Why Will I Like My Vision?

[PeteXS/GS/CB/XZ]

Okay, I haven't even ridden my Vision--or any Vision for that matter.  (My own bike is in the last lap of its rebuild.)  So, why will  I like this bike?  Why is its following so devoted, as evidenced by this site and community?  It appealed to me because it's such a gearhead's bike: DOHC, four-valve head, longitudinal v-twin, water cooling, shaft drive, electronic ignition.  All stuff that was way ahead of the curve in 1982.  Is it because this bike is fun to ride?  Does it make you feel a special way when you're on it?  Is it just plain good looking?  (At the time, I think its angular, Armani suit lines were out of sync with the coming smooth and rounded lines of consumer products like the Ford Taurus and the Toyota jellybean minivan.)  Or is it the questions you get from people, and the way they say, Oh, yeah, the Vision, I remember those?  Please, clue me in. 

[Tiger]

Okay, I haven't even ridden my Vision--or any Vision for that matter.  (My own bike is in the last lap of its rebuild.)  So, why will  I like this bike?  Why is its following so devoted, as evidenced by this site and community?  It appealed to me because it's such a gearhead's bike: DOHC, four-valve head, longitudinal v-twin, water cooling, shaft drive, electronic ignition.  All stuff that was way ahead of the curve in 1982.  Is it because this bike is fun to ride?  Does it make you feel a special way when you're on it?  Is it just plain good looking?  (At the time, I think its angular, Armani suit lines were out of sync with the coming smooth and rounded lines of consumer products like the Ford Taurus and the Toyota jellybean minivan.)  Or is it the questions you get from people, and the way they say, Oh, yeah, the Vision, I remember those?  Please, clue me in. 

All of us could put up a different answer(s) to your question's...but ultimately, its down to you, regardless... ;) Let me answer some of them:
???...stuff that was way ahead of the curve in 1982...For sure... :)
???...DOHC, four-valve head, longitudinal v-twin, water cooling, shaft drive, electronic ignition...Cool,eh... 8)
???...Is it because this bike is fun to ride?...Most certainly one of the best fun bike's to ride out there... 8)
???...Does it make you feel a special way when you're on it?...How many Vision's will YOU see on a regular day's ride, however, the commuter's around you will be seeing, maybe, their first Vision!!!...COOL, eh... ???
???...Is it just plain good looking?...Can't speak for yours...but mine isn't plain...but she sure looks good... 8)
???...is it the questions you get from people?...Oh brother, believe it!!! There are not a lot of people out there that know of the Vision, including those in the bike fraternity...and especially young, spotty faced Yamaha part's people...:o You will get comment's like: What kind of bike is that... ??? I've never seen/heard of a Vision... :-\ , Who makes that... ??? The classic..."are you sure its a Yamaha".. :o
Add into the mix your extended family, that specialise in the Yamaha XZ550 Vision, just relishing the thought of ANOTHER Vision being resurected and on the road, all willing you on, ready to step up and help you and everyone that has a Vision, to realise the dream of your first ride on a "V" that will leave a stupid grin on your face for age's afterward's... 8)...and...
The pride you will feel when you can answer all the question's people will throw at you...including...Why Will I Like My Vision?...if your not "clued in", as yet...you should be after all the love and attention you gave your "V" to get her back on the road and then to make your first ride...priceless!!! after all that, if your still not convinced, there are plenty who will take her off your hand's...believe me...Oh, BTW...I may just be a wee bit biased as I own three... 8)

                                  8).......TIGER....... 8)

[zore]

I am quite the bike snob.  My bikes of choice are generally European such as the Ducati and Triumph I currently own.  If someone had a for sale sign on the vision that I currently, own, I would have never bought one in eleventy billion years.

I was handed this vision (R5.5)  for free.  Fairly clean with 2400 miles on the od.  Needed some tlc but was in good condition.  Once on the road, I did a few upgrades such as brake lines and put a few Ducati pieces on it such as the headlight and signals.  I chopped the tail and added a bikini fairing also off the Duc.

I've been riding the bike for well over a year now and it has changed my view of old bikes.  The shaft drive is silky smooth and the handling isn't too bad either given the weight.  With the euro foot pegs and risers, it's very comfortable.  I probably ride it more than any other bike I own.

[Night Vision]

because you can do a fifth gear roll on from 35mph to 12,000 rpm  ;D ;D ;D
well, if your carbs are clean you can  ;)

[don_vanecek]

Nice power band the V has, picture slowing to do a left hand turn off a highway, then going up a hill for two block, then a sharp right hand turn, and hitting 60 plus before almost having to stop for the right hand turn. ALL in fifth gear if I feel like it (well that's assuming I didn't have to stop for oncoming traffic doing the left hand turn).

