Whenever you go to get a new rear tire put on your bike have the mechanic (or yourself) take off the front cover of the shaft drive housing and lube the splines from the drive shaft to the pinion gear shaft. There is a splined sheeve that mates the two together. There is no mention of this in the service manuals as far as general maintenance.
The sheeve and pinion gear splines will strip themselves out entirely. You put the bike in gear, the shaft spins...and nothing else. I just saw my second one this week and it is expensive! Let me know if anyone needs more info.
To all XVS65 Owners
To all XVS65 Owners
CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE REGULARLY!!!
- SilveradoGirl
- Veteran
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- Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2005 3:39 pm
- Sex: Male
- Location: North Central Wisconsin
How often should this be done? I mean I got an 05 classic last year, brand new. Is it something I should have checked out, did Yamaha foget to do it, or is it just a suggestion to have it looked at when tire is replaced?
Spent a lot of money on the bike, now you got me concerned
Spent a lot of money on the bike, now you got me concerned

SilveradoGirl--
**Your ride doesn't matter.... the fact that you DO ride is what's important!**
**Your ride doesn't matter.... the fact that you DO ride is what's important!**
Just ask the techs to do it whenever you have the rear tire changed. The whole shaft drive/Rear tire comes off as assy. when doing tire changes on this bike. Having it lubed then will be plenty, no not concern yourself too much with this as long as you do it then. I have only seen failures in high mileage bikes when it was never lubed. So don't stress about it and have fun riding!
CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE REGULARLY!!!
- flynrider
- Legendary 2000
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- Years Riding: 30
- My Motorcycle: '93 Honda Nighthawk 750
- Location: Phoenix, AZ
I have seen numerous reports around the net of V-Stars with spline damage. Most within the warranty period, although some that didn't ride much and were out of warranty, were taken care of by Yamaha.
Apparently, there was a problem at the factory and a lot of bikes rolled out with inadequately lubed splines. Most of the problems I've heard of were on the '04 and '05 bikes and the drivelines failed at around 12,000 miles.
Apparently, there was a problem at the factory and a lot of bikes rolled out with inadequately lubed splines. Most of the problems I've heard of were on the '04 and '05 bikes and the drivelines failed at around 12,000 miles.
Bikin' John
'93 Honda CB750 Nighthawk
'93 Honda CB750 Nighthawk
- old-n-slow
- Legendary 300
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Yamaha has had issues with improperly lubed shafts/splines for some time now. If you have a bike still on warranty I recommend that you be sure to have the splines checked and lubed before the warranty runs out. Maybe it costs you a bit but far better that then to have to replace the shot parts in the rear end. That’ll cost you a lot more……..
If your bike is not on warranty, best you look at it right away, you might save a bundle. If the splines have been properly lubed then you will be good for another 20,000 or so............
If your bike is not on warranty, best you look at it right away, you might save a bundle. If the splines have been properly lubed then you will be good for another 20,000 or so............
GarryS ---- "We learn from experience that men never learn anything from experience."
Another item to check...
Periodically check the tightness of the speedo cable at the front wheel and at the meter. Seen MANY come loose.
Yamaha even sent out a notice to dealers telling us to double-check at PDI's.
AND...
Rear spokes. Check these every so often as well. Just tap on them with something metal. If it has a "ring" it is good. If it sounds "flat" tighten it up.
Of course check the front also. Its just that I have seen a handful of these come in with the customer complaining of a vibration and find ALL the spokes in the rear loose.
And has everyone had their Seat Recall done??? Look at your passenger seat nut. If it is a 10mm bolt, then it has not. If it is a 14mm nut, it has. Yamaha said there were a few cases of the seats becoming loose and falling off. I can honestly say I never once saw one loose. But one incident can cause a factory recall campaign.
Periodically check the tightness of the speedo cable at the front wheel and at the meter. Seen MANY come loose.
Yamaha even sent out a notice to dealers telling us to double-check at PDI's.
AND...
Rear spokes. Check these every so often as well. Just tap on them with something metal. If it has a "ring" it is good. If it sounds "flat" tighten it up.
Of course check the front also. Its just that I have seen a handful of these come in with the customer complaining of a vibration and find ALL the spokes in the rear loose.
And has everyone had their Seat Recall done??? Look at your passenger seat nut. If it is a 10mm bolt, then it has not. If it is a 14mm nut, it has. Yamaha said there were a few cases of the seats becoming loose and falling off. I can honestly say I never once saw one loose. But one incident can cause a factory recall campaign.
CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE REGULARLY!!!