Hello to all new and the old ones.....
I don't know what to do guys.... really....
http://www.gg.pl/dysk/1K81Di-Sl8gb1a81Di-S4-c/IMG_20141019_120349.jpg
http://www.gg.pl/dysk/YbdU45s6aqUbYLdU45s6Hoo/IMG_20141019_120355.jpg
http://www.gg.pl/dysk/mAD5QeZCwZkbmQD5QeZCtbY/IMG_20141019_120402.jpg
http://www.gg.pl/dysk/O01eMCMisNYbOk1eMCMixPk/IMG_20141019_120413.jpg
You are quite aware of what the thing is.... and the story goes like that.
Just a while ago some young guy (17 years old) wrote on my messenger, if I was perhaps Mr Pawel.... yeah what is it my friend??? Did you once ride this bike???
Helll.... it was ten years ago that I sold it to someone I thought quite reasonable... I got a shock.... yeah indeed, I once rode it.... so here it is.
What's the story, she didn't have luck with the new owner as you see, sold it with 65kkm and now it shows 71kkm.... the young guy bought it from a friend of his..... whereas his friend saved it from the hands of the guy who bough it from me. I was said the talk was like that... either you take it or I'll scrap it, need some place for my new Ducati, 5 minutes to make up your mind.
So the guy was given it free, and then he sold her to the young one who wrote to me just a while ago, and the latter one got my CD with it... and the number of my messenger and just he writes... I got some more pictures, looks as if the 83 is still there and looks sharp...
http://www.gg.pl/dysk/-dhHDZH7Xz8b-NhHDZH7KxA/IMG_20141020_205957.jpg
looks as if I had cleaned it not that long ago..... the Mac is still there... he even fired her up and she talks without any knock....
Would you be willing to have it back... how much?
150 bucks with all the stuff around and a new fender and a cowl....
I don't know what to do guys... 700 kms away from me.... lost my job not that long ago, I earn 150 bucks a month now....
Economics always rule my heart, especially when I'm out of work. If it were free and local I'd say to take it, but if it costs a month's unemployment check and it's 700 km from home, well, it will cost you even more to drag it all home... money you don't have right now. Let her go.... There will be other opportunities in the future.
Good luck finding a job too.
Scott
And it runs! Decisions, decisions, what to do.
I'd like to have almost all my old bikes back - but that's only because I only remember the good bits. There was a reason I got rid of them but I forget and they all seem cool now. It can also be disappointing to get your old bike back and see all your hard work ruined through neglect and incompetence.
Even so, the XZ is a great bike if you put some work in. Hard to spend with no work, but having had some long periods without myself I found that you need some projects to keep you motivated. You can't spend all day looking for work and cleaning the house. $150 is a bargain, it won't be the end of it though, how much for even just oil change and filter? half that much again? and waht if it needs a TCI unit?
Of course you could always just clean it, park it up and do any major mechanicals after you are working again.
You see, I sold it because I needed money for a car to commute to university, the bike never let me down, I bought it seized when I was 17 myself and repaired it.
Now I think not only about myself but also about my nephew, still, he likes it more than the new bikes around, however, you are more right with "the price of oil", which will probably grow even three times as much on the way...
Its still a sharp bike, but its been dropped hard, so there is quite a bit to spend on it with repairs, new tank paint etc. Offer him 50 bucks as a finders fee and be ready to walk away. He's got a new Ducati. You've got no job. A 1400 km round trip is no small expense. Or maybe do it as a project WITH your nephew (with him paying) and not for your nephew. A lifetime of memories come from stuff such as that
And, I am sure there are other projects waiting to be done around the house for which your significant other would be grateful.
Good luck!
