Cruiser

Hi all I've got a 2001 XVS 650A Dragstar Classic, which I'm currently rebuilding (some b*stard in a car knocked me off and left me at the side of the road), and I'm looking at purchasing an XVS 1100A V Star Classic to get back to riding quicker than my resto is going to take. The bike's an American import (obviously, being a V Star), and I *think* it's a California model, admittedly based purely on a sticker on the LHS of the frame. I know of the California models, and I believe I "know" that the specific models were created for the Californian market due to the state's high restrictions on emissions. But, what I've never been quite clear about, is what exa…

Hi all, I have fuel leaking from front cylinder and bike won't start. I have spark at both plugs, fuel pump kicks in and shuts off as normal, carbs recently rebuilt with full Jadus kit. Could it be the igniter unit? Any useful advice gratefully received. Ta TC

Hi Guys I've been (very) slowly stripping my 2001 XVS650A Dragstar Classic down to component parts and re-building her. Everything's coming off, being cleaned, polished, repainted, or replaced - now only engine and final drive left on the frame. On taking the air box apart this evening, I noticed that the 2 rubber elbows that sit inside the air box and attach to the top of the carbs have a semi-solid brownish "seal" around them, underneath the green metal retaining plate. (Turn your air box over, and you'll see the plate). Doesn't look to me like a proper seal - more like something's leaked around the rubbers and sorta solidified. Or someone's put some adhesive …

I've got the dreaded 5th gear whine/noise on my 2000 classic trike. I know the subject has been covered on the internet BUT is there anyone in the Northants are who could strip the engine and sort the gear out?? I've no problem removing the engine and ancilleries but I'm dubious about splitting the engine to get at it. I don't want a full rebuild just done as economically as possible by someone with the knowledge.

I have just fitted straight through pipes to my Yamaha dragstar 250 and im finding that the bike sometimes struggles to start when cold. Do i need to adjust the air intake or upgrade the idle jet in the carb? Once its been started its fine for the rest of the day.

I went to change the handgrips on my bike and when I removed the throttle cables on the grip and put it on the new ones I couldn’t get the housing to close. The cables seemed tight so I thought it was the grip so I put the OEM grips and same thing. I tried to adjust the cable and gave it slack but it still wasn’t enough. What should I do?

Evenin' all I realise that this forum seems to have drastically reduced in both audience and participants, but hoping there are enough people left who can weigh in on a tyre recommendation question. Before Christmas I purchased a 2007 VStar 650 Silverado (American import, obviously). It's currently got Dunlop D404's front and rear (170/80-15 tubed on the rear, and 130/90-16 tubed on the front). Low mileage, so presumably original tyres. The garage I purchased the bike from told me "The MOT has a warning on the tyres as they're cracked, but there's plenty of tread left on them, just run them 'til the tread wears down" ... At that point all credibility for th…

Hello, I am thinking about replacing the headlight, parking, indicator and tail/brake lights bulbs with LED ones. Has anyone else tried this and had any problems?

Hi. The camshaft sprocket bolt on my 1997 virago 125 has stripped its threads ive got a new bolt but i cant find any info on the torque settings. does anyone know where i can get a workshop manual or the torque specs?. Thanks in advance.

Hey guys! Wasn't sure where to post this or look since I'm new here but I was wondering if anyone has ever taken the dummy top tank off the '87 Virago 535 and replaced it with an actual tank. What size tank did you use and how did you go about routing it to the main underseat tank?

Got one of these on the way for the vmax, sick of looking down away from where im going to see the rpm. Wife's blessing too, (for the clock anyway😉. Also going to delete the current but soon to be redundant rev counter/idiot light setup on the tank and make it a switch panel for power, fan override, trickle charge connection, etc. https://www.digital-speedos.co.uk/gauges-c4/motorcycle-gauges-c27/multifunction-gauges-c29/koso-tnt-04-multifunction-gauge-speed-rpm-temp-gear-indicator-8-colour-back-grounds-p674?fbclid=IwAR2t_Qi5r3oMymKc1UFn6ZpkSHEZR_JIPvar8-E4EMVk46Gw3et95k4vwec

Hi, recently bought an xvs1100 Dragstar and really like it but one thing I find strange is it is a very smooth engine until I hit 70mph and then it feels like a bag of nails and vibrates a lot! On a 1100cc bike this surprises me as I would have thought that at that speed it would be humming along, is this right??

Hi all, new here. I'm looking at buying a Virago DragStar XVS125 from 2002. The photos look good but before I go and see it in person I was wondering if there was anything in particular to look out for on these bikes? Thank you all! TdashJ 😀

Hello, Anyone know or can obtain the clearance in cm from the ground to the under frame. I'm planning on using a car jack and a wide steel plate to place up to the engine frame and then raise for servicing etc. Wondering if i need a low profile jack or whether standard is OK Thanks Kev

Hi All, just got the old girl back from the carb rebuild and it’s running brilliantly. The one bugbear I’ve always had is the stiff clutch lever, not helped with a touch of arthritis. Just wondering if anyone has had a hydraulic clutch conversion done? Cheers, Mark

Hi all. I'm new here and working on a yamaha xv535 and the fuel tap solenoid is dead (it doesn't activate when a charge is run through it)... Considering a new tap is near £100, can I just put a normal main and reserve tap on it. I'm happy to not use the handlebar switch so can it be replaced with any Main Res and Off tap fixed to the old tap bolts under the auxiliary (main?) Tank? Many thanx in advance and sorry if this is in the wrong section. Seana

I have the official service manual, but it often requires specific tools i managed to create clutch tool, and rotor tools,, used steering wheel puller successfully, but crankcase seems more complicated. BTW, don’t follow manual and undo the u-joint. Totally unnecessary

Looking for rear chrome cover replacement any body in the know

Anyone on here ride a virago 535? I've just changed over from an MT03 660 single to the '96 virago and boy the suspension is... rough. I've never ridden cruisers before and while I get on with the bike quite well (and understand it's a totally different engine), it's the suspension that's giving me trouble (I've already changed the rear shocks for softer ones, checked the tyre pressue, and confirmed the forks are working just fine). Anyone have any experience riding both cruisers and tourers? My voice is shaking from the bumpiness of the ride (when I speak to my husband over our headsets) and my shoulders are taking a beating. Is this just "how the virago is" when compare…

Hi all, new to this forum and just wanted some advice before I buy a 2010 model XVS 650. Firstly is a 2010 model an 'A' Secondly will after market exhaust for say a 2007 fit a 2010?? I've read XVS400 is the same fitment as XVS650 all years but I also resd that post 2007 is different fitment to pre 2007? Look forward to helpful replies. 😀