The Virago was Yamaha’s first attempt at a V-twin motorcycle, and also one of the first mass-produced bikes to use a monoshock for the rear suspension. Launched in 1981, the first model was the XV750—a cruiser that is popular with custom builders to this day.
Later variants included the XV920, and the range eventually spanned engine sizes from 125 to 1100cc. A redesign in 1984 saw the mono-shock ditched in favor of a conventional dual-shock design, and remodeled gas tanks and ergonomics to reflect contemporary chopper styling.
Today, the air-cooled Virago is the mainstay of European workshops such as Moto Adonis, and it helped launch the careers of American builders such as Classified Moto and Hageman MC. And although production of the Virago finished in 2007, the Japanese v-twin remains a popular choice on the secondhand markets—and inside custom workshops.
The Yamaha Virago is one of those bikes that just keep on giving. Yamaha’s V-twin cruiser first popped up in the early eighties, and by the time it disappeared from showrooms in 2007, multiple variants had been built—from a teeny 125 to a whopping 1100 cc. The shaft drive XV750 was one of the most…
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Like the Honda CX500, the Yamaha Virago is one of those “sow’s ear” bikes: it’s a challenge to make a silk purse out of it. Plenty of custom builders have taken the bait, and a few have succeeded. This Virago from Kerkus in Malaysia is an oddball example, but there’s a reason for it. “The…
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A Yamaha Virago with Ducati superbike suspension from the US, a stripped down Ducati 1198S Corse from France, a Norton Commando from Japan, and a very sporty Sportster Roadster from Spain.
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Despite having a population of almost ten million people—more that Denmark or Switzerland—Hungary has a pretty low profile on the European custom scene. Maybe it’s because the country is tucked away in Central Europe. Or maybe Hungarians hide their lights under a bushel. Judging by this very sharp custom Yamaha TR1, however, there’s at least…
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Read more »Think of a custom Yamaha Virago, and you’ll probably picture a sleek, waspish build from Greg Hageman or Moto Adonis. The seats…
Read more »Five years ago, if we were asked to describe the stereotypical café racer it would probably be a Honda CB. Today, the…
Read more »The Benelli Mojave is an endangered species. In the 1960s, it was virtually disposable, and sold by a chain of department stores.…
Read more »When it comes to old motorcycles in need of resurrection, owners often face a dilemma: restore to original spec, or rebuild as…
Read more »Not many custom builders have been invited to display their bikes in Harrods and the Saatchi Gallery. But then again, England’s magnificently…
Read more »If there’s one name you need to keep an eye on in 2014, it’s ER Motorcycles (short for ‘Espresso Racer’). Founded in…
Read more »Are there any remaining doubts about the resurrection of the Yamaha Virago XV920? If so, this latest build from Greg Hageman of…
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