Editing Yamaha XV500/reviews
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engine. Lower seat, lower price, proven looks and engineering, it's bound to | engine. Lower seat, lower price, proven looks and engineering, it's bound to | ||
work. | work. | ||
And so it does, but with some reservations. | And so it does, but with some reservations. | ||
They have little to do with the | They have little to do with the | ||
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the tighter angle allows a shorter wheelbase with room for suspension | the tighter angle allows a shorter wheelbase with room for suspension | ||
travel, etc. | travel, etc. | ||
The same applies to the Yamaha's | The same applies to the Yamaha's | ||
other two 70° Vees, the Vision 550 Twin and the Venture 1200 Four. Except | other two 70° Vees, the Vision 550 Twin and the Venture 1200 Four. Except | ||
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gears to the rear wheel. The engine spins in the same direction as the | gears to the rear wheel. The engine spins in the same direction as the | ||
wheels. | wheels. | ||
Two 23mm Mikuni CV downdraft | Two 23mm Mikuni CV downdraft | ||
carbs are positioned between the cylinders. Along with the carbs there is a | carbs are positioned between the cylinders. Along with the carbs there is a | ||
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but more widely spaced intake pulses are stored and reinforced in a | but more widely spaced intake pulses are stored and reinforced in a | ||
container now popularly known as a boost bottle. | container now popularly known as a boost bottle. | ||
For the Virago 500, Yamaha uses | |||
another form of YICS, this one shared with the 550 Vision. Because a V-Twin | |||
For the Virago 500, Yamaha uses another form of YICS, this one shared with the 550 Vision. Because a V-Twin has an irregular firing order the Virago's secondary ports aren't connected. | has an irregular firing order the Virago's secondary ports aren't connected. | ||
Instead each cylinder has its own chamber in a YICS tank, connected by a | Instead each cylinder has its own chamber in a YICS tank, connected by a | ||
passageway leading to the intake port just above the intake valve. When the | passageway leading to the intake port just above the intake valve. When the | ||
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sump, exhaust system with an expansion box (located just behind and below | sump, exhaust system with an expansion box (located just behind and below | ||
the engine), dual mufflers. | the engine), dual mufflers. | ||
The engine is a stressed member | |||
of the frame, and there are no downtubes or engine cradle tubes. The four | |||
The engine is a stressed member of the frame, and there are no downtubes or engine cradle tubes. The four forward | forward cyk inder studs extend above the cylinder head and attach to a plate | ||
suspended from the frame's backbone. That backbone is formed of stamped | suspended from the frame's backbone. That backbone is formed of stamped | ||
steel plates, welded together in box section and curving from steering stem | steel plates, welded together in box section and curving from steering stem | ||
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tube on the top and the footpeg carriers on the bottom. The swing arm pivots | tube on the top and the footpeg carriers on the bottom. The swing arm pivots | ||
in tapered roller bearings. | in tapered roller bearings. | ||
The leading-axle non-adjustable | The leading-axle non-adjustable | ||
forks have 36mm stanchion tubes held by a steel lower triple clamp and an | forks have 36mm stanchion tubes held by a steel lower triple clamp and an | ||
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11.75 in. disc is used for the front brake and a 7.1 in. drum is used in | 11.75 in. disc is used for the front brake and a 7.1 in. drum is used in | ||
back. | back. | ||
Because the lowest part of the teardrop-shaped gas tank is lower than the | Because the lowest part of the teardrop-shaped gas tank is lower than the | ||
carburetor float bowls, an electric fuel pump is used to feed the carbs. The | carburetor float bowls, an electric fuel pump is used to feed the carbs. The | ||
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can reduce evaporative emissions, which will be controlled on California | can reduce evaporative emissions, which will be controlled on California | ||
motorcycles in 1984. | motorcycles in 1984. | ||
Instruments include a 120-mph | |||
speedometer and a 10,000 rpm electric tach (redline is 8500 rpm), with a | |||
Instruments include a 120-mph speedometer and a 10,000 rpm electric tach (redline is 8500 rpm), with a | |||
simple row of warning lights positioned below the instrument faces. Those | simple row of warning lights positioned below the instrument faces. Those | ||
lights indicate turn signal and high-beam use, low oil level and neutral | lights indicate turn signal and high-beam use, low oil level and neutral | ||
selection. There isn't a fuel gauge; the gas tank petcock has a reserve | selection. There isn't a fuel gauge; the gas tank petcock has a reserve | ||
position. | position. | ||
Comes now a persuasive case for simplicity. Because the two are very | Comes now a persuasive case for simplicity. Because the two are very | ||
different motorcycles from the same factory, the Virago 500 and Vision 550 | different motorcycles from the same factory, the Virago 500 and Vision 550 | ||
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run to the red-line in every gear, the power delivery strong and steady with | run to the red-line in every gear, the power delivery strong and steady with | ||
an extra kick of bhp above 6000 rpm. | an extra kick of bhp above 6000 rpm. | ||
