I was looking for a bike for my wife and bought two bikes in two days, a '96 XJ600S and an '82 Vision. The Seca runs great and my wife loves it, except for the stiff clutch.
The Vision has low miles (9000) and, after tearing into it, all of the major mechanicals look to be in good shape. But it has a lot of oxidation everywhere, a ripped seat, and is generally ugly.
What do I do with this bike? I haven't gotten it running yet, but at the bare minimum it needs a battery, rear tire, clutch cable, seat cover, lots of cleaning and paint, and other odds and ends. It doesn't appear profitable to fix it up and sell it. What would it be worth? again keeping in mind that even after I get it done it won't be cherry.
I'm definitely keeping my '95 Concours for myself, so 1)keep it as a third bike, 2)sell it as is, 3)get it running and sell it, 4)get it running and maybe my wife will like it better than her Seca?
Thanks in advance...
Get it running....you'll love it. You should see pictures of what mine looked like when I got it. A little elbow grease can work wonders....oh, and some cash too.
Welcome to ROV. You'll find all the answers you need here.
David
The Vision, which was a middleweight bike , when it was built , is now a beginners /woman's bike . Except for us die hards around here.
Very few of the old Visions were cherry when found , but with a little love and attention most are really nice . Look in the gallery and you will see some really nice restorations . Prices on decent , running Visions , is slowly creeping up . Theres a super nice , low mileage , '82 on eBay thats at 1500.00 right now and its nor perfect.
As to your wife's clutch pull problem , get a "Clutch easy" it a leverage multiplier . I have arthritis and use one.
It doesn't take that much to clean up a Vision and bring it up to riding condition . Go through the archives and you will get a feel for the work involved , but remember not all of it has to be done at once!
Welcome aboard :D
If you want some good before and after pics, check out my blog at : http://xz550vision.spaces.live.com/
Lots of good before and after pics to give you an ide of the potential.
David
David,
Your bike does look great. I checked out the pictures earlier, and I must say that mine is much further gone than yours was. It spent four years outside on the Oregon coast! The oxidation on the aluminum is especially unsightly.
However, I will see it through to at least getting it running. I do enjoy projects, and if I really like it, I may try to get a fairing for it and fix it up nice.
I'm sure I'll be back up here at times with other specific questions and I'll let you know how things are going.
For now, where's the best place to get a clutch cable, cheap and fast? BikeBandit had them for about $24. Does anyone recommend them (or not)?
Kraig
Hi Kraig, Cables seem to be problem , Motion Pro didn't list throttle or clutch cables In the 07 spring catalog, I don't believe Bike Bandit carries anything for the vision, anymore. I'll make some recommendations later this evening , I'll have to look them up.
You might try a yamaha dealer , but they will have to order it and it won't be fast!
http://www.ysppart.com/pages/parts/viewbybrand/2/Yamaha.aspx
$20.89 + shipping. :)
Thank you, tben. Parts ordered, good prices and shipping rates.
no problemo. ;D
You made a HUGE mistake. The Vision is a cantankerous, fragile, piece of . . . wonderful machinery. ;) Seriously, once you get a chance to feel the wide, useable power from the engine, you will see why we all like these bikes so much. Most things surrounding the engine are not the greatest quality, but all the important stuff can be easily improved. I've owned my 82 since 1984 (bought new as a dealer leftover). It has suffered through a few extended periods of improper storage, but I like it more today than the day I bought it.
The real benefit of the Vision is this site & all the great people here. Good luck getting yours running again.
H2O
Thanks Tben , that was one I was trying to remember.
Quote from: h2olawyer on April 25, 2008, 03:27:53 PM
You made a HUGE mistake. The Vision is a cantankerous, fragile, piece of . . . wonderful machinery. ;)
The real benefit of the Vision is this site & all the great people here. Good luck getting yours running again.
H2O
Well said. ;D
Rick, I just have 42 fewer years of memories in the way. ;)
Quote from: Rick G on April 24, 2008, 05:48:20 PM
The Vision, which was a middleweight bike , when it was built , is now a beginners /woman's bike . Except for us die hards around here.....
