Virago suddenly gutless!

**sleemanj** · 28th December 2009, 09:39

I have owned an XV250. Which ran on 1 for a while.

Unless the design has changed, or my memory is bad, the TAIL pipes are not fake. I do seem to vaguely recall a "decorative" header for the rear cyl on the right side, the actual header is tucked away, again, from memory.

Anyway, you very definately have two cylinders and both very definately should fire, and running on 1 cylinder very definately makes for a workable but gutless ride.

My problem was due to the battery boiling dry when the regulator was overcharging, I bought the bike in Motueka all working, and rode back to Christchurch, 30 minutes from home there was a bang and total power loss, got it going again and got home after putting some water in the now totally dry battery, but only one cylinder. Seem to recall that it required a new coil and also the CDI needed replacing.

If a plug replacement doesn't resolve the issue, I'd take it in to a shop for them to have a look.

**Ixion** · 28th December 2009, 16:31

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

rear pipe is cold, but i always thought it was a dummy pipe and not actually hooked up? theres exhaust coming out of it though, but the two could be connected somewhere?

i shot a video detailing the noise, using choke and taking it off again. seems to be running better than it was this afternoon, but its hard to tell without taking it on the road.

Yes, the chrome plated rear pipe is a fake. Just bolts onto the frame. The real rear header emerges from the back of the rear cylinder, just behind the battery, and dives directly downward (toward the ground) then does a right angle loop and connects into the front pipe just in front of the silencers.EDIT. The "real" rear pipe isn't chrome. Just rusty. And much skinnier.

Spark plug's as good a place to start looking as any. You can do a quick and dirty test. Remove the front cylinder plug cap and try and start it. Repeat with rear cap removed (and front on). It should start OK on either cylinder, but be gutless (obviously, only half power). If it won't start at all on one or other cylinder, that's the dud one.

**sunhuntin** · 28th December 2009, 17:42

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

It was entirely selfish - I'm a bit bored and about to do something stupid that does not nee doing

or - weed the garden in the wet

....

My cunning plan was to fix your bike by magic in 5 mins and then go fishing along the coast

on the way home.... A quick look at the weather report shows thats not happening either ......

aw, sorry paul! you should have said in your first post and i would have happily had you come up! as it was, went plug hunting at super cheap and repco, and neither had the plugs, and we dont have the tool to remove them. so off to paragon tomorrow to pay dealer prices.
you could come tomorrow if you want.

would be good to see you again.

fj... the bike is in my profile pic.

sleeman... you are right, its the header which is fake. should have been clearer.

ixion, thats great advice!

will file that away for future use. ive already decided to replace both plugs at once and see if that fixes the issue. if it doesnt, heigh ho, heigh ho, its off to the shop i go.

**FJRider** · 28th December 2009, 17:57

I am supprised the bike's tool-kit does NOT have a plug spanner in it. Standard in most kit's .... have you looked ???

Nice bike by the way ...

**sunhuntin** · 28th December 2009, 18:27

thanks.

no tool kit with the bike. no owners book either. not surprising considering shes had 7 owners before me. lol. otherwise, we would have been fine.

**Paul in NZ** · 28th December 2009, 18:29

No problem - got one of the kayaks out and went for a stella fish while Vicki sunned herself on the beach...

Um - I'd be a teeny bit suspicious re the electrical system - do you have a voltmeter?

**sunhuntin** · 28th December 2009, 18:34

kayak sounds good. only done that once at camp, but quite enjoyed it. good fun. not so much a fan of fishing though. imagine hooking something really big... youd be towed for miles. lol.

no, dont have a voltmeter. hardly have any kit here.

**Paul in NZ** · 29th December 2009, 07:26

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

kayak sounds good. only done that once at camp, but quite enjoyed it. good fun. not so much a fan of fishing though. imagine hooking something really big... youd be towed for miles. lol.

no, dont have a voltmeter. hardly have any kit here.

Even a decent sized kawahi will put a big bend in your rod and give a fairly good fight from a kayak with the leapin n splashin and ziggin n zaggin n all... excellent fun!

