MyBB Motorcycle Owners Thread

[Baxteen]

I got some bad news yesterday.

the other day my bike started making a funny noise. out of nowhere about 800m from my house on the way to work, I turned around immidiately.
because of the move I did not have time to take the bike to the shop until wednesday. so it was standing for about 3 weeks.

yesterday speaking to the guys, they told me they got it started heard the noise, and started to investigate.
drained the oil though a filter.
found about 2 to 3 grams of copper in the oil.
so until they open it up and see what is going wrong it can be:
bearings died
crank shaft broke.
gear broke inside gearbox
a bolt inside the engine broke and was ground up.
a combination of the above.

now, the bike has gone for regular services, and I have even opened it up and worked on it myself. there was no warning on this. the oil was absolutely perfect condition, like new (had done about 1000km since I changed the oil myself.

and as the guys say, the bike is old, and its not the easiest bike to find spares for. so this might be a long wait until I get it back.

so does anyone have any idea where I can look for parts for a 1997 Yamaha Virago 535. because everything I find, and everyone I speak to can help wiht the 750 or 1100 model, but not the 535...

also, I paid R25K for the bike. what is the point where I cut my loss on this service and just buy a different bike? (I really dont want to I love my bike....)

 

[TheFriendlyGhost]

if spares for the 750 and 1100 are easier to find - would it not be easier just to replace the motor and gearbox with a 750 or 1100, but again the challenge then becomes, do you buy and overall the engine and gearbox, that's more expenses there. also if that and/or repairs is coming to more than 10K, maybe you should use that as your cut-off point and say goodbye

 

[Baxteen]

if spares for the 750 and 1100 are easier to find - would it not be easier just to replace the motor and gearbox with a 750 or 1100, but again the challenge then becomes, do you buy and overall the engine and gearbox, that's more expenses there. also if that and/or repairs is coming to more than 10K, maybe you should use that as your cut-off point and say goodbye

I decided R16500 is the cut off point.

because I found this

no idea if it is still available, or if I can even actually afford to buy it. the idea is, with what I have on the 535, I can replace all the little things that might be wrong with the 1100.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I use a Drift. Had it stuck on my head, was cool...and then I mounted it to my bike's handle bar. Camera on the helmet is annoying (video moves around during playback, more difficult access to controls, wind resistance and wind noise..yes, the smallest gap will cause a "whistle").

I would have preferred to put it on my chin but the helmet doesn't allow for it without possibly losing hte camera.

I'm still experimenting as I got the camera for free so just testing it out.

There is a little wind drag but nothing crazy. Where it's mounted doesn't add any noise though.

If my phone wasn't on iOS10 I would have just used that to make sure I'm recording, but in this case not even that would help.


I was inclined to put the camera on the bike but that means it doesn't look where I look so you'll make for one boring video.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I got some bad news yesterday.

the other day my bike started making a funny noise. out of nowhere about 800m from my house on the way to work, I turned around immidiately.
because of the move I did not have time to take the bike to the shop until wednesday. so it was standing for about 3 weeks.

yesterday speaking to the guys, they told me they got it started heard the noise, and started to investigate.
drained the oil though a filter.
found about 2 to 3 grams of copper in the oil.
so until they open it up and see what is going wrong it can be:
bearings died
crank shaft broke.
gear broke inside gearbox
a bolt inside the engine broke and was ground up.
a combination of the above.

now, the bike has gone for regular services, and I have even opened it up and worked on it myself. there was no warning on this. the oil was absolutely perfect condition, like new (had done about 1000km since I changed the oil myself.

and as the guys say, the bike is old, and its not the easiest bike to find spares for. so this might be a long wait until I get it back.

so does anyone have any idea where I can look for parts for a 1997 Yamaha Virago 535. because everything I find, and everyone I speak to can help wiht the 750 or 1100 model, but not the 535...

also, I paid R25K for the bike. what is the point where I cut my loss on this service and just buy a different bike? (I really dont want to I love my bike....)

Generally only the big end bearings are copper...at least that was the case with my Triumph.

Problem is when those go pretty much EVERYTHING else goes with it short of the block itself.

In my case it was an almost 100k job (sure they add some retail pricing bull**** to make it look worse).

Being an older bike it would either be best to put a whole new motor in, or simply write it off and buy a new one.


I think you've already reached the point of loss. Nothing in that list will be cheap to fix, the only option would be to replace the entire component that the fault is inside (doubt it's gearbox) and that is probably also not feasible.

In my case I knew something was wrong at about 30 000km from new and also serviced perfectly. The mechanic told me I was hearing things (will never make that mistake again, I live with the bike they don't) and by 33 000km the motor was gone.

 

[Hamster]

I would have preferred to put it on my chin but the helmet doesn't allow for it without possibly losing hte camera.

I'm still experimenting as I got the camera for free so just testing it out.

There is a little wind drag but nothing crazy. Where it's mounted doesn't add any noise though.

If my phone wasn't on iOS10 I would have just used that to make sure I'm recording, but in this case not even that would help.


I was inclined to put the camera on the bike but that means it doesn't look where I look so you'll make for one boring video.

Depends what you are trying to film. Mine's basically for insurance etc.

If I had to fit a camera to my helmet again I would get a very small one and stick it to the side of the helmet. Or under the sun gaurd whatchamacallit thingy on an adventure/MX helmet.

 

[Baxteen]

Generally only the big end bearings are copper...at least that was the case with my Triumph.

