DirtyDT

Just got a pair of Bridgestone BT023's for the SV. Anyone else using this tyre?

Wash twice - once when you have just brought it and secondly when you are going to sell it. Change the oil and filter twice a year or 6k miles. Service it the same times as you change the oil. Only use oem oil filters. Check often the bits that wear - brakes, bearings, tyres, chain & sprockets. How frequently is down to you so pick somewhere on the OCD to lazy spectrum and use that as a guide. Don't grease anywhere it is dangerous - tyres and brakes do NOT need greasing. Nor do nylon coated cables as it makes them swell. See the bike as something you should enjoy but are probably not going to keep forever. Check/change the antifreeze and brake fluid every 2 years. Check the battery as frequently as you can be bothered to but don't be surprised if it is not checked and the bike fails to start. Try and buy a bike off someone who is anal. You get more fun out of it when you abuse it. Try to wear tyres out on both edges, not just the centre. They are expensive so get your money's worth out of them. Spend any saved maintenance money on fuel. It is for riding not an object d'art - unless it is a Ducati 916. Loads more wisdom's from the "house of the dirty dt" but I am at work so I need to go and save a few people before rushing off to get some tread on my quite worn tyres this pm.

Most cans give you a little bit more BHP. They also tend to save a little weight and sound better (very important). K&N filters are alleged to give you a bit more boost due to a better air flow to the engine. These changes can affect the power output and may require rejetting. You should inform your insurer that you have these mods. Welcome to the fourm by the way.

Never more than twice a year for me. Always use a good quality oil that is meant for bikes and an OEM filter (if you have one). I like Rock oil Guardian semi synthetic. I disagree with dt502001 about car engine oil use. Just my opinion but I would not use it. I also disagree with using different grades for different seasons. Just the way it is.

With the winter coming it is best to keep an eye on the battery anyway or change it for some extra reassurance. A bike will normally be easier to start during the day as the ambient temperature will normally be higher. I am guessing that it is turning over but just not catching. A service wouldn't hurt. Welcome to the forum.

Did you specify a time to pay? You shouldn't need to but in the "my ebay" section under the sold link in the left hand menu there should be a link that says "send invoice" of something like that. You can also ebay message the buyer and ask.

You really need to see what the issues are before looking to fit alternative parts. Some footrests just bolt on so it could be just loose bolts as Airhead said. It could be that bolt holes have elongated. Both would be easier fixes than trying to fit a non standard part. If it is a welding job then an MOT tester would be happier with that than a cobbled alternative.

I think Carole Nash does a 6 wheel policy. Insurance NBC is not normally transferable between bikes and cars but there is often a discount if you can show road experience by the use of a different mode of transport.

Hi and welcome to the forum jay. I am sitting in an office in Nottingham as I type this.

Hi and welcome to the forum. Saves me a job then.

Doesn't look right. I would change 13, 15 and 18's in the link. LINKY

If the chain link has been peened on by a gorilla then you may get 2 tight spots, when the link hits the front and rear sprocket. The o rings on this link may also fail for the same reason. Otherrandom faults. Rear wheel on wonky Rear sprocket warped Front sprocket moving in and out on the driveshaft (nut loose)

I pay more for the TS than I do for the SV. The TS has the benefit of full recovery and agreed value at about £113 a year fully comp. The 535 is around 44hp. and a v star 650 about 33hp. Have a look here LINKY

+1 for the battery plus I would clean up all of the terminals from the battery to the starter and both ends of the earths on the battery (earth terminal to wire and earth wire to frame). After that I would check that your regulator isn't leaking current to the earth. This assumes that the bike doesn't have a faulty alarm.

Welcome to the forum Jamjar.

Welcome to the forum Rod.

Hi and welcome to the forum Col.

Oops. Specsavers, here I come.

Ha ha. I might be wrong but you need to read Bippo's profile Nev mate!

Easy if you prep them right.

A lot of us on the forum are uk based. The issues we have sometimes is that we try and help using the information we have gathered over the years. As with all things Internet, half of it is just plain wrong. Even official service manuals of their time are not correct as they seem to change parts on a whim. Any hybred bike will be difficult to get plain and clear information on. Even simple things like cables may have come from something completely different. That is just the way it is. When guys try and help they are giving you the best information they can. We often get questions about similar things and any diagnosis online is going to be a best guess which is based on common faults with a model, standard fault finding protocol or similar experience. Even if people have tried to help and the information that they have shared is wrong. Due to wrong information out in internetland, this often helps as it can eliminate things or lead you closer to getting a definitive answer. As frustrating as this can be you have had assistance from some of the most knowledgable and respected guys here. Er, that's about it from me.

How rude are you!

Good for kicking cars. Not that I would condone that!

So is everything free?

It shouldn't be overheating at normal running speeds. Shorting the fan is a good idea. Check fluid and air locks. Run the bike with the expansion or rad cap off for a while and see what happens to the fluid. Check the thermostat is opening. Check the water pump but assuming you can see water flowing with the rad cap off it should be ok. Check the rad. Reverse flush it That should do for starters.