Ttaskmaster

What was wrong wiv it?

Thanks for the reply SpeedShop. I think you've summed up just what it is about the 535s that make them so popular - They are indeed bland, middleweight and average, but then there are many people who want this. I used to say the exact same thing about a Honda Dull-ville, until a Police rider showed me just what you can do on the bloody things!! I myself prefer my Drag because it can do some fun stuff, but on a long ride home after a long week at work, where I'm half asleep and just want my bed, the Drag is very forgiving and so is the Virago. Not everyone wants every ride to be a knife-edge, knee down thriller. It won't be to everyone's tastes, but that's why companies make different bikes. The 535 actually has more power than the 650 Drag, but for a new rider (and a short one at that), it is a fantastic machine. It's a genuine big bike and a proper Cruiser, but with all the features a newbie needs. Later on she may well get something insanely massive and fast, but for now this is a perfect match. They're also cheap enough to be affordable, but good enough to hold their resale value.

Whenever you straighten yourself upright, be it after a bend or a proper turn, as you do so press the button to cancel. Press it 2 or 3 times. It will become habit.

IIRC, I'd get around 110-120 before I hit reserve. I never ran out, so I don't know what the full range is.

When did the coils display evidence of faults and in what way were they faulty? Could be they are past/have no warranty on the parts. Could be an issue between you and the manufacturer direct (I highly doubt this though, since your contract of sale was with the dealer). Have you spoken with Trading Standards yet?

Yes you can - As I mentioned right there in Post #3!! The info is a bit scant, but I believe the 535 models around 1990 already have the 13L tank. You used to be able to get kits for pre-'90 Viragoes, from www.customcruisers.com. £150 + VAT. Failing that, the models from around 1990 should have the 13L tank, so just get one of them and swap out.

Beat me to it!!

Worth also checking the various PartFinder websites, or even going to breakers yards direct.

Filters should be changed every 3-6,000 miles, depending on what your manual says. Some are more. But for a few quid every few months, it's worth it. I find OEM stuff cheap enough and my local parts shop either has them or can get them inside a couple of days.

Givi do hard cases that fit most bikes. On Cruisers, they look shite though. There are a few Cruiser-styled hard luggage options, though I don't recall ever seeing Virago ones. Then again, I'm usually looking at Dragstar options. Other than that, Google is your friend. There are literally THOUSANDS of different leather saddlebag sets available. Iron Horse, M&P, Busters, most shops in America.... eBay... they're everywhere! Best bet is to drop by a fairly large bike rally and see what's on the stalls. Be sure to check the measurements against your bike, though!

Highway Hawk or Vance & Hinds are popular choices. My other half has a set of Highway Hawk straight-through pipes on her Dragstar. I, on the other hand, have kept the standard ones. What she did was to get quoted for OEM pipes from Yamaha and then found the custom ones she wanted, second-hand on eBay. This worked out far cheaper and she was able to get a lot more bang for her buck. Not neccesarily. Regardless of what kind they are - If they're not the exact pipes the buyer wants, then you could lose the sale. I suppose that, at the very least, having completely unmodded OEM pipes at least gives the widest range of options...

Classic or Custom version? You might be better off building a custom bar in, to bolt the indicators onto. That, or simply drill some holes further back in the mudguard. I chose that option on the Dragstar.

125 Viragos are usually chain-drive.

The factory standard ones come with heat shields attached. On cold days when I stop for breaks, I actually warm my hands up my holding them tight against the shields. They are that cool. You still have to be careful around the silencers, but it's pretty obvious which parts you can and cannot touch. There are ways to make the standard pipes a bit louder and there are some custom pipes that come with heat shields. Or, you can use exhaust wrap to guard yourself a bit. I assume price doesn't matter as the other guy's insurance is paying for it?

Does no-one upgrade to the 13L tank??!!

Brand new? If so, does the instruction manual not describe them? Failing that - Post a couple of pics and we'll see what we can do.

Yamaha Customs have a reverse thread on the left side. Reason being - When you ride at high speeds, the wind will push the mirror back toward you. If the left one had a standard thread, this wind pressure would actually loosen it, the stem would rotate and your left mirror view would be of your own head. The reverse thread is a very simple and efficient solution.

When you change the oil, change the filter, too. Personally, I usually do the air filter at the same time.

Only once or twice, but I always ride with visor down (or open one click) and I can just wipe it off and clean my visor at the same time. Plus I usually end up with a 'Lemon-Fresh Scent'

Bloody hell, that was a long post!!!

