Yamaha Virago 1100

The Yamaha Virago XV1100 was a motorcycle manufactured by Yamaha Motor Corporation. It is one of several in the Virago line and is positioned as large-size metric cruiser with an engine displacement of 1063 cc.

It is unique in being one of the few cruiser-style motorcycles available with a shaft drive instead of a chain or belt final drive system, as well as a V-twin engine of that size. Its heavily chromed body styling is also distinctive.

History

The Virago line was born in 1981 with the XV750. In 1982 the larger 920 was introduced alongside the 750, with several more deluxe features. The 920 was redesigned in 1984 and engine size increased to 1000 cc. In 1986 engine size was again increased to 1063 cc, resulting in the renamed XV1100.

This model was discontinued in 2000 as the "Star" range of motorcycles took over as the cruiser line from Yamaha. The DragStar 1100 is often seen as the successor to the XV1100.

tarter problems

According to Motorcyclist magazine [Joe Minton, "Motorcyclist/ January 1988", p. 68.] , the early Virago has a design flaw in the starter system. This magazine states that the starter's defect exists in early Viragos models (1982 and 1983). However, the same flawed starter system was installed in the XV700, which was produced until 1988. The XV1000 had an improved system since it began production in 1984, which doesn't present the flaws. Also the XV1100 and the XV750 (1989 and up) do not present the starter system flaws found in the earlier Viragos. Motorcyclist Magazine [Joe Minton, "Motorcyclist/ January 1988", p. 68.] suggested to weld the ring gear to its backing plate to solve the problem. Other solutions commonly used are the use of shims, which was Yamaha's proposed solution, then also the use of a new designed idler gear. None of this solutions are considered or proved to be permanent, and applying only one of them will not address other existing flaws in the system; however, great improvements have been reported by Virago owners that have applied them.

Download [http://www.wecandobetter.com/dnload/Yamaha_Virago_1100_Starter_Project_MPEG1.mpg a one hour video of the procedure which permanently resolves the starter issue] . The bike in the repair video not experienced a single starter problem for over 15,000 miles. The MPEG1 format video is designed to be watched on a computer and is 650 megabytes. - This video is no longer available for download.

See also

* Yamaha Virago
* Yamaha Virago 535
* Yamaha Virago 750
* Yamaha DragStar 1100

External links

* [http://www.viragoclassic.com/ ViragoClassic] - ViragoClassic technical forums
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfCLfO7avP0 YouTube Virago xv920 - a different approach]
* [http://www.drpiston.com/ Excellent Technical information on motorcycles, especially the Virago.]

References