fil77

Can't be certain as I don't know the XT but on my Yamaha the universal flasher unit is fine and a $%@# load cheaper. The flasher and flasher relay do refer to the same thing. I would be looking at the earth wires in the tail light area for possible damage or loose connection as well. The flasher will not effect the brake light problem you describe but the earth could effect it and the rear flasher light but not the front lights. It sounds like 2 problems but not unlikely that the damage to the rear indicator light wiring may be the cause of damage to the wiring there and also caused a short which which could have taken out the flasher unit.

Hi ozmadman, I too like the old british classics. I had a couple of Norton 500's and Triump Tiger back in the 70's. Was in Malaysia on military duties and couldn't bring them back with me. Kicking myself ever since. Never had a Yammie then but did have a couple of Suzuki T250-2 (Hustler) Similar vintage to your RD. Looks good and will be satisfying.

2 strokes will happily run backwards. Used to be a trick in my earlier days to push start a bike backwards then let an unsuspecting "Know it all" go for a test ride. Not sure why yours started backwards but once running they are pretty happy at it.

The only difference between them is the thread diameter, they both have the same heat range and specs. They will work the same. At a guess I would say a previous owner or mechanic stripped the thread on the head and fixed it by cutting a new thread hence requiring the bigger plug.

I used to turn my nose up at cruisers and inparticular the Harleys. I have always had road or trail bikes. I found that as I got older the aches and pains increased. I found throwing my leg over to mount, became a problem and bending the knee for even a short time on a sports bike also was painfull. I gave up bikes for a time until my son brought home am XVS650 classic and I found it quite comfortable to get on and ride. I am now a happy 650 owner myself. It is big enough for me to get the pleasure of riding, low enought to lift my leg over, and don't need to bend my knees too much. I now enjoy my cruiser and have a different out look on them. I do however find cornering hard to get used to. Still scrape the floor boards on tight turns ie. small round abouts, but am getting better. Enjoy your cruiser and Yes maybe you are showing your age. I am and enjoying it anyway.

Hi fellow Aussie and Vstar rider!

I am pretty sure that early XT250's had magneto/cdi ignition. The battery only had an effect on brake light, tail light, horn, and indicators. Headlight runs direct from the alternater and only work when the engine is running. The battery has no effect on ignition.

Your riding on the wrong side of the road. Thats what the trouble is.

I think you need to get the battery checked. It could be the problem and certainly sounds like it is stuffed. If your neutral light is comming on when the engine is running but brake light and indicater don't is a bit of a worry but they do require more juice than the neutral light and certainly could be caused by a dead battery loading the alternator down. I am guessing here as I have no knowlege of your bike or it's electrics only some old experiences from my previous dirt bikes. Haven't had one in years.

Generally on these small bikes the headlight runs direct from the alternator so will only light when the engine is running. The others run from the battery and if the engine is running then the alternator will usually supply enough power to run them but when the engine is stopped the battery needs to be charged at least partially. It sounds to me that the alternator is working but the battery is dead. The battery is the device that holds the alternator voltage at 6 (usually) or 12 volts and if it is dead the dc voltage, even with the engine running, can be held low which may be why the horn is not working. Check the battery voltage when engine is running and also not running. There should be a main fuse in the battery line somewhere. Depending how the electrics are wired it couls be the fault. You haven't said if you checked that yet. You may have 2 problems. Maybe the horn is also faulty.

I think you will find that the break light and indicators require the battery but ignition and head light does not. I would be checking the battery and main fuse. Just a guess.

I have to dissagree. The clunck is the sound of a shock within the gear box as the dogs running at different speeds try to engage. That would be much more destructive than two parts, well lubricated and rubbing together (which is what they are designed to do anyway). It creates a smooth change with no grinding, clunk, or jerking. I preload each time I shift both up and down, have for years. Shifting without the clutch will occure if you use a little more preload pressure and remove the load on the gears, ie drop the acceleration or decelleration. Same deal with the selector forks rubbing though. I will take the smoot change over a clunk anyday. You apply some pressure to the shift lever, either up or down according to which gear you want to select, before actuating the clutch. Not enough to force the change without the clutch but just getting it ready to change. When you want to make the change you actuate the clutch and ensure to push the gear lever fully home when it moves. I keep the pressure on the gear change lever untill I have released the clutch to ensure the change is complette. Match the engine revs whilst the clutch is actuated.

I find that if I lightly preload the gear shift before actuating the clutch mine changes smoothly. If I actuate the clutch before applying pressure to the shift lever I get the clunk.

When I purchased my XVS 650 the previous owner had already drilled it. My son also has a 650 in stock condition. My bike is a little louder but not a lot. Doesn't sound like a Harley but sounds more like a bike than my son's one does. Tone is deeper and not unpleasant, certainly cheaper than V&H or similar. I don't know about the road regs there. They are pretty strict here in Aus but I don't try to annoy or create excessive noise so never been pulled up so far.

Gidday all! Just been doin a little net surfing and came accross this forum. Haven't spotted it before. The name is Ken and I live in the Hunter Valley of NSW, Aust. I have been riding on and off for some years and recently aquired a V-Star 650. I have no need for a bigger bike as most of my previous bikes were all around 250's and I don't get the opportunity to take long rides.