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.
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.