A good runnng V is just a nice size bike that can do most everything, the reason I bought mine brand new back in 1984!

[h2olawyer]

All the above reasons - plus for me, I found it as a dealer leftover - still new in 1984 for $1300 + a couple hundred more for shark fairing, engine guards & Bell Tourstar helmet.  Lots of motorcycle for the price compared to the GPz550 & Honda Interceptor of the era.  The other bikes may have been a little bit quicker & had their carbs sorted when new, but they lacked the wide, fun powerband of this great V-twin.

Over the years, the bike has actually grown even more on me.  As the final kicker, this forum and the people here make it the best supported older Japanese bike you can find.  Others may have better parts & aftermarket support, but the knowledge on this forum makes it possible to do nearly anything to keep these bikes running.

Once you get your V on the road & the details finished - like the carbs CLEAN & SYNCHED - , twist the throttle & lean it through some turns, you will know what we mean.

H₂O

[kiawrench]

i am in support of all the above reasons, and really like my V, she is my second, and i have resurected a couple more,,, but when it gets right down to it,, there is something more--- she may be old, and she may look bulky, but this is one bike you can ride like you stole it, and still have half a turn left on the grip.

oh, and she really stands out at harley rallies!!!!  way out .!

[Lucky]

Plus, EVERYTIME you come here, you "get Lucky" ...  ;D ;D :o :o 8) 8) ::) ::)

[VisionMeister]

Fun to ride has to be the number one reason.
You get comments all the time from people who have not seen one or had one twenty  years ago.
You get personal pride of accomplishment from successfully working on it, and it gives you plenty of opportunity to work on it.
It is smooth and comfortable.
But if it wasn't fun to ride all these other reasons would not justify owning one.
Motorcycle Zen..." It is better to ride a slow bike fast than to ride a fast bike slow".
Try redlineing a new ZX-10 or R1 through the Dragon and you'll know.

[Mutt]

Unfortunately I didn't learn of this site until I owned mine for 5 years. My purchase was the result of price more than anything. I was looking for bikes in the 2500.00 range in 1999 when I ran across mine for 700.00. It looked like new on the website.....looked too good to be true. I drove 5 hours one way to look at it and take a ride. The minute the guy raised his garage door I knew I would be looking for a local trailer rental to take it home.

I wanted a Vision when they first came out but couldn't afford one. I had a GS750 at the time and it didn't make sense (then) to downgrade in size. Besides I was having too much fun adjusting a chain 2 times a week!  ::) Then there was the power loss on hot summer days. There's just something about the valve knocking on a hot Suzuki TSCC engine that makes you cringe.

My wife says I can have a new bike if I won't one, I just have to give up the V. I might never have a new bike.

Mutt  :)

[dj]

Unfortunately I didn't learn of this site until I owned mine for 5 years. My purchase was the result of price more than anything. I was looking for bikes in the 2500.00 range in 1999 when I ran across mine for 700.00. It looked like new on the website.....looked too good to be true. I drove 5 hours one way to look at it and take a ride. The minute the guy raised his garage door I knew I would be looking for a local trailer rental to take it home.

I wanted a Vision when they first came out but couldn't afford one. I had a GS750 at the time and it didn't make sense (then) to downgrade in size. Besides I was having too much fun adjusting a chain 2 times a week!  ::) Then there was the power loss on hot summer days. There's just something about the valve knocking on a hot Suzuki TSCC engine that makes you cringe.

My wife says I can have a new bike if I won't one, I just have to give up the V. I might never have a new bike.

Mutt  :)

Mutt - you aren't the only one that went from a GS to the V.  I had a 79GS1000E and the thing was a beast.  Way to much power for me, didn't handle as well in the twisties, and I spent most of my time in 3rd or 4th gears.  And I definetly hear you on the valve knocking.  I thought mine was going to blow up on the really hot days, but it never did.

I do miss the GS when I get on the long straights for extended periods of time (ei: highway 95, or route 15), but for a daily driver during the warmer months the V is damn near perfect.  On the few times that I have had mine on the road (still working on the restoration of her) I haven't had to screw around with shifting every 2-3 minutes do to traffic speeding up/slowing down.  With the power band on the V you just slow down with traffic and then roll on when things speed up again.  Plus you can't beat the feeling of the V when going through the twisties at a decent speed.  This bike is made for the twisties.

[louthepou]

I like my Vision because everytime I park it somewhere, no one knows what the hell it is!

Lou

[dj]

I like my Vision because everytime I park it somewhere, no one knows what the hell it is!

