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Wow... I remember those seats!!! Welcome in, by the way...

I put copper slip on my axels. Seems to protect them...

Aaah, no, it was simply the stress I was putting on the chains through acceleration that was stretching them. The heavier chain solved that problem. I try to keep it in the speed limits, so I get my jollies from acceleration and cornering... lol

Still nice... I was given a go on one of the 1100s back in the day, it's the only bike that's scared the crap out of me (amongst others, I currently own a first gen Hayabusa!). It was an absolute beast back then! And looked SO cool...

not been to a show for ages. had to trace a short in my bike's wiring. In the end I had to take out the wiring loom, but that's another story

:welcome: try and get a 400 top end at least as the 250 will be underpowered IMHO. that wire bike reminded me of the bosozoku bikes 😆 https://youtu.be/di3U4Nk0ueM?si=I-6xPmfyQLvtTbJS

Both have been in the possesion of one man for the last 35 years,kept stored in a garage. So I am hoping that they will both be back on the road soon. Just awaiting delivery. That US custom is just screaming out for some longer front forks and a 70's chop paint job. he he he

Both good looking bikes! I'm not keen on the yellow wheels, but I can't decide what colour I'd paint them. lol

Below is a consideration of that 'always wanting the bike you haven't got' feeling, which, thankfully, has now disappeared - anyway this was published in the VJMC magazine some time ago when I was in that unfortunate mode:- The possibility of the grass being greener on the other side of the fence is the motorcyclists bane. It is what we do, we look for that next or better bike then regret selling the one we had. A new bike to try out, talk about, tinker with, admire and be proud of. Seemingly, what could be nicer? Maybe this comes from one's early days, working up to a bigger capacity machine. There are any number of reasons why these thoughts might continue in later life. It may be to do with technological improvement, your preference changing, a chance to buy an earlier model that you liked or simply force of habit. The grass could be greener on the other side but then it might not be. Will that new to you bike make you happier? Conversely, is there anything wrong with the one you've got? I have three motorbikes; one works, one is half restored and the other as spares but I still search around, like a demented hoarder! It is hard not to be inquisitive about other bikes, to ask owners questions and compare both the look and performance of their bikes to your own. This fascination can go forward into the future or back to the past, for a given amount of money there is a choice between the latest look or nostalgia of yesteryear. Looking at motorbike advertisements can initiate a drift off into a personal reverie that may not have a firm grounding in reality. What it would it be like to own those other bikes and would they live up to expectations? Unfortunately, the need to be rational, practical and avoid financial excess drags one back into the land of the present. Magazine reviews, exhibitions and dealers showrooms don't help of course and maybe the bike you have has lost its novelty. There is a relentless quest in the back of our minds for that intriguing and elusive motorcycle, the mix of horse power, weight, handling, practicality and economy. So it goes on, round and round, in a confusing and unresolvable muddle of indecision. At a bike meeting, someone was talking about upgrading to another model when a club member said that they should try giving their own bike a clean and polish as he found that this helped him appreciate the bike that one has already. Taking it a bit further, you could invest in your existing bike, a rebuilt seat, superior tyres, spot lights or engine overhaul might restore interest in the old steed. Reinvigorated and revitalised for a further spell of useful service might satisfy the wonder lust for a while. Then that irritating little voice comes back urging you to check out some detail or other of a bike you saw mentioned somewhere and before you know it back come the day-dream, mulling over what might be available. You can call collecting motorbikes a hobby but really it is buying old motorbikes for its own sake. It's not about status, next year's design, new equipment or a more competent ride. With us, it's more about intrinsic attributes, fascination and elegance as opposed to the fast or the new. The difficulty is knowing when to stop. The majority of us have a limited budget and finite storage not to mention a partner who may take a dim view of family funds being depleted in this way. We have to be careful. Even then, owning a number of motorbikes can mean that some get neglected, you can only ride one at a time and it costs to keep several on the road. Restorations can be expensive and buying a machine as an investment means keeping the bike pristine by avoiding road salt and winter grime. Yes, one might be able to justify their purchase although it is tainted by the need to maintain it to a high standard. Most of us want everyday use and accept that conditions will not always be fine. Indulgence and temptation are terrible things and owning several motorbikes is a pleasant prospect. My boss had 17 classic motorbikes, gathered over time, then his second divorce and wife no 2 took them to auction. It didn't matter that he had built up the collection before he got married again. Message to Self: Forget the hype, stay off eBay and keep focussed on the existing bikes. In my case it is the style of bike that I have come to regard as my type of machine. I am lucky to own them and be fit enough to ride. I should be content with fettling and adjusting my bikes rather than hankering after more. Still, if the right one came along at the right price then it's hard to say no, of course it won't be one of those unreachable ones that I dream of unfortunately. They probably aren't the bikes that I think they are anyway and possibly, just as important can be the journeys themselves rather than rather than the bike so lets all enjoy the here and now, for the time being.

