pilninggas

The Virago 535 that I had would not do more than 55mph when I bought it - it felt like it was being throttled; pulling the carb tops revealed that the slides were sticking (symptomatic of carbs on their sides). Cleaning off the gunge and a liberal spray with something like WD40 fixed it and it would just about get to a ton.

I wouldn't worry unless it has a catalyser and your emission check includes catalyst function. Leaded fuel is only an issue with catalytic converters, as it coats the matrix and reduces efficiency. I probably wouldn't worry.

and so it begins; sadly whilst the FZR1000 and Thunderace are sensational bikes, those Mikuni carbs give long term reliability issues. The Thunderaces carbs are the worst of the lot, as the emulsion tubes are not replaceable. Been there, done that - good luck to you with this/

How long since you last used it? anymore than a month and I would put new fuel in. That engine is quite sensitive to stale fuel.

Sharie, by memory it is a generic fibrewasher - your local hardware store will probably have them for pennies.

Have a great weekend folks - wish I could join you.

RIP OT - I only met you once, but I remember it well.

Are you sure it is oil - my FZ1 looks like it is leaking oil when the chain lube gets good and hot and starts to drip from below the gearbox. If it is definitely is leaking you need to speak to Yamaha UK in Weybridge and tell them the dealer ain't playing ball - record all discussions if possible and keep a timeline of things. If you knowingly ride a motorcycle which is leaking oil and cause further damage the warranty issue can get choppy; throw the ball into their court post-haste. Oh yeah, do go and introduce yourself properly - we don't mind helping, but we expect introductions and some commentary on the events as they progress.

It's a great road. Not the Italian or Swiss Alps, but it's up there and the long lines of sight and runoff areas make for some really good progress and levels of safety. I've done at least 125 mountain passes now - just a shame UK roads aren't like this.

A couple of my other videos are unshowable because the cam is too low. At least that one shows that amazing bit of road.

Ignore my swearing at idiot that sits on their brakes as I come up behind them and me whistling (I was listening to music) A good trip: 4300 miles all told.

I did 850 miles in a day on an XJ6, I was fine, the worst bit was trying to get all the grime out of my face - diesel fume gunge...

trashed = broken, thrashed = ridden or driven in anger or enthusiasm!

http://yamahaxj6.proboards.com/thread/47/motorcycle-cover-outside

Perforated diaphrams? When you get this on onw or two carbs the bike feels restricted, but will often pull through eventually.

+^ please introduce yourself. Easiest workaround is to find a +12v that comes on with ignition, and then use that as a signal for a relay to run the fuel pump.

Dont forget nearly new XJ6s with low miles will be £1000s cheaper than either an MT07 or Hornet new or used. The XJ6 is an astonishing bit of kit, which is more than the sum of the parts.

A bike that dies and then won't start points to a duff regulator/rectifier. They are a compromise design and have a limited lifespan. Can you jump start the bike? If yes, you know all the other things are okay and that the charging systems are on the blink.

You might want to introduce yourself in the new members area; the forum gets a ridiculous number of requests for advice from single posters and it rightly pisses people off.

So a vacuum leak, which the Manifold Pressure Sensor detected. Glad it got fixed. I love EFI, it's so much easier to fault find that Carbs [and yes all Yam EFI bikes have easy to access diagnostic modes, so not a closed-shop issue]

I am going to Yamaha Day at the Ace Cafe next sunday - primarily for Food before football at Wembley. Why not go along to the Ace, it's not a massive ride from Reading.

I'm 99% certain the Ace doesn't have a oil-pressure sensor, so the bolt can't mirror that. Photos of things always help, as do proper introductions in the new members area......

But don't Japanese bikes and cars always have blue coolant (a mate and I were discussing this a while back,). I changed the coolant in my FZ1 when I did the valve-job at Christmas. I just used the alloy friendly pink stuff that eurocarparts sell for £8/gallon. I don't get how bike coolant could be any better than a quality aluminium-engine compatible car coolant (unlike oil, which i'll avoid discussing!). I'd just change the coolant according to the service sechedule, unless it has to come out for any other reason.

Went out yesterday with a mate. Was a decent ride, but my front tyre (a metzeler) is shite. Anyhoo off to Reims tomorrow, then doing a lap of the Black Forest, Haardt Mountains and Der Hunsruck. Channel Tunnel @ 1150.

Most versions of the FZR400 have an exup valve - this alters exhaust back pressure to change the state of tune dynamically. It's located where the downpipes meet, they are prone to seizing up and if the bike has been unused, it'll be seized in the closed position. It'll probably have a chromed cover, underneath this will be a cable operated pulley (the cables may also be seized) if this pulley doesn't turn you've found the most likely cause of the problem, you can rev the engine whilst looking at the valve and see if the pulley turns, there are also calibration marks to set the pulley too. Sometimes the servo that controls the system can fail, so this is also any area to explore. There are literally 1000s of web articles and advice about testing, servicing and repairing exup valves.