Problem is when those go pretty much EVERYTHING else goes with it short of the block itself.

In my case it was an almost 100k job (sure they add some retail pricing bull**** to make it look worse).

Being an older bike it would either be best to put a whole new motor in, or simply write it off and buy a new one.


I think you've already reached the point of loss. Nothing in that list will be cheap to fix, the only option would be to replace the entire component that the fault is inside (doubt it's gearbox) and that is probably also not feasible.

that is what I am thinking as well.

from time to time it happens that an older bike just dies. and if it will cost too much to fix, Hank served me well, and I will stick to Virago for the next bike. unless I can find a really well priced second hand 883.
because I will only ever be on a cruiser.

 

[SauRoNZA]

I decided R16500 is the cut off point.

because I found this

no idea if it is still available, or if I can even actually afford to buy it. the idea is, with what I have on the 535, I can replace all the little things that might be wrong with the 1100.

In my case the labour alone for the engine rebuild was R5500. And that was discounted already.

So I very much doubt you'll get away for R16 500 but colour me surprised if you do.

Of course if they just did a whole engine swop in my case it would have been much quicker/cheaper/simpler.

 

[Baxteen]

In my case the labour alone for the engine rebuild was R5500. And that was discounted already.

So I very much doubt you'll get away for R16 500 but colour me surprised if you do.

Of course if they just did a whole engine swop in my case it would have been much quicker/cheaper/simpler.

again, right now we know nothing for sure other than bits of metal came out with the oil.

I live in eternal hope that I keep Hank. but if not, I will still be on a cruiser. who knows maybe the wedding end of next month (FML THAT IS A SCARY THOUGHT) will help pay for the next bike

 

[SauRoNZA]

Depends what you are trying to film. Mine's basically for insurance etc.

If I had to fit a camera to my helmet again I would get a very small one and stick it to the side of the helmet. Or under the sun gaurd whatchamacallit thingy on an adventure/MX helmet.

At this point just filming for ****s and giggles.

I have the camera for about a year.

If I find I do use it then I'll want to get the GoPro Session.

that is what I am thinking as well.

from time to time it happens that an older bike just dies. and if it will cost too much to fix, Hank served me well, and I will stick to Virago for the next bike. unless I can find a really well priced second hand 883.
because I will only ever be on a cruiser.

Yeah in my case Triumphs are not known to do this and they suspect it was the oil restrictor valve on the oil pump that failed and starved the motor of oil.

The mistake they made was that when the oil light came on they misdiagnosed it as a sensor and ordered the new part and let me ride it still as it felt normal to them even though I had stated there was a funny noise.

More than likely if it was benched and stripped when the light came on there may have been no damage at that point. Then again how do you diagnose the deeper problem unless you ride it to make it happen, so the conclusion might have been the same just with slightly less related damage.

 

[Baxteen]

At this point just filming for ****s and giggles.

I have the camera for about a year.

If I find I do use it then I'll want to get the GoPro Session.



Yeah in my case Triumphs are not known to do this and they suspect it was the oil restrictor valve on the oil pump that failed and starved the motor of oil.

The mistake they made was that when the oil light came on they misdiagnosed it as a sensor and ordered the new part and let me ride it still as it felt normal to them even though I had stated there was a funny noise.

More than likely if it was benched and stripped when the light came on there may have been no damage at that point. Then again how do you diagnose the deeper problem unless you ride it to make it happen, so the conclusion might have been the same just with slightly less related damage.

mine was just out of nowhere.
I replaced the oil, I had been taking even better care than normal. I was getting 160km out of a tank instead of the normal 140km. I never got stuck without petrol. it was running at its best EVER for the last 3 months. the only little issue was the speedo unit was dead, the spring broke. so nothing moved. and our logic was to sort that out after the move.

then suddenly and without warning KLANG KLANG KLANG KLANG KLANG. from perfect to oh F its dead now.

again, its 18 years old, so it might have just been its time you know?

 

[fish_man]

Here is an Idea, I see all the MyBB Meet 2016 threads.

How about a MyBB biker Breakfast run!! Western Cape Edition

 

[copacetic]

Here is an Idea, I see all the MyBB Meet 2016 threads.

How about a MyBB biker Breakfast run!! Western Cape Edition

Perhaps. It's just a bit of a struggle keeping up on my little bike though.

 

[fish_man]

We will drive slow

 

[Pox]

Perhaps. It's just a bit of a struggle keeping up on my little bike though.

Aim isn't to see how fast you can get there
That's why you have a bunch of stops, so more 'enthusiastic' riders can get there and wait for the rest.

 

[Willy Strong]

We will drive slow

Hehehe

Cyclist overtakes motorcycles!

[video=youtube_share;aEcIdSjCADw]https://youtu.be/aEcIdSjCADw[/video]

 

[Pox]

Hehehe

Cyclist overtakes motorcycles!

Pfft

[video=youtube_share;-o9QIPXqgBg]https://youtu.be/-o9QIPXqgBg?t=49[/video]
(jump to 49 seconds)

 

[GoB]

I don't do meets and I'm not a biker, but I may be in to see these suckers. Yes I have a bike just not a real biker.

 

[Blu82]

Here is an Idea, I see all the MyBB Meet 2016 threads.

How about a MyBB biker Breakfast run!! Western Cape Edition

Note that Sauron will pitch in a car.

 

[acidman1]

I'm in for a run again. Enjoyed the last one.