Smiley1244

LOL Glad I'm not alone but I have said cord, from ebay . . .in my desk draw at work yep 2x the idiot!

Good idea!!. Yeah I saw the ebay discs, thought they might be too good to be true. Think I might go with them unless anyone has any horror stories.

Hi All, Did a stupid mindless thing the other day and tried to drive off with me disc lock still on . . .IDIOT!! I'm normally religious about taking it off before I stick my lid on but something distracted me. Luckily no damage to the forks or calliper but I have popped one of the "floaty bits" on the disc though. I’ve had the disc on the lathe and it’s not bent but as there are only 5 out of 6 fixing now holding the disc it’s getting replaced. I’ve been looking at the Armstrong discs as they seem reasonable (http://www.msa-direct.co.uk/armstrong-front-brake-disc/yamaha-xj6.html), anyone used them? Experiences? Recommend something better? As I need to change both discs plus pads I figure I might as well go the back too I'm only road based so I don't need the best performance.

Hi All, I work in IT and have recently had to do a review and business case for Windows 8 so I thought I’d drop my two pence worth. If Microsoft didn’t want to sell Surface devices Windows 8 would be a spectacular OS, even better than Windows 7. It’s more secure, It’s faster and has more functionality. Unfortunately Microsoft DO want to sell Surface devices and ‘Metro’ sucks . . . on a non-touchscreen device anyway. On touch screen enabled devices it is actually not that bad, once you’ve spent a couple of hours arranging the tiles like you would desktop icons IF you didn’t have a start menu . . . oh wait you don’t!! I’ve been using it now for around 3 months on both a laptop and desktop and you do get used to the ‘metro’ interface but it does mean a lot of mouse moving and on a laptop touchpad that’s hard work. For instance to close a ‘metro’ app you have to drag it from the top of the screen to the bottom in a gesture like motion, if it’s not a fluid movement sometimes it pops back and you have to start again. You can use ‘Alt+F4’ but most users don’t use keyboard shortcuts. The not to techie people out there also have to deal with 2 control panels now and good luck finding how to shutdown. There are rumours that Microsoft will offer a switchable interface with Service Pack 1 but I doubt it as they have already taken steps to block some of the ways of removing ‘metro’. So to summarize; great OS cocked up at the end, but get used to it because I predict Windows 9 will have more of the same. So maybe it’s worth getting while it’s still cheap. Agree with DirtyDT, if your on Vista (or older) it's worth it, just for the speed increase. Windows 7 is a toughy.

Just received some of this myself, meant to be the best stuff you can buy.

Hi Ben and welcome. I'm new to the scene myself but also hailing from Essex, riding a XJ-6N here. Good luck with the build.

Hi all, sorry about the delay work has been manic but an update for anyone that's still interested. Engineer had a look and found out that the rear sprocket carrier was mis-machined by a good few millimetres which was giving the rear sprocket a wobble. He's flattened/removed the excess down on a lathe. The noise is still there (maybe even louder) but this could be done to the very much now naked second chain. Had a discussion with the dealer today as I've pretty much lost confidence in the bike and may be swapping it maybe for an FZ6 BUT we'll see what the engineer says tomorrow as he's going to take it out again to determine if the noise is the nakered chain or something else. It would be a shame as I much prefer the styling of the XJ and I'd be losing some extras too. To boot after I'd got the bike back I noticed it was missing one of the chain tensioner plates, hopefully a replacement will be delivered tomorrow?! My first "big bike" experience is not going as planned!!!

Welcome Charlie, Hope the test go well. MOD1 was the worst for me Not sure why?!

Bike's going into the engineer tomorrow so lets hope they can find the definetive cause

Nope just the side stand. The manual says to measure on the side stand with no weight on the bike. Hmm I'm not . . .er . . that light so maybe it could do with a bit more slack. I'll emphasize that when it goes in. As you quite rightly said at this point I'll let the dealer do it.

