stoney58 Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Hi all,brand new member`s first post.At the age of 58 I decided at last to get into motorcycles ( messed about at 18 years old then gave up for girls lol) Anyway,took my cbt on a ybr 125 and loved it,bought a bike of the same name a week later ,which I am still riding..... Two years later. Not really bothered about taking my test as the bike is only for commuting to work,but wanted something a little bit different.So now I am the proud ( but nervous)owner of a 2003 xvs 125 dragstar.Mint condition with only 1,191 miles on the clock !! Genuine miles too I have all the sorn docs etc.Reading some of the early posts it seems they are a bugger to get used to and corner? Any tips will be very much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoney58 Posted July 23, 2014 Author Share Posted July 23, 2014 Life may not be the party we thought it would be,but while we`re here,we may as well dance! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttaskmaster Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 Heya Stoney!! Welcome to the forum To start with, there's a post of mine in this topic that may help: It's written for those going from a large cc 'other style' of bike to a large Cruiser, but the general ideas still hold up. It's obviously just my opinion and my own findings, but I've not heard many arguments against it, heh heh! Certainly the 125 Dragstar is a decent bike. It's heavier than most 125s, probably the heaviest out there. The BHP is a bit low too, and yet if you ride it well enough in town you can still outride a lot of lesser riders on bigger bikes. Plus, if you fancy a 300-mile holiday ride down to Cornwall or something, it will cope well enough. If you look after it, it will not let you down. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator DirtyDT Posted July 23, 2014 Moderator Share Posted July 23, 2014 Hi and welcome to the forum. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obriens65 Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sacha Posted July 23, 2014 Share Posted July 23, 2014 welcome to the YOC! Both bikes sound like fun to me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoney58 Posted July 25, 2014 Author Share Posted July 25, 2014 Cheers guys,i read an earlier post by ratboy,and shit meself thought I`d made a big mistake but obviously that was the only neg review albeit on an older and tired bike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttaskmaster Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 Cheers guys,i read an earlier post by ratboy,and shit meself thought I`d made a big mistake but obviously that was the only neg review albeit on an older and tired bike If that's the one I think it was, where I let my bad side out to play, then he was the one who bought a very knackered 650 Drag and expected it to ride it like a Fireblade or something... It was his opinion, fair enough, but extremely contrary to the consensus of hundreds of other 650 riders both here and several other forums... including those who didn't like it in the end!! Nah, I promise you, you've chosen well. Every bike has it's characteristics and many of us have had many amazing adventures on that very same choice. Any questions, queries or just some experiences you'd like to share, they will always be welcome here!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meatloaf Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 Welcome stoney Nice bike, me I love cruisers think they are the dogs bollocks. I hope you read Ttaskmaters post as its well worth a read. Forget the fist bumps mentioned in the thread but don't forget the cleaning it's part of owning a cruiser. When I first got my midnight star I had it treated with ACF as it was the middle of winter and I didn't want all that salt on the road f***king up my chrome. A few guys will take the piss and some arseholes on Harley's wont talk to you but just go out there take it easy and enjoy you ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewElvisFan Posted July 25, 2014 Share Posted July 25, 2014 Welcome! Love cruisers. Don't know about you but riding to me isn't about how quick you get to wherever you're going! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoney58 Posted July 26, 2014 Author Share Posted July 26, 2014 Thanks again guys.Meatloaf, already bought the acf 50,as for cleaning it`s part of being proud of what you own and this bike will be ridden all year round ( fingers crossed ).Ttasmaster, it was indeed a very early post in which you did impose your wrath ( an very eloquently may I add ) on ratboy,and that very reply of your`s brightened my day lol.Will post some pics asap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meatloaf Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 Welcome! Love cruisers. Don't know about you but riding to me isn't about how quick you get to wherever you're going! These days I only ride for the fun of it, i'm lucky and have a lot of spare time so I tend to cruise about the Surrey and Hampshire countryside, no rush just enjoy the ride listening to my music which I have tons of including a lot of Elvis and of course Meatloaf. Of course at times I really open up that throttle but only cos I can. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewElvisFan Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 Hitting the highway like a battering ram?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meatloaf Posted July 26, 2014 Share Posted July 26, 2014 Thanks again guys.Meatloaf, already bought the acf 50,as for cleaning it`s part of being proud of what you own and this bike will be ridden all year round ( fingers crossed ).Ttasmaster, it was indeed a very early post in which you did impose your wrath ( an very eloquently may I add ) on ratboy,and that very reply of your`s brightened my day lol.Will post some pics asap. Stoney sounds like you could turn out to be a proper biker as opposed to a I only ride in the summe type of biker. Did my fair share of winter riding when I was younger, I know that I live in the south but even here we have had some bad winters, you name it and I probably rode in it ( i'm talking about the weather guys). Now I am older and wiser( I think) and as I only ride for fun on what is quite a heavy lump, I don't do snow and ice and if its really pissing down I may not go out. Your lucky as winter kit that is now available is much better than what was around when I was a spotty kid, my advice is to get some decent kit that will keep you warm and dry. There are plenty of guys here to give advice on what to get if you need it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meatloaf Posted July 27, 2014 Share Posted July 27, 2014 Hitting the highway like a battering ram?? More like "Cruising up and down the main drag all night long" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewElvisFan Posted July 28, 2014 Share Posted July 28, 2014 Haha. Had another steamy night!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoney58 Posted July 28, 2014 Author Share Posted July 28, 2014 Well guys,no matter how big the bike you welcome everyone which I appreciate.Taxed the bike on Friday,put two gates up at the front of the house ( no garage unfortunately ) over the weekend,and re- hashed my paving so I have a nice ramp to ride up.First time I rode it today,went to work on the ybr ( which is for sale ha ha ) and was crapping myself all day. ( Countersteer,take the corners a bit wider oh shit ! ) Anyway the ride home from work was a dream,can`t believe how comfy it was.My size 10 boots seem to stick under the gear lever so must adjust that asap.Got home, drove straight up my new ramp and left it for all to see before my new cover goes on.About an hour later a knock on the door from an elderly ex hells angel informs me I`d left the lights on ! Bollocks,forgot they don`t go off with the ignition and also when steering is locked I had left it with parking lights on too!! tried cranking it to no avail so wifey phones the local bike shop,yes we are open and that will be £ 49.99 for a charger.Oh we did laugh ( not ! ) So that`s a first lesson learned.But on the plus side,my missus loves it !!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator DirtyDT Posted July 29, 2014 Moderator Share Posted July 29, 2014 Turning the parking lights on when locking the bike is common. Don't cover the bike as soon as you get home. Lock it up but leave it to cool. It won't melt the cover nor build up excess condensation then and rot the chrome. Personally, I find a nice patina of grime protects the bike better than any polish. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoney58 Posted July 31, 2014 Author Share Posted July 31, 2014 Almost my first week of riding the dragstar,and to be quite honest it`s a absolute dream to ride.Comfort is the first thing I noticed ( once I found the forward pegs ha ha ).The countersteer I have noticed but without thinking it happens! You put the bike into a corner and it`s a doddle.Speed not a problem,although I don`t need much for commuting.Best thing is the awareness of car drivers and get more respect for some reason,maybe because of the louder engine,the look of the bike or they are astonished to see an old tosser like me riding it ! lol Anyway guys the cruiser style suits me now, love it! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meatloaf Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Old tosser my arse, like me you are at the prime of you life, don't grow up stoney life's too short. Glad you're loving the cruiser join the club but don't rely on the sound of your bike to stay safe mate,loud popes don't save lives. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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