainly the plastic chrome stuff is peeling badly. is there anyway to just get rid of this and paint the affected areas. all my "real chrome" is okay, its the stuff thats on plastic panels. thanks for any advice guys.

I have a xv125 can some one help with all the pipe connections? 3 connections on the tap top middle and bottom plus the pipe off the inlet and the pipe back off the pump I also have a pipe connector missing a pipe on the carb Help Help Cheers Beefy

I decided I was competent enough to replace the ageing rubber grips on my XVS650 Dragstar. I bought a set from Vyxxn (http://www.vyxxn.co.uk/catalog/sundance-handlebar-p-2313-bm-2135.html?osCsid=0daccbcd1b6ad5f7aa1bc4025b07427b) but am having trouble fitting them and am not sure if I'm just being stupid or not. My old grips were fairly simple black rubber with a chrome end bar and collar. I unscrewed the chrome end bar, cut off the rubber grip and removed the chrome collar but whilst I can get the new grip over the screw end (where teh end bar was) I can not get it onto the throttle bar as this has long ridges down the length of it and teh bar simply isnt big en…

hi where is the reg/rec located in my XVS 125 dragstar and is there anything i need to know when replacing it

Just a quick thing I wondered. Realise is probably a simple answer but hey Asside from performance, is there differences between the 125 and 250 Dragstars? As in size of the bikes. aesthetic parts etc. Thats all cheers

The bloke I bought my Virago from said the bike was an import (first registered in the UK) and the KM/H speedo gives another clue to this. I then noticed that World's End have two pages for the XV125, one being for a German "80KM/H Version" - how can I confirm that my machine is or isn't a German spec, what can I check on the bike itself? I'm wanting to change the sprockets on it, as well. The bike is over-revving at 52mph, and that simply isn't good enough, as I do nearly 300 open-road miles per week. My Gilera 125 would cruise at 65, and would do over 70 if I needed it, and the Yamaha should/will have a bit more cojones all the way through the rev range, so I know it…

Hi All, I have an o2 sensor eliminator fitted at present on my XVS1300 Midnight Star and I am about to fit Cobra Fi2000, do I need to remove the eliminator? Also if I fit a Baron Big Air Box with the Cobra, do I need to do anything with the carburation? and what about the eliminator? Yours confused Graham

Hi All just found this site a must if your looking at changing sprockets enjoy

Hey guys and gals, I've only been riding for a couple of months so I'm not sure if this is going to be a stupid question but, hey, if you don't ask you won't know My dragstar starts first time on the button when cold but once I've been riding for a bit and the engines warmed up I have problems getting her to start again. I have to open the throttle right up and hold down the starter for a second or two before it starts. This has happened to me three of four times now and its a little concerning. It did it to me today and I hadn't ever done a mile (stalled at a junction, newbie error). Any help would be appreciated. Cheers folks.

I drive a yamaha dragster 125 and a couple of weeks back i lost all ignition power, upon inspection of the battery it had "exploded" bubbled outwards. I did think this very strange but put it down to old age/wear and tear.I ordered a new battery of ebay and stuck it in less than a week ago. today i was out and lost power again. checked battery and the same thing has happened. battery exploded. Im stumped! Anyone know what causes this? thanks in advance

Hello all, I have a set of 2nd hand engine bars for my XVS650 Custom, but I can't fit them as they did not come with bolts and the original bolts are too short! I need both the top and the bottom mounting bolts and can't find them anywhere! Does ANYONE have any idea of how I can get hold of some longer ones? Or perhaps one of you lovely people know what bolt Type/size/length I need to be looking for? ANY help would be MUCH appreciated Thanks in advance Nicky

Hi, First post on this, just after a bit of advice. I have recently bought a 600 Fazer, W reg, and seem to have some problems starting it with a cold engine. If I start it like I normally would on a bike, it will fire up, and then die. So I find that I have to push the button, turn the throttle and hold it for a couple of seconds to keep it ticking over. I have looked at the plugs, cleaned some dirt off them and put them back in. My other thought is that would it be related to the carbs at all? As when I start it, with choke, and set it so it's ticking over (just above 1,000 revs), it is on the side stand. But then if I am to sit on the bike and lean it up right, after…

Hi guys, I put a new battery while ago and drove for a week, but suddenly lights went flickering and I removed the battery to find out all the acid in it gone. I filled distilled water into cells and had to ride for a week or so refilling when the fluid level went down, I didnt rev engine too much during this period as I had guessed the rec/reg was faulty. I put a new rec/reg and checked voltage regulation with multimeter. It was working. But the lights specially headlight and front signal lights were and are still very dim. But self-starter working. One night however when I was riding, all the lights went off..nothing was functioning, horn was very week and I…

Hi guys, I put a new battery while ago and drove for a week, but suddenly lights went flickering and I removed the battery to find out all the acid in it gone. I filled distilled water into cells and had to ride for a week or so refilling when the fluid level went down, I didnt rev engine too much during this period as I had guessed the rec/reg was faulty. I put a new rec/reg and checked voltage regulation with multimeter. It was working. But the lights specially headlight and front signal lights were and are still very dim. But self-starter working. One night however when I was riding, all the lights went off..nothing was functioning, horn was very week and I…