fifthwheel

This bike on Ebay inspired me to post in the first place. I thought it looked cheap and am surprised it hasnt sold. Maybe its the time of year or maybe there is only me that likes it. I have just started working on an ER500 1997 ive had a long time and still have a GS400 stored away so I really shouldnt buy another just yet but have a feeling I might regret not buying this one. john Let me know if you need any advice on the ER5 , I've done most jobs in these including an engine swap / build. As for the Yamaha , a US Custom in good condition is a rarity these days so it might have been very well looked after . Thanks for the offer, I started yesterday on the bike, I took a few photos including the mouse nest under the seat. The carbs are rusty and seized there is a lot of rust and corrosion. I have the engine turning over and can hear one cylinder light on compression this might come back after the first start I dont know. I am about to remove the carbs to free them and clean up. To be honest I am still not sure if I should carry on with the restoration or break for spares. Parts list to date and by no means final are tyres, battery, petcock, rear light, fuel hoses, regulator probably and repaint. I have a lot of other jobs/projects to do and am wondering if I should forget this and buy a bike ready to ride.

This bike on Ebay inspired me to post in the first place. I thought it looked cheap and am surprised it hasnt sold. Maybe its the time of year or maybe there is only me that likes it. I have just started working on an ER500 1997 ive had a long time and still have a GS400 stored away so I really shouldnt buy another just yet but have a feeling I might regret not buying this one. john

Thats the one, a cracking looker I wonder why there are not many about were they mainly aimed at the US?

Hi all, I like the look of this bike does anybody have one, are they well thought of, pro's and cons or any advice would be appreciated. thanks, john.

I passed my test last month and have an A licence now. I posted here during my training saying how much I struggled with it but boy am I glad I stuck at it. I am riding my little Yam 125 and although its a great little bike I am now bursting for a big bike. Glad you have decided to go for the full licence you wont regret it believe me.

2012 ybr 125 for sale in red. £850 11700 miles nice little bike, only selling as I have past my test and am buying a bigger bike. Pontefract area West Yorks. EDIT bike now has 12 months MOT. Tested until 02.03.2021. EDIT. BIKE HAS BEEN SOLD, THANK YOU.

Daft question I suppose but are they as clean as new after dry cleaning or will they always have somebody's pong in them?

Ive just passed my test so my Yam YBR 125 is for sale, 2012 in red 11000 miles nice bike £885. Pontefract Yorks.

Congratulations, best book the ferry or tunnel, and get on the bike then - good weather forecast for France next week Ferry booked for Sunday afternoon 15th its a car trip this time, hopefully with my bike next time!!!!

Thanks all for the posts, great news the new licence came in today's post. I passed mod 2 on the 2nd of September so that was quick service from DVLA (today is the 12th) Thanks john.

Better than nothing I suppose but I have gone onto the Gov check licence page and printed my full licence. I have a code the Police could use to give them access to all my licence details online, the same way a driving agency would check. I have emailed myself a copy as well so I can show it on my phone. I have driven in France and Spain since the early eighties and have never had to produce my licence I must have just been lucky, I know it doesn't make this trip right but will see how we go. john

Hi all, I have just passed my mod2 test and would like some advice about driving in France and Spain. The examiner kept my licence and told me the new one would be about three weeks coming back. He did ask me by the way if I wanted him to send it off but a little holiday opportunity has come up and means I will have to leave without the licence. I do have my old one it expired last year, I could take that with a prepared note explaining what has happened in French and Spanish of course. I have looked online but cant find anything related to this at all. Thanks john.

Passed Mod 2 this afternoon, thanks everybody for the help and support. Now for the 1997 ER500 refurb. I put this bike away years ago and have not seen it since, I hope there is enough of it left to refurbish. It has been sitting in a shipping container since maybe 2002/2003. The container is not insulated and has been sweating since then so I don't know what to expect, If its too far gone then it will be up for sale as parts and I will be buying a bike ready to ride. Thanks John.

