Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/127795
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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
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................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,
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