Superbike weekend at Mont-Tremblant

On the first weekend of June, all the best racers in Canada were in beautiful Mont-Tremblant, for the first round of the 2007 Parts Canada Superbike Championship. The faithful Vision and I rode to and from, all in all a perfect motorcyclist's day.

We stopped for a short break on the shore of Lac-des-Plages, on provincial Rd. 323. From left to right: A brand new 2007 Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM wearing a blue dress, its black sibbling, and a 2001 Suzuki GSX-R 600.

On site, access to the pits brings a great, human dimension to a weekend of racing. Here, Jordan Szoke's crew are setting up his bikes for the afternoon stints; things are looking good as he's defending his national title.

During the Pro 600 final, Steve Crevier is hard at work trying to catch up with another veteran, Pascal Picotte. They would occupy the 3rd and 2nd spots on the podium a few laps later.

The little bike that could... have.

The 1982 Yamaha Vision could have made an impact. After all, it had bold styling and a peppy, high tech engine. Unfortunately for the company, the bike also came with a few flaws - some minor, some a bit more relevant.

For one, carburation was plagued with a flat spot around 4,000 rpm. Yamaha found a way around that, and a recall provided the owner with a smoother power delivery. But the damage to the bike's reputation was done.

In the handling department, all was not perfect either. The minimalist frame, even with the engine as a stressed member, would flex too much when hitting a bump mid-corner. Braking, via a single piston caliper acting on a single front rotor, was unimpressive at best. The bike was too softly sprung, both fore and aft.

Yamaha made a valiant effort one year later to address the shortcomings. Braking equipment doubled up front. Fork springs became progressive, and rear shock adjustable. A full fairing turned the Vision in a capable sport tourer. But these significant changes came... one year too late. If Yamaha had offered this version of the bike when it was introduced, maybe it would have lived up to the manufacturer's expectations. The imperfections of the first iteration were too important and the reputation unsalvageable; in 1984, the Vision became a ghost.

What's THE Bike?

Which bike should be The One? The two-wheeled vehicle to which all should be compared? For me, it's the 1982 and 1983 Yamaha xz550, AKA Vision. It happens to be the first bike I rode on the road.

Somehow, there's a unique phenomenon that takes place in the brain, the minute you go for your first ride. The bike creates a permanent scar in the brain and that will forever define a perfect moment.

Now 25 years old, my ride's still providing me with hair-raising excitment everytime I take it out for a spin...