I finally posted pics in my gallery.

Hello everyone. As the subject reads, I finally posted pics in my gallery.

Just a few notes:

1) I do have the side covers for both bikes for both side, I just never seem to get to putting them on.

2) I set the seat on the 550 so I could take the pic, so don't freak out cause it isn't sitting properly.

3) I changed the bars (actually a friend did) to straight bars on the 1100.

4) And YES my turn signals are hanging down, but hey.....they work.

5) As for the garage....well....what can I say? I inherited it.

 

I relly like your virago.

 

Can you see your speedometer when you ride?lol

 

THANKS! I am fairly confident I have used my spedometer only when I opened them up to see how fast I was going. I learned the speedometer doesn't work on the 550 and I backed off after reaching 100 on the 1100. Frog2 would have gone faster, but for some unknown reason I haven't let it rip. I did on my 550, but perhaps it's because I don't think it goes over 100. Who knows.

 

Heh, funny thing is, the Virago only has about 5 more horsepower, and it weighs a lot more, so the 550 might be faster anyway. 8O :wink:

Nice looking bikes!! I will have a Virago at one point or another... :lol:

 

Wow, I just went back and looked again, that 550 isn't even an XJ at all!!! That's a Virago, appears to be an early 80's 750...

 

What - hell no ...
A virago 1100 will wipe the floor with an air Max700 I know, I have both, I have both of them jetted to the sweet spot and while virago has slip on, Max has stock ... OK OK not equal ... but their difference is so far out ... not even close.
Now a water max will edge out the virago 1100 in everything but roll ons.
A water max is lighter, and in fact might make more power too, but that revvy motor can be flogged ... unlike a virago. 1100 got torque. MaxX got power.
Cool.
Srinath.

 

I was already having a converstaion about what my bike really was, earlier. I gave HiredGoon the VIN and he said it was a strange one. I have looked it up online and it comes back as an Over-the-road 1983 Yamaha. When I purchased it, I was told it was a Virago and one of the first choppers. My insurance company has it listed as a Seca and from what I understand, they use the VIN to determine that. I had a friend who sells bikes tell me it was NOT a Seca. He said he wasn't sure if it was a Virago, but confident is was not a Seca. Now yall can see my confusion when I saw CarryWeavers bike and thougt it looked like my seca.

Hey........maybe I have an extremely RARE Seca that's worth millions!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!

 

Oh....and don't tell me its not an XJ, as that would mean I would have to leave you guysa dn i am growing so fond of you all.

 

According to bikez.com:

Maxim 550 - 50hp 450lbs
Maxim 650 - 71hp 510lbs
Maxim 750 - 82hp 525lbs
1986 Virago 1100 - 55hp 540lbs
1993 Virago 1100 - 62hp 490lbs

First time I looked them up, I used the '86 specs, but for good measure, I checked the newer ones. I realize all this number crunching doesn't mean anything in the real world, but 9 times out of 10, a V-twin is never gonna hang with a good running 4 cylinder. And, not sure how accurate that information is either, I fail to see how they can lose 50 lbs in the same bike from '86 to '93. Also, I realize that the Virago has a big torque advantage, but I still have to say a good running 650 should be able to take a Virago, a 750 oughta mop the floor with it.

 

Just because it's not an XJ doesn't mean you can't hang around here!!! I don't think anyone will tell you to leave!

It's most definetly a Virago, it's the only V-twin cruiser style bike that Yamaha made in the '80's. They also made a wierd little DOHC V-twin sport-cruiser called the Vision, but that's a totally different bike. Also, could be a 920 from the looks of it. My guess would be that the insurance company had some wrong information on their computer. Not a big surprise for some 20 year old Jap bikes though.

Hope you won't leave us over this, maybe I shoulda just kept my mouth shut. 8)

 

I like going fast,but for soem reason at 100 mph on my harley makes me a bit afraid.Mainly cause the airfilter doesnt allow me to squeeze my legs to the bike,with forward controls I feel like I am just holding on by the handlebars..The seca my legs fit nice and snug.

 

Bikez.com is one hell of an optimistinc site. They list a GS400 at 50 hp - I have never see anyhting make over 40 and some of them were open filters and pipes. 42 with that, 38 without is average.
A virago might be close in power and weight, however the taller gearing and the bottomless torque pit = it will kill off a max. Also a 750 will make more hp than a 700 wont it, and weigh less - de sleeving ... more weight and nothing else ... You'd have to do a water maxim ... to match up to a pipes and jetted virago 1100 - yes its a larger motor - OK I'd grant you that. Outright performance - too many factors come into play ... not just dyno.
Cool.
Srinath.

 

I called my local Yamaha dealer and asked if they could look up my bike via the VIN. He said yes and so it began........(uses arm to wipe snot from her nose and heals of hands to wipe tears). Not very lady like for a Princess, I know.

He says I have a 1983 Yamaha Virago XV500. It would make sense, as the instrument cluster says 500. I have totally learned so much from you guys and feel very sad. I don't want to be an imposter, so can I change my log in name XJWannaBe? No wait.....I AM a Princess and Princesses can do what they want. Right? So.......I'll stay have only to answer to the King, so what say ye King? May I stay?

Anyone know of an XV site? UURRGGH! I know it sounds stupid, but I feel such a loss.

 

I wouldn't take it too hard. I suspect that the info you find here will be damn near as good as any XV specific site even if one did exist. This is probably as close as you're going to get and there are lots of people here who will still bend over backwards trying to help. Heck, they do it for me and I'm no princess!

Oh, and you could always go out and buy the XJ of your dreams!

Greg

 

Alright, here's what ya do. Sell the Virago, get an XJ. Haha.

I agree with Greg though, you'll still get information here, and you might be surprised at how close the Virago's are to XJ's. Main difference is the Virago's were V-twin's, the XJ's were 4 cylinders. But, there is a Virago-specific forum at viragotech.com, but they're not near as cool as we are. :wink:

 

And WE ARE cool!!
Maybe even NICER!!

 

Far cooler !

nicer though, I dunno...

 

I am on that site now......and it is diagrams and specifications, which is cool, but not near as cool as all the info here. I am confident I will be able to use much information that yall share. I love looking at the pics and reading the banter. You are an awesome bunch and if yall don't mind a non-XJ owner being a member of an XJ site, then I am blessed and thankful.

I keep thinking the 500 on the instrument cluster should have been a clue. Did I tell yall my natural hair color is blonde? Guess you may have figured it on your own.

Thanks for all the kind words and support.