Seems about right...

wire wheels much nicer imo. one a donor? put all previous bikes you list down in your prolie, copy and past 😊

Well. These two. Both need work, but I am not sure about the US custom, looks weird to me...he he he . Bit more of an update on me... Started riding at 12 on an Ariel square four combo. rode a 650 panther (ilegaly at 16), then the usual run of bikes. NSU quickley, CZ 175 trail, Francis Barnet Falcon, XS250, Honda goldwing, Honda cd 175, cb 250, Suzuki GT 550. Then cars,wife and kids, the usual.

one of these, or rather two? did they come with wire wheels at all? best wishes and welcome on behalf of the management lol.

Hey all, it's finally happened! Yamaha recommends torquing the rear axle nut on the MT-09 to 108 lb-ft, which honestly seems pretty excessive. I’ve always stuck to 100 lb-ft using a proper calibrated torque wrench and I’ve still ended up with some thread wear on the axle and nut. I went to tighten the wheel and I had that horrid feeling of realising it turned to infinity. From what I’ve seen online over the years and now finally experienced myself, that high torque might be fine the first time with brand-new parts, but it’s not good if you’re adjusting your chain regularly. I think most of us are loosening and tightening the axle fairly often, and that kind of repetitive stress seems to slowly wear things down. I've learnt from this, as it's completely my own fault still, a 7 year old bike and I've never changed those parts. What I’m planning on doing now: Torquing to 95–100 lb-ft max, and that’s only if the threads are clean and in good shape. Swapping out the axle nut every once a year. If I use a bit of anti-seize, I will drop the torque a bit more maybe 90–95 lb-ft. So, when should you replace the Axle? I've researched this and can't find an actual recommendaion, I guess if the threads are still clean and not damaged, you can probably get years out of it, seems like 7 :) But if the nut doesn’t go on smoothly or you see any flattening, galling, or metal flecks… it’s probably time to bite the bullet and replace the axle. I’d now going to take it out and check it once a year. Curious to hear what others are doing with your bike, anyone using Loctite and going lower?

me with the thunderace about 18mths ago i think, maybe 2 yrs.. taken the stickers off since.

this is probably the way to go - no valve required. eBay UKYZF1000R Thunderace 1996-2003 Exhaust Downpipes Headers -...UK customers - please note this silencer is not road legal in the UK and will be marked Not for Road Use Exhaust Downpipes Headers Fits: Yamaha YZF1000R Thunderace 1996-2003 models. - Weight : 3.8... thunderace motorcycles are surprisingly inexpensive here in the UK, sportsbikes aren't the thing anymore, here at least - more adventure, naked, retro et al now.

Wonder what happened to my old YZF, sadly likely in a scrap heap somewhere now. Loved that bike, still one of the most fun bikes I've had.

I'd love to have a go with one, I can really see the benefit of commuting on one. I've been consiering changing my MT out for the last two years, have had enough of the whining triple noise. Sounds great when you're at high RPM around country twisties, but commuting to work my ears are crying. And yes I wear ear plugs. I'd love the quiet ride, BUT, I really feel the noise from motorbikes makes them safer. I still get people merge in to the side of me once a month, I'm on a loud bike, wear high-vis top, white helmet and try not to ride in blindspots and it still happens. I bet accident rates would skyrocket if everyone moved to electric bikes.

Looks like you've got your original exhaust on. How's your EXUP doing?

I test rode one of the sportsbike style SOLO bikes (full fairing). It did everything I wanted it to and it was like s**t off a stick. But there was no soul to it... It was merely something to get you from point A to point B. Would be good as a commuter bike. The problem is, when you view them like that, who cares what they look like? Who cares whether it's sportsbike styled or cruiser styled. Why would you pay extra for styling or extra acceleration???

