Hi folks

After a little help if anyone can, i love this bike and its started giving me a load of problems this last few weeks. I had a nasty fall of it, a bus had broken down and dumped its steering oil all over the roundabout and i came along and boom. Insurance wont proceed so i was left to fix my bike. I did the repairs and all was good but two things have sprung up in quick tandem

Coming home yesterday my bike kept cutting out, i had a screw driver on me so i just tried turning up the idle and opened the choke a little too get me home. Investigating today i find this.

1379406_10202206196100031_570515246_n.jpg

Now i have no issues buying another one of these but reading the forums ive noticed a few others post this part as failing. Im wondering is there any aftermarket mod that would get rid of this. most bikes just have a pipe and jubilee clips. Seems if something works dont change it hay

And second im noticing in 5th gear a sound that sounds like the clutch is slipping. Or a really noisey baring. But it only does it under load, ie me and at speed. i cant replicate it traveling slowly, and as i slow down it eventually disappears. letting off the throttle or pulling the clutch in doesnt stop it. its only when the bike physically slows down. An it doesnt do it all the time...?? IT seems to only be after i have been at top speed fora period of time. if i cruise round town in and out of 5th it doesnt do it. but if i join the express way and get up to 50 ish it starts.

Thank-you for your help and look forward too giving you my experiences with this bike.