Virago 250

[sunhuntin]

Uh, all Viragos pre '98 had this problem but most have been fixed by now. Exspecially if it's come from a shop.

Also Crashe, they handle better with flat bars over the bull horns. Snappier response and more control for counter steering. But bull horns are still good asif it comes with them as it's bloddy hard to find risers that will give you clearance you need for flat bars.


Sunhuntin, get saddle bags. Bag rails are fairly cheep compared to top box mount and look heaps better aswell. They will prevent more rubbing also as that is what they are for along wioth keeping the bags clear of supension and the tyre. Also keep them from swinging out when in a corner and draggin the bottom of the bag on the ground ( I have holes in the bottom of mine from that...)

Go the Virago if you are looking to upgrade from the GN to a proper cruiser. You wont regret it.

cheers waylander. ill go take another look tomorrow. what saddles do you recommend? ill likely get a pack rack for it, cos i do a lot of travelling and would need something to support all my bags. just new brackets and keep the base and box ive already got...will see whats more cost effective.

[Waylander]

cheers waylander. ill go take another look tomorrow. what saddles do you recommend? ill likely get a pack rack for it, cos i do a lot of travelling and would need something to support all my bags. just new brackets and keep the base and box ive already got...will see whats more cost effective.

No idea, PM Slashwylde about bags. The ones I have for my 1100 were actually made for a horse....

TerminalAddict would be the one to ask about pack racks. He is the one in Hamilton (though he is actually in Whatawhata) that had an XV250. He had a packrack for it though he recently traded his XV in for a 900 hornet and I took his pack rack down to Virago for his wife's XV250 but he should be able to give you good info.

Most cost effective IMO would be saddle bags and a backpack. Also with the pack rack, even when not carrying the pack you still have those hideous bars haging around the back of your bike. This is just my opinion though, go with what you like and feel most comfortable with.

[sunhuntin]

when i load the bike, i tend to load it heavy....box fully jammed, several bursting shopping bags on top, and a stuffed full backpack on the pillion seat. i could always just put the box on when im planning on riding like that. and leave the essentials in the bags.

i did find one half of a pair of willie and max saddles at the local op shop...if they both been there i would have grabbed them...no point having one. plus the buckles had been cut off.

ive got enough in my savings to pay for it up front, and in cash. rather a big step...i was saving for a harley....lol. just thinking...do i wanna spend that on a 250, or wait till i get my full, and then get a higher cc?

[Waylander]

when i load the bike, i tend to load it heavy....box fully jammed, several bursting shopping bags on top, and a stuffed full backpack on the pillion seat. i could always just put the box on when im planning on riding like that. and leave the essentials in the bags.

i did find one half of a pair of willie and max saddles at the local op shop...if they both been there i would have grabbed them...no point having one. plus the buckles had been cut off.

ive got enough in my savings to pay for it up front, and in cash. rather a big step...i was saving for a harley....lol. just thinking...do i wanna spend that on a 250, or wait till i get my full, and then get a higher cc?

Ugh, riding with that heavy a load and from what you describe, poorley secured..... *shudder*


Depends on weather you feel comfortable with your riding skill or not if you wait and get a bigger cc bike. Cruisers may not have alot of power compared to most other bikes but going from a 250 inline twin to even a 500cc v-twin is a pretty big step. If you feel confident enough to handle more cc and a heavier bike the by all means. If not then the Virago 250 would be a good step for getting used to the extra torque you get from a vtwin rather than a side by side and the handeling differences for the longer wheel base.

[sunhuntin]

Ugh, riding with that heavy a load and from what you describe, poorley secured..... *shudder*


Depends on weather you feel comfortable with your riding skill or not if you wait and get a bigger cc bike. Cruisers may not have alot of power compared to most other bikes but going from a 250 inline twin to even a 500cc v-twin is a pretty big step. If you feel confident enough to handle more cc and a heavier bike the by all means. If not then the Virago 250 would be a good step for getting used to the extra torque you get from a vtwin rather than a side by side and the handeling differences for the longer wheel base.

loads were always very well secured with bungys and the like...never had a problem after learning to tie shopping bags to the back pack. sometimes the backpack was so full there was literally no room between, it, me and the tank, lol.

was thinking of stepping up to a 600cc....but id take it for a spin first to be sure i could handle it...even the virago im not sure on controlling to speed/power. but, as you say, its a good step for learning the power and such.

