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From: dm_johnson@manana.DEC
Newsgroups: net.cycle
Subject: buying a bike
Message-ID: <1086@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 27-Oct-85 14:37:23 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.1086
Posted: Sun Oct 27 14:37:23 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 28-Oct-85 04:11:49 EST
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Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 48


>	My first thought was new '82 Vision, but:
> 
>(1) I learned to ride on a Honda CB125, and the first time I tried a low-speed
>turn on a friend's Vision I dumped it.  Does it just take practice to manage
>a heavier bike?  How much?

You will adapt fairly quickly. All you need is some experience. A week 
and you will be fine. I owned a cb550 before my vision and the found the 
Vision cg MUCH lower. Also the seat is lower to the ground. On the 550 I 
could only touch tippy toes without getting off the seat. On the vision 
I sit on the seat and my heels touch the ground.
 
>(3) One dealer claimed that the Visions have had a number of maintenance
>problems (he didn't go into detail) and instead recommended the '82 550 Seca,
>which is listed at $1699, is 68 pounds lighter than the Vision, is an inline
>four instead of a twin, is air-cooled and chain driven.  Is the Seca really
>as nice a bike as the Vision?

I have a vision. The early ones apparently have an alternator problem. I 
burned mine at 7K. On the other hand Yamaha did the right thing and 
replaced it for me after owning it 2 years. Anotherwards, a long time 
out of warranty.

Also the very early ones had a carburator problem that was supposed to 
be cleaned up on the later ones.

The 68 pounds difference you will never notice.  On the other hand the 
shaft drive you will notice. Stock chains are like stock tires..... they 
don't last as long as they should. Proper replacements are much better.
And most chain owners replace the chain when they should be replacing
the sprockets as well as the chain. Note the extra expense of the
sockets. And most new riders do a terrible job of keeping the chain
lubricated. 

>(4) Is a 550 to big for a first bike?  Should I be looking at something in the
>250-400 range?   Are there any good new old model bikes in that range?

I personally believe a 500cc bike is the right one. I started out with a 
350cc 4 cyl. I weighed 195 lbs at the time and would run into situations 
where a combination of wind and hill would have the throttle wide open 
and just barely holding ground. When I moved to the 550 I had a 
comfortable bike with the right amount of power for commuting or 
touring. I never have gone up to the 750s. For single touring I never 
needed it. As for touring I've done at least one 3k tour on the vision 
and was comfortable all the way.

Dennis Johnson