1982 yamaga virago - Good Buy?

http://boulder.craigslist.org/mcy/1476199597.html

Any Suggestions, I might check it out tomorrow. The seller says runs strong and he will accept $800. I like the style and it looks like it will outlive my dying XJ sorry to say. Anyone ever have one before. Are there any spledid xj'esk websites for viragos? It seems like everything i found online is a negative review, Say it aint so? also anyone know the HP, i cant find anything on this bike

Thanks all

 

as RickCoMatic would say, "Virago is Italian for push start" the starter clutches always go out on them... they're pretty slick if its in good shape,
but that could be a good buy, looks really clean

 

I had an absolutely BEAUTIFUL Virago.
Beautiful.

I got rid of it.
I got so frustrated trying to keep the Electric Starter working, ... it became a nuisance!

Make a deal with the Seller.
Ask him if you can have your money back if there's anuthing wrong with the Starter.

If he says: "Yea, sure. No problem."
Take a shot.
If he says: "AS is. All sales; FINAL"

Don't bother with it.

 

Thanks guys, Unfortunately i think the guy will be booking it out of town once its gone.
My biggest concern is my ability to work on it? are there any resources?

Also, what should i be listning/feeling for with this starter issue, I have read that it grinds a lot. Is this resonably fixable?

Thanks Again

 

my friend has the 500cc Virago, I have been trying to tell her to get rid of the pile of shit. I'm tired of pushing it to start, and it hates the cold! I have read once that Yamaha had produced a "how to" to fix the starter, but I wouldn't bother. Personally the bike rides like your on a high horse, which is horribly uncomfurtable (in my personal opinion.) I love the yamaha brand, but I hate that bike with a passion, and I don't think they fixed the starter till the late 80's either. Everyone I have ever talked to that has had or currently own that bike still has that issue. I think most people put up with it then fix it cause you have to tear apart the starter.

Plus the XJ fourm is probably going to be your best bet for info since the only Virago fourm i have found is horrible for info.

 

if its the 920cc and has little wear and tear it may be worth
the price even with the starter issues...although there sure are
a lot of guys far more expert then me that advise against it.
i don't envy the choice you have in front of you.
good luck no matter what!

 

oh this is difficult, I might be leaning towards no? I'll post up some pics if i go for it.
Thanks very much

 

I had an 82 750 with Kerker exhaust and the main jets drilled. It was an absolute hoot to ride! VERY fast and it looked great. The ONLY problem I had with mine is that it could never pass by a filling station. It had a 95 mi range most likely due to the mods. Did I mention it was fast?????

Gotta love those external oil lines!

 

Keep leaning toward no.

The Virago had the same basic starter setup as the XJs which is what caused the problem: the big twin "kicks back" against the starter with a lot more force than the 4-cyl XJ. As a result, the starter gear housing cracks at the three pockets for the sprag pins. Once it's cracked, then it's split the cases time; but the problem could just as well re-occur as not.

On top of that, and also exacerbated by the factors mentioned above, Rick experienced the other starter problem: the starter itself is a POS.

I REALLY REALLY wanted an XV920RH (the "Seca" version) but a couple of my friends had Viragos (Viragoes?) at the time and both were having starter problems; every used one I looked at had some sort of problem with the starter. I gave up on the idea.

 

Junk starters,poor carbs,and very likely soft cams.Yeah,sign me up,and throw in a side order of herpes. Great bike if you luck into a good one,but the Virago's track record is less than stellar.

 

oy! to much to deal with. Maybe i'll just put the money into the maxim!

 

yah,after reading all the negitives, sticking with the xj seems to
the best way to go....shame though, always liked the look of
the virago. i guess that idea went from back burner to the round
filing can.

 

I would like one as well. But I am looking for a 1000 to 1100 cc 1984-1989 model. After the starter issue and the body style that looks broken in the middle.

 

i guess im, probbibly the virago guru of the bunch here if anyone has any questions feel free to ask me i have 3. pre 86 models have starter gear problems . after 6that they are fine the way you can tell is 84 earlier and some 85 look at the shifter cover case its 1 peice where the sol bolts on on the later models without the starter problems there is a small cover that bolts over the sol looks like 2 silver dollars connected together .they changed the idler system and went to the long shaft starter then . this is the last 1 i bought for 500 bucks

 

Thanks for the update cutlass, and great looking bike.

 

no problem .just figured if anyone has any questions on them all they have to do is ask. still working on that one .was a former show bike.when the former owner pulled the heads off to paint the cyl. got everything messed up. put the wrong head on the wrong cyl so it was trying to use the intakes for the exhaust (front rear cams are differant) swapped them over and installed roller cam bearings vs aluminum. motor has a vibration noise on decel. i have to put the stock pipes that i took off another one so i can hear the noise drag pipes are just 2 loud. my other 500 buck virago took 1.5 years to trace down an electrical problem . Can you believe it was the trickel charger was omitting the same signal as the pick up coils so you turn on the key bump it the spark was continus until you shut the key off . as you can tell when i get upset with something i walk away for a while . i have to pull the carbs on the other again its 23 years old after sitting so long without gas the floats sank a bit and it will flood the cyl out ugh but it only has 8900 miles. but first i need to get my maxim x jetted correctly and make it look original again. hopefully can finish my garage this weekend and get started on the bikes just installed a 11ft long work bench .had to fabricate it to hold my compressor and recepticals lights ect now im just starting to hang tools .