Hi, all. Being a newbie to the world of forums I thought it would be good manners to make myself known.
I am in the process of purchasing a 1989 Yamaha 400 fazer.  Like many people I have owned several bikes in the past and now as a returning older rider wanted something for general commuting and getting about with some small trips capability.  My hopeful purchase has 23k kilometres on the clock and appears in good nick. 
If anyone has any knowledge of areas of special concern to look out for I would appreciate your input.
Many thanks


Saditch

I was going to post in the bench grinder thread but thought we had better leave that and start a new one.

Spose I better start but I dont have anything major but just lots of mild-should of had stitches kind of stuff.
I was in the habit of quickly useing my leg to rest bits of wood 2x3 kind of size to plane (electric) and once sliped off and planed my thy, but luckly just caught the edge of the blades as it sliped off the wood. Thats on one leg.
On the other I got a pipe bending spring stuck inside the pipe i over bent and was pulling it out and extending the spring (resting on my leg) it sliped out my hand and the spring niped my leg, for such a silly stupid thing I have a very nice round scar. So I have a line on one leg and a circle on the other. 

How do u do it how many bolts how long a job.

Hi,

I'm in need of a complete rear caliper for Y reg (2000) 600 fazer if anyone can help, just bought the bike and it was standing and caliper is rotten beyond repair. no luck on ebay
Thanks..

In need of 2 anyone ?

I'm just seeing of there would be any interest in the power tech gp exhaust that's fitted to my gen 1 fazer 1000 it's in excellent condition (practically brand new only been on the bike for a few weeks) stainless steel, comes with the usual stuff, hanging strap, baffle, link pipe and the can, photo below shows the exhaust, so all good offers considered if interested please PM me

After visiting the Arlington National Cemetery with Devilsyam last summer I decided that a trip to France was in order to visit some of the WW2 sites. The original plan was to spend a week in France staying in cheap but comfortable accommodation with a view to visiting 17 historic sites, Due to work commitments and lack of funds this ended up as 4 days camping visiting The American Cemetery, Overload Museum, Site Fortifie Hillman and the German Cemetery.

The ride up to the channel tunnel from Bristol was overcast but the rain held off As we emerged from the train in France we were met by blue skies, A quick fuel stop and we set off to our camp site at Port en Bessin. Five hours later we pulled into the campsite and just had time to pitch the tents, brew a cuppa and eat a pot noodle before the sun set. 438 miles and day 1 over.

After what can only be described as not the best nights sleep ever (cramp in right foot followed by right leg then left leg) I awoke to blue skies After quick shower and a cuppa we set off to visit the American Cemetery. Its hard to put into words the feelings I experienced whilst visiting the American Cemetery, many of the brave soldiers who gave their lives were younger than my oldest boy who was travelling with me. Next it was off to the Overlord museum followed by a blast to Saint Lo for a Mc d's. 136 miles and day 2 over.

I awoke early thanks to the local wildlife (tents have shit sound proofing) so we set off to Site Fortifie Hillman. On the outskirts of Colleville-Montgomery Site Fortifie Hillman was a German defensive command post, The site is situated at the top of a hill with good views in all directions. Comprising underground bunkers that were joined by trenches with gun emplacements its very impressive that this whole site which has 930 cubic meters of concrete is hardly visible. After a spot of lunch we set off for La Cambe to visit the German Cemetery. Compared to the American Cemetery the German Cemetery has a very different feel about it, For one the plaques that lay on the ground don't have the same presence as the bold white crosses also each plaque has two bodies buried beneath it. Originally an American Cemetery from 1945 to 1947 the Cemetery was handed over to the Germans in 1948 after the American bodies were transferred to the new Cemetery or repatriated. 142 miles and day 3 over.

Awakened by the alarm I packed the bike ready for the trip home. With the sun shining we set off with plenty of time to spare. Arriving at Calais with an hour to spare we had time for a burger king Back in the UK two things struck me, First the more congested our roads are and second it was overcast The ride home was uneventful until we reached Chippenham when it decided to piss down. 438 miles and day 4 finished.

All in all a great time and a perfect way to spend a bank holiday weekend

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Unfortunately the inevitable has finally arrived and for the first time in almost 6 years of riding I had my first motorcycle accident today. It wasn't very big at all, I so nearly saved it too but it wasn't to be. Quick run down, riding along some NSL back lanes, it was a fairly tight section. Went to take a right hander, so started to move to the left of the road. All of a sudden, a large car comes belting around the corner and goes wide into my path making me have to swerve and stand the bike up mid corner. From this part, I don't remember a lot other than thinking crap crap crap. I started to brake, ended up on some utter shite gravel/ road debris, lost the front momentarily but let go of brakes and kept bike up somehow but didn't have time to brake hard enough again and ended up hitting a stone wall bridge at a 45 degree angle. I damn near ripped my knee out keeping the bike upright, then got it trapped between the bike and the wall. As painful as it was, it has saved 90% of my bike.


The front fairing is obliterated, really gutted about that. The headlight was also pretty damaged. I somehow lost the screen, literally vanished possibly into the river. Luckily I didn't come off the bike or drop it at all so it is literally just the impact damage that has messed stuff up. I could't turn the bars at first, they were stuck left as the fairing brackets were bent in the way so I bent them back so I could at least go straight and parked in a farmers driveway. I then took stock of the state of the bike and how the damage was. In fairness, it is literally all fine expect the front fairing / headlight and somehow the gear lever was bent. Everything else is completely fine thank God, forks are fine, radiator and engine fine, fuel tank fine no damage at all. I luckily had the tools to repair / strip it at the side of the road and the farmer let me chuck away the damaged bits. I just about got the salvageable parts into a bag / my hoody pocket under my jacket then carefully rode it home. It rode completely fine on the way home, as normal.


Unfortunately I didn't get the car drivers reg number and he did not stop, however it was also partly my fault for probably going a bit too fast. I am half disappointed it has happened, but also fairly glad in a way that it could have been a lot worse and myself and the bike are relatively unscathed. My knee is very painful but apparently it is just some ligament damage that will heal over time.


This has brought me to quite a large crossroads now. I have a spare fairing, but it has a small area of damage. I would need to buy another headlight, screen and infil panels to put the bike back on the road in standard trim. The rest I have salvaged.


Or


I could turn it into a naked, something I wanted to do a long time ago but either couldn't be bothered with the hassle or didn't see the point. One big thing I noticed riding home is the fairing and screen literally direct wind into my head because it was so much nicer without it, but naked 600's can either look awesome or utterly terrible.


Or


Take step 1 and repair back to standard, take off any bells and whistles, then sell the bike and bells and whistles separately and buy a different bike. I am leaning this way quite hard to be honest, which is a shame because I really like the bike but I ride it far too fast half the time as it is so fun and easy. But that's twice this year it has stung me, the front just gives up at a certain point and I think the car distracting me didn't help but I still could have possibly made the corner if I was more confident. I think I will now have lost a lot of confidence in this bike, even once repaired, so want something different. My knee pain that I was already suffering will be a lot worse now too as that's now both knees I have ruined through sport or bike antics. What do you guys think? It is a shame and unlucky in respects, but I hope to learn from my mistake.

..and this..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl...zNEaGfE6Uw

Fitted my new exhaust but had a bit left over. Any owners know what this bit is for?[smg id=1933 type=preview align=center caption="beowulf part"]