Ttaskmaster

Bikes are often stolen to order, for parts or to meet demand. 125s and Sports bikes are most popular, in all three categories. Tatty or heavily customised bikes are harder to sell. If a thief really wants it and has the tools (such as a plasma torch), they will get it... but that's what your insurance is for. Your job is to make it harder and more hassle than it's worth for the average/casual thief. Garage alarm - Brilliant things, these!! Cover - More useful when parked on the street, but if they can't see what's under there it means they can't just drive past and case it/clock it. Disclock - Additional security, especially if you get one with a disc detainer lock. Actually pretty hard to cut, impossible to pick or jimmy with a screwdriver. Immobiliser - Stops someone from screwdriver-ing your lock and riding off. May also be set up to limit hot-wiring. Some can be problematic though and fail even when you're riding. Bike alarm - Makes a loud noise if someone messes with your bike. Useful if you are nearby and can get out there with a cricket bat, or something!! Chain - Put this through a part of the bike that isn't easily removable, ie the frame rather than a wheel. Keep the chain well off the ground so they can't use the floor to brace bolt cutters. Again, try and get a lock that has a shrouded bolt and a lock that is hard to pick/force.

Shiny??!! If my bike is shiny, it's in need of a good riding!!

A Suzuki... ? Bleurgh!!

You require NGK BPR7ES spark plugs, which have a hex size of 14mm. http://ngk-sparkplugs.com/bpr7es-p-2229.html

Cor, did you see that? They made references to a Biker song... that MUST mean it's all good. Shut up and take my money!!

Well, as someone who takes a considerable amount of trouble to actually make sure all my mis-keyed typing errors are corrected, my punctuation is approriate to the best of my understanding and that capitalisation is used, along with the proper spelling of words being set forth (in so far as Microsoft's Americanized autocorrect allows), I consider it both a mark and a matter of respect toward you, my fellow forumites and Yamaha Owners, to make my written (typed) words as correct as possible, that you might stand a slightly better chance of comprehending just what the in the name of Crimony-Fuck it is I'm wittering on about!!

They should start doing Punctuation Repair Kits...! Just remember: Educashion is importent... but riding is more importenterer.

Are you saying I've got piles... or have I prolapsed again??!!

Whilst I'd never publicly advocate such action, if their dickheaddery meant the choice between my life and theirs... *shrug* Actually, given the sort of dickheaddery I have to avoid on a daily basis, chances are they'd kill me in the process anyway.

Indeed... from now on, leave no witnesses!!

You could also get something like this: http://www.oxford-shop.co.uk/item3697.htm And then stick an LED in the remaining hole using a waterproofed wiring assembly. Nice, but discrete running lights that would show up well at night.

Been out almost every day since November 20th, barring a couple of weeks between hire bike and failed MoTs... Fairly good commute today, a mere (AHEM)mph up the A33. Stopped to help a broken-down courier, only to find that I knew the guy!! Rides a clapped-out BMW thing and the rain gets in to one of his connections. Couldn't bump-start it for some reason, but the AA sorted him out quick enough.

Personally, I'd see if there's anything I could mount on the brackets instead. Something like running lights maybe.

With those specs? Probably even nicer seeing it vanish in the mirrors!! Besides, it's still not a Yamaha!!

It's actually (IMO) a very easy bike to ride. Very light for a 1200, fairly nippy, decent upright position. However, it is a Suzuki and the engine announces this fact. It also lacked any soul, in my opinion. It was like having something delivered by a courier who hands you the sign-sheet and item without uttering a word... Still, just my opinion and I'm a Yamaha fanboy anyway. You may get on perfectly well with it. Best of luck.

You bought a 1250 Arse Bandit? Aw noooo.... if Touring is your thing, you should have gotten a Yamaha FJ1200!! Having just spent the past three months on an Arse Bandit, it really was a crash course in why they call it such a nasty name!!

Or assemble one based on these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/90-YAMAHA-XV535-XV-535-VIRAGO-TOOL-KIT-1717-/370912214099?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item565c173c53 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/95-YAMAHA-XV535-XV-535-VIRAGO-TOOL-KIT-12-/330662674391?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4cfd07ffd7 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-Yamaha-Virago-XV535-XV-535-Y299-tool-kit-/231078960137?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35cd611c09 In fact, seems to be a LOT of Viggie stuff in the US...

Ahhhhhh, I just saw what you're on about - I've not heard of Clevver before, hence the confusion. I just assumed it was a typo or something! Weird... Does this thing work, then? I've never found problems getting the biting point on a Drag. I just set the lever so it bit when my fingers were at a natural extent, which then let me hold it at feathering-point using just the tension of my joints. Good trick that, actually - The heavier the bike, the better it seems to work, as well. Personally, I'd reckon you'd need Classic lever mounts on both sides.

My Halfords set (the sub-£100 Pro set) include a range of looooooooooong sockets that have rubber inners, for such things as spark plugs. Add the extension bar and you can reach anything, even on a Dragstar!!

Would it not be cheaper to just buy new levers, rather than the entire mounts?

I'd always advise against cheap tools, as you'll be replacing them when (not if) they break. Halfords do decent quality tool sets at reasonable prices. Try and get a set of spanners too - The ones that are open at one end and ring at the other. Very useful!

Conchos - Little round decorative things (usually with tassels affixed) that belong on the handbags of cowgirls, not the saddlebags of biker boys:

Likewise. Perhaps I got a duff one and didn't notice. Meh... have FJ now, so all is fine. But yeah, needs looking after. I personally still think original unmodded bikes will be of higher value. Tastes change, tassels become fashion faux-pas, conchos become frowned upon and studs.... well. They're studs.

I'd wrap that bicycle round his head... Seriously, what was the point in that??!!

53? I thought you said you were old? Welcome to the forum!!