Benedictine

Thanks, it doesn't mention the relay anywhere in the useless manual. I've just looked in the online manual and it doesn't mention anything about it there. If it is buggered what's caused that? Would over-revving do it? I wonder if I have been pushing it a little too fast in fourth gear. Is it just a case of buying a new one and fitting it, is it a difficult job? Edit: Oh I've read here that it is not a difficult job to replace. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-SR-125-Custom-Disc-92-95-Indicator-Relay-/140747021837?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item20c52d1e0d

Done about 500 mile on the bike now and it all seems very natural. I do have one problem that came up from a ride yesterday if anybody can help, it's my indicators, they are not flashing just coming on solid, any ideas on what the problem is? I've looked in the manual but as usual everything is in there apart from what you want. I've Googled the problem and seen some suggestions to check the relays, but this was different model bikes. Any suggestions, thanks? Edit: when I Googled it people said to check the relays, but what are you supposed to check and where are the relays if it is that? Correction: the indicators sometimes work, but are sometimes on solid if that makes any difference.

Thanks and I hope you are getting on with the bike. The newer ones are better with slight upgrades here and there, I would swap mine for one but I would probably be going for a 250 bike this time next year so there's probably not much point. I like the circular dash on your model and the steering lock has to be useful as well. Great starter bikes I think. With the zip in the battery mine is starting and running really well now. Very pleased with it. 20 years old, with 10 previous owners and it seems to run like new. Brilliant!

Yes I'm sure he put the right spark plug. I've told him to try the battery as well.

What's EFI?

Thanks for the info, I will pass that on. He put a new spark plug in as when he bought it it would virtually not start at all, so it's not that. He bought a Haynes manual so I will tell him to clean the carb and check injectors, sensors and piston rings. Thanks.

Thanks. Yes that's what I thought, if the engine is warm as it was only used 10/15 minutes ago it shouldn't need a good 5 minutes of the choke I would have thought, even from my limited experience. I wonder if it is a battery issue. I told him to get a charger and bump it up to see if it makes a difference. I just wondered if this was a wider issue with YBRs or not that's why I asked here.

It needs the choke for about 5 minutes every time he uses it. Even if we stop for 10 minutes the next time he gets on it it takes 5 minutes with the choke again. Mine on the other hand, you push the button and it's running. No he can't ride off because the engine is too weak and will cut out without the choke.

HI, my brother's got a Yamaha YBR year 2008 and it takes a good 5 minutes to warm up every time, even if it's been running and then we stop for 10 minutes. I've told him it might be the battery. If you've got one of these bikes (or have any ideas) how does yours start up? I mean my 20 year old SR 125 starts up first time, every time on the button, you would have thought a 2008 YBR would do the same this is why I think it is the battery myself. Thanks.

Yes I figured I would just change the air filter because it was easy and cheap to do and would only help the bike. Luckily the previous owner of my bike was an old biker who it seems just mucked about on the bike a bit and it seems only did about 500 miles each year. Before he owned that it was sorn for a year. Before that I'm not sure, but at least mine doesn't seem to have been abused by young riders. Had a nice ride out today in the Peaks, Edale and Hope, best weather for a while, it felt good to be on the bike without being absolutely freezing, this is a completely new experience for me, even if some of the high points of Derbyshire still contain several feet of snow here and there!

To be honest I've not found the Haynes manual that useful, I've got more info from the online user manual and on here. http://www.motorkari.cz/upload/files/manualy/1851_yamaha-sr125-manual.pdf Having said that it is probably best to get one anyway. I didn't realise you had a fuel leak but glad it seems to have stopped. I just keep the fuel switch to 'on' unless I'm leaving it for over a week or so, like in the snow days the other week. I have found that if you keep turning it on and off it is easy to forget. My brother did the same the other day and ran the engine with the fuel switch off, luckily he was not on the bike, as his takes an age to warm up (YBR), so the engine just cut out. He had problems starting it after that though, had to bump it into action. I believe a full tank of fuel on these bikes, that's 10 litres in the tank should give it around 200 mile. With there being no fuel gauge I find it hard to judge exactly, but by all accounts that seems to be about right. I don't wait until it is low though and top it up when it looks like it is going below half way. I've only topped it up twice and done around 250 mile on it, so that would seem to add up as well. It's worth checking the oil level through the little glass window as well if you haven't done so already. Also the water level on the battery. Both of mine were low when I bought it. If you read back on this thread you see that I had battery problems. I bought a new one but in the meantime charged the old one and added water and the old one now starts first time on the button, every time. So I have a spare battery, which will come in handy anyway. I also bought a new air filter form and put that in as the old one was black. The form was a fiver for a big sheet of it on ebay. I don't know how important the air filter is or how bad the other one really was but for the sake of a fiver it was probably worth it just to stick a new sheet in. The manual says an annual clean and to dampen the air filter form with oil before fitting it. I'm going to take my bike for a quick run today to check that my mirror holds. After I sort the chain.

