Yamaha
XV 535-1992
A rational choice
Choppers - those caricatures
of motorcycles with their exaggeratedly long front forks - were born in the US during
the Sixties and quickly inspired the Japanese factories to produce Americanized
models. The fashion took longer to catch on in Europe, but nowadays in 1995 custom
bikes, represent more than 13 percent of the European market, with the Yamaha :XV535
dominating the scene.
Redefining the Everyday Motorcycle
Custom styling underpinned
a new trend towards sensible, practical bikes putting greater emphasis on enjoying
riding in a laidback, safety-conscious manner rather than emphasizing sheer
performance. Modern custom bikes have stylishly reinvented a forgotten role of
the two-wheeler, that of providing civilized daily transportation. Easy to
ride, clean and economical, the :XV535 was also extremely competitively priced,
making it the best-seller in its category, with sales of some 2000 units in
1991 in France. Stylish and Trouble-Free
With a low saddle
height making it easy to handle, the :XV535 keeps its center of gravity as near
the ground as possible by employing a cunning plan: the stylish tear-drop fuel tank
only holds a 1.3-gallon (US) reserve supply the main 2.25-gallon (US) tank is mounted
beneath the saddle. The generous use of chrome plating sets off the engine - which,
American style, simply has to be a V-twin, whose torque and flexibility suit such
a bike to perfection - to maximum advantage.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine: air-cooled
535cc (76x59mm) V-twin four-stroke
Power Rating: 40.8hp@
7500rpm
Valves: single
overhead camshafts actuating two valves per cylinder
Fuel System: two
34mm carburetors
Transmission: 5 speeds,
shaft drive
Suspension: telescopic
forks (front); swinging fork (rear)
Brakes: disk (front);
drum (rear)
Wheels: (front)
3.00x19, (rear) 140/90/15
Weight: 397 lb
The combination of good looks, quality and competitive
pricing made the XV535, launched in 1987, the best-selling custom bike of its day.
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