Lou

Gotta love it when you pull into a Yamaha dealership and they don't even recognize one of their own bikes!  ;D

[MotorPlow]

I also went from a GS to a Vision...
I had a 1984 GS650E.

[Mutt]

I also went from a GS to a Vision...
I had a 1984 GS650E.

There's a pattern forming here.... :)

Mutt

[YellowJacket!]

I just plain like mine.  Its my forst street bike.  Its relatively comfortable, handles well and is forgiving.  And, I literally know it inside and out.  Its a hands on bike that lets you wrench on it and ride it.  It comes with its own gremlins....AND a wonderful community of enthusiasts.

And..... I got Lucky!  Well, as a neighbor.  Just 17 miles down the somewhat twisty road. ;D

David

[h2olawyer]

I'll break the pattern - I went from a Kawasaki KDX175 enduro to the Vision.  The only two motorcycles I've ever owned.  You think chain maintenance on a street bike takes time - just get a dirt bike & maintain it by the book - or even half by the book.  You spend as much time wrenching as you do riding!  I let quite a bit slide between some ride weekends but still managed to get to things like wheel bearings about every fourth riding day.  What a pain.  Still, it was better than breaking down out in the middle of the mountains on a trail, twenty miles from the nearest road . . ..  I have a long story about rescuing a friend & his bike in that situation after his clutch burned out.  Not fun at the time, but makes for a good campfire story today.

H₂O

[supervision]

  Only people who know how cool these bikes truely are will go to the trouble of keeping one afloat.  Many of these bikes were set aside with very little actually wrong with them.  Nobody wanted to work on them, if at all possible. The real motobrain foucus's right in on these.   Having the support of these people on this site is an added bonus.  We have had some excellant turn-outs for rallys, the up comming Colorado rally should be something to see!

[XZv2]

Hi, Pete,
An interesting question, and I will try to answer it my way.
I ask myself for many years more or less the same question: why do I like the Vision (here it is labeled XZ) so much?
Is it the looks? There certainly are better looking bikes
Is it the specs? There certainly are bikes with better specifications
Is it the rides? There certainly are bikes that ride better.

When I adjust the valves and I struggle for more than 15 minutes to remove a sticking valve shim, I hate the bike with all of my heart. When I try to remove the lower shock absorber pin that has rusted solid in its eyes, I just hate the bike.
Pure negative emotional feelings.
When I have synched the carbs and try the bike on the road, it rides so sweet, and my hate disappears completely. A nice tourer up to 5000 rpm, a fast bike between 5 and 10.000 rpm.
The way the engine works after much struggle with carbs, valves, YICS, stators, is something to try for yourself. A good XZ is really a thrill to ride.
Pure positive emotional feelings.
This bike has an impact on me, from the first moment I saw one in 1982. It does something to me.
For myself I came to the conclusion that I am in love with the XZ phenomenon.
Like love for a woman, I love the positive aspects and I can forgive easily the negative aspects.

If I suppress emotional feelings, I think my brains really are convinced that the basics of the XZ are very good. I saw the internals of 8 XZ up to now and most have a sound crankshaft, sound pistons and valves, gears and final drive, after 25 years and much neglect.
Certainly some parts of the bike are of lesser quality such as the rust-prone fuel tank, and lower shock absorber mount, the stator. The electrical wiring. See the technical posts on this forum.
In fact, if you study the bike and compare it to its competitors: it is a really special high-performance engine in a not so high performance frame and a heavy final drive. The bike is kind of a contradiction: not a real tourer, not a real sports bike. Like a woman, you must take her as she is with the positive and the negative.

One of the points I appreciate so much is that she listens well to good tuning: tapered steering head bearings, a stabilizer between the (in fact too small) front fork legs, a 1983 monoshock or an aftermarket one, steel-reinforced brake lines make distinct differences etc, etc

It can indeed do remarkable things: a sidecar was hitched to one of my XZ’s and with the gearing of an XZ400, a 15” rear wheel of an XV700 and front forks turned around, wow what a thrilling threewheeler is this!

My colleagues only ride BMW and Moto Guzzi and look horrified at that Japanese bike. During winter rides in Germany together I just put the heater that is included in the lower fairing of my XZ without sidecar on hot, leaving them in surprise. Also I can easily keep with them on their 850, 1000 and 1100 cc bikes, use much less gas on combined trips.

If I return to your question: “why will you like the Vision?”. I think that does not so much depend on the Vision, but on you. Some people just fall in love with this bike. I am one of them. If you read the contributions above, you will see I am not the only one. So the question is, I think: are you susceptible to Vision love?
XZv2

[YellowJacket!]

XZv2, You summed it up QUITE well. ;D

David