Guys, I have no problem in skills and workshop:
http://ridersofvision.net/rovforum/index.php?topic=14676.msg134999#msg134999
Money is something different, as you say, can I afford another toy? However, it is not meant to be bought for me, after all I would buy it for my nephew and he is 16 and rides the am6 Derby now. With this in mind, I could just buy it and even keep it and wait for a while for the money to come. It would be a long project so no problem. But still.. how can I be sure my nephew will be willing to look at her when he is let's say 21, now he is saying he wants it, because there are so many memories with this bike, he still remembers riding on the tank
http://www.gg.pl/dysk/3bHFYoHf9LcQ3LHFYoHf57Q/20141021_153259.jpg
but who knows, he is still young and I have been observing him, He is not that perserverant as I was at his age, he says one thing now and does sth still different later.... ??? and I think, there is a possibility that the bike will finally become my another toy, and this I am afraid of. Anyway, yesterday I got a message that the starter died, I told them not to crank her too hard because it stood for too long, and would be just better to bump-start her at first but they did not listen and I must say... it touched me ;D
The bike does not look that bad for my skills and I am still considering.... I think I am not going to bargain because I couldn't possibly do it with the 17 year old boy who tells me he just wants to get his pocket money back and he is not able to fix her and for this price, probably some scrap scavengers will take her and you know....
Still, yesterday I visited traffic departament because the bike still has my registration plates, they tell me no problem, I don't even have to inform them or whatever that I am buying, I just only need to buy a new insurance and that's all....
PS.
It is not the ducati guy that is selling (the ducati guy bought it from me 10 years ago, had an accident and did not repair it, anyway I phoned the ducati guy yesterday (managed to find him on his blog) and he is happy I found it. He told me about the accident and indeed the bike run for another 6000km since his purchase and for the rest of time it stood still. The guy who is selling is the one who bought the bike from one of the ducati guy's friends. The bike changed owners at least 4 times and each time it was always given free with the exception of the 17 year old one who contacted me on my messenger and just wants to withdraw his investement. He had the documentation on the CD I once made and sold to LUCKY (the admin of this forum), so if you ever bought the CD from LUCKY, there is a chance that a big part of the material there is mine (manuals converted to pdfs is my job). So very kind of him to contact me...
I hope it is clear now...
Well, LUCKY.
:D
Lucky is not the Admin of this Forum. That would be Ron. Thank you Ron for Everything you do for us and our beloved Vs.
It was Lucky selling the cd for a while. All those resources and many more besides are now posted free for everyone on this thread. http://ridersofvision.net/rovforum/index.php?topic=12221
Since there's a good chance you have an 11U model, you will be interested that there is now 11U fiche and workshop manual in the set.
Let it be as you say, go to members page, list by date regeistered, first page at the bottom... I know vision stuff, I rode her for quite a long time, overhauled the engine.... even sold EU clutch gears sets at some point here, traded with RICK G.... many many memories...
Were there aftermarket manuals as part of that CD or just Yamaha factory ones? I have a factory manual but wouldn't mind a copy of a Haynes.
BTW, nice to see a new post by one of the early ROV members! :)
I still have the CD on my hdd, willing to have a look?
ProphetofDoom sent me a link and I've successfully downloaded it. Thanks though, I appreciate the response.
Thanks to cvincer for his offer as well.
I am going for her... hope this week mine again
Well done Humber. Good luck for your restoration.
I went there, 800km altogether, I even had it on my trailer, then I looked at it with reminiscence for quite a while.... and decided to load her off... I don't know how to explain it but definetely not a bike I would be interested in after all these years.
This is the last time I have seen her
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MuL_nF7i7kg/VGnqh2j_uFI/AAAAAAAADxE/DXRv6WmzG-E/w1159-h869-no/20141116_083044.jpg)
a that's how the story ends...
ULP! Really? :o ???
Maybe it's like meeting an old girlfriend after many years... lots of mixed feelings, but you realize that you just can't go back. The page is turned, and the story goes on.
I haven't had the fate to run into an old motorcycle I once owned. I've seen cars that I sold driving in traffic, but that's not the same as Humber's recent Vision experience.
But I have met old girlfriends from decades ago... and talked with them awhile.... Sometimes it is best to go forward.
Scott
Indeed it is hard, Today.. again I would like to go back and take it... but better leave things the way they are.... :-X
Wow, I can tell you have struggled over this. If it helps I think you made the right decision. If it was meant to be you would have come home with it that day. Deal with the hurt and move on.
