Yamaha Virago?

[Porsche Monkey]

My dad is looking at a 94 750.  It was put away wet several years ago and hasn't run since. He will get it for dirt cheap. He would like to start riding again. He used to ride when he was a teenager. Anyone have experience with these things? What to look out for and such?

[ODrides]

If he's buying a bike to ride again he should buy one that runs and won't need new gaskets, tires, belts, chain, carbs cleaned...  Lots of great used bike out there right now for crazy prices.  (Thanks, crummy economy!)  No reason to buy a project even dirt cheap.

[Porsche Monkey]

If he's buying a bike to ride again he should buy one that runs and won't need new gaskets, tires, belts, chain, carbs cleaned...  Lots of great used bike out there right now for crazy prices.  (Thanks, crummy economy!)  No reason to buy a project even dirt cheap.

It will end up living at my house.  I will probably use it as a cheap commuter.  I don't mind fixing the thing.  I told him maybe $500 for tires, battery, and other things to make it run.  If he decides he enjoys riding, then he will buy a better bike. 

[Langanobob]

I don't mind fixing the thing.

Sorry, no FHE with Virago's but I think they have a good reputation.  And, you know your way around a wrench.  Only comment I have and hate to sound like a fun hatin' preacher, but try to get Dad to sign up for an MSF course.  The accident rate for "old guys" getting back on bikes after long layoffs is higher than the average.

[mitt]

So far agree with everyone.

Virago is pretty much bullet proof.  I have a co-worker that has one, and he doesn't do sh!t to it, just rides it a few times every summer when the mood strikes.

I rode it, and it is a fine bike, especially for a beginner.

+100 on the msf

mitt

[GLantern]

I had an 82 virago for my first bike and i loved it, i really wish i still had it.  If it can get fixed up cheap i say go for it.  But i agree with the previous posts there are a lot of functional bikes out there for dirt cheap right now.

[tiggerkai]

my buddy has a 94 xv750 virago. usually has me working on it when things do go wrong. be sure to check the stator and regulator on it and they usually tend to go bad. one good thing about his is that it is shaft driven so lots of torque and no cleaning.

[Slide Panda]

Make sure he sits on it first.  Someone I knew had the smaller flavor and at 5' 11" I could not work the foot controls as it was too small.  I was all bunched up.

[Spidey]

Anyone have experience with these things? What to look out for and such?

Speeddog.  He said that they can get unstable at over 200mph if you're not careful and will spin up the wheel at over 100mph (no, I'm not joking). 

[NorDog]

I've never cared for them, but I have a friend who had one for years and absolutely loved it.

He let his Virago sit for a couple of years because the carbs needed a rebuild and he was too busy to either ride or do a carb rebuild.

When he finally got around to taking care of the carbs it ran great.  Ironically he was so excited about riding again he traded it in on a new bike, but still, he loved that bike.

I say if the price is great (as you said) and it doesn't need too much work, go for it.

[sroberts152]

My first bike was an 83 Virago 920.  It was comfy, fast, handled like a sport bike and was an all around great ride.  The one issue I had was a bad starter that seemed to be common in the older ones and could never get fixed.  No shop could do it, there was no information available for me to fix it, I just dealt with it.  That issue was fixed on later models.  One comment I always got on group rides was "What is that?  A Virago... I didn't know a Virago could handle like that". I still miss my Virago - If it hadn't been for that cab...

My father-in-law bought a 95-98 Virago 750 when he got back into riding after 15+ years off a bike.  I actually borrowed it for my wedding - that is how my wife and I left.  It was still a fun little bike even though I did scrape the pegs a little bit through some turns.

I would double check KBB.com as I don't think these things have a high value either way, so "dirt cheap" may actually be about average for the bike.  It looks like good condition is 1700-2500.  If you have to do battery, tires, seals, fluids, etc... for 500-1000, I hope you are not paying more than about $800.

[Porsche Monkey]

Sorry, no FHE with Virago's but I think they have a good reputation.  And, you know your way around a wrench.  Only comment I have and hate to sound like a fun hatin' preacher, but try to get Dad to sign up for an MSF course.  The accident rate for "old guys" getting back on bikes after long layoffs is higher than the average.

You don't sound like a fun hatin' preacher.  Very good advice.  This is my dad we are talking bout. 

[ProTeal55]

Great bikes 4 what they are..
And can be turned into pretty wicked little cafe racers (see below):

I didnt build the bike above, but will be doing one very similar soon...

[NorDog]

ProTeal,

As I've said before, never cared for the Virago, but that's a sweet Cafe Racer.  I could see a project like that in my future.

[weemonster]

i'm almost ashamed to admit now that i used to want a 535 virago i'm glad i gave myself a slap and got a monster instead.

But... I do like the "cafe'd" one in that pic.