Teenage Memories There was a gaggle of us back then, I had a battered Honda twin 125 of around 1963 vintage that somebody had sprayed white, what were they thinking of? It didn't go that well but it was 'alright', main thing I recall is how smooth it rode after my jerky Bantam. My friend had a new Honda 90 SS which seemed quick to us. My other friend had a scooter with dampers on the front wheel and his cousin had an earlier model that had been bored out to 200cc. Our motley gang was occasionally supplemented by a small bloke on a British bike that had a side car frame attached, sadly he died before getting much older, through cancer I believe. Then there was a German chap - funnily enough on an MZ 250, who swore a lot - I got the impression that he didn't realise what some of the swearing he did actually meant. Finally, there was a BSA C15 boy who was always fun to be around, his mum and dad were similar. The crew with their seven assorted machines would bunch up and travel from town centre to town centre, visit cafes there but mostly just hang around and bump into other not dissimilar rabbles. Every now and then there would be a spontaneous trip to the coast. Honda SS and BSA were ahead of the game as they might bring their then molls who looked good and giggled. Once, when Honda SS was one up, he charged into a huge spongy hedge out of exuberance. There was another chap, Honda 350 twin, who lived further way and didn't join the evening sprees or the coastal trips but was there albeit, in the background. He got an apprenticeship that was time in industry so to speak and time on a sandwich course. It involved periods of long commutes,. I remember the way he would stuff newspapers down his bike over trousers and jacket in an attempt not to freeze. 350 was cleverer than the rest, he'd continuously mess with the engine, I must say that it ran very well indeed. We wasted the time that should have been spent studying for A levels. Fortunately for us, there were more opportunities in those days and we eventually gained reasonable jobs. Probably the most surprising was Honda SS who became an auditor having been a poor mathematician all his life. Cannily he married the girl mentioned above who was gifted in the maths department. I got local work initially for the ready money but I could see the future in the staff, my grades were good enough for further education and there were grants available. I took the bike to college, 200 miles away, the headlight wasn't up to the task and it got robbed of parts one night. I got a anti social hours holiday job in a bakery towards the end and saved for another 125, this time a Honda trail bike. When the course finished jobs were harder to get, I sold the motorbike for lack of funds and used a bicycle. In due course I was taken on and that involved a rail journey which was OK when it ran but this was a period of strikes, signal failures and 'driver shortage' disruptions. Fed up with cancelled trains I was pleased to accept an MZ125 from SS who was by now established. he had been using the bike for site visits yet claiming car rates and had now moved on to an office based position. Latter I took out a bank loan and upgraded to a Honda 400/4 and thereafter others. A driver abruptly turned into me but then the roads seemed less threatening or maybe I worried less. SS is no more, 350 is a recluse, Scoot with dampers lives in an executive enclave and 200 is divorced/shunned apparently. I don't know about the other two, I've lost touch. I expect you have a history that isn't too different except you may have been more adventurous, gone abroad on your bikes for example and had a more upmarket experience but, at the end of the day, it's that basic thrill and freedom that comes with motorcycling that's the universal pull. Cars keep you dry and safer, however they aren't so raw and sensual. There's danger with a motorbike but there's being outside, leaning and being part of the scene as opposed to observing it. Bikes are integral to our world.

Nice read there Mr B, and many thanks for taking the time to write that out, all to common is a few lines with little content, I'm glad to see there are still some of us that like to write a little bit more. I for one can get carried away with an explanation, and it takes time to compose and write it out. I'm not particularly quick on the keyboard so i appreciate your efforts, well done sir. Nice to see that you owned a 400/4 too. I've still got mine and i like to think it still looks good. What area did all these memories come from,? and what coast are you referring to? I'm down on the South Coast and have not really ventured far from my home town of Brighton, and still live not far from there. I have a similar story to tell, with a group of fellow early riders; Vespa 50 and Honda SS 50, along with Fizzy and Crazy Pete on a Lambretta. Maybe I'll write it down one day. In the meantime, I'll re read your post for some more inspiration. Many thanks.

Hihi, welcome in! Being a full member is mainly the ability to chat in the extra members only section and getting a discount on your Bikesure insurance... But, considering the low, low price, why the hell not? rofl

I will eventually get the hang of using this bloody web site!!..lol