1100

[donebysunday]

virago I'm toying with the idea.
Saw these rip the corners at the wildcat rally.
It's clean except for broken passenger foot rest and front cylinder head pipe rusty beyond polish.
22K, $1500.
I know about the alternator problem that occurs around 40K.
Thanks, Don

[IanDMacDonald]

Greg worked on one.

[jetmechmarty]

They're compact and pull hard.

[donebysunday]

virago

Thanks guys !
I think it was Don Lawson that said the engine is an XS650 with cylinders split and cranked to the V angle ?

[Barbarosa]

virago I'm toying with the idea.
Saw these rip the corners at the wildcat rally.
It's clean except for broken passenger foot rest and front cylinder head pipe rusty beyond polish.
22K, $1500.
I know about the alternator problem that occurs around 40K.
Thanks, Don

Any motorcycle that has a magnet under the starter gear to catch metal shavings before they get in the crankcase is a problem waiting to happen IMO. Don't know if the design has changed but the early 80's models are that way. If you crank the motor and it sounds like rocks rattling around in a can the cranking mechanism is going out and they are a bear and $$$$$$ to repair.

[donebysunday]

Had

not heard that before. I know about the alternator problems at about 40K.
I take it this is not something for the owner to tackle ?

The XS650 had a problem with the starter gears that was caused by cranking until the battery was low and then would not engage all the way. The gears would not fully mesh and start to grind the partially meshing gears corners off. Most folks could replace the damaged gears themselves (known for it's sound, change being shaken in a coffee can).

Thanks, ! Don

Any motorcycle that has a magnet under the starter gear to catch metal shavings before they get in the crankcase is a problem waiting to happen IMO. Don't know if the design has changed but the early 80's models are that way. If you crank the motor and it sounds like rocks rattling around in a can the cranking mechanism is going out and they are a bear and $$$$$$ to repair.

[Barbarosa]

not heard that before. I know about the alternator problems at about 40K.
I take it this is not something for the owner to tackle ?

The XS650 had a problem with the starter gears that was caused by cranking until the battery was low and then would not engage all the way. The gears would not fully mesh and start to grind the partially meshing gears corners off. Most folks could replace the damaged gears themselves (known for it's sound, change being shaken in a coffee can).

Thanks, ! Don

There is a wishbone looking clip that goes around an idler gear that has a very specific tension that gets overridden. I don't remember exactly how the system works but there are a series of fixes like shimming the starter out to make the gears mesh better and another that attaches a clamp to that clip to adjust tension. I understand the need for gears to "slip" a bit to spare the crank and rod in case of a backfire, but to engineer a place to mount a magnet to catch metallic shavings seems like stone age technology to me. Google virago starter gear fix and you will have a better idea of what is entailed in the repair. If I did get another Virago (had a 920 and a 750 both with starter issues) I would crank the motor before looking any farther. Also the carbs are a BEAR getting off/on. It was around 10 years ago that I got the bikes, both at the same time with the same problem. Fixed the 920 and let the 750 go. I wouldn't do it again because it is expensive and never truly "fixed", but the 920 was very smooth for a vtwin and had a neat digital dash.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Don,
You do know what the word Virago means, right??

Just askin'...

[Barbarosa]

Don,
You do know what the word Virago means, right??

Just askin'...

It's an ancient word that translates into ex-wife.

[XJOK2PLAY]

It's an ancient word that translates into ex-wife.

Ok... so you DO KNOW...

[motoman]

Any motorcycle that has a magnet under the starter gear to catch metal shavings before they get in the crankcase is a problem waiting to happen IMO. Don't know if the design has changed but the early 80's models are that way. If you crank the motor and it sounds like rocks rattling around in a can the cranking mechanism is going out and they are a bear and $$$$$$ to repair.

yeppers........Virago starters are notorious for goin' south........both the 700cc and 1100cc models.

[donebysunday]

Xs 650

are also known for a weak starter.
Virago=X wife, does Xs 650 mean 650 X wives and Xs 1100, Oh my X bank account !!!!! };-)

yeppers........Virago starters are notorious for goin' south........both the 700cc and 1100cc models.

[Barbarosa]

are also known for a weak starter.
Virago=X wife, does Xs 650 mean 650 X wives and Xs 1100, Oh my X bank account !!!!! };-)

I think the cc's are in direct proportion to the level of bitchiness.

[XJOK2PLAY]

You guys seem to be on to something big here...

Pretty funny...

[HalfCentury]

A moderator at xjbikes.com, had a saying that Virago was Italian for "run alongside and push".