Been for six hours mod2 training this weekend mod2 test tomorrow Mon 2nd. Had a good day training yesterday, today went badly, made mistakes etc etc. Not looking forward to the test but no turning back now. Will report back tomorrow afternoon. Cheers John.

Good advice above, I like you have a licence for everything apart from track laying vehicles. I took my cbt and only just scraped through that, I found slow riding and balance my biggest problem, then bought a 125cc to get some practice on. I had more than 1000 miles under my belt when I went for mod 1 training, I was getting no better for the training. I have had hour after hour of training on a 650, I got so that I was confident on the 125 but just couldnt master the big heavy bike. I am 72 in a couple of weeks and I started making the excuse that I was just too old to take it in. I went for my mod1 a few weeks ago and failed, I rode too slow through the hazard avoidance I was shit scared of the bike if I am honest. Last Friday I took it for the second time and passed. Long story short stick at it you just can't be as bad as I was, I nearly gave up more than once. I spent hours looking on Youtube at mod 1 vids some are not worth watching some are very good. Looking back it is as so many riders told me its practice practice practice dont let it beat you you will get there in the end. Good luck. john

Passed Mod 1 today guys, it just seemed so easy today I dont know why. 50kph on hazard avoidance. 49kph emergency stop. Mod 2 September 2nd with 9 hrs training in total. Thanks to everybody for the help and support it was really appreciated. john.

Thanks everybody, I have three more hours training this Sunday coming, then next Friday my Mod 1 again. Hoping to nail it this time. What pisses me off is if I am understanding it correctly I could have got four or five minors and still passed. I had a clear round up until the hazard avoidance but failed for 3mph too slow. john

Not seen the bike for some years so had forgotten how the carbs are fed. I was thinking the original tap that gives trouble could be unscrewed from the tank and replaced with a simple on/off tap. Thanks for explaining john

British standard pipe (BSP) I was asking as I have some BSP fuel taps from years back. As the bike is Jap made most of us think it would be metric but worldwide BSP hasn't died out yet. I have worked on Hitachi excavators with British threads. I have an ER5 I am starting to refurb but cant get to it yet too much junk in the way. john. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Standard_Pipe

Sorry to jump on the thread but does anybody know if the tank has a BSP thread or is it metric?

Ive just bought this one listed on ebay not received it yet its supposed to be waterproof. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Waterproof-Motorcycle-Back-Pack-Bag-Motorbike-Ruck-Sack-Case-RRP-49-99/264287353451?hash=item3d88

Feeling a lot more confident now thanks, it does seem bloody fast riding up to the hazard at 50 clicks.

Hi all, failed the MOD test. The parts of the test I was worrying about went well but I failed on riding too slow on the hazard avoidance. I was 3.125 mph too slow. Booked in for the 16th of Aug hoping for better luck next time. john.

Thanks all for the advice, MOD 1 this afternoon!

Have had nine more hours of training this week for my Mod 1. I dropped the bike on the figure of eight I was riding very slowly but it was still dropped. That was Tuesday, Thursday more training, six hours in total. Today Saturday three more hrs, two at the DSA compound and one hour travelling to and from DSA. My test is next Wednesday and I am not very confident to say the very least. There are two of us doing the training a young fella in his twenties and this old skin at seventy one. He is doing very well and I can see he will have no problem next week, although I must say I might be a little better on the road but in the compound I am having real problems balancing a big bike. Also to get up to speed for the emergency stop and hazard avoidance is a problem for me as I feel like I am doing sixty mph in a compound, just feels too fast. I am fine on my little 125 and I think I could do the Mod 1 on that bike with confidence, its just the big bike is too much for me too soon. If the test next week goes bad I think I will borrow my sons Blackbird and get some slow riding practice on it for a few weeks and try again. Its a bike he bought for the engine a few years ago he isn't too worried if I drop it but obviously I want to avoid that if I can, I have had enough bruising this week to last me a while. Sorry for the long post. john.