Ttaskmaster

Cheers dude!! They look kinda short, though I've still asked if he has anything. I think I might be resigned to shelling out £70 for a set of OEM ones, though..... Fingers crossed

600 will do more than enough. Nothing wrong with starting out big, but it's expensive and usually very painful if you feck it up. Pass the test first, see how well you get on with a 500.

Look to the left of my post, below the St George flag I'll hopefully be adding a Deauville (without ABS) to the garage as well. I'll likely be called a traitor and other such, but the FJR just isn't good enough and nothing else comes close.

This is my opinion only... People have done fine without ABS in the past. Plus, it's one more thing to go wrong. Some models also have problems. BMW had a whole spate of their ABS completely releasing when the rider was braking and going over a bump. Not what you want, especially in an emergency. Honda too have had problems, especially with their Linked Braking systems. I also believe it creates a false sense of security among those who don't understand it's limitations, so you get people riding more aggresively. A lot of riders forget that, due to how ABS works, low-tractions surfaces can increase your stopping distance. So gravel, diesel etc becomes even more hazardous. So... A lot of people think ABS is the mutt's nuts, resulting in dealers not selling as many non-ABS versions. Which makes them cheaper.

I know a little of the process, though I suspect it's simpler to just get new casings. Chrome and similar electroplate coatings are very thin and filling any deep scratches would take a lot of layering.

I personally wouldn't bother with the ABS version. It isn't missed by those who don't have it and chances are the non-ABS one will be cheaper!!

Smiles all, My Carb Manifolds have finally given out. Do I really need to spend £75 odd on brand new OEM ones, or is there someone in the UK who does cheaper/better ones at a reasonable price? Ta, Woody.

Check your carb manifolds. These are the black rubber tubes going into your cylinders from underneath the carbs. Mine are fucked - cracked and split to buggery - and I'm getting a lot of similar problems.

Give 'em a bell and see if they do anything that will still fit. Failing that, it'll be the usual eBay, Part Finder etc...

Errr..... check the website for your particular model. Couple hundred quid, most likely. I imagine they'll post almost anywhere!!

I crashed my 125 three times. Twice it was 'the fault' of another biker, but ultimately it was down to how I reacted. It could be called 'experience', but it's actually just lack of forward observation and common sense. 87% of all bike accidents are the 'fault' of another vehicle, 67% of which are cars pulling out from junctions. But, what actually made the crash happen could have been avoided by the rider. Correct use of the horn, observation, positioning, slower riding..... Friend of mine lost his leg in an accident that began at just 15MPH. Yes, cars are murderous, ignorant motherfuckers. But this is war and the only way you will survive this is to tend to your own riding ability.

Mine has said ALL of these to me at one time or another

Tourers look like normal road bikes, but tend to have lots of fairing, comfortable and relaxed riding positions, loads of luggage space, massive fuel tanks and groovy bits to enhance the 200+ mile tank range. They tend to have a bit of an Old Man image. Typical bikes include: Pan European ST1100, BMWs, Goldwing, Deauville, Pretty much anything ridden by the Police..... Sports-Tourers are halfway between Tour and Sport bikes, usually performance focussed with all the above features, but to a lesser extent. Often ridden by men who will one day become Old Men. Typical bikes include: Sprint ST, FJR1300, Blackbird Cruisers are long, low, retro-styled bikes with a laid back, feet forward riding position, leather & chrome everywhere, big thumping V-Twin engines, LOUD and bassy exhausts, tassles, more chrome and serious pussy-wetting imagery. Often ridden by blokes with big beards, bandannas and sunglasses. Typical Bikes: Most Harley Davidsons, Virago, Dragstar, Intruder, Marauder, Shadow. I know of 125 Cruisers, but I doubt proper Tourers come in 125... I'd heartily recomend either to aspire to. As for a 125 - A decent 125 cruiser will set you back around £1,500 - £2,000. I'd go with the Dragstar or maybe the Shadow. Viragos are built for small women (because they look so sexy on one) and the rest are kinda crap. But for just needing a bike until you pass your test, anything that works, is comfortable and is affordable will be all you need. As the Bill Hicks fan below says;

Just buy a new one from Hagon. I did and it's great!!!!!!

I once had an 'acquaintance' who'd mix his driving with drink and/or drugs of varying types. I had issue with this, so a few of us got together.... After we destroyed his car, he was passed an annonymous note, stating that this was just a warning and suggesting he not drive under the influence ever again. His mother bought him a new one shortly after, but within the month, he was banned for drink-driving. His sentence was what we called the "Big Three". 3 year ban, £3,000 fine and 30 hours community service - Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!! But anyway - Back to the destroyed car... If you're going to do this, you must do it well. A thermite strip from nose to tail makes a car split in half very well, I must say!!!

I reckon it's because all the fuel downstream of the tap evaporates off. No worries - just turn the tap on before the ignition and the fuel pump kicking into life ought to sort it.

Were you logged in? I just did a search for threads containing 'Honda' (no point looking for Yamaha, as they all have that!!). Got 16 pages of results. Are you sure the spelling is correct and words contain more than three letters (limitations of a Search Engine)? Are you sure what you're searching for is on this site? You're not searching for something odd, weird, sick or illegal, are you? Nothing like "Bestial Necrophillia", "Bukakke" or "Honda C90", are you?

As above, really. Stay relaxed and be ready to react to the wind. Keep an eye out for the 'slipstream' around high-sided vehicles. Keep an eye out for debris blown across the road. I cope rather well in high winds and enjoy the ride. My other half doesn't. We both ride the same bike. You will find what works for you and what gets you through, especially when you have no choice. Welcome to experience and "Character-Building"!!!

Again, sounds like you're looking at the kerb, which is what you will crash into if you're not careful. It's called Target Fixation. Concentrate on looking where you want to go - Just like doing the U-Turn/Turn-In-Road manoeuvre. Keep looking down the road as you start the turn, as you lean the bike and as you bring it up again. Keep focussed on that spot. The rest is just your body and thus the bike following your head.

Heated Grips are OK. They only warm the surfaces that touch, though and they reverse the waterproof action on GoreTex gloves. Make sure you wear warm gloves, even when using the Grips. Also - Wire them into a switched live, NOT directly to the battery. The auto-off is not on all models and can still fail. Last thing you want is to be stranded somewhere with a flat battery in the freezing cold!!!

It's just practice and experience, matey. Keep at it, give it time and there'll be no worries. You'll never have it perfect. That will take a lifetime. However, you will have times when it all feels very damn good. These will become more frequent until it becomes something you expect on every turn.

Don't ask us, mate. We're just motorcyclists. Go ask your local Hells Angels. I hear they know about bikes. I'm sure they'll teach you everything you need to know!!!

Have a busy day at work. Must go make things work and shout at the people who broked 'em in the first place!!!!

Buy a copy of Bike Trader and look at the first few pages. Tells you loads of stuff about what to look for on just about any bike you are interested in.

Do Yamaha not make them, then??!! Why not have one custom-made? I know the Midnight is more a Classic bike than a Custom, but should still be able to get something reasonable done.