Important Announcement
Here are some pictures of an '81 Virago 750 that is in daily use. No vehicle inspection laws
here in the panhandle backwoods, so creative engineering is permitted if functional. The motor and backbone are still original from
a rolling basket bought in 2000. The bike had been under a tarp down near the coast for a few years allowing sheet metal to get badly
rusted. I didn't like the back fender in the rain anyway beacuse it threw water on my back. This dented FLH fender was picked up on
ebay for $10 and sheds water like it's supposed to. The front fender came from a goldwing, the tank off an FLT ($15 on ebay). It
required a slight adjustment with a set of hydraulic speaders from the local volunteer fire department, after which it dropped down
over the frame like it was made for it.
Since the Viragos are not all that thrifty on gas, the 5 gallon tank is a major improvement.
The extended brake lingage was made from hardware store stuff as were the clamps for the running boards
and the shifter and brake mounts. The extended shifter linkage came off something else - not sure what - possibly a later model
Virago. The exhaust system was built from some rusted out sportster style virago exhaust that I cut off and welded on some 1+3/4
inch diameter extentions and put on some old but toney mufflers (prob HD). This required building
a hanger for the exhaust system. The seat is, I think, from a 90 something sporty.
Not real pretty but sturdy with a fuel range of 150-250 miles depending on whether or not I'm in compliance with the local speed limits.
The really great thing about these early XVs is that there are a lot of interchangable parts. Almost any old Virago motor will fit in this frame. My spares are another 750, a 1000, and a 700
that is waiting for a top end from an earlier 750. Part #s for the wrist pins are the same. Many stators and internal electrics will also change out as well as side cases, starters, etc. Yamaha has a website with extensive parts listings where you can check part numbers and be sure of what you can mix and match. As for body parts, anybody with a hacksaw, a grinder, a welder, (and a jaws of life)can make anything you like fit.
Backwatereddy
