Bought this nice looking Virago for my wife about 5-6 years ago. We bought it from the original owner who was from back east somewhere. He made 2 more trips back east and rode it a around here - a little. He sold it because he got a family and just quit riding. There it sat in the garage. He really hated selling it.
When we bought it the bike had 23,000 miles with newish tires. Today it only has 26,800 miles. Low miles to be sure, oil, air, grease, & spark was serviced a few years ago. The bike was only ridden on short - Less than 100 mile rides, several times each summer. Actually, we used to ride it a few times on sunny winter days also. Nevertheless, all our rides on the Virago tended to be short ones. We bought it with very new tires and have not even put enough miles on it to replace them.
The Virago is a low slung bike that makes it easy for shorter folks to ride, yet with that low seat and kicked out front end it sure feels Harley like.
This bike has been
really fun. Perfect for husband/wife riding adventures.
It seemed to run a little rough so we had it serviced by a motorcycle mechanic
who rebuilt the carburetors, added some aftermarket fixes to the
starter motor and did a tune up. He couldn't find anything other than cleaning
to do to the carbs. It still sounds a little rich to me, but the mechanic
convinced me that it is just the nature of the V-Twin Harley like configuration
purposely built into the bike. We added a front crash bar with a set of hi-way
pegs to kick back and truly feel like a cruiser. We also added the front
windshield.
Other than that, it is as we bought it.
It has a Mono Shock in the rear to help give it that low slung look. Up front the shocks have air fittings for air adjustable riding. Old Skool, Cool looking bike.
We
really like the sissy bar on the back and the windshield does a perfect job of
busting a whole through the wind when riding.
The spiral wheels match the swept back look and the V-Twin has a great rumble sound that rounds this ride out to make it a Classic Yamaha. Yamaha still makes a Virago model still based on this look and configuration.
The paint is in really excellent condition despite the age. There is a small dent in the gas tank from the original owner who noticed it toppling over in his garage, but caught it with his leg.
My wife dropped it once when making a turn, it slid out on some pea gravel. Thanks to the crash bars there has never been any damage other than a busted clutch lever and some injured pride.
My
wife does not ride it anymore due to arthritis. She used to take it out on short
rides around the area with me on my motorcycle, but that hasn't been happening
for awhile, and we are going to sell it free up garage space.
We have too many projects and we really need the room. It has been so infrequently ridden and getting ridden less and less as time goes
on - it is time to pass it on. (We are also
selling a Trike if you are interested.)
This is one of the
original wild & cool looking VeeTwin Yamahas made. They made a keeper design
when they did the Virago, and still make them.
As a 750 it can run with the best of them at freeway speeds or just cruising around. Perfect mid-sized bike, yet big enough and cool enough to run with any other make or model, it's a keeper. I'd call it a mid size bike with lots of style.
No problems with anything.
Typical to all early Virago's it does have the Virago starter noise -
(see
http://www.drpiston.com/81_83_Starter_Paper.html ),
The starter noise is something Virago owners simply live with - there are lots
of mechanics who have done many different things to reduce the starter noises,
but it is simply a common feature on the early Viragos. It doesn't hurt
anything - it's just the way they are. The battery
is New as of 7/08, and she starts up Easily - Every time - No Problem. A low battery will effect the starter
sound - as in how hard it is working to crank. Oh, it also has a very, very slow air leak in the
front tire, not the tire. The original owner told us it
happened when he got the new tires put on, but it only makes sense to fix it
when we change the tire - so it has not been fixed yet. It is such a slow leak that it takes over 2 or 3
weeks before you need to add maybe 10 lbs of air pressure. Other than that -
the Virago just needs someone to ride. Give it some LOVE
Here is a link to many Virago Owners Pictures and some Cool Viragos they are.
Here you can join a Virago Owner Club. Lots of fun and support through a club.
Call if you are seriously interested in giving the Virago a good home.
Thanks,
Roy & Dulane
425-398-8615
Bothell, WA