Phil1

Fitted. Sounds and looks good.

That's the plan anyway, not too fussed for loads of noise but more to make the bike look slightly more modern. The massive 90s bean tin style exhaust lets the bike down a bit in my opinion.

It does have a BSAU193/A mark on it, which seems to relate to "The Motor Cycle Silencer and Exhaust Systems Regulations 1995" so I'm assuming it has been tested to be road legal, plus it does say on the advert that it's road legal.

Got myself an aftermarket exhaust for my SV650. The plan was to fit it and then put the original one back on for the MOT each time. Since getting it though I've realised it needs the original exhaust cutting out to fit the new one so it's not that straightforward. What's the usual craic with taking a bike for an MOT with an aftermarket exhaust on it? Is it testers discretion etc? Does anyone else have an aftermarket on and have bother come MOT time? It does come with a baffle which I did plan on leaving in anyway.

I'd throw some amount of caution with that one. It's easy to adjust it too far and not have the clutch fully engaged even when it's released, you'll ruin the clutch in no time.

Ensure you've got the angle of the lever right too, if you're having to twist your wrist all the way back it will soon become painful. It might just need angling further down. Check full lock to lock afterwards too to make sure you don't move it to a position where cables/hoses are rubbing on anything.

Another option if you're really struggling is to cut the face of the sprocket down one side with a grinder, just away from the output shaft, it'll significantly weaken it and allow it to be split and just pull straight off. Like the image, and if you're really really struggling then do both sides

Superb, well done. The ride home without the headset on is the best isn't it Go steady, build up the miles and ride exactly as if you were on your test at all times and you won't go far wrong.

Doh, just ordered a new exhaust for the sv650. I'd been looking around for a while and settled on a GRmoto one. I thought about a second hand one but they're like rocking horse doo doo for an 04 model. They're reasonably priced and look half decent, much better than stock for my 04 with it's 90s style massive bean tin. Just had a browse on eBay and they've got 20% off everything in thier shop so it was a done deal

Just had some road 6s fitted to my sv650. Can't comment though really as it's not turned a wheel yet

Yep, still live in Yorkshire. Those were the days when I was too young to drive/ride, but I'd often go pillion or in the car. Got my own bike now, but it's been out of use for about 18 months due to a busy family life. It's ready for its MOT though now so hoping to get out and about again this year. Be nice to get back out to the devils bridge, hawes, seaways etc.

Bit of a nostalgia post, but I remember fondly going with my dad in the 90s and to different bike shops, one of the main ones being in Shipley near Bradford. The place was always teaming on a Saturday afternoon with people going there just to catch up and have a wander around, no real intention of buying anything as such. It was that busy that they had a chuck wagon there just to feed people. Obviously the place itself never batted an eyelid about the amount of footfall and lack of spending as it would now and again bring some purchases and looking busy was still a good thing. It seems to me as times gone on that there seems to be much fewer independent bike shops about, they all seem to be big warehouse type places now. And am I right in saying that Saturday afternoon social sessions seem to have massively dwindled?

That's exactly where I go, but they don't work Saturdays anymore, hence the problem. I start work early (6am) so starting later isn't really viable as it wouldn't be worth going in by the time cali opens. I think I'll just have to book a half day and work in the morning and take it straight from home in the afternoon. I'll still need to call for fuel though, but surely that can't be an issue in terms of the rozzers, and it'll be on the way.

It's in the middle of Dewsbury. It's riddled with anpr cameras, and drive past a police station. That said I probably see an anpr equipped traffic/panda car once every 6 months. I'll be honest I think I'd struggle to make the journey without passing a lamppost mounted anpr camera

I suppose there could have been a priority of safety involved. The idea that you've pulled out and caused someone to brake heavily will have been decided to have been much more dangerous than breaking the speed limit. As a learner you're always taught to never break the speed limit, and this will no doubt have been weighing heavy on your mind in the split second decision you made. A brief excursion over the speed limit is not generally something an examiner would have been able to pick up on though and you could have gradually backed off again once with the flow of traffic. The car test is very much different and you've got someone sat next to you, looking at the speedo. On the bike it's a little more difficult for them to judge your speed, but he/she will have been perfectly placed to see the van having to brake heavily and thought it looked awful from thier point of view. At least you didn't have another learner pull out in front of you in the test centre and pull the brakes too hard and drop the bike before you'd even got out the complex. I've no idea which idiot did that . The other rider with us for his test also dropped his bike, but as he was out on the road the examiner deemed him to have failed from that point and no longer under his responsibility so had to leave him at the side of the road. What a git. Not a good day for us. I passed second time. Don't let it get to you.

