Late Starter

Someone beat me to it. Here's what the manual says anyway... I'm on my iPhone so hope this works. http://m.flickr.com/lightbox?id=5963457136

Hi, if nobody beats me to it I will check my manual in the morning for you. Sorry, just got into bed so won't go and look now. Will get back to you in the morning...

Fantastic! I hope you offered to help Miss pert buttocks get dry in your nice warm cab!!

Thanks for the replies guys. Someone at work says there is a Yamaha dealer in Melton Mowbray so I will call them and ask them to get me a new crush washer and oil for the bike and then collect when they have it in. I managed to see how much oil is in the bike by tipping the bike right over - turns out it is over filled I've been riding it like that, will it have done any damage do you think? Nice to know there is someone local, where abouts are you? - do you know a lot about bikes? Don't suppose you would mind meeting with me at some point to show me some basic stuff like adjusting the chain, cleaning/changing air filter, etc? The chain is the main one i'm nervous about trying as I don't want my wheel out of line!

Hi guys, me again. I've been looking through my user manual and have decided that I should have a go at changing the oil - mainly because I can't see if it has any in! The little viewing window is very dark or black and I can't tell if its below the window, or above it - but certainly it isn't between the two marks as I see no line across the window. My book says to use SAE 20w40 SE motor oil, or SAE 10w30 SE motor oil. Which should I use, and should it specifically say that its for motorcycles? Also, it says that the oil drin plug O-ring may need replacing - any idea where I can get one of these? Will it be rubber or cork (or maybe something else)? I don't want to go ahead and drain the oil without a new seal incase the old one is knackered. Cheers guys

It sucks to fail, but don't give up. I failed my Mod1 test by putting my foot down on the u-turn. I then decided that rather than throw money at more training and/or re-tests I would get myself a 125 on L plates to build my confidence. Not very cool for a 28 year old to be wizzing about with L plates on perhaps, but I don't care - I see it as a stepping stone to where I want to be. Having had a go on a 500cc though I now know I definately want to be a biker! Can't spend my life running around on L plates! Don't give up, you'll get there. It was soul destroying when I failed mine but I want it too bad to give up!

Wow! And here I am struggling with the damn u-turn! That's amazing!

Thanks for the tips, I have already been having a look around using the search function with some success. The only trouble is that not many people post photos of how they do things! lol I was thinking of getting hold of some second hand tools from ebay to start off with - as long as they do the job I don't mind how shiney they are! I will take all thats been said onboard and will have a bash at doing some basic stuff using the forum and the manual.

Thats a shame, never mind - I'll have a read of the user manual later and see how easy it is to follow for someone that has no idea!! Where in Northants are you? My dad lives in Kettering. Who do you drive for, I will keep a look out for your truck and give you a wave - you'll wonder who the hell is waving at you! lol

Ahh, just seen your edit. No worries, now - off to fill out my profile.....

No, not in Cheshire, think you are thinking of someone else..! I will update my profile, I am in Stamford, Lincs...

Thank you everyone! I better get myself some lube and get on it then, I've been riding around for a couple of weeks in all weathers without even giving it a thought! I hadn't considered the chain tension either, how do I know if it needs adjusting - and is this an easy task? Would the chain tension have been checked on the MOT? I will have a read of the owners manual this afternoon when the kids are out and I can hear myself think! I wonder if there is a member local to me that might be willing to show me how to undertake some basic maintenance tasks?

Hi guys, I went into halfords earlier to get some polish for my exhaust and noticed some motorcycle chain lube and motorcyle chain cleaner. Do I need some of this and how often am I supposed to put lube on the chain? Is there anything else I am supposed to do to my bike every now and then or any other products that I might need that I don't know about? Thanks.

Thanks for the welcome messages and advice guys, much appreciated. One question though MRR - What is meant by Black Down Blue Up?

Thanks kishan

Fantastic! Thank you so much, I couldn't have asked for a better explanation than the links you have provided. I have just read to page 3 on the 4 stroke engine but will pick up where I left off when the kids are asleep and I am able to concentrate on what I'm reading! The moving diagrams make it much simpler for a non-mechanically minded person such as myself to understand! I have added the links to my bookmarks. Many thanks!

Hi all, without wanting to sound like a total idiot I'm wondering if my bike is 2-stroke or 4-stroke? I have a 1997 SR 125. What are the main differences between 2 and 4, and is there something you must do differently for each? I could just head off to google I guess but then why join a forum if I'm not going to ask you guys for help. I have no mechanical background whatsoever so be gentle please!

Great, thanks. I will have a look tomorrow to find where might be the best place.

41, wow, I guess I'm not that much of a late starter in comparison... Although there do seem to be a lot of 17/18 year olds wizzing about making it look easy! lol I will indeed keep you all posted when I retry my test and hopefully pass. I will no doubt be coming on here asking for advice on what bike to get! For now though, I have a much more serious question - where should I attach a tax disc holder on my bike? I don't really want to put one on it and the bloke that delivered the bike said just to keep the tax disc in my pocket, however I don't really want to be getting any points or anything. Was thinking perhaps if I take off the footpeg or something then put the holder behind it? Don't want to remove an important bolt and have the bike fall to bits infront of me! Oh, the other thing - the tax disc holder I was looking at has a 5.5mm hole. Are all the bolts the same diameter? And yes, I believe Rutland is still the smallest county in England.

No such luck, was the wife - no ghost in sight! It has a bit of rust on the exhaust and a few other spots here and there but to my untrained eye looks to be in genrally very good condition - can't wait to get out on it! Hopefully the rust on the end of the exhaust will come off somehow? Thanks for the welcome!

Hi Mike, Thank you for the welcome! Just as well there is a bit of humour and joking to put a smile back on my miserable face eh?!! Its a terrible photo but I was really happy to get the bike, honest! lol

Hello everyone! As my user name suggests, I am a bit of a late starter having only recently passed my CBT at the age of 28, never ridden a bike before! Better late than never though eh.. I took a few lessons on a 500cc and failed the MOD1 test a few weeks back so decided to get a 125 and get a bit of experience on two wheels before going back to try again! Anyway, yesterday a nice gentleman delivered my first ever bike for me! A 1997 Yamaha SR125. He had it MOT'd yesterday morning and a new battery put on it. It only has 4418 miles on the clock and seems to me to be in fantastic condition for its age. I've yet to go out for a spin on it though as I can't tax it until my insurance papers arrive. Here it is - I'm a lot happier than I look in the picture! 100_3919 by Jimothy_Bobbins, on Flickr 100_3913 by Jimothy_Bobbins, on Flickr