Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

Cycle News 1996 08 07

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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,§:uuiH.I'!#ri'- brake required significant pressure. Unfortunately, a little too much pressure and it was easy to get the rear wheel to lock up. If you're used to disc brakes, you might have a hard time adjusting to the sluggish feeling of the VLX'sdrum. On the freeways, the VLX can hang with the flow of traffic without straining too badly, and feels quite stable under these conditions as well. Wind blast at 60 mph is somewhat intense, requiring a slightly tighter grip on the swept-back bars, though it's really no worse than any unfaired bike with wide bars. Luckily there's enough of a step in the seat to give YOlfr back some support. As for slow-speed stability, the VLX is a little "wiggly" but because of the low seat height, there's no cause for concern. Could it be that we've just become too strong from muscling around 750pound behemoths? Overall, there really isn't much the VLX doesn't do well - the four-speed, wide-ratio transmission shifts nicely, the cable-actuated clutch has good feel and a light pull and the motor pumps out adequate power while providing an acceptable 130-plus-mile range from its small2.9-gallon capacity. There are two VLX models to chose from - the standard Shadow VLX and the one 'we tested, the VLX Deluxe. The only difference between the two is that the Deluxe comes with chromed engine parts, an upholstered, button-tuck saddle and three two-tone color schemes to chose from (red/black, black/pearl mint, and pearl purple/pearl white). The standard is offered in just one color - solid black. There's also a $300 price difference. Perhaps the only thing the VLX doesn't offer is that monster torque the bigger cruisers put out, and, for the .image-conscious rider, it might not have enough of that "cool" look or the visual appeal some of the other expensive cruiser bikes have. But for those who watch their bank accounts closely, who want a practical motorcycle that can be ridden every day comfortably and enjoyably, and for those who don't care whether someone else thinks they're cool or not, the VLX does the trick. CN Honda Shadow VT600 VLX Deluxe SpeclficaIlons EarP- type ~&l]D®~&[1 VAM H AA Presented by _ 125/25Occ~~MotocrossSeries,""" Washougal, WasIiIglan •Au,ISt 16, It 18, , . n Set your race tlt:kets at lIIese partIt:IpaIIng IIoItllwest Y.AMAHA Dealers and see lIIe ALL NEW 1991 rz250 and m25 at lIIe Y.AMAHA display at the trat:Ic. ZIJIfI OIIwn, lID Interest and NO PAYMEN75 until AptI/I991on IIBw Yalllaha rzs OREGON DEALERS Bend Recreation 63500 N. Highway 97 Bend Oregon 97701 541·382·5731 Beaverton Yamaha 10380 SW Cascade Blvd. Tigard, Oregon 97223 503-684-6600 Town CenterYainaha 1301 Main St. Oregon City, Oregon 503-657·4654 Herb's Cycletown, Inc. 26 South 5th Street Cottage Grove, Oregon 97424 541·942·3335 The Brothers 5205 1st Street Bermerton, WA 98312 360·479-6943 Spokane Yamaha E. 8700 Sprague Spokane, WA 99212 509·924·7233 Cycle ~rts of Salem 5103 rtIand Ave. Salem, Oregon 503-390-9000 Federal Way Cycle Center 33003 Pacific Highway South Federal Way, WA 98003 206-927-6118 Enumclaw SK Yamaha 408 Roosevelt Enumclaw, WA 98022 360-825-4502 Aorence Yamaha 2130 Highway 126 AQI'ence, Oregon 541·997·1157 WASHINGTON DEALERS Lynnwood Yamaha 20420 Highway 99-P.O. Box 9 Lynnwood, WA 98022 360-825-4502 Tacoma Yamaha 1222 S. Sprague St. Tacoma, WA 98405 206-383·2453 Zim's Yamaha Sports Plaza 22301 SE Stark Gresham, Oregon 97030 503·666·9438 Powersports NW 300S.Tower Centrailia, WA 98531 360-736-0166 Skagit Powersports 1645 Walton Drive Burlington, WA 98233 360·757·7999 Yamaha of Springfield 423 a Street Springfield, Oregon 97477 541·747-1839 Sunnyside Yamaha 508 Yakima vallex Highway Sunnyside, W 98944 509·837-4438 Sportland Yamaha 4402 Bullfrog Road Cle Elum, WA 98922 509·649·2259 Roseburg Power Sports 2366 ME Diamond Lake Blvd. Roseburg, Oregon 97470 54Hl72-4179 Longview Motorsports 1113 Vandercook Way Longview, WA 98632 360-636·1220 Univers!!y' Yamaha 420 E. Pike Street Seattle, WA 98122 206-322-3400 AI's Yamaha 2336 James Street Bellingham, WA 98225 360-733·1000 IDAHO DEALERS Desert Mouritain Cycle P.O. Box 837 Mountain Home, Idaho 83647 208-587-3705 Enter to Win a Day At 71IB Races wIIII'Team Yamaha at these l'arlicipating Dealers. Amateur Racing August 16th & 17th Friday, August 16 Saturday, August 17 80cc D, 80cc 7-11 80cc12-13 80cc 14-15 Supermini 125cc C & D 250Cc C & D Open B/C & D SO's - 60's 125cc A & B 250cc A & B Open A 25+ AlB & C BTH (14-24) 30+ A,B & C Women: O.T. (40+) Nov., Int., Ex. Gates Open 3:00 p.m. -Thursday Practice 7:00 a.m. • Race 9:00 a.m. No Checks Accepted At Track - Cash Only Information: Ralph & Carolyn Huffman (541) 673-1671 583cc liquId-cooled. 52-degree. V·twin ........................75x66mm Ca n ••lan ndIo 9.2:1 n SOHC, three vaNes V per cylinder e..t.ureIIon (2) ~ CII ..........................SoIid State Tn • lulan Wide-ratlo four.speed ..... dEw. O·r1ng chain S .... p.n..an Front 39mm fori<. 5.7-inch travel What's at the leading edge of motorcycle news? Cr.cJe NeWs Oniine! Now you can access instonf race results and the latest breaking stories in the world of motorcycling, with Cycle News' home page on the World Wide Web. UpdGted weekly (and often mid-week, as the latesf news is developing), Cycle News Onlme provides: ................SIngIe shock w/ 7-way preIoed edjU8lBbIIity. 3.S-inch travel ....... Front .SIhgIe disc. wI twIn'piston CllIliper .............................Drum TIna Front 100/90-19 RlNIr ...........•....... 170/80~15 Wh El3.2In. s.t ht .27.2 In. Dry CoW•• ID ., 445.3 Ibs. F cap.cIty 2.9 gill. Color ...(Deluxe> Redlblack, blackIpeart mint, peart purple/peart white, IISRP AtII4 bIeck. DeI.- $5899; Stsnderd $5599. • Complete ond current hoppenings "In the Wind" • The. I996 Cycle News Motorcycle Buyer's Guiele • Current In...motional ond National Championship Colendor Listings • Inslantly updated race results in "Racewatch" . • Race Caverage Highlighls, Motorcycle Tests, and Interviews • The latest offerin9s from Cycle News Video Thea..... • Online motorcycle advertising !ram the leading companies in the industry . • Team Smitty Archiveslcan you beGeve that?) • Back Issue Archives of Cycle News Online :,; ; ; .; ; ,;,. .;.;...111!!!!!!'-------- ,.. Check it out, and tell your friends! Motorcycle news will never be the some - you can access Cycle News Online anytime, day or night, on the World Wide Web at

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