[Waylander]

There ya go. Test ride, best way to tell if you can handle it or not. Just remember to take it easy. Don't be too nervous and take it slow, Get someone to follow you if it helps. You wont be hooning about for a while after buying a new bike anyway, not till you get used to it. Problem is shops usually won't let you test ride bikes bigger than 250 unless you have your full. (not sure if you have yours or not) so you may look into getting that first if you're wanting to upgrade to a larger cc soonish.

[sunhuntin]

aiming for my restricted this summer...have had my learners well over a year.

thanks waylander...you certainly helped!

[Waylander]

lol reading back trough this thread I suddenly realize that I sound very much like my father when he was helping me start out on bikes.

I feel all 'old wise man' like now, not sure if I like this feeling or not....

[sunhuntin]

lol reading back trough this thread I suddenly realize that I sound very much like my father when he was helping me start out on bikes.

I feel all 'old wise man' like now, not sure if I like this feeling or not....

*must spread the rep around....*

[crashe]

Carring stuff on the back... I dont have a pack rack at all.


I have had panier bags on filled to the brim, a huge bag on the pillion seat..... and a tent and sleeping bag attached to the huge bag.....
Rode to Katikati like that no problems.....

I have also carried on the back of the bike at different times:
A car seat
A booster seat
A old fashioned woooden highchair
A dehumidifier
A spare tyre
A weedeater
A huge box filled to the brim with papers.
A box of tools and carpenter tools.
All my painting sheets (3 bedspreads, 6 huge sheets)
A huge roll of curtain material
Crutches
Plus many other things all securely tied on.

I have this theroy that if I can get it on the back of the bike then I will take it on the back... saves me getting the car out

[MSTRS:Me]

...from a 250 inline twin to even a 500cc v-twin .....

Uh WL? A GN is a single. Low torque, low HP, low state of tune.
Sunhuntin - you would be traumatised for life if you went straight to a 600 (as WL suggested you could). The Virago (as would a Magna or an Eliminator) would be a perfect bike after being on a GN.

[bert_is_evil]

ooh get a Magna, the one with the pipes that cross over - they're sexy looking bikes

[sunhuntin]

Uh WL? A GN is a single. Low torque, low HP, low state of tune.
Sunhuntin - you would be traumatised for life if you went straight to a 600 (as WL suggested you could). The Virago (as would a Magna or an Eliminator) would be a perfect bike after being on a GN.

well...i test rode this morning. i was way out on the k's...try 37thou [now 38, lol] bars need adjusting, as i couldnt see a thing in the mirrors apart from the sky, lmfao. and theres some vibration in the bars at around 80k. i just love the seat! crashe...it is 5 button...very soft. 50k feels fast...even 80k felt more like 100! the new bikes dont look like they have the same seat.

i did have trouble finding neutral..when i stopped, the gear shift wouldnt budge at all. had to hold the clutch with my right hand and find the key with my left, then roll back and forth before the gear would move.

im seriously thinking on it...theyd give me $2000 for the gn, which isnt bad. and the virago looks and feels awesome! i actually got people looking! LOL.

[MSTRS:Me]

That neutral thing seems to be a big issue tho. Have to say that you would not have this problem with an Eliminator (Kawasaki) Drum just (traded/sold/replaced?) his.
Here's Yungatart's http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...1&postcount=24

[crashe]

well...i test rode this morning. i was way out on the k's...try 37thou [now 38, lol] bars need adjusting, as i couldnt see a thing in the mirrors apart from the sky, lmfao. and theres some vibration in the bars at around 80k. i just love the seat! crashe...it is 5 button...very soft. 50k feels fast...even 80k felt more like 100! the new bikes dont look like they have the same seat.

i did have trouble finding neutral..when i stopped, the gear shift wouldnt budge at all. had to hold the clutch with my right hand and find the key with my left, then roll back and forth before the gear would move.

im seriously thinking on it...theyd give me $2000 for the gn, which isnt bad. and the virago looks and feels awesome! i actually got people looking! LOL.

Yeah aint the 5 studded seat comfy.........

Ok finding neutral: It does happen occassionally with me.
What I do is use the kill switch (on right side) and then find neutral.
But if you tap it gently from second it will find it...
Coming back up from first to neutral is a fine art to do it...practise and you will get it.

38,000km for a 98 model is great......
Im on 87,000km for a 97 model... so you can see I am using my bike all the time...... and she is running sweet.

Yeah the speed thing..... you do feel you are going a lot faster.... cool huh.
They really are great machines to ride.

The new virago seats are a tad wider and also harder..... I dont like the new seats at all to sit on.

Go on buy it....... adjust the handlebars now which are easy to do and adjust the mirrors and away you go.....

Virago's are the way to go......