Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

The dua l disc front brakes made th e bike sto p well. stra ig h t a nd true, a nd braking wa s not affected whe n rid ing through wash es on co un try roa ds as it ha s been with so me othe r Ya ma has. Ca rb uretion was good , too , for a n EPA bike. At morning tempera tures o f abo u t 60° the engine ran more smooth Iv wi th th e choke left o n d uri ng warm u p , ra ther th an grad ua lly shu t as th e ma n ual suggests , but warm up tim e wa s not excess ive a nd dr iving off with the cho ke o n, if o ne m ust, work ed OK , too. T he bik e wa s deli vered wit h minim u m air and damping sett in g on th e forks a nd on th e Mon ocr o ss De Ca rbon-type rear shock wh ich reclines under th e seat. I beefed up bo th to solo -ride r ma xim u m, dam ping on one in front a nd three in back , a nd a ir a t II psi in front and 28 in bac k and left it th er e. If yo u 're faced with some extens ive freeway riding on short pave\TIent sectio ns it 's worthwhil e to sto p a second to dial th e damping down to soften the V irago's gait. Or, yo u can make it much more taut for seri ous ca nyo n riding. Changes of air , if needed, are eas ily ac co m p lished wi th a mini-pump, a nd one o f th e a ir gauges that takes sma ll biles is needed , since th e forks (w ith th eir sma ll volume o f ai r)h ave a crossover but no ga uge. O ther a meni ties a re th e o nes commo n ly foun d on rop-o f- rh e-l in e mot orcycles no w - self -ca nce ll ing turn sig na ls, fork lock in th e ig n itio n sw itch. cha in a nd its integral lock sto red under th e sea t, q ua rt z headlig h t, electron ic ign iti on, a utoma tic chai n ten sioner. T he m irrors are wo nde rfu l: large, rectangula r, easil y and wide ly a dj us table. Too ls are below th e left side cove r in a sma ll co mpa rtme nt wh ere th ey are accessible but do present th e usual p uzzle o f how-did-they-all -come-outo f- tha t-ti ny-space? Th e too lbox, whi ch can be opened (a nd closed, too, if yo u ' ve pa cked th em irttheir bag ver y ca ref u lly ) with a quarter , a l~o lea ks dirty water off th e street if it rams. My seco nd least favorit e feature was the too-upright sidesta nd , wh ich forces you to rem ember that this is not a lightweight motorcycle and will fall down and break its plas tic parts if yo u do n ot bal an ce it properly . Strangely, a fte r it had co me back from a da y at a shop on a nother project, th e sidesta nd stood at more of an ang le. - 1\1 y ver y least fa vori te fea tur e was th e helmet lock, positioned so there is no wa y, sho rt of bondage. to keep the helmet off th e hot pipe. Don 't even think of p u tt in g a pol ycarbonate helmet on thi s lock. unless it's a n unusual situa tio n lik e eme rg ing from your mot el in th e morning with lid in hand a nd deciding to walk to breakfa st. Early on , th e bike learned to wear a short, co vered cha in a nd padl ock a ro un d a handlebar for m y helmet. This individual was a handsome deep maroon in co lor. But th e paint on the tank scratched eas ily , leav ing whi te marks which had to be rubbed out with polishing compound. Pro ud new owners ought 10 think about taking theirs 10 th e neighborhood lan k pai nt er for a n overcoat of something clear and hard. But the less-than-successful detai ls are much -less important than the bi ke's good qualities . Yamaha ha s a tradi tion of starting wit h an excellent concept a nd refining it through the mode l years . Excell en t co ncep t the 920 Virago is . for th ose who love big V's but don't have to have a Harley: for those wh o lik e big bikes but find a lar geIour a ha nd ful : o r for those wh o want a friendl y large motorcycle that lo oks good , so u nds g rea t, anddoes • most.everything well. 0 0 e ~ C\I 00 0") ...... ...... CX") ..c u l-l C\l ~ o 0 KAWASAKI 66FAST START9 ~ ose UNTS E EAR ,IN ANDR LL NG. Now is the time to get that new Kawasaki motorcycle you 've always wanted, at a price that's right out of the past. Kawasaki has given its dealers big discounts on 14 selected new '79 through '81Kawasaki models and the dealers are ready to pass the savings on to you . Discounts vary up to $700 off. Save big on touring bikes, high-style CSRs, sporty middleweights, sharp -handling KDXEnduros and berm-busting KX Motoc rossers. G et a fast start on the competition with your new Kawasaki and a money -saving "Fast Start" discount by seeing you r Kawasaki dealer today. He's got the details. He's got the bikes. An d he's got the savings'. O ffer valid Februa ry 1,1982 through June 30,1982 at participating dealers while supplies last. ki Let the good times roll. ELIGIBLEMODELS: 1981KZ440 LTD,1981KZ440 Std.,1981KZ650CSR,1980KZI300,1980KX125,1981KXI25, 1980KX250 , 1981 KX250 ,1980KDX250, 1979 KDX400, 1980 KDX400, 1981KDX420,1980 KX420, 1981KX420. Awulab lhty may be limited . Kew esekr believes In ndmq sefely, Mem ber. AMA e nd MSF. OUe r va lid a t partio pating dealers. while sup plies la st. 1930 Centrol Avenue Boulder. CoIoIicIdo 80301 '(303 ) 447-8727 JOnesGoggles Distr ibut ed By: Hallman Racing USA - Addtson, Il 1312) 543-6247. 18001323-2273 Hallman Rac ing USA - EI Cajon, CA 1 7141 442-Q431, (8001 634-281 2 Keyst one MX Worka - 888W)f FaIl's, PA MEG. CO. EQUAL-FILL GAUGE SYSTEM ,...~- ...... 1 4121846-8361 Krause Racing - Northlake, Il (3121 344-2233 Competibon Produc ts - Salt Lake City, UT 1801 ....9301 . Pro Pad East - M iramar, FL {3061962·Sn 1 BIS Distribut ing , Inc. - Denver , CO 1303 1232-42611 Sullivan Brother s - Hanson, MA 1817 1293-9430, 1 8001343-5984 IronhOl'se M/C Supply - Houston , TX _ _ _ __ _......:;71:..:3:; 1 : 1665-4321 ' Canoga Park Suzuki New Owncnhlp - NeW"Manaacment 7045 Canoga Ave. Canoga Park. CA 91306 12131884-0413 New Hours - Tues. - Sat. 9-6 availa ble f r A merican, Homemade, and Honda air forlc caps; PriCes sutlIea to change without 'l'amaIla...SuzuJd. Kawasaki, notice. P LEASE SPE a FY MAKR;MODEI:l AND YEAR GOKI Mfg. ce., 9525 Cozycrott Aven ue. Unit F, Chats worth , Ca lifor n ia 9131 1 U.S.A.

• Cover