The 500 is more willing to rev | The 500 is more willing to rev | ||
quickly than the larger Viragos and stays smoother in the process. The 500 | quickly than the larger Viragos and stays smoother in the process. The 500 | ||
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note, muffled on the 500 but there just the same, the off-cadence beat that | note, muffled on the 500 but there just the same, the off-cadence beat that | ||
says, well, motorcycle. | says, well, motorcycle. | ||
Some notes on smoothness, or maybe on size: We have all read and heard at | Some notes on smoothness, or maybe on size: We have all read and heard at | ||
great length about counterbalancers, rubber mounts, offset crankpins, frames | great length about counterbalancers, rubber mounts, offset crankpins, frames | ||
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more than a reminder of an engine at work. No problem here, the mirrors even | more than a reminder of an engine at work. No problem here, the mirrors even | ||
remain clear at cruising speed. | remain clear at cruising speed. | ||
The Virago 500 is also a narrow engine, just 13.5 in. across, and the | The Virago 500 is also a narrow engine, just 13.5 in. across, and the | ||
combination of narrowness, light weight and the broad powerband encourages | combination of narrowness, light weight and the broad powerband encourages | ||
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motorcycle than a 450 or 400 and seeming incredibly light compared to most | motorcycle than a 450 or 400 and seeming incredibly light compared to most | ||
550s, especially 550s with Inline Four engines. | 550s, especially 550s with Inline Four engines. | ||
The light weight and short | The light weight and short | ||
wheelbase make the Virago nimble, good for cornering, and make it more | wheelbase make the Virago nimble, good for cornering, and make it more | ||
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Speaking of trade-offs, we've arrived at the Virago 500's downside. It began | Speaking of trade-offs, we've arrived at the Virago 500's downside. It began | ||
back on the drawing board, when the Virago 500 was scaled down. | back on the drawing board, when the Virago 500 was scaled down. | ||
The cruiser look began as a | The cruiser look began as a | ||
chopper look and choppers were originally built from Really Big Twins. Low | chopper look and choppers were originally built from Really Big Twins. Low | ||
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This works up to a point; the [[Yamaha XS1100]] and [[Honda CB1000C]], for example, can be cruised and ridden while the Honda 650 Night-hawk has cruiser elements while still being fine | This works up to a point; the [[Yamaha XS1100]] and [[Honda CB1000C]], for example, can be cruised and ridden while the Honda 650 Night-hawk has cruiser elements while still being fine | ||
in daily use. | in daily use. | ||
The Virago 500, though, doesn't have the wheelbase or any of the other | The Virago 500, though, doesn't have the wheelbase or any of the other | ||
distances to be both a cruiser and a good place on which to go riding. | distances to be both a cruiser and a good place on which to go riding. | ||
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because the control pods are shaped to follow the handlebar contours, makes | because the control pods are shaped to follow the handlebar contours, makes | ||
it harder to reach the controls with the thumb. | it harder to reach the controls with the thumb. | ||
The horn button, for example, is | The horn button, for example, is | ||
tucked down and inward on the left control pod, and the one time one rider | tucked down and inward on the left control pod, and the one time one rider | ||
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during long rides, and the one-position-only seat didn't help riders avoid | during long rides, and the one-position-only seat didn't help riders avoid | ||
feeling cramped. Those are the prices of the Virago's style. | feeling cramped. Those are the prices of the Virago's style. | ||
The hornor, more correctly, the | The hornor, more correctly, the | ||
hornsare loud enough when the button is finally located. The headlight was | hornsare loud enough when the button is finally located. The headlight was | ||
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a turn, and it took prodding and poking at the switch before the signals lit | a turn, and it took prodding and poking at the switch before the signals lit | ||
again. | again. | ||
The Virago's brakes are good enough, being very controllable throughout our | The Virago's brakes are good enough, being very controllable throughout our | ||
stopping tests. From 60 mph, the bike needed 119 ft. to stop; from 30 mph, | stopping tests. From 60 mph, the bike needed 119 ft. to stop; from 30 mph, | ||
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expensive as well. The flip side of that is that the Virago isn't as quick | expensive as well. The flip side of that is that the Virago isn't as quick | ||
or fast at the dragstrip. | or fast at the dragstrip. | ||
The Virago is fun to ride, feels | The Virago is fun to ride, feels | ||
light and agile, sounds neat, gets good gas mileage. It also compromises | light and agile, sounds neat, gets good gas mileage. It also compromises | ||
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deter riders who don't care for that look, yet perhaps too conservative to | deter riders who don't care for that look, yet perhaps too conservative to | ||
appeal to hard-core cruiser fans. | appeal to hard-core cruiser fans. | ||
The Virago is indeed a motorcycle in the middle, good as it may be. | The Virago is indeed a motorcycle in the middle, good as it may be. Q | ||
Source Cycle World 1983 | Source Cycle World 1983 |