Oh Christ... Another Noob on a 125

[zark]

Hi. Been lurking here for a while... thought it was about time to say hello.

Brand new to this motorbicycling... I live about 30 miles from work and am soon to be moved to somewhere with no car parking. Only option was slumming it with the great unwashed on public transport... or getting a bike.

Did CBT in October, never ever having even sat on a bike before... and then bought a Yamaha YBR in December. Have ridden it as much as I can since then, absolutely frickin' love it!

Paid £750 for an 07 plate with 20k on it. Its a little tatty... but more than tidy enough for now.

My commute is half on NSL dual carriageways and the YBR is just screaming the whole time nudging 65 and just sitting there is a bit boring... so as soon as the worst of this Winter is done I intend DAS'ing my way to something more interesting (fast)

Never having had a bike before, I've been lurking here for tips on maintenance and chain care etc... which has been really useful, as well as riding hints and so thought it was about time to say hi.

[Rogerborg]

Pip pip. Right bike, right price.

125s are fun, but it does get better when you've got something in hand. Easier too, as you'll find out when you jump on the training bike.

Got a training school in mind, or are you looking for recommendations?
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Andy_Pagin]

So what's your home twenty? Are you a knarled old git like me or a horribly young blood?
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They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa, hey-hey,
the men in white coats are coming to take me away.
Yamaha Vity -> YBR125 -> FZS600 Fazer -> FZ1-S Fazer

[zark]

Um... I guess at 40 and a half... I'm nearer the old git stage... Can't believe it took me so long to try biking... I was quite used to working on cars as a youngster... Then they got all techno-whizzy and too complicated. Bikes are a completely new thing to me though. Luckily the YBR was sold to me with a Haynes manual too, so I think I'll be OK with the routine stuff. It had just had a service, MOT when I bought it so if I can get rid before the tax is due again I've basically had it for peanuts...

I've done a few hundred miles on it and have just had to top up oil, and the chain is a bit slack but that doesn't seem too complicated to sort out. My biggest disappointment is probably the headlamp. On stock bulb it's just plain dangerous. I've swapped it out for a whiter coloured lamp which is an improvement... And ordered a Chinese after market HID (which I've fitted on cars before) so hoping that'll sort things out when I get it... Other than that, the bike will remain standard as I don't imagine keeping it for too long that it's worth spending on 'up grades'

I have no idea about DAS training. Did CBT with Anglia Bike Company in Harlow and they seem ok (without anything to compare to!) I live in East Herts if anyone knows any where else I should be looking?

[adam277]

Ye I had to swap the stock bulb as well, piss poor visibility at night. Get your DAS done asap. My main motivation for getting my Licence out of the way was so I didn't have to go on the A13 on my YBR in winter. The lack of any wind protection is a pain.
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Bikes: Previous Bikes: Piaggio x8 125: 2012/2013, YBR 125: 2013/2013 BMW R1150GS 2013/2017, Honda CBR600RR 2017/2017, Honda CB500 2018/2018, Suzuiki Address 110cc 2019/2020, BMW R1200GS 2021-2023
Current Bike: Honda CBF 125: current

[maximerto]

[andy_uk]

[Rogerborg]

[andys675]

do it! if you keep holding that YBR flat out for that distance you'll knock the big end out of it

for longevity you're better off keeping it around 2/3rds of its max speed
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Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.

[Doomsnite]

Welcome... Just picked up a ybr myself and tootling around. Not ridden in the dark yet but may look into changing the bulb. Im over in Stevenage, not too far away but prob a bit too far to travel for training centres.
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Triumph Street Triple-R
Sold: Honda Hornet CB600F-Y / Yamaha YBR125

[zark]

cheers all... i'll take a look at Camriders...

I had thought that 20 miles at 9k revs twice a day was probably going to make something wear out - i often come off the dual carriageway partly for something to do and partly for some 'mechanical sympathy' so hopefully won't kill it straight away...

While i'm here - and to save starting a new thread - where's good for spare parts to buy online?

Today, I adjusted the chain to take up some slack... Unfortunately - the nut on the brake torque arm was obviously done up by Giant Haystacks - and i've rounded it off trying to get it loosened. I don't mind destroying it to get it off - but will need a new one to put back on... Is it just a standard M5 or 6 nut (or whatever size) the bolt and the cotter-pin have survived (for now) It also means that i've moved the wheels backwards a smidge without taking the load off of the torque arm - which i'm guessing is putting some extra stress on that?



Thanks for the welcomes - i'll be back when i've buggered up some more things.

[Mark65]

Use some mole grips on it or a fancy nut remover, its just a standard nut, I replace them for stainless.
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07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[zark]

sweeeeet...

pipe wrench it is then....

d'ya happen to know what size it is so i can have one ready to put on? (i thought i needed a 12mm spanner - but clearly not! Can't be imperial sized... shirley?)

on a happier note - oil now changed without incident!

go me... the mechanical wizard