Yes it was a silly mistake. I was just about to put it on the centre stand when the thing toppled over, I was just taking my gloves off. No, no other damage thankfully, learning experience as I'll never do it again. Thanks for the kerb idea. No Andrew I've not noticed the lights dimming at higher speeds, but then again I'm only brave enough to touch 50, 45 usually, I'm getting more and more confident on the bike though, glad to know the bike will sit at 50 though as I eventually want to take it up to the Lakes in the summer (from Yorkshire and back). A 94? Is it in black or green? I'm looking to get some new mirrors because of the bent mirror, I can't believe that I didn't notice it was bent before, it is not a big issue but I might as well get a matching pair. I've been looking at mirrors today but I'm not sure of the size. The 8mm threads seem to be the common sizes for these bikes but there are some mirrors with 10mm fittings. Here is a site I was looking at for mirrors: http://www.yamahamotorcyclespares.co.uk/spares/partImage.asp?GPN=MRU30650&model=SPARES&uid=0 These look OK but surely too cheap to be of any good. Also looked on ebay and wemoto.

Yes it is a brilliant starter. I only need the choke when it is really cold and then not for long. I just sit and hold out the choke for 30 secs max even in the cold and then it is good to go. Usually though it is just a case of on and away. My brother has a YBR 2008 model (mine's a '93 SR) and his takes an age to warm up. Edit: oh by an off chance, does anybody know what fitting the mirrors are on the SR 125. Are they 8mm or 10mm? I think they are 8 but I'm not sure. Cheers.

Oh great stuff. Yes I was just reading it in the manual, glad it is easy to sort, I will do it tomorrow. You've not had the bike that long then? What year is it? How are you finding it?

Hi mate I've got the same bike (as in the linked thread). Yes as Jimmy says there is a square hole on the chain guard with 'usable range' on. The chain should travel within that range as you pull it round. Glad I found this thread actually. I was looking down on my bike to see what exactly it said (I thought it was usable range) and it looks as if my chain is also loose. It was fine a few weeks ago but now it seems to have slackened off somehow. I'll have to look in the manual and see how to adjust it. Do you still need help with it? I can post up what it says in the manual if you are still waiting for it. Edit: bit of a foolish beginner error today. I went out for a ride, parked it up in a pub car park which was on a slant and used the side stand instead of the centre stand, so you can guess what happened I bet? Yes the thing toppled over and dented back my right hand mirror. Silly boy. I had to ride home with a twisted mirror as it wouldn't hold in place level. I have manage to sort it at home thankfully, bit of WD40 in the thread and it looks like it will hold. I thought I had completely bent the mirror but looking at the photos it was already bent as is the brake level, I never noticed until today. It still works fine but I might order a new one if I can get it matching.

Cheers. No they are not going to bother me. Was a little annoyed and puzzled by it at first but now don't really give a shit. I'm just looking forward to getting out on the bike now that the bloody snow has cleared up and hopefully the temp will pick up a bit as well. Did one trip out just before the snow and was absolutely freezing. Got myself a better jacket now so hopefully that will help, but the summer air flow gloves I've bought are not really the thing for this time of year, I'm learning. (When I ordered them I thought spring meant the beginning of sun not snow.) Cheers.

I'm really interested in these different reactions, thanks for posting folks. Never thought about man Vs woman. Rider vs pillion. Even north vs south, etc, etc, really interesting. Really weird too. I guess also it is just luck in who you come across who wants to speak to you. Maybe it just happens I've been a bit unlucky in that I have had a few of the 'death trap' brigade instead of the old nostalgic biker etc. Not that it has been all negative like I said, but I have hardly been on the road for long - also the shite weather has cut short my riding god damn it!! Overall though, I don't care want anybody says either way, I am loving the bike and the freedom and everyday I can't get out on the bike. I'm even enjoying going to work because I get to ride ha, ha. Cheers, All the best.

