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XV1100 Virago test ride. I'm spoiled by my XS11.

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  • #1

    XV1100 Virago test ride. I'm spoiled by my XS11.

    Had a chance to try out my brother in law's '92 XV1100 virago. Was bought new by his girlfriend's dad and he's passed it on. My first time on a cruiser. I was expecting it to be more powerful than it is because it's got close to the same torque as the XS11. It actually feels gutless in comparison. And those vibes! Are all V twins like this? Makes me love my XS even more.

    It's his first bike and I was worried that it might be too powerful for him to start on but now I think it's probably just fine. He took a course and he seems to ride pretty safely so that's good to see.

    Fun, easy bike to ride though.
    Last edited by Orange4; 09-18-2015, 02:10 PM.
    Living to EXcess.
    1978 XS1100E Canadian, Cartridge emulators, NOS heavy duty fork springs,
    Showa rear shocks, ACCT, Jardine 4-2 spaghetti pipes.
    1979 XS1100F Canadian, stock exhaust. Top end rebuild in progress.
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  • #2
    It was way too small for me, but I loved the way it felt when I twisted the throttle.
    Marty (in Mississippi)
    XS1100SG
    XS650SK
    XS650SH
    XS650G
    XS6502F
    XS650E

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    • #3
      Maybe his is not tuned properly.

      John
      John is in an anonymous city with an Alamo (N29.519227,W-98.678980)

      Go ahead, click on the bikes - you know you want to...the electrons are ready.
      '81 XS1100H - "Enterprise"
      Bob Jones Custom Navy bike: Tkat brace, EBC floating rotors & SS lines, ROX pivot risers, Geezer rectifier, new 3H3 engine

      "Not all treasure is silver and gold"

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      • #4
        Originally posted by Orange4 View Post
        Had a chance to try out my brother in law's '92 XV1100 virago. Was bought new by his girlfriend's dad and he's passed it on. My first time on a cruiser. I was expecting it to be more powerful than it is because it's got close to the same torque as the XS11. It actually feels gutless in comparison. And those vibes! Are all V twins like this? Makes me love my XS even more.
        Hey, Orange -

        Yeah, all V-twins vibrate to a greater or lesser degree (unless it's a 90° V-twin with perfect balance).

        How much of that vibration the rider feels depends on how well the mfr. has isolated those vibes, i.e. rubber engine mounts, rubber-mounted pegs/bars, etc.

        IIRC, the big Virago engines were not rubber-mounted.

        But, having ridden a few Virago 1100's over the years, IMO they are fun cruisers.
        Marco

        Current bikes:
        1979 Yamaha XS Eleven Special (SF)
        1979 Honda CBX
        2002 Kawasaki ZRX1200R

        Rest in Peace, Don Glardon (DGXSER) 1966-2014
        WE MISS YOU, DON

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        • #5
          I have one. Its not an XS but your last sentence says it all. "Fun, easy to ride though". Its not an all day ride for me.

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          • #6
            The XV is about 20 - 30 hp less than the XS but it's pretty torquey.
            Greg

            Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

            ― Albert Einstein

            80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

            The list changes.

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            • #7
              Yeah. I wonder if it's not tuned properly. Maybe the carbs are out of sync.
              Living to EXcess.
              1978 XS1100E Canadian, Cartridge emulators, NOS heavy duty fork springs,
              Showa rear shocks, ACCT, Jardine 4-2 spaghetti pipes.
              1979 XS1100F Canadian, stock exhaust. Top end rebuild in progress.

              Comment

              • #8
                the Virago I thought was quite nimble and quick up to the speed limit and a bit . it did feel much lighter and was bothered by the wind more than my 78e it felt quite nice around town .
                I have a 50-degree Vtwin it's a bit bigger and has a lot of good stuff. it has very little perceived vibration, counterbalanced crank
                it will exceed all the speed limits in Canada in 2nd gear . it does not have the top speed that my xs11 did but its close and it gets there just as fast if not faster. ask Phil
                it does weight 828 lbs but feels lighter than a 78E
                Seamus Ó hUrmholtaigh
                Niimi Moozhwaagan

                NOTICE: No trees were destroyed in the sending of this message. We do concede, however, that a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced.

                Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.


                Member of "FOXS-11" (Former Owner of XS-11)
                and SOXS
                2008 Nomad "Deja Buick'

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