Bike is currently SORN/untaxed, uninsured and hasn't got an MOT. I'm wanting to get out on it this year so need to hatch a plan to get it back road legal. Insurance is obviously no issue and can be done at any time. Tax can't be done till it's got a valid MOT. MOT for me is a bit of a pain as the place I've always gone to, and trust, doesn't open Saturdays anymore. The plan is, is to ride it to work in the (early) morning ( the dodgy bit) and then take it for it's pre-booked mot from there in the afternoon on my way home and tax it while I'm there online. What's the likelyhood of having any issues in the morning?

Anyone found those big wind deflectors, or handlebar mounted muff things any good?

I've also got the gerbing gloves. When I was learning, one of the lessons I started early morning and the yard at bumpy in West Yorkshire was like an ice rink, could barely stand up and I thought to myself there's no way we'll be out today. Not a chance, we were out and within about 20 mins my hands were completely dead. I honestly could have cried when they started to come back to life again. It was one of the most horrific rides of my life and I hated every minute of it. Almost certainly not safe either. Once I'd passed my test I got some gerbing under gloves and they're fabulous. They're a bit of a pain to get on the bike initially as you've got to get used to doing everything in a set order otherwise you'll forget to plug something in. They can go very hot, but I don't like the feeling of actual heat on my hands as they just end up getting sweaty, just keeping them at a normal temp is perfect for me. They run off the bike battery so you're good for as long as you can ride for essentially.

Yeah I do tend to cover the front brake too with very light pressure, but usually let the back do most of it. Like I say, I'm ususually fine with most hills going up or down, but it's those really steep ones that I don't like, which are often switchback/hairpins too so there's a fair element of steering having to be done also. I do grip the tank with my legs and try and keep my arms as loose as possible, but it's very difficult. It's an SV650 so it's very much a lent forward position at the best of times, without being tipped forwards even more. Got some new tyres on recently which might help a bit, as he did say the combination previously wasn't the best, I don't think it'll help "that" much though. Maybe I just need more practice with them and just put myself out of my comfort zone more, rather than trying to avoid them. I do particually enjoy the solitude of those single track roads in the middle of nowehere though so I'm probably more likely to come across them than those who stick to faster A/B roads.

Been riding for a few years now, had a few years off and going back into it again..... The one thing that seems to strike the fear of dread into me is hills. Going up, there's no issues at all, going down usually I'm fine. There are though, those few hills up in the dales that seem to set the sweat going down my back. How do you guys deal with really steep hills? I'm talking hard knots pass, wrynose, Brootes lane type of thing? 25%- I just tend to end up in first gear, keep my foot planted on the rear and hold on for dear life even though it sometimes feels like I'm going over the handlebars. Often ill just be at a crawling pace, much slower than I'd ever go in the car.

Check them more often too. A drop down to 12psi suggests a slow puncture, leaky valve or rim. I had some tyres on my sv650 that probably lost about 5 psi over 5 years.

Another point to make, leathers are far more likely to be one piece, which while riding is fine, but we all like to stop now and again for a brew or two at a cafe, unfortunately with a one piece suit on you often have a bit of a "power ranger" look. Textiles are far more break friendly and easy enough just to take your jacket off and throw over the bike. I agree overall leathers are still probably the gold standard for protection when (if) you fall off. I'd rather be warm, dry and comfortable in winter and adequately ventilated in summer, with the flexibility to remove layers easily when you stop. They're just 90% more practical overall.

I would think a good wash with some snow foam would break down most of it.

Thermostat changed yesterday and it's reduced the warm up time massively. Thermostat change was a massive pig to do though! Had to lift the tank, take out the air box underneath with all it's associated connectors/breather pipes and even then it was difficult to access in the V of the engine underneath all the throttle body gubbins. Then to refill with coolant I pretty much had to take off the front of the bike just to get to the fill cap on the top of the radiator. You'd think something you'd need to check occasionally would be easier to access. Next job is an oil change and decide when I can get over for the tyres changing.

Cheers, yes I did read that they are better with some heavier oil. Doesn't look too difficult to change the oil really. I've stripped the brakes, done the seals etc. I've got a paddock stand for the back and I think I used my jack somewhere on the front to get both wheels off the deck.