Alex

Sorry had a geriatic moment and was thinking of @Mr Bignel ! Yeah when I spoke to the local Yamaha dealer about a rough idea of time a few weeks back to fix it, they told me it might be cheaper to buy a second hand engine if it's gone. After looking into it more I can see why, having the split the gearbox and engine and then take the shaft out to replace the bearings it's pretty much overhaul time. Took into the garage this morning, hopefully there's no unexected findings.

Hey welcome back. I've never been so pleased to be wrong!

Well, my whining output shaft noise had been getting worse, so I took the bike to the garage to get an idea of the cost. They did what I’d been too lazy to do, stripped the back wheel and sprocket cover. After removing the front sprocket, it was clear the sprocket had worn one side quite a bit, hadn’t been aligned properly. It was also quite worn, I didnt even think to check this as the chain and sprockets had only done about 5k km on it. Obv crappy material. Thankfully, the output shaft spun freely with no clicking, phew! That was great to see. Turns out the rear wheel bearing was the main culprit, followed by the front sprocket, which explains why I thought the noise was coming from the front. I’m honestly so relieved to be wrong, a wheel bearing, chain, and sprocket are a lot better than having to pull the engine and split the gearbox casing. Hate to think what that would’ve cost! It’s booked in for Monday for some much needed love and care, something I embarrassingly haven’t given it for a while.

The slack should be between 5-7mm, looks like you need a new chain and sprockets for the starter. It's probably rattling already, and may risk jumping which could crack the housing.

Regulation 27 (Restrictions on the use of lamps) https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/regulation/27 The Highway Code says to use dipped headlights in daylight if visibility is reduced, and to only use main beam when it won’t dazzle others. Using main beam in the day isn’t illegal per se, the law says main beam headlights must not be used if they cause dazzle or discomfort to other road users. During bright daylight, they usually won’t dazzle, but in lower light or if you’re directly behind someone, they can. So technically it’s not outright banned, but if it’s judged to be dazzling, it can be an offence.

True but there is less force on the output shaft as much lower torque. I was hoping I may hear a difference to identify the fault, but windnoise and bike noise make it too hard.

Well it's been almost two weeks of me driving like an ass with my full beam on, well day time only. Haven't had one person pull out yet. Obvisouly on a small time line and a sample size of one this could be totally irrelevant. But feels like people are seeing me easier.

Guess it's one of those things, it depends. Where I live I don't get the luxury of nice open roads, I'm about 10km from the city so my riding is nearly all city type riding. I don't think IAM would run courses in this type of enviroment. I just try and ride defensively always.

Yeah I'm scared to take it for the next service, and can't be assed to take the chain off and spin the wheel to check. I've tried pulling the clutch in when riding and the sound doesn't appear to change that much, so hopefully it is the wheel bearing.

The wheel bearings are easy to do, I'm just not entirely confident it's not the output shaft bearings. Fingers crossed it's the wheel bearings. Just coming up to 25k now, that's KM. I was thinking normal lifespan would be 40-50k. I do ride my bike in all weather though and Sydney can be very humid which could have accelerated wear.

I read the book as a PDF a long time ago, the part which struck me the most saccadic masking which I never knew about. Really explains those moments when you're about to pull out of a junction thinking it's open and brake oh there's a car you didn't see. Makes you realise how much easier this is to occur to bike riders when we're a third of the size. Video here explains it, apparantly we're all completly blind for about 40mins a day due to this masking. Our vision is almost an illusion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOz7buiQ7G0 Oh forgot to add I spoke to someone last week who explained the concept of progression makes you safer because it forces you to plan ahead, commit to actions with confidence, reduce unpredictability, and stay in control of the traffic situation. It should be about smooth, safe efficiency, not speed for its own sake.

My bike has LED lights, but you've made me think about having extra lighting. I might ride with lights on full beam in the day and see if that makes any difference. I think half the time they do see me, just don't care, or underestimate size/speed etc.

Well bike is all back and working normally. Sorry haven't had time to come back and update. The MT does not have reinforced hoses from the water pump, so it turned out to be normal behavior and it was nothing to worry about. Guess this is an issue when you take your bike to a non yamaha garage. I've since read online of people fitting aftermarket anti collapse hoses. But from playing further it doesn't collapse enough at low temperature to cause an issue, and once at temperature and the thermostat is open there isn't an issue. Strange that they'd save a few $ and not have anti collapse hose. As for the problem they have no idea, the ECU showed ignition coil issues and it stalling. They reset the ECU and it was fine. No idea what caused the issue or in fact what it was. Had to change out the plugs as one had failed, over heated in dry engine trying to start it so much. Next job I keep putting off is a whining bearing noise which has been getting worse over the last few months. I'm hoping it's just the rear wheel bearing and not the output shaft. Guess that one will be a massive job if so. The tilt sensor was from an accident I had last year. Surprised Yamaha didn't clear this when it was being repaired.

I use my bike daily for commuting to work so get the worst of the issues due to riding at peak hours through a city. Three main culprits, pulling out from junctions even when they bloody see me, pulling out on roundabouts very frequently i think the drivers think they'll fit along side me, and lastly quickly pulling out of stationary traffic into the lane i'm in as they think there;s a space, or even if it's a bus lane and I'm in, they decide to swerve out quickly in to the bus lane as they're turning left in a few hundred meters.

Welcome aboard, look forward to following what you go wtih.