Hello mate. Welcome to the forum!!!! Now... the awkward bit - DON'T get an R6. Not straight off, anyway. I appreciate all you have said and I do believe you will be a responsible rider. You're not a kid anyway and you have some roadsense skills already. But some things are beyond our own control and for the first couple of years, I strongly suggest an easier bike. Whilst the car stuff will stand you in good stead and be an advantage in many situations, a bike is still very, very different. As an example I still ride my first big bike, which is a 650 Dragstar. It's very heavy at 230kgs, the weight is low and it only has 40HP. That has been more than enough to see me into some very hairy situations. The experience I built up and the forgiving nature of the bike are the only things that saved me. Had I been on an R6, I doubt I'd be talking to you. At some point, you will probably drop the bike. At some other point you will likely skid, spin wheels and overaccelerate at least twice, possibly even pull a couple of minor wheelies and stoppies as you get used to the bike. Many of these will be through no fault of your own. Riding a bike well is usually a whole series of small movements and until you get properly used to that, what seems like the slightest twitch can send you blasting into something. That said, it is great fun learning a new bike and it's worth learning to ride that bike to it's full potential. I would recommend getting a cheapish messaround bike to start with but also trying several others out. I'm sure the R6 'looks' nice, but whether it suits you properly you'll only know if you test-ride it. As for the Fazer/Hornet comments.... Absolute bullshit. The ride is more about how YOU handle the bike, less about the bike itself. The Fazer is a good, solid workhorse for daily commuting and enough of a performer to have some very exciting riding on. The Hornet and it's cousin, the Bandit are two utterly Hooligan bikes. If 'INSANE FUN' is your bread & butter, these are the bikes to choose. When you're done with the 600s, they come in Bigger versions, too!!!! Ultimately, the R6 may well suit you and you may well suit it. But it's one hell of a bike to break into the world of riding on, probably not cheap to insure and you can expect to be shelling out for at least some minor repair work as you get used to riding it. Personally, I say wait. However, the choice is entirely yours.

It ain't just you, mate. Most of the time, a car too far up my backside is driven by a woman. No sexism meant, it's just what I find. My own other half drives (and often rides) far too close to teh vehicle in front of her. Van drivers can get a bit like that, but they do wake up and back off if I tap the brake. In general, problem drivers for me are almost always BMWs. Boy Racers in their souped-up hatchback whatevers usually just rev the engine and piss off down the road. No worries. Other types who want to try it on are scared off by a look from me. But if ever there's a car trying to wipe out me or my other half, swerving, failing to indicate, change mind (and direction) on a roundabout, pull out on me, pull out from behind me and several other vehicles just so they can run the red light that we've stopped for, or indeed doing anything that prompts me to shout "F**KING C**T!!!!!" at them - Guess what.... It is always a BMW driver. Odds are they're some early 40s middle-management prick in a suit - I have smacked the window of several middle-managers at my own workplace. Stupid twats fail to notice my bike parked RIGHT outside the front door every day and don't recognise me on the route to work in the morning. Get teh shock of their lives when the biker they just cut up parks next to them and holds the office door open for them. Drains the colour when I ask, "Shall I punch you in the face or would you rather I smack the back of your head with this door?". Sometimes it's a woman driving the Beemer. Sometimes it's some old giffer, who can't remember which way round the traffic circle thing you drive. Sometimes it's just some c**t who thinks being there first gives him right of way. But it's always a Beemer and always a black or silver one - Never those nice white, blue or red older models with the round headlights. For this and many other angered reasons, I am banned from driving an APC on the road and will probably never get my car licence.... because in one of those things I WILL bully them back. Stocking up on palm-sized rocks on my way home tonight.

Not a common bike to need parts for. There is a chance the various online PartFinders and breakers yards will have some. eBay is always worth a look, too. It might be somewhat costly, too. Did you get the guy's registration? If so, deliver the bike to your preferred garage, have them source parts and claim every penny off the twat's insurance.

I already live with someone just like that, anyway. Bring forth unto me the Porter Porn!!!

Hold horses there, 535Guy... That could have been just a typo, hence me not kicking off immediately (and you know what a stalwart defender of Cruisers I am ). Even if it's not, it's just a statement with no reasoning or evidence given. He's entitled to his baseless opinion, even if he *is* wrong!! Understand that a 535 is a tiny bike, designed for tiny people and a very old design. The fact that it's remained THE top choice for many, for so many years is testament enough. But let him state his reasoning, or the correct version of what he meant. Then have a go, if neccesary. Also take note - This guy rides nothing like a Cruiser, let alone a Hardly Movingson. That argument doesn't work here.