Begginer or intermediate I'll buy, not sure though if I'd say it's a woman's bike. Unless she's a big girl :o
I agree , but I can't tell you how many times someone has said , he was getting a vision for his wife . I started on a 50 cc Allstate Mophead (moped) and worked my way up. 3 rd bike was borrowed 3TA Triumph, (350cc twin) and I promptly rode it off of a cliff, on highway 39 above Azusa , CA. I was in over my head! Didn't help that the brake and shifter were on opposite sides, from what I was used to
I think a 250 makes a fantastic learner bike. I'd be in full favorof a graduated license system like much of Europe has. Start on a small displacement bike for a certain number of miles or months, then move up to the larger bike. These days, you can pick up a 250 Nighthawk or similar for about $1800, ride it for a season, then turn around & sell it for the same price.
H2O
The only problem with that is that there are a fair number of 250 cc motorcycles that will out-power a beginning rider... I don't think it makes sense to do a graded system based on displacement.
Brian
Most modern 15 ci. street bikes are pretty gutless , and make good learners. My daughter took her riders course in OR. on a 250 Honda.
The two stroke 250's of yesteryear were far more potent , compared to the street slugs of today.
When I took the MSF beginner course a couple years ago, I thought it was great to be on such a small bike to relearn the basics. It's really less about power & more about the controllability. I can do walking speed lock to lock 8s on the Vision, but it's a whole bunch easier on a small bike.
H2O
I took my first motorcycle licence, road test in I think 1971 or '72, on a CB750 Honda,I just stopped in at DMV while on a test ride.
Back then I could ride the thing like a trials bike! :o :o :o :o Now my knees don't let me do trials riding!
MN limits what you are licenced for , by what you take the test on, so you had best take at least a 500 , or your stuck on a small bike.
Quote from: Rick G on April 30, 2008, 12:10:25 AM
Most modern 15 ci. street bikes are pretty gutless , and make good learners.
That 250cc Ninja looks like it would get people into more problems than my Vision would... 40 hp for 350 pounds I think puts it at better than the Vision in terms of HP to weight.
Brian
Seems the thread is now about beginning bikes and riders and women riders?
I still don't know what my wife (or I) will think of the Vision as neither of use has ridden it. It is now torn down pretty well in the garage waiting for parts.
She is 5' 5" and seems to fit her 600cc Seca fairly well. She first learned on my old '81 GoldWing, which, although heavy, was very stable and balanced with a fairly low seat height. We've been doing some short trips and parking lot exercises, and she will be taking the beginner's course this summer. In Oregon you can get a Motorcycle Learner's permit, which allows her to ride her own bike as long as I am with her on another bike.
While I'm waiting for parts, can someone give me some hints for reconditioning the front brakes? The brake fluid in the master cylinder was gel and the caliper was stuck.
Yamaha still has rebuild kits available for the master cylinder and caliper. Disassemble and clean with brake cleaner. You can usually get a stuck piston out of the caliper with an air compressor. Just make sure the piston is pointed away from you and into some rags to catch it as they can come out in a hurry.
Quote from: Walt_M. on April 30, 2008, 12:55:03 PM
You can usually get a stuck piston out of the caliper with an air compressor.
I'd recommend a grease gun, the grease won't compress and the piston will come out a lot slower... Much less like a projectile :o
Brian
or just use the brake fluid in the master to pump it out... just make sure you keep it full when pumping..... lots less to clean up...
Quote from: Rick G on April 30, 2008, 12:10:25 AM
The two stroke 250's of yesteryear were far more potent , compared to the street slugs of today.
word!
just ask my "250 Pursang" collar bone.... what are the odds of riding all the way across an open field on the rear wheel... only to set down into a woodchuck hole?
pretty good, I guess :P
stupid woodchuck >:(
All I do to prevent caliper pistons from going into orbit, is to place large, square shank screw driver, or a 7 inch tyre iron across the piston, limiting its travel. Then hit it with the air. I don't really care for petroleum grease in the brake system.
I'll see your woodchuck hole and raise you a mine shaft!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I put a Yamaha Yl2c into a mine shaft , once (once was enough!!)
Quote from: Rick G on May 01, 2008, 12:35:47 AM
I don't really care for petroleum grease in the brake system.
The brake cleaner will take care of that! ;D
Quote from: Rick G on May 01, 2008, 12:35:47 AM
I'll see your woodchuck hole and raise you a mine shaft!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
I put a Yamaha Yl2c into a mine shaft , once (once was enough!!)
I'll fold :-\
QuoteI'll see your woodchuck hole and raise you a mine shaft!!
I put a Yamaha Yl2c into a mine shaft , once (once was enough!!)
ill bump you a brand new (just brought home from stealership) 88 yz125, into a well pipe, busting the engine case wide open. sending me into a barn wall.