clarke

Avon DO make the rear size for the XVS1300, they just have never updated their website. The correct size is located on the XVS950 page as they have the same rear tyre size 170/70R-16 75H found here http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorbike/xvs-v-star-950-midnight-star-tourer I contacted my insurance and Metzler about fitting a 180/80 (as recommended by US Metzler) but neither were having it in the UK due to different regs...?!?

DON'T POST A VID OF THAT!

I imported some things from the US and it wasn't too bad re: shipping and taxes. Just depends what you're after, the exchange rate and what the UK price is. Got a Cobra Slipon exhaust for about £220 delivered (www.sscustomcycles.com) and Mustang seats with backrest for about £200 cheaper than UK (http://store.valueaccessories.net/index.aspx).

Cheers everyone. I'm sure we'll get there

A girl at work has started a petition following a SMIDSY (she's ok, bike written off). She's after at least 2,000 signatures by the end of the month so Ishe can hand it in to No. 10. Thought you might be able to help... http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/driving-standards-agency-change-the-driving-test-to-include-motorcycle-awareness

Good luck! I badgered all the tyre makers to make ones for our size (the 950 has the same size tyres) and Avon were the only ones to do one...

The XVS 125 is a great bike and the best looking 125 cruiser, however the Honda Shadow VT 125 has more HP and will go slightly faster (doesn't look as good though)

Riding an XVS makes you a sexual tyranasaur...

I only managed 6700 miles from the rear Bridgestone. I was keen to try the new Avon Cobra that came out just as I got rid (sob) of my 1300. That's a radial tyre which all the US lot rave about and it's ok to use with the stock front. Just remember you need to use the correct sizes for insurance purposes unlike those lucky Americans

Yamaha emailed me this, called The Darkside of Japan. Wonder if it's a new bike? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmKUDLSJ4jA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

It's now listed in the for sale section almost tempted to sell the V-Strom instead but the Strom is a better all-year bike for commuting etc.... I will own another cruiser one day once the job situation is resolved...

Went to this in Sheffield a few years ago, was a good day out & best of all its free! http://www.bikesafeshow.co.uk/

I did my enhanced rider scheme on my 125, was fine until we got to a motorway and the instructor/other rider just fu&%ed off and left me miles behind. Caught them up eventually by blind luck... There's a Bikesafe event at Doncaster Racecourse Sat 8th/Sun 9th June with free assessed rides http://www.bikesafeshow.co.uk/

Congrats on passing! Any bigger bike will feel much better than the 125 in terms of acceleration etc. Get one you're comfortable on and don't worry too much about cc size just take it steady when you get it (I went from a XVS125 to a XVS1300 without any issues).

Glad to help

I was told by one dealer the average ownership of a bike is 8 months. Not sure what that's based on? I think we'll always look for different bikes even though the one we have may be acceptable as when we get older our tastes and needs change or we can finally afford that bike we always wanted.

When I first joined I'm not sure I posted an intro... I may have even asked a question about my XVS125? I know I never posted much for a while after, but I would regularly read the forum. Even now I'm on here everyday, sometimes I read and other times I post. It'd be nice if everyone who came on here posted an intro and stayed active, but just because someone doesn't post doesn't mean they don't visit.

This was posted on the V-Strom forum and I thought some of you may be interested? "http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&productId=386196 At checkout stage type TENWIN for 10% discount and then MAYWEL for free delivery." Both codes work and should work for other books too...

+1 Usually free resists and it's quite rare that people don't "pass" the CBT. The only person I ever saw fail was a girl who'd never ridden a bike before who turned up on a shiny 125 Honda Shadow cruiser. She went forward 3 foot, wobbled fell off sideways, rolled a few times then laid there not moving... Even then they stuck her on a 50cc scooter and let her complete the course, but said they'd have her back one evening to give her some tuition on the 125 before giving her the certificate... I paid £90 in 2008 using my own bike, it was £110 to use theirs (on a weekend)

+1 Usually free resists and it's quite rare that people don't "pass" the CBT. The only person I ever saw fail was a girl who'd never ridden a bike before who turned up on a shiny 125 Honda Shadow cruiser. She went forward 3 foot, wobbled fell off sideways, rolled a few times then laid there not moving... Even then they stuck her on a 50cc scooter and let her complete the course, but said they'd have her back one evening to give her some tuition on the 125 before giving her the certificate... I paid £90 in 2008 using my own bike, it was £110 to use theirs (on a weekend)

I had the Yamaha hard panniers on my 1300 and never noticed they leaked big time. They let a very small amount of.water in when you opened them, ie pressed the lock in. The trick was to blow the water out of the well around the lock before opening. I also wrapped things in plastic bags if I needed them to stay extra dry.

+1 to Mike. His mate who admitted the same offence got a fine and a 56 day ban. It's tossers like this chap that gives bikers a bad name. Look North started going on about a GSXR and how it could do 180mph and asking why does anyone need a bike that can do that? People like this cause the kind of thinking that makes bikers have to do 3 tests to go up engine sizes...

If I was on my bike and the two bikes were cars I'd have overtaken the first one, let the oncoming van pass then overtaken the second... If I was driving a car and a bike overtook me with the oncoming van I'd think he was riding like an idiot. Contour does look good. Does that side mount as well?

Good vids. Re: the first one you should have given it to the police - I'm sure they could have pulled the license plate and sent a summons

Use photobucket or something similar, it has a big UPLOAD button that you click & find the picture on your computer, then once uploaded click the image & view links then copy and paste the one that start and ends with here. Fairly straight forward. I'm sure there'll be a tutorial on YouTube too.