Hi All, wow loads of responses. Update so far: I forget the make of the chain, DD or something like that. I was assured it was a good chain and the engineer who fitted it commented on it without me prompting him so I think it was good. I double checked the wheel alignment, just by sight I didn't undo anything but it seems fine. Spinning the wheel says no wobble on the tire either. Checked the tension all around the chain and did find a tight(ish) spot. I estimate that at its tightest spot there is 35-40mm play. The manual says 45-50mm so I raised this with the dealer when I went there after, he didn't seem to think that would be an issue. He also agreed that the chain was indeed going through the same thing again so not me being paranoid. I raised the issue of the noise again, as after posting I realised I can hear it (just) at 5-6K rpm and beyond although its drowned out by the engine noise. Plus it's still there when I pull the clutch in doing 30mph and letting the engine idle, so not engine noise. One of the guys that works at the dealer took it out and agreed that the noise wasn't normal and might suggest that the rear sprocket bearing is worn causing the sprocket to have play in it. This seems plausible with my limited knowledge on how things work and could indeed cause the chain wear I'm seeing too. So I'm arranging to put the bike into their engineer next week which is a pain but at least it should be sorted. The dealer was very good about it and seemed a little embarrassed by the issue. Although I detected a little suspicion that it was something I had done / was doing so I took along the chain cleaner I’d been using etc. After all I am new to all this so I thought there might be a chance it may have been me but the engineers seemed to think there was not anything I could be doing while riding the bike to cause it. Obviously it's going to need a new chain again as this one now has three o-rings protruding. The question now is do I really need to push for a new sprocket if it is the bearing or are they one and the same? It's difficult not having the experience and the confidence to push for something the dealer says is not necessary (and I completly understand why he would say it's not needed if its only prefered, he is after all trying to make a profit).

Name: Yamaha XJ-6N (2009) Date Added: 29 September 2012 - 12:17 PM Owner: Smiley1244 Short Description: None Provided View Vehicle

Yes I've read the same but the dealer said that with only 6000 miles on the clock they wouldn't need it. We had assumed at first that the bike may have been steam cleaned and that had caused the damage to the original chain. I can't see any wear on the rear sprocket at all, the front is a bit harder to see but it looks ok, no sharking (i think its called). I'm going now to check the chain tension as suggested, I'll try and get back tomorrow. Thanks again for everyones responces . . .keep'em coming

Wow two people that don't think i'm boring, I must be in the right place!! Bippo, issues aside I can't recommend the XJ enough from a 125, although I've only ever riden two other bigger bikes. The performance increase takes a bit of getting used to but you get used to it quickly and it seems a fairly light bike. Seats nice and low too if your on the shorter side. Nothing really I can say against it really. Did Cheltenham to east Essex yesterday in the pooring rain and walked away. Where as my friend who did the same trip on an SV650 kinda limped away

If I turn the wheel there is more resistance to the wheel turning at points around the chain. I'll go out and check that now. Not sure if it's related but the old chain got so bad that it would almost snag on the sprocket as the wheel was turning, I really hope it's not the same thing again. I'll let you know my findings on the chain.

Oh and of course if anyone can help with the "How do I" I'd really appreciate it Cheeky I know

