Automobile

Some Of The Things About Of The Yamaha XZ 550 Motorcycle

User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 
The Yamaha Vision (XZ550) was a motorcycle produced in approximately 1982-1983, though a smaller XZ400 model was available in some markets until at least 1987. It offered innovative technology in its motor and bold styling. The XZ550 was the first Yamaha model to feature automotive-style downdraft carburetors with the air cleaner box mounted atop the carburetors, as opposed to most motorcycles' sidedraft carburetors with their side-mounted air cleaners. While downdraft carburetors flow air into the engine more efficiently than sidedraft carburetors, the height of the carburetors and their airbox required Yamaha to design a large tunnel into the bottom of the gas tank. While the tank holds 17 liters of fuel, it looks much larger thanks to the tunnel and suggests that the bike is top-heavy, which it is not. The XZ550 has a water-cooled engine. At the time, most water-cooled motorcycle engines had fins, intended to suggest the cooling fins on air-cooled engines, cast into their cylinder heads. While fins are absolutely necessary on an air-cooled engine — they increase the surface area of the head, hence improve cooling—they serve no function on a water-cooled engine. By leaving the fins off the XZ550's engine, it simplified the engine's manufacturing process, reduced the amount of metal needed to make the cylinders, and lowered the cost of the engine without affecting its functionality.The Yamaha Vision was originally conceived in the late 1970s when motorcycling was at its peak, and spent three years in development, being overseen by a small group of designers and enthusiasts rather than "committee think". Several high profile external design houses contributed to the design of the XZ550 including GK Design Associates for design, and reputedly Cosworth for the engine and Porsche for the final drive.

The initial models were designed to be a performance bike and GK's goal was "to make it into the most advanced super sport bike in terms of both styling and riding performance" The XZ550 succeeded on both fronts, its comfort on long rides and veritable torque-monster engine matched by its distinctive deep V-Twin exhaust beat and neck-snapping performance. Sales were poor and it was not until the bike was re-invented as a touring bike in 1983 that sales picked up, although not enough to see the bike surviving. The bike was considered "rather B.M.W.-like", in reference to its touring credentials, and "the most European motorcycle from Japan in recent memory." Unfortunately, producing an entirely new product from scratch is never without initial problems, and the Vision suffered from a few. An off-idle carburetion quirk, known as the "Vision stumble", meant the first year machines were prone to initial stuttering on part and full-throttle takeoff. The "Vision stumble" problem, after months of research, was finally solved by racer Marc Salvisberg, who later started Factory Pro Tuning. The problem, it seemed, wasn't a Yamaha development problem at all, but was actually a lean spot, just off idle, caused by what appeared to be residual casting sand that filled the "off-idle" bleed holes at the throttle butterfly plate in the "Weber style" Mikuni carb. That information was immediately relayed to Yamaha U.S., where it was relayed to Japan and verified. The 1983 models carbureted essentially flawlessly. In the 1982 model, lightning quick steering was considered too extreme for some, though was highly appreciated by sporting riders. The weight distribution was 55/45 and the lightly loaded front end benefited from the installation of a slightly larger than usual front tire. The front suspension was described as too soft, the rear, even with an adjustable shock, difficult to dial in. On the electrical side, the Vision had "a well deserved reputation for eating starters and stators."

The US 1983 model Vision fixed most of the faults, with an "improved" carburetor eliminating the "stumble", air adjustable front forks firming up the ride and improving the roadholding. A full fairing, with adjustable hot and cold air vents, effectively shielded the rider. With the improved carburetor and minor internal adjustments, the engine's strengths became apparent: it had enormous torque at all revs, and would pull from idle in top gear. Despite the 10,000 R.P.M. redline, the oversquare bore and short stroke kept the piston speed low, with the result that the engine always sounded relaxed, even at peak revs. The exhaust note has been compared to that of a Ferrari Testarossa (which came out several years later.) With its unique "hang support" frame, whereby the engine is suspended beneath the frame for lighter weight, the Vision's performance and roadholding were far ahead of its time. Unfortunately, so too was the cost. The motorcycling boom of the Seventies was already receding before the XZ550 hit the showroom floors, and rival motorcycle companies offered cheaper motorcycles without the quirks. The model was discontinued from sale in the U.S. in 1983, though it maintains cult status online. In current times, the XZ550 has been found to be one of the easiest motorcycles to modify to the owner's personal taste. There are "bobbers", full touring bikes, cafe racers, and general sport bikes in all areas of the world. For more info about Yamaha Motorcycle Fairings, please visit our website!

Author Articles
More From This Author
The Honda VFR750F is a sport touring motorcycle produced between 1986 and 1997. The fully faired motorcycle featured a reliable 98 horsepower (73 kW) liquid-cooled double overhead cam (DOHC) V4 four-stroke...
The Honda VFR400 series of motorcycles were a related series of 399 cc V4-engined motorcycles, which were essentially scaled-down versions of the larger VFR models of the day. They were mainly developed for,...
Last week, my neighbor bought a brand new scooter. It was a gas scooter with a sleek body and a gorgeous look. I couldn't help but ride it. It was an enthralling experience riding a fast gas scooter.Scooters...
For those of us who have kids and motorcycles we have to realize that the same inner pull that drives us to the biker lifestyle very often is in our kids as well. If you have kids you know what I am talking...
Tune-ups don't require ignition coil replacements. Sometimes you need to replace the spark plug caps on the ends of the wires, though. The resistance value should be around 5K ohms. Honda Tune up kits...
Related Articles
Related Articles
Furniture has become a basic need for every home and office. You cannot imagine a home or workplace work place without a set of beautiful and comfortable chairs, couches, sofas, tables and others. And if home...
So, you have started your bathroom renovation. The toilet is installed, tiles are replaced, sink is brand new. But have you thought of the shower head? Yes, it's commonly forgotten because is a tiny little...
You need the speed and power of power tools to get anything done nowadays. Before you get started on any of those big projects you have lying around, make sure you have the right tools for the job. These are...
There are some people who buy property for the purpose residential and commercial use, while there are also those that make property purchases for investment. A property that is bought for the purpose of a...
The Internet has allowed a lot of services that made life easier. It has helped parents search for the best schools online, through search engines and online forums. It has allowed businessmen to become more...
Latest Articles
Latest Articles
Of course, there are many of us who have taught myself how to drive. This can happen when we saw the parent or relative of a car left in a car drive by and we decided to experiment with or without their...
So we can do this the easy way or the hard way. I can just tell you what is wrong and how you can fix it in a sentence or two or we can go the long route. Let’s try the short version first: If you are...
A Key West vacation is not just about retreating into the lap of Mother Nature and enjoying some moments of solitude. Nor is a Miami holiday only about lazing on the beach. A holiday in the southern part of...
Romain Jerome titanic DNA watches are luxury and consist of rare metal commencing the hull of the world’s mainly well-known Cruise lining. THE TITANIC! The dial as well comprises coal that was exposed at...
Clutter seems to accumulate right under your nose without you being able to do anything about it. Sometimes you don't even notice it, and after a while, you realize that your home is full of junk. What’s...
 


Afikim mobility scooters
Advanced & stylish mobility scooters
Afiscooters.com

Search for articles

RSS

Member Login

Elite Scooters AU
Electric Mobility Scooter
and Mobility Solutions.