Yamaha Virago

The Yamaha Virago was the first V-Twin-powered cruiser-style motorcycle produced by a Japanese manufacturer, as well as one of the earliest mass-produced motorcycles with a single shock rear suspension. Originally sold with a 750 cc engine in 1981, Yamaha soon added 500 cc and 920 cc versions.

The bike was redesigned in 1984, switching from a rear mono-shock to a dual-shock design, and adding a tear-drop shaped gas tank. That year, Harley-Davidson, fearful of the inroads the Virago and other new Japanese cruiser-style motorcycles, pushed for a tariff on imported bikes over 700 cc. Yamaha replaced the 750 cc motor with 699 cc version to avoid the tariff, while the 920 cc engine grew to 1000 cc, and later 1100 cc. In the late 1980s a 250 cc Virago was added. A short production of 125 cc was also manufactured. [Yamaha made a XV125, XV250, XV400, XV500, XV535, XV700, XV750, XV1000/TR1, XV1100. The XV400 being the rarest of the breed.]

The larger-displacement Viragos were eventually phased out of production, replaced by the V-Star and Road Star series of motorbikes. The last motorcycle to bear the Virago name was the 2007 Virago 250. For 2008 it was renamed to the V-Star 250.

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 these 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.

According to Doctor Virago, “After trying all of the suggested fixes, I found that the starter problem can be a non-issue, if, twice in a riding season the starter is removed from the bike and overhauled”. This over-haul would include a complete teardown of the starter and all parts thoroughly "Gunk Tank" cleaned. After the parts are cleaned and inspected for failed components, all electrical contact parts are cleaned with an emery cloth, ensuring a good clean contact, and all grease-able parts are greased. Reassemble, and reinstall. Doctor Virago says "If I over-haul my starter at the beginning of the season, I am pretty much guaranteed a trouble free season. The second rebuild half way through the season, will Iron Clad Guarantee I’ll have no Problems".

See also

* Yamaha Virago 250 (till 2007) / V Star 250 (2008-present)
*Yamaha Virago 535
*Yamaha Virago 750
*Yamaha Virago 1100
*Yamaha DragStar

References

External links

* [http://www.viragotech.com/ Viragotech] - Yamaha Virago technical page
* [http://viragotechforum.com/phpBB/portal.php ViragoTechForum] - Yamaha Virago technical support forum
* [http://archives.bengrosser.com/virago Yamaha Virago Mailing-List Archive] - Discussion about the Virago since 1999
* [http://www.viragoclub.com/ Belgian/Dutch Virago Club - Europe]
* [http://www.yamaha-motor.com/star/products/modelhome/24/0/home.aspx Yamaha Virago 250]
* [http://www.5staryorkies.org.uk/ Yorkies - Virago Star Owners Club] - The Yorkshire region of the VSOC
* [http://www.viragoownersclub.org/ Virago Owners Club]
* [http://www.viragoclassics.com/ Virago Classics] - Virago Classics A 4000+ members technical forum.
* [http://www.viragoclassic.com/ ViragoClassic] - ViragoClassic technical forums
* [http://www.ccworks.org/ CCWorks] Producer of a single carb intake for Virago 700-1100
* [http://www.cyclepedia.com/yamaha-xv250-virago-online-service-manual/ Cyclepedia] Online Help System for XV250 Virago