XZ550 Vision
Posted: Sun May 22, 2016 11:35 am
Well, I finally hauled/towed my old Vision from the barn to the shop. It had been sitting since the redcoat tank liner dissolved and deposited itself in the carbs. I bought this bike new in '83 and it is the main reason I didn't buy a RZ in '84. Okay, so that was a mistake. Anyway I am nothing if not loyal. These bikes had/have a multitude of problems but it is a very nice ride when working properly. I did an 800 mile day on mine in 1985. I also had an FZ750 at that time but chose the Vision for the trip and it was not a mistake.
The bike sat for several years due to the occurrence of several of the aforementioned problems but I got it back on the road again in 2003. I rode it for several years along with a TDM850 I got after I retired the first time. But I returned to work after a little over a year. Those contractor dollars were too good to pass up, but the bikes started getting neglected. I was riding only on the odd weekend off. Long story a little shorter, both bikes are non runners. So I found the RZ. Now I am retired for good, it is bike time. I am near where I want to be mechanically with the RZ but I like to have a bike to ride so I am working on the Vision before doing appearance stuff on the RZ.
First are the carbs. They are unique to the Vision and I don't know if I can get them rebuilt. I have a set of carbs off an FZR600 and have been working on adapting them to fit. If I can get them to fit I will have to get the jetting figured out. I have an electric fuel pump that I am going to try also.
Then there is the front fork. The stock fork is kind of an odd duck as it has a trailing axle. That is not really a problem, it's just a little funny looking but the fork legs are just 35mm, same as the RZ. It's not really adequate for a bike that is a hundred pounds heavier. I have a set of forks from a 650 Seca Turbo that are 36mm that I am going to try. I have to be careful though as I really don't want to screw up the geometry. Yamaha didn't use the trailing axle for looks.
The bike sat for several years due to the occurrence of several of the aforementioned problems but I got it back on the road again in 2003. I rode it for several years along with a TDM850 I got after I retired the first time. But I returned to work after a little over a year. Those contractor dollars were too good to pass up, but the bikes started getting neglected. I was riding only on the odd weekend off. Long story a little shorter, both bikes are non runners. So I found the RZ. Now I am retired for good, it is bike time. I am near where I want to be mechanically with the RZ but I like to have a bike to ride so I am working on the Vision before doing appearance stuff on the RZ.
First are the carbs. They are unique to the Vision and I don't know if I can get them rebuilt. I have a set of carbs off an FZR600 and have been working on adapting them to fit. If I can get them to fit I will have to get the jetting figured out. I have an electric fuel pump that I am going to try also.
Then there is the front fork. The stock fork is kind of an odd duck as it has a trailing axle. That is not really a problem, it's just a little funny looking but the fork legs are just 35mm, same as the RZ. It's not really adequate for a bike that is a hundred pounds heavier. I have a set of forks from a 650 Seca Turbo that are 36mm that I am going to try. I have to be careful though as I really don't want to screw up the geometry. Yamaha didn't use the trailing axle for looks.