clarke

Any pics?

Buy a 650 instead... by the time you've paid insurance the 650 will probably be cheaper

I'm still loitering here and haven't had a Yamaha for nearly a year now... Watch the finish though as its piss poor on Suzuki

Done. I can never understand why 2 years is deemed anywhere near enough???

I think the power commanders are the same and adjustable to suit your bike

If it's the slipon then it'll be fine. If it's a full exhaust then I think most people tend to go power commander and aftermarket (open) air filter.

Hi Bulldog. I'm not sure however you can get the service manual here which might help? http://vstar1300.pbworks.com/w/page/5760692/FrontPage If that doesn't help I'd try asking on this XVS/ V Star 1300 forum http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=vstar1300&nav=start&prettyurl=%2Fvstar1300%2Fstart&gid=2113583361

+1 on Hein Gericke. Avoid any with metal plating on the knees or you'll scratch your tank.

Order a slip on from the US. I got the Cobra slipon from SS Custom Cycles http://www.sscustomcycle.com/products/pipes/Yamaha/v-star1300/v-star13001.shtml - Shane is a great guy and very helpful. IIRC it was about £230ish delivered though that was a few years ago... Also consider Mustang seats with backrest (again from US)

I've heard of them - there's a few members on the V-Strom forum who have the franchise. Quite a few on that forum have had the treatment and give it high praise. Congrats on the bike, the XVS1300 is a fantastic choice Edit: I found this link on the other forum, not watched but it should show you what to expect?? http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=InU9O9FiQCg&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DInU9O9FiQCg 2nd edit: skip the 1st 2mins

Would a Yammy dealer give you a written valuation?

Looking good! Now get some ACF50 on it!!

Glad you're ok Tasky. Hope the bike is replaced/repaired soon.

I still think you should tell your manager someone is going through your stuff. They have all kinds of policies to deal with that crap and they'll probably class it as bullying & harassment. If they don't follow their rules then they end up in an employment tribunal (after you get sacked for lashing out and then sue for unfair dismissal). Oh, what's wrong with a WR with a topbox, someone has to...

If you go to work on your bike fit a top box and leave the bag in there. I'd also tell your manager that someone keeps going in your bag and ask them to investigate. You shouldn't have to worry about this at work and you may not be the only one it's happening to. If your work don't do anything about it then they are complicit and you could take action against them.

The last time mine stopped working one of the spade connectors had come loose.

Looks smart Grouch. ACF50 it as soon as you get home to protect it from the salt

ABS isn't too bad through the brake lever, bit weird at first but it is just some pulsing but if you know to expect it then no worries. I've only had two instances on non-ABS bikes where ABS may have helped, one was rider fault when I was new to bigger bikes and locked up the rear in an emergency stop, the other was on my XVS 125 when a pedestrian stepped out in front of me without looking. I wouldn't avoid buying a bike because it has ABS and going back to the original question doesn't the ABS bike come with better suspension (or I seem to remember different suspension on it??)

My bike has ABS and I like it. Don't activate it that often (only twice), and it's much better than the front wheel locking up/slipping out under heavy braking...

If all else fails you can pull the ABS fuse to turn it off. Personally I'd get the ABS version, no harm having it... and I like the other 'r' differences

Or, a favourite in the US (though I wouldn't recommend it) is to whack a 200 car tyre (darkside) on there as you get 20,000 miles... Although it may work in the US (and you can grind the boards in the twisties) they have relaxed insurance rules & I doubt you would get insurance here. I would go for the 170/70r-16 Avon myself.

I was told by insurance companies it would effect the insurance / possibly they wouldn't cover. I contacted UK Metzler as in the US they recommend a 180/70r16 as a "Stage 1" upgrade however they said they couldn't recommend this in the UK due to different regulations... Aside from that, check out the Avon tyres, on the 1300 page they state a 180/65B16 81H replaces the standard one, however they also do a 170/70R-16 radial (see the 950 page on their website)

Made no difference to my MPGs when I used one. If you are handy with a soldering iron, Jack posted full instructions here http://vstar1300.pbworks.com/w/page/5760698/Jack's%20O2%20Mod

One good thing about the Yamaha saddlebags is the mounting hardware, they support the bags from underneath as well as the side. If you keep an eye out on US ebay you sometimes can pick them up cheap - I got my 1300 ones from there for about £550 delivered

Having had both 1300 & 950 I'd say the 950 is easier to ride/handle but the 1300s power and comfort is much better.