dm_johnson@manana.DEC (10/27/85)
> My first thought was new '82 Vision, but: > >(1) I learned to ride on a Honda CB125, and the first time I tried a low-speed >turn on a friend's Vision I dumped it. Does it just take practice to manage >a heavier bike? How much? You will adapt fairly quickly. All you need is some experience. A week and you will be fine. I owned a cb550 before my vision and the found the Vision cg MUCH lower. Also the seat is lower to the ground. On the 550 I could only touch tippy toes without getting off the seat. On the vision I sit on the seat and my heels touch the ground. >(3) One dealer claimed that the Visions have had a number of maintenance >problems (he didn't go into detail) and instead recommended the '82 550 Seca, >which is listed at $1699, is 68 pounds lighter than the Vision, is an inline >four instead of a twin, is air-cooled and chain driven. Is the Seca really >as nice a bike as the Vision? I have a vision. The early ones apparently have an alternator problem. I burned mine at 7K. On the other hand Yamaha did the right thing and replaced it for me after owning it 2 years. Anotherwards, a long time out of warranty. Also the very early ones had a carburator problem that was supposed to be cleaned up on the later ones. The 68 pounds difference you will never notice. On the other hand the shaft drive you will notice. Stock chains are like stock tires..... they don't last as long as they should. Proper replacements are much better. And most chain owners replace the chain when they should be replacing the sprockets as well as the chain. Note the extra expense of the sockets. And most new riders do a terrible job of keeping the chain lubricated. >(4) Is a 550 to big for a first bike? Should I be looking at something in the >250-400 range? Are there any good new old model bikes in that range? I personally believe a 500cc bike is the right one. I started out with a 350cc 4 cyl. I weighed 195 lbs at the time and would run into situations where a combination of wind and hill would have the throttle wide open and just barely holding ground. When I moved to the 550 I had a comfortable bike with the right amount of power for commuting or touring. I never have gone up to the 750s. For single touring I never needed it. As for touring I've done at least one 3k tour on the vision and was comfortable all the way. Dennis Johnson
david@tekig5.UUCP (David Hayes) (10/30/85)
First bike, hmmmm, My recommendation for a first bike would be at least a 400-450cc machine of no more than about 5 years old. The only gripe I have for small bikes is along with the engine being small, so is the bike. No doubt one of the first things you will want to do is take a friend along, and the 200 or 250 or 305 will not give you enough power to get out of peoples way. Another thing is that I doubt you will want to scoot around all day at 9000 rpm to get any power, or at least until your fillings fall out. Being from this great land of excess, my first bike was and is a 850 Suzuki, full dress. Granted it is not super trivial to do figure 8's in the garage, but the comfort is super. Plus, you don't ever need to rev over 5000 rpm, so you don't get this feeling of over taxing your new toy. If you do want to pull to the 9 grand redline, you will find it absolutely amazing why you would need 11 sec 1/4 miles. I think my bike might crack 13 flat on a good day, fairing and all. The best advice would be to test ride as many bikes as you can borrow, steal, or act like you're really going to buy. My choices would include: the venerable 550cc Kawasaki UJM, probably find a new 83 around for 1500-2000$ 500-650 Honda Silverwing, zero maint. water cooled shafty 650cc Honda, the old SOHC, still produced up until a coupla years ago. 550-650 Suzuki in line fours, the newer 650's has triple disks, air forks, shaft drive, lots of goodies. There was one Yamahammer I liked and that was the 650cc shafty Euro style bike (not the Maxim cruiser) very clean, 8 inch ROUND headlight, inline four, not many left around but I think there are still a few new ones for darn good prices. Well enough of this, dave