Campaman

Our local Poundland sometimes has Muc-off in, I always grab a few bottles when they do.

Got a guy that works for us from Coventry, never class Coventry and Birmingham as being the same place... I used to drive a Coventry climax, but it was only a Fork Lift Truck

Washing up liquid under the grip also works, and is probably cheaper than GT85

Does look good, but seriously I find the lack of noise from electric vehicles to be dangerous, been caught out a few times when out walking the dogs when they sneak up on you, and nearly run you over because you think the road is clear and whoosh.

Riding style, the road surface, weather, cornering style can all have an effect on tyre wear. Quick acceleration, cornering and breaking on new or rough road surfaces in warmer weather will make a tyre wear more than tootling along on old smooth straight roads in the damp. Each tyre also has a Treadwear Rating with lower numbers 200 or less wearing quicker than higher 300-600 numbers based on the amount of soft and hard rubbers in the compound of the tyre. Designation of TDR250 "Designed to provide agile handling and quick acceleration" = more road friction = more tyre wear

I like that, only problem is it wouldn't go through my gate into the back.

Hi and welcome. What/Where is Loomies?

Inconsiderate other road users

Yeah come on have a go, my round win in 2014 was from a lucky dip team.

I still think I sound like crap but other people seem to think I sound OK, maybe its just your perception of how you sound. There's a bloke who comes in the local and sometimes brings his guitar in and starts playing, he thinks he sounds good, but the locals don't rate him.

Dip stick idea may be useful for the oil checks, but its still a pain trying to do any work on that side of the bike, even cleaning it due to the amount of lean on the side stand. The old back aint what it used to be, doesn't like being bent right over doing things.

Cheers, will have a look this weekend.

Garden Vacs can suck as well as blow....

Managed to get it just about upright at the weekend with a block of wood under the side stand and the trolley jack on the other side (lump of carpet on it) to stop it falling over, strapped the rear wheel to my ground anchor so it couldn't move forward or backwards, fine for checking the oil. Got a small oil leak which I believe is from the neutral switch so that will be the next job that I need to get it a bit more upright for.

I'm in as well. Won the first round in 2014 and got tickets for Silverstone

That's what you get for riding without an Helmet....

Hi and welcome The FJ is probably the nearest to a BMW with the full fairing Test them both to see what you think.

No.

Thanks for the suggestions, money can not be spent at this point as I am currently on a four day week. Found this while searching, which may have possibilities http://vstar1300.pbworks.com/w/page/5760709/Motorcycle%20Lifts

Yeah it does have two frame spars running the full length front to rear, I was thinking along those lines. My real problem is apart from the wife I have no one around to help, its a pain just trying to check the oil level, trying to balance the bike against the house wall while holding onto it, and trying to see the level window. I will have a play at the weekend.

As the XVS650 only has a side stand I am looking for a way to get the bike stood upright for working on it, Ideally a DIY option as I can't really warrant spending any cash on a bespoke lift at this point due to uncertainty at work. I have a trolley jack, axle stands and a bottle jack and some nice length of timber approx. 5" x 1" as well as other odds and ends Any DIY ideas and where to actually jack it from.

Obvious question but are you using decent quality spanners/sockets? Unless the Bolts/Nuts are not original Yamaha parts you should not have any problems if using the correct sized tools. Also I only ever use 6 sided sockets the twelve point ones are not ideal for getting the best fit on a bolt head or nut.

Looking very good. But please change those cheap square nuts for at least some Class 8 Hexagon ones, you wouldn't want one of them to strip.

Turn the ignition on with the Kill Switch off, then turn on the Kill switch, if you hear it at that point 99% its the fuel pump, my 650 does the same.

No you just recorded it onto a Cassette tape......... Cheapo Winfield brand from Woolworths.....