If you can get the bike running on two, it would be interesting to see if there is enough juice getting to the battery or if the rect / reg has gorn phut. Low voltage might be causing issues?

**sunhuntin** · 29th December 2009, 10:55

ok, so we hit up paragon this morning for 2x spark plugs and the tool to put em in and take em out. put the new ones and fired her up... sounds much better!!! so im guessing the plugs were the problem... they were quite dirty. we also checked the air filter and decided it was clean enough.
we also finally managed to pop the sidecovers off for the first time ever after discovering the tool kit hiding behind the battery! sheesh... weve been under that seat heaps in the last month, and never even saw it. was pretty well disguised though.

so i checked the tools i had in the tank bag and removed the double ups [hex tool, 10-12mm spanner, spark plug tool] and put it back. was going to put it in the hollow box opposite the air filter, but dad didnt think it was a good idea due to there being cables of some kind.
got dad to drill a hole in each of the side covers to thread cables ties through... my biggest fear would be having one flip off while moving, having lost the 500 cover that way. one of the clips was broken, so its lucky that didnt vanish years ago.

so, thanks to everyone who commented

, i have one bike that seems to be running fine. will take it out this afternoon weather permitting and just try it. i know where the tool kit is and i know that the sidecovers do come off. also now know how to change spark plugs and check the air filter.

paul... i imagine it must be tiring having to paddle all the way back. lol. good way to get some thrills though. i will keep an eye and see if any other issues relating to starting or running appear, and if they do, will investigate furthur.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 29th December 2009, 11:06

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

so, thanks to everyone who commented

, i have one bike that seems to be running fine. will take it out this afternoon weather permitting and just try it. i know where the tool kit is and i know that the sidecovers do come off. also now know how to change spark plugs and check the air filter.

Glad you're all sorted. They're pretty bullet proof wee bikes and it's normally something pretty simple!

**Paul in NZ** · 29th December 2009, 11:51

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

paul... i imagine it must be tiring having to paddle all the way back. lol. good way to get some thrills though. i will keep an eye and see if any other issues relating to starting or running appear, and if they do, will investigate furthur.

Nah - its easy if you don't go too far out and really, you don't need to, leave that for the boat people. Tricky part is coming back in through the surf - I kinda like it but it gives Vicki the shits.

**sunhuntin** · 29th December 2009, 15:46

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

Glad you're all sorted. They're pretty bullet proof wee bikes and it's normally something pretty simple!

yeh i guessed it wouldnt be anything too major. this is the most trouble shes given me in 3 years together, but still worrying when so used to that reliablilty. if it wasnt for kb, i would have had to pay a mechanics bill to fix it!
usually i use the mechanic students at work, but that job is closed until next month some time.

Nah - its easy if you don't go too far out and really, you don't need to, leave that for the boat people. Tricky part is coming back in through the surf - I kinda like it but it gives Vicki the shits.

coming back in with the waves sounds like more trouble than its worth, though i guess you are going with the waves, rather than against them. i dont think id have the guts to go that far... the ocean scares me half to death. closest i get is walking in the ankle deep bit. lol.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 29th December 2009, 15:56

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

yeh i guessed it wouldnt be anything too major. this is the most trouble shes given me in 3 years together, but still worrying when so used to that reliablilty.

When you fire it up from cold...try to not use the choke for too long. This modern unleaded shit fouls plugs big time...and they don't seem to burn off and come good like the used to. Best to fire it up...get the choke off asap and warm it up by holding the throttle open to fast idle it till it's warm.

**sunhuntin** · 29th December 2009, 17:28

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

When you fire it up from cold...try to not use the choke for too long. This modern unleaded shit fouls plugs big time...and they don't seem to burn off and come good like the used to. Best to fire it up...get the choke off asap and warm it up by holding the throttle open to fast idle it till it's warm.

i hardly ever use the choke. only if its reallllllllly cold, or shes been sitting out in the rain at work or something. most of the year, the choke doesnt get touched, except for when trying to "fix" the running issues over the last few days. lol. usually i start it and then leave it to run while i put the helmet and gloves on. i actually wondered if not using the choke was the reason for the issues.