dbp@dataio.UUCP (Dave Pellerin) (06/21/85)
Hey all you NetCycleOids: I am considering picking up a 'new' (1982 zero miles overstock...) Yamahaha Vision 550 (V-twin, water cooled, shaft). Does anybody have first (or second) hand info on the reliability, ridability, etc. of these things? How does it compare in performance to my aged CB550? They are asking $1595 for them, and there seems to a lot of them still available. I'm curious if they didn't sell just because they are kinda ugly, or if there is another reason. Dave Pellerin ..uw-beaver!entropy!dataio!dbp
corwin@ut-ngp.UTEXAS (Corwin, Lord of Amber) (06/24/85)
Dave-
First off, let me say that I don't think the XZ550RJ 1982 Yamaha Vision
is ugly. As a matter of fact, I like the lack of fins on the cylinder
covers. Enough of that...
I've has my Vision for about a year now and it has ~8000 miles on it. These
are mostly city miles although I have been from Austin to: Houston, San
Antinio, Victoria, and Port Arthur Texas. So far the only non-routine maint.
item has been the replacement of one oil seal in the rear end. The bike has
never failed to start or quit on me. All together it's been a very reliable
machine. The engine still runs very (!) smoothly and quietly.
As far as rideablility goes, I find it a very comfortable machine to ride even
on longer trips. The longest ride I've done was about 350 miles covered in
the course of six hours. The aftermath of the ride was a little soreness in
the shoulders but nothing bad enough to keep me from getting back on the next
day. On the highway I get 48 mpg, in the city it's about the same. Next
month I plan to go to Denver, CO with a stop overnight in Amarillo, I'll
be interested to see how a longer trip goes.
One performance problem which people often spend time flaming about is the
presence of a "dead spot" in the power band. There is one at about 3000 rpm
in 2nd gear on my machine. The reasons I noticed it are 1) so many people
have mentioned it to me, and 2) it's finally become pronounced enough for
me to notice it on my own. The cure for this is to keep the carbs in tune.
All it takes is a vacuum guage and a small crescent wrench - not a lot of
special machinery - to make an adjustment which is explained in the shop
manual.
If you need any further info., I'll be glad to answer your questions. Also,
_CYCLE_ magazine has an extensive review of the Vision in their March 1982
issue. Check your local library, they're often availible on microfilm.
Happy Riding!
--
-Off into Shadow
Corwin, Lord of Amber
...!ihnp4!ut-ngp!corwin
"Well you're DEAD now, so SHUT UP!!!"