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Difference between revisions of "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 | |||
has an irregular firing order the Virago's secondary ports aren't connected. | 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. | ||
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 | |||
forward | The engine is a stressed member of the frame, and there are no downtubes or engine cradle tubes. The four forward cylinder 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 | ||