Nice bike Grouch. The XT 125 has the same engine as the SR model, they share the same manual the bikes are that close. The look very different though.

Oh so it is as common thing, I thought so really for some reason. Good replies as well. I have had a few positive comments or general questions too, I suppose that balances it up, I was just a little bemused by the commentary from strangers. For example the 'death trap' one was from this bloke in a pub who sat at my table as I was leaving. He also asked about the price of 'those things' meaning helmets...

Hi, I have not been biking long, motorbiking that is I have had a push bike for a while, but I have already come across a lot of negative reaction to motorbikes. Is this normal and how do people deal with it? For example people will comment quite freely 'oh you've got a motorbike have you? Death trap.' 'Death trap' seems to be a favourite phrase.... Or I hear comments like, 'oh you are on a bike, you will be under a lorry on your way home.' These are not family members or friends, just random people who stop and pass judgement?? It's not like I have asked for their opinion or anything. Bizarre. Totally bizarre. Like f, you. Do I walk past a chip shop and say to someone eating chips 'chips eh, you'll be dead with heart disease by the end of the month'? Or 'fishing eh? You'll wrap your pole on an electric cable and electrocute your brain from your skull'? It's not as if I am flying around bends at 100mph. I'm only tottering around at 25/30mph on a 125 and in terms of safety I am feeling more secure than I did on a push bike, now that I am used to the bike, much safer. I would be regularly cut up on a push bike on a weekly or near daily basis, on the motorbike I am feeling that I am 'accepted' as a genuine vehicle and not as a thing to be ignored or rammed. Anyway, of course it is not about me, it's about other people's prejudice. I just wondered if this sort of reaction and comment by total strangers was quite a common thing and how do you react if so?

Wow this has been an eye opener. I didn't realise how bad these old Brit bikes were, I always thought they were ultra reliable. When I do eventually move up to a bigger bike I think it is certain I will get something much more modern, but with a 'classic' look. I have absolutely no interest in the modern sport bikes though so it will have to have the custom/classic sort of look and it will be Japanese! I've only had my Yamaha SR 125 for about three weeks mind and I intend to keep that at least a couple of years.

Oh thanks, yes I get the impression that these bikes are good to look at but for not much more, maybe weekend rides here and there, but not as main bike.

Hi, I’ve always fancied an old classic bike. I’ve always liked the look of the old Triumphs, Nortons or the Francis Barnett as rode by Nick in Heartbeat! This is probably what attracted me in part to the Yamaha SR 125 as my first bike. I also notice that many people on here have bikes from ‘73 and so forth. Anyway, I was wondering are these bikes still practical as a main bike, day-to-day ride around, or only really workable as a weekend pleasure bike? Take for example the following bike: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FRANCIS-BARNETT-FALCON-199CC-CRACKING-RIDE-PLEASE-WATCH-THE-VIDEO-/321068073640?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item4ac12602a8 Is this something you could get away with riding as part of your daily commute as well as weekend rides, or what? Same with those who have bikes from the 70s do you use them as your main daily bike? Provided that you look after them etc, are the bikes like above still practical? I don’t expect to buy such a classic bike for at least a year or two or maybe more but it is something I have been wondering. Thanks.

The water level? No, I've not had the battery out of it yet. Was going to do that tomorrow when I get the charger. Just seen a new battery on Amazon for £23, £30+ on ebay same one, so I think I'll just order that. Still needs to be charged though, as only comes 70% charged? I'm sure there's a good technical reason for that but I can't think why. So I'll still need to borrow the charger anyway. I also checked the tire pressure today as my pump and pressure reader came. The manual says 28psi for the front and 30psi for the back. The front was spot on, but the back only had 19 psi pressure in!! So I sorted that out swiftly.

Well I've had to bump start the bike about four times now. I'm getting a battery charger from a friend tomorrow. I am being given varied advice about what to do with it though, one person says just buy a new battery, someone else just charge it and someone else that a good run will self charge it? I intend to charge it and check the water level then just go from there. Had a decent run on the bike today for the first time, 20 mile or so and got it up to 40 mph!! Riding around and feeling comfortable on it now. Bloody freezing though.