If I can't sleep right now, I will just find and buy another and will ask you to send me an updated air-box.. but as for now, I am more than less OK with my decision... I am not saying happy because I can't be.. just ok...
Try thinking about a Junak for a while, then go about looking for your dream. You may be surprised by what you might find.
My dear friend...Junak is total crap hehe.... if I had a choice now to be given a free nice Junak or pay for my XZ and restore it.. you have the answer... ;D When I rode my Vision more than ten years ago, Junak was considered obsolote... and I was a lone wolf freak to ride XZ, just because a respected Polish motorcycle magazine had written only bad things about it. I was always told that it is a stator glutton and all this stuff from the article, I should have written mine and send to those bastards. But I never cared, a cool bike it was, reliable fast and so comfortable, I had this forum, I had Rick G., great memories from riding and with these thoughts I went to take her, and this is a great bike even now, but my perspective is so different, perhaps not that different but somehow it got through and worked against... and after 10 years Junak is somehow on demand.. this is totaly freak I tell you, those who repeated the Vision was junk, restore even more crappy thing now and are happy with it and when I told them.. I am going for my XZ - you are nuts!!! this junk again? :) I don't get it.. after all these years, the bike is just a bike, and these are the people who presumably like bikes, do they really?? and this price for Junak god.. at least 4 times as much as for a nice XZ and it will never give a sort of ride a Vision can do...
However... Junak, a Polish classic, is where it should be:
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yFMtC-eelxY/VGxULuukwyI/AAAAAAAADyE/V4LU4QiwX9w/w1159-h869-no/20141119_092557.jpg)
BUt you see... it is still in the package, gives a hint that my hands will never touch the thing but... still last Sunday I sat on my XZ... ;D ;D
Humber, my reference to Junak was meant as a joke, to consider it and discard the idea, then go for the XZ (the dream bike). The Yamaha is far more sophisticated engineering as you well know.
I hope you find peace in your mind soon, because it seems you are tormented at this time by this situation.
Did you paint the frame silver, or was it done by a different owner? It looks good from this side of the computer.
Painted it silver, but now I think better stick to oem scheme.. the bike is too old to make it look modern...
Guys... I bought this:
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YXHlryz3amE/VQVOBlu_TdI/AAAAAAAAFyM/PK8Lg4vMJL0/w1207-h905-no/DSC_0209.jpg)
I am not utterly happy, I think it would have been better if I had gone with my old one. The CX keeps the price high though... but it isn't any better than the XZ. Stator problems as well (burnt on mine), carbs perhaps less finicky but again parts availability is just a pain. Disc brakes not available, cam chain guides - a must job - nowhere to be got, body parts, suspension parts... exhaust. Don't complain that XZ is less popular... it helps you to keep them rolling cheap, without a need to convince anyone how good XZ actually is.. and then crazy cafe butchers stay away from her.... I wouldn't suffer even one chopped for some cafe quirk...
Comparing, CX is a little bit better on the suspension side (my specimen), but the engine is so lazy.... so where am I? Have I got mad? Refusing to buy mine for less than 200bucks and buying the CX for something like $800 and already invested 200....
I should have bought my XZ or... look at this...
http://allegro.pl/yamaha-xz550-vision-jedyna-w-polsce-super-stan-rat-i5160892766.html
I think it went for the same price I paid for my CX.....
ok.... enough whining... I will have to take care of the CX thing because it is also a great ride and deserves some care.... Who knows.... maybe XZ next year?
Congratulations on the new bike! It looks to be in very good condition.
Interesting comparison to the Vision in that they are both "unique" bikes. Despite the problems, they (and yours) may have, the "Europsport" model version is much better looking (IMO) and apparently better than the "standard" versions typically seen here in the states.
Good luck with it and have fun!
You new bike is beautiful and appears to be in very good shape. I didn't know of the 500 eurosport and only knew of the CX650E. If Honda would have brought these to the states I would be out some coin as I just love those things. The models we got here were left wanting to say the least. Enjoy your new ride.
