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The nephew hit a deer a few miles up the road from where we live. Apparently he was only doing the legal speed (honestly officer). The deer ended up as venison in a local farmers freezer. The nephew was laid up for several months. The bike he was riding was a write off. He will never ride a...

Really interesting. I'm currently out of action, recovering from a broken/dislocated ancle. I seem to have been breaking this ancle regularly (four times!) over the past 50 years. It's amazing how long the recovery process is taking this time round. Six months on I'm just starting to feel happy...

Too true

I'm really struggling with purchasing parts from anywhere outside the UK. I get caught with import tax. Things are not as easy as they were. Stunning looking bike. Hope you enjoy it.

Could you just turn the bars upwards. And see how you get on with them, before you jump in and get a new set. You may find you get on with the riding position.

Looking absolutely mint. That's going to be magic in the Picos mountains. Been there once on a motorcycle. A modern triumph. Enjoy the trip

I got a helicoil kit from ebay. I seem to recall it was m4 but please check also not sure what pitch the threads are. Easy to use and stronger than the original treads. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335491752589 Just make sure you check the screw sizes.

I used acetone to remove the laquer on my wheel rims. Purchased from ebay seller, for removing nail varnish. As advised on this site.

As an apprentice, 50 years ago, I seem to recall a process called blueing. It involves heating up a ferrous steel part and then quenching in oil. I seem to recall it was a finishing process to protect from rust. I don't think it was a surface hardening process. Maybe someone has attempted to...

A very recent one of me.

I'll be out there with digital calipers ASAP

It seems as though yamaha didn't like reinventing parts. And used similar parts across different models, where they could. Maybe just giving it a different part number. I think it will be best to physically measure the two parts

I've got an old stock XS clip waiting to be fitted. And a virago clip that came in a box of spares. I'm going to measure them and see if the clip will work for both. I suppose the next thing to check will be clearances in the XS engine. Can't do anything at the moment though as I'm laid up...

Hi I'm currently rebuilding a gen 1 virago. The starter system is a well known problem on these bikes. There are fixes. I've been considering trying the bendix clip clamp fix to my XS as well. Not sure if it will work. I need to do some investigating. I've attached an interesting video.

Is it definitely the correct chain for that model? I believe that there were guide and chain changes from early to later models. Hopefully some of the proper experts on these bikes will be getting online soon. It's probably breakfast time in the USA

No. What I'm trying to say, in my rambling way is; You push the split link into the chain holes then push the plate over the split link pins. Up to the steps. Then rivet it in place. The split I got didn't have the steps. It was difficult to get the plate onto the pins, with the chain in the...

I had an issue with a camchain and split link I purchased as a set. The split link didn't have a step on the end of the pins. I think it was probably intended for bench use , with a press. It wasn't practical for use with the chain in situ. I looked on Ebay and found one from a reputable...

I suppose wearing as much safety gear as is practical is the safest option. I do, apart from my 27 year old open face davida helmet. You can lessen the odds but sometimes fate takes a hand. I was walking my dog the other morning, 10 minutes from home when a car took a corner too fast, mounted...

My 74 speedo is in bits. Ready for me to repair. Six months and it still sits there. Other things seem to be more important. I actually temporarily slotted an rd350 speedo in. KPH not MPH and slightly smaller diameter. Maybe I'll get round to rebuilding it eventually 😏

Hi Steve. This may be suitable. Not sure what year the odometer reset changed from bottom to side. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186251396523 I've been considering it for my 1974 TX650A. You'll have to check the details yourself to make sure it's all correct.