for the Virago brigade

**sheddy** · 11th January 2006, 22:31

Hey have you guys checked out this site before.
http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/virago_tips.

Looks to be a good bit of info on there.
Waylander you have done a fair few km's on your bike and know it to be reliable, How far can a well maintained XV 1100 go before an engine rebuild would be needed. Anybody have an idea what sort of cost to do a recon on this engine. What would a 100 000km bike be worth if still tidy.
Cheers

**Waylander** · 11th January 2006, 23:13

Personally, I have no idea.WHen something goes wrong with my bike it goes into the shop or I fix it myself. Can tell you though, aslong as you keep oil changes regular, and a tune up every couple of years or so you should be sweet. Only problem mine has ever had (aside form the wreck) was the idler gears and starter clutch and those are manufacturer design flaws (in my opinion) on the pre 98 models.

Kinda cool seeing all the mods he has done to his.The new air cleaner is pretty trick and I am now very interested in finding a set of 750 risers so I can put the flat bars back on it and get clearance from the tank for the throttle body and such.

**The Preacher** · 11th January 2006, 23:51

Originally Posted by sheddy

Hey have you guys checked out this site before.
http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/virago_tips.

Looks to be a good bit of info on there.
Waylander you have done a fair few km's on your bike and know it to be reliable, How far can a well maintained XV 1100 go before an engine rebuild would be needed. Anybody have an idea what sort of cost to do a recon on this engine. What would a 100 000km bike be worth if still tidy.
Cheers

The VX1100 average around 125,000 to 150,000km if maintained correctly before an engine overhaul is required.
Rough cost: $4000 to $5000

My thoughts are if it has hit that mileage

and you need to spend that sort of cash, then it is time to purchase a new love.

**Waylander** · 11th January 2006, 23:58

Better not sell before you and I meet Preacher mate. Same goes for Virago.

**Virago** · 12th January 2006, 10:22

Originally Posted by sheddy

Hey have you guys checked out this site before.
http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/virago_tips.

Looks to be a good bit of info on there.
Waylander you have done a fair few km's on your bike and know it to be reliable, How far can a well maintained XV 1100 go before an engine rebuild would be needed. Anybody have an idea what sort of cost to do a recon on this engine. What would a 100 000km bike be worth if still tidy.
Cheers

Here's some more good Virago sites:

http://viragotech.com/phpBB/portal.php

http://www.viragoownersclub.org/

http://www.vsoc.org.uk/

Lots of good articles and links.

Opinions vary about the expected longevity of the Virago motors, but the benchmark seems to be 100,000 miles (160,000Km). As Waylander said, it depends on regular oil and filter changes.

The value of one with 100,000Km on it would depend on other factors (age etc), but I would have thought around the $4,000 mark.

**sheddy** · 14th January 2006, 11:34

Trademe last night coughed up, I am buying a 91, one nz owner virago 1100 ex japan with under 12000km. believed to be correct milage. look at completed auctions if you want to take a look. Its a small world, turns out this guy used to own my wifes xj jag. Needs some minor cosmetics but looks pretty good to me.
the big road trip maybe on this week. My mate and I have to get this one from Lower Hutt and pick up a DRZ200 from new Plymouth. still don't have any riding gear yet so most likely she will be coming home on the trailer. [ some of the way!!!]
Saw it come up and have been waiting a while and asking price was right I reckon. a new bike would have been cool but i won't ride enough to justify all that expense.
Look at all that cool gear you can get for these Viragos out of the States e-bay etc.
riding the euphoria while it lasts.
Yeeeees

**Waylander** · 14th January 2006, 12:25

WELCOME TO THE CLUB!!! lol. Let me know a soon as you get it in your hot little hand mate and I'll try swindeling some sort of ride.

**sheddy** · 14th January 2006, 12:34

You know the rules on riding other peoples gear Waylander, plus I see your Avitar all the time

I haven't even seen it in the flesh yet, maybe when the novelty has worn off. Already I want goodie stuff for it. Better pipes and higher highway pegs. Your job must be as good as mine, able to access internet from work.Oh that's right its Saturday.

**Waylander** · 14th January 2006, 12:37

Lol didn't mean I wanted to ride yours dude. I meant doin a cruiser ride, jut a bunch of us on cruisers spend a day in the Coromandel or something.
Gonna take a bit of swindeling to makesure bills and uch don't take all of my first check.

**sheddy** · 14th January 2006, 12:47

See there you go the green eyed monster lept on to my shoulder and I ass u me d not a good move. You have to keep your new toys until theyare a bit worn in. Sounds good about organising a ride. being an old bastard I probably wont want to ride in the rain lol.
its going to be a good Summer after all.

**Waylander** · 14th January 2006, 12:50

Indeed. BTW cannot for the life of me figure out how to searched closed auctions. Can you just post a link? lol. Oh and I gues this means that Lias can go for the 88 XV1100 you were aking heaps of questions about.

**sheddy** · 14th January 2006, 17:38

Go to trademe
lefthand side top
advanced search
virago
change from current listings to expired listings
then scroll down trademe motors
motorbikes
click on search.

Thas how ya do it.
Yep they can bid away on the other bike. It looks like its in good condition for the k's and year.

**crashe** · 14th January 2006, 18:53

Red Baron has a nice blue jap import, Virago 1100cc just arrived on its doorsteps... asking price (just lowered) $7,995 and its a 1998 model I think... Cant remember its milage thou... comfy to sit on and I can reach the ground.... I didnt like the handle bars on it thou... not to my liking at all... need really long arms for that set.

Is that a good price for that year etc etc....?

The bike looked really mint.

**doc** · 14th January 2006, 18:55

I had one of these things a 87 XV1100 had done about 70k plus when I sold it only thing I had to do was a valve grind lost compression one day and all that was wrong was a carbon flake stuck in the valve seat. They had a reputation for starter clutch problems but the only problem I had with the starter was the brushes and got the local auto elec to machine some car ones to fit at a millionith of the cost. My only criticisim of the bike was that if you came into a corner a bit hot it got the pulse racing. Good machine I think that as they are a development of the XV750 I heard that they are the longest production motor in the jap history ( Hey were not talkin 50cc stepthru's )
Doc