Humber, yes, congratulations for your 'new' bike!
Check the radiator fan to see if it is driven from the water pump. This is the situation here in USA with the 500, but the CX650 had separate fan drive. This is important only in that an unbalanced fan will wear the seals in the water pump prematurely.
Thank you guys.. tha fan is electric on this ;D
It has been 2 years experience with the CX now.... I had to overhaul the engine... ;D ;D
http://images71.fotosik.pl/262/cd011d3b53c30944.jpg
but the thing is.. never ever get rid of your Vision - it's just a better underestimated bike overally. I truly regret having taken mine off the trailer and not hauling it back home. It was battered - that's a fact, but the engine was healthy and the visuals could have been restored much more easily.
The Vision has better quality overally almost everywhere - better materials, better frame, can you imagine that you can encounter a failure of the final shaft on the CX?? such things are normal -> http://www.genebitsystems.com/david/LinkedPhotos/RearEnd8.jpg - this bike is shit I tell you :)
Vision is stronger, more comfortable, more nostalgic - at least for me. CX - is legendary, has a huge fan base - great people - but it is soft crap camshafts get seized, oil pumps get wrecked, clutch baskets get rickety... just let me show you how my rear link pins looked like when I took them out - mind that they work in plastic bearings!!! ->
http://images71.fotosik.pl/551/29bac3d6ffaa2a59.jpg
honda quality is just horrible, they are really overrated bikes, spares?? - there are hardly any available on the market now - they are are almost dead at the moment, the engine is sluggish in comparison - but still pleasant...
charging problems - there are too on the CX - but luckily Vision taught me ;D
In POland, the community is very small so a year ago I thought... why not start a forum? and I did it so that you can visit me;)
http://hondacx500.cba.pl/
If it hadn't been for my doubts, there would be one more XZ550 forum on the web now... Instead.. I am strugglin with the CX, I would love to get the 650 though :).. but xz550.... I don't know.. it would have to be mine back again...
Humber, great to hear from you again. Thank you for the real world comparison report.
Sorry you had such problems with the Honda. I'm surprised the Pro-Link bushings ride in plastic bearings - that does seem like they cut some corners. I like the engine painted black. :)
There is nothing wrong with plastic there, after all the plastic bushings were intact, but the pin was shot ::)
Hi Humber,
Surely you can turn the engine around on that machine and make it into a real rider ! I'm just kidding , my friends wife had what we call a SilverWing back a few years ago (she had a Shadow before that) and found it very unbalanced with the cylinders sticking out , in the end she got a 84 Gold Wing like her husband.
All kidding aside it's nice to see you are still playing with half liter bikes ,I feel guilty as I was going to send you some measurements for a windshield you had built for me/ sorry I haven't got around to it. The one I broke was super and I had many cross Canada trips behind it. I can't believe another XZ550 doesn't exist near you somewhere?
Keep looking & nice to see you on line.
Kenny
HI.... making a new XZ550 windshield is still possible, but... it is harder because I don't have a cowl and and an old windshield to be sent to the company that makes them.... when I used to have a Vision, that was a different story.
Good to hear from you too... Visions are really common in ads, but the sad fact is mine was already 20 years when I had it, now they are 36 years and whatever I would buy here, it would need a complete resto, I did the CX engine and I am aware of the costs... and with such costs you might as well aim at GL1000 which would give you a better price when selling...
Of course we are not talking about selling VIsion after the repairs but.... I am still not convinced... I may regret not taking mine back, but... buying another? I remember carb issues that I only solved after installing the 83 carbs that RickG. was helping me to get from US. Airflap modded airbox.... all of these were on my Vision and now.. buying one without these parts and importing them again... postage cost went up incommensurably, I remember Rick sending me tons of parts, pistons, cylinder heads, carbs... at it was cheapo - 60bucks by sea.... now forget it, it is 30dollars under 1kg I believe - I stopped buying from US ebay because of it....