Blam

I managed to wrap the front pipe on mine without removing the header-pipe at all (mainly because the studs were so badly rusted that removing them would have been a *major* pain-in-the-backside). It helps to support the pipe from underneath as you wrap though, in order to save putting too much strain on the manifold studs. Both chrome shields (the one at the manifold, and the one at the join to the muffler) are tack-welded on so they're not coming off without either brute-force and ignorance, or the correct tools (I'll let you imagine which I used! ) but in all honesty I wouldn't bother removing the one at the manifold.

Apparently I've been a member since 2010, but not been active in ages on account of my bike being on a bit of a back-burner... which might explain why it looks like I've not posted anything on here ever (was there some kind of clear-out or purge of threads whilst I was away?). So yeah, I'm Blam, I'm 32, and I'm an alcoholic from Essex. I've got a XVS650 V-Star. I think it's some kind of special 'Midnight' edition as there's a lot of stock-parts painted metallic black, so I've been systematically replacing, repainting, or covering the chrome with black to match it. I'll stick up pictures at some point. :-)

I had that exact same flakey-chrome/rust issue with my wheels. I took them to Central Wheel Components in Birmingham - http://www.central-wheel.co.uk/ They dismantled the wheel (including knocking out the bearings), powder-coated the rim and hub, re-laced it with new stainless steel spokes, and fitted an Avon Cobra tyre.

Found it!!! Tucked up behind the frame where the green arrow is on the image I posted. In a moment of blinding facepalm it turns out that the turn-signal relay is the little black relay-looking thing marked "TURN SIGNAL"! Genius!!! Fireman Fez, I tried that, but with the back mudguard off the indicator circuit wasn't working at all. Good suggestion though, and worth a try.

I must admit, I do miss that old girl She was an absolute animal if the road was even slightly damp, but she had enough power (and grip, if it was dry) to make a Scooby look silly at the lights. Plus, with the V&H's she sounded sweet as a nut!

Would I be right in thinking it's the light blue thing cunningly hidden behind the exhaust pipe?

Hmmm, not really all that helpful. I'm still none the wiser. What I'll do is take a photo of that bit and stick that up here.

I'm wondering if someone could post up a photo showing the indicator relay in situ on an XVS 650 Custom please. I need to replace mine as I'm fitting LED indicators, but can't seem to work out what to unplug. I know it's next to the battery, but there's several relays (or things that resemble relays) down there and the photo in the Haynes manual is only so much help (with it being black-and-white and tiny). Help me Obi-Wan!

I had a set of V&H Classic II mufflers on my last bike (a Honda VF750C), and yeah, without any kind of baffles they were *loud* (my neighbours were seriously unimpressed with me going to work at 3am). However, they did seem to quieten off after a while. I suspect the packing material took a little while to bed in and/or rough up or something. Either that or my hearing started to go!

Well it's looking like the smoke is settling down now, so luckily I don't think I've disturbed the seal. On the other hand, my 'zorsts have started steaming... though that might have something to do with the heat-wrap ;-) (Crap photo's owing to a crap camera on my phone)

I've had her a year, and been lurking on here for most of that time, and narrowly avoided having to sell her, but I've finally gotten around to customising my XVS 650 Midnight (I've posted pics before so I'm not going to do it again). So I've got a set of the Highway Hawk short-cuts on there, and they sound pretty damned sweet compared to the stock mufflers, and they're loud (but not too loud) with the baffles in... but the problem I've got is they're smoking worse than a teenager behind the bike-sheds! The manifold on the rear-pipe smoked a lot which I suspect that was down to it cooking off the metric f-ton on penetrating oil I had to dump on the bolts to take them out, but that's settled down to nothing now. The problem is the front manifold. That's still smoking like a chimney and I'm not sure why. Either, it's the penetrating oil I stuck up there in case I had to remove the downpipe, or I've disturbed the seal. Either way, it doesn't seem to be getting better, though holding a rag over the end of the exhaust doesn't make it worse. It also, it's not there straight away, but instead it starts when the engine heats up. Now I'm pretty sure it's just oil cooking off, but the only way I can be certain is to knock off the pipe and put a new seal in, 'just in case'... and there lies the problem. My nuts are rusty. Very rusty. And odd sizes too. I've got some photo's (see below), but I'd welcome any advice on removal (either of the penetrating oil, or of the nuts themselves). Blam

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I actually didn't know that. Mind you, don't think I've ever been pulled up for it either. I'll definitely have to look in to that one.

Not had a chance to take her out yet (too much snow, too little time), but I'm hoping for something a little more laid back than my previous steed (a Honda VF750C). For pipes, I'm looking longingly at some Hard-Krome 3" Res-Tech Drags in black (http://www.sscustomcycle.com/products/pipes/Yamaha/v-star650/v-star6502.shtml - about half-way down the page), but thats for later next year when I have a bit more money spare. Indys and a fender extender are definitely the priority on a very long list of ideas though She's an '05 plate, so about 4 years old. As for how much? Money and kind words

Speaking as an HGV Driver myself, it's a token gesture to appease the people stranded in far-flung communities, rather than a serious attempt at helping out the truck drivers. An extra hour? Whoop-de-doo The law already states that in an emergency we can drive until there's somewhere safe to stop, and any driver that's not carrying overnight gear in this weather is an idiot.