Hi All, Just had my wrist wrapped by Cynic for posting a "How do I" before a "Hello I am", although I have been reading for a number of weeks. So with my hand on my lid I apologise and would like to say Hi Brief history of me (although knowing me this won’t be brief at all, so I’m sorry in advance). I’m 31, living in Essex and I am just starting my biker life. My dad had loads of bikes when I was young but after my parents divorce I was never exposed to bikes into my teens. Then my cousin was very unfortuately killed on a bike and so, well my interests went on to other things. In January I was away skiing and during one (drunken) conversation a friend mentioned that he’d like to do his CBT and see what it was like. I of course entertained the notion saying I’d always wanted to get my licence. Like many drunken conversations it lasted several hours and was then not spoken about for several weeks when I started getting mass emails about CBT’s, training etc. Looks like we were on. So CBT, 125 (2500 miles in 2 months), Theory, MOD1, MOD2 and MOD2 later I’m there and loving it. My first MOD2 was terrible as nerves got the better of me. Did the second MOD2 10 days or is it 14 (the minimum period) and passed without any minors and some very good comments from the examiner. It was like being out riding with friends and it just clicked. Hats of to "Bikes in Motion" in Wickford for their training on all stages of the training. They couldn't have been better which reminds me I still need to send a thank you/recommendation to them. Plug done So now I had to find a “Big Bike” and I settled on a XJ-6N ( I think mostly because it was so like the YBR) although it was way out of my budget. Just come back from a few days riding around the UK with the original friend this all started with and yes your right I couldn’t have picked a better (or should that be wetter) week to do it. Although I only got really soaked on one day. So to everyone that is still reading and not gone off to find a more interesting post . . . Hello nice to meet you

Thanks Cynic, Yeah I have too apologise for the lack of a "Hello" post although I have replied before (no excuse I know). Point taken about the rev's, I'll keep it higher although I wouldn't say she struggles around there, certainly accelerates fine without "chugging". The dealer wasn't a Yamaha Dealer but I've heard no horror stories from local bikers I've spoken to in passing. Can't say much about the chain, was purchased by the dealer. The new chain has only been cleaned once before I noticed the problem and it was with Muc-Off stuff (says o-ring safe). The chain tension seems good (if anything it i think it could be a smidge tighter). I've got a local Yama dealer (actually where I got my YBR from), might be time to say "Hi" there too.

Hi All, I'm afraid my first post is a call for help. I've just passed my test and treated myself to a 2009 XJ-6N. The bike seemed immaculate and was purchased from a dealer. The issue occurred around 200 miles into riding the bike I noticed that the o-rings on the chain were popping out and ridding round with the chain (which were then cut on the sprocket). The bike has only done 6000 miles. So I went back the dealer and said look (even with my limited knowledge) this isn't right, he agreed to have the chain changed for me and was really good about getting it done. ...and now the issue, I've done around 600 miles on the new chain. I've just got back from a bit of a road trip (through some nasty weather) so I set about cleaning the bike up. One o-ring has popped out and another is being pushed out of the side, so obviously I'm a little worried that the same thing is happening again. I've got a 6 month warranty on the bike but wasn’t planning on riding much over winter so I'd like to get it resolved soon. I've had the bike up on a paddock stand to check the chain and the wheel seems to have "sticky" spots when turning. The chain has never been cleaned with anything "nasty" only even o-ring friendly stuff (I never had a chance to even clean the old chain). The bike has a scottoiler that I believe was in the wrong position (slack spot of chain) so I moved it to the rear sprocket as per the instructions. I also changed the fluid in the oiler just in case it wasn't scottoil. There is also a rattle/noise at 30mph and around 3-4K revs, sounds like screws being spun in a bean tin. Is the only way I can describe it. It's not loud and is only ever between 3-4K at 30mph. Again due to my limited experience this might be normal?! it really is that subtle and may be normal engine noise. Any opinions or prior experience would be really appreciated. I'm going back to the dealer today to see what he says. Thanks Ross

Hi All, I've had my YBR125 (also new) for just over a week now, first bike, first week on the road. I've experienced that same sort of thing, although I've been told never to rely on the neutral indicator on any bike especially on the 125's. However more worryingly I've pulled away from lights twice now and gone for 2nd and found myself in neutral?! Also trying to go into neutral on purpose is difficult enough (easier from 2nd than from 1st). I think it might be us but if you manage to improve the situation (either mechanically or with practise) please post your findings. I have found that sometimes my foot gets sloppy and starts using the very end of the gear selector rather than close to the engine, this makes changing very difficult. I guess there is some flex in the changer?! Seems we are not alone though