Going to be following along while you sort through the restoration on your bike, after subscribing to your page. Hoping it will help as my 86 XV-700 C slowly goes through her teething pains of being preserved and returned to service. Great watching your bike get the attention she so greatly deserves. Have a great weekend.
Hi Murray - thanks for the comment. It was important to me to find a bike with good bones and be as original as possible. This one was rough when I bought it but it was close to compete and identical to the one I had in 84. My intention from the beginning was to return it to stock but not make a show bike out of it - I still want to drive it and enjoy it. And for those who never had the chance to see an original up close, mine should be as close to that as I can make it. Stay tuned for a couple more videos - I'm starting the paint stripping on the frame tomorrow and should have all the frame and center stand done this weekend. Videos to follow shortly after.
@@KensWorldRestorations it all sound wonderful. I couldn't hope to get my bike back to stock after the last two owner's as they stripped the mixture control and AIS off the bike trying to make it more Harley-esque with hardly a budget or clue to where they were going with it. I would cut it for the world, but will do some modifications to help it handle better, and be easier to ride, as an article I read from the era spoke of a few shortcomings that were present even then. The paint is going to be the most notable difference as it's likely to became a graphics extravaganza before I'm completely done.
Thanks Vabe! Much appreciated. I have a long way to go but at least I get quite a bit of work done on it every time I'm home. Next video will be in about a month - I'll be painting the frame.
At last! Thank you for making this series of videos. My wife has a 1985 Virago 1000 that she bought in an unloved state and I am about to restore it for her. I have been struggling to find any good references for doing this, so very happy to have found your channel, I will be following with interest. Now if only i could find a good source for parts.
Hi Andrew! Thanks for the wonderful comment - I really appreciate that. I do have a video that talks about where I got a lot of parts. I consider myself the scroungemeister and I find that finding parts for this old girl were a bit of a challenge. I was lucky in that the bike was about 90% all original. So most of the parts were actually restored and not just new parts slapped on it. I don't think I can put a link to the video but it's #20. I think the spreadsheet I made is still there (www.tinyurl.com/kensworld). Cheers and good luck with the restoration!
Thank you so much for this series! I'm currently tearing my 84 Virago 1000 down this winter. I am having issues with it running for 20 minutes then dying on me. I change the spark plugs then it runs for another 20 minutes. I'm looking forward to following along with your videos and any helpful hints you drop in along the way. Keep up the great camera angles and nice lighting!
Wow!! Thank you Derek. Comments like this really lift me up and give me that kick to keep going too. I only started this so that my family could watch along and if it helped anyone person, then that's a bonus. I'm glad that the videos are helping and if you have any other questions about stuff that I didn't get up on the video, feel free to send me an email - my contact info is on the main page.
I have a 85 and was stolen and they cut it up pretty bad. Luckily. I have a frame and motor and forks and wheels. My harness is absolutely destroyed. Have any recommendations for wiring harness for reasonable priced or aftermarket?
I'd look for eBay for something like that or an online motorcycle wrecking yard. Because there were so many variations of the Virago sold over the years in so many different markets, stick with the same year when it comes to wiring looms and ignition modules. Good luck man...I've had a bike stolen and it sucks.
Working on it right now. I work away from home and I try to get 2 - 3 new videos done about once a month. I've got a lot more stuff off the bike and expect to have the engine removed in the coming days. Stay tuned!
You'll probably see more of that. The MCV was there in the earlier bikes to tame the backfiring when you closed the throttle quickly. In the more recent 1100's, the TCI got more complicated and managed the backfiring through a better range of timing and mixture control on the carbs. There's only about 5 different versions of it and a lot of people take it off when they tune it with new jetting/exhaust. There will be a lot of parts that are common to all of the XV700/750/1000/1100 from 1984 to 1999. Have fun brother!!!
Not much different than the 700 this far . I’m restoring on that’s sat for 15 years and not drained of gas . Carbs came out nice from the ultrasonic. Tank is in the garage soaking while I go through the rest of the bike .
Very cool. Yeah, you're right - not much difference from any of the Gen 2 Viragos - pretty much everything from 1984 to 1999 is a basic platform. Good luck with your resto!!
Going to be following along while you sort through the restoration on your bike, after subscribing to your page. Hoping it will help as my 86 XV-700 C slowly goes through her teething pains of being preserved and returned to service. Great watching your bike get the attention she so greatly deserves. Have a great weekend.
Hi Murray - thanks for the comment. It was important to me to find a bike with good bones and be as original as possible. This one was rough when I bought it but it was close to compete and identical to the one I had in 84. My intention from the beginning was to return it to stock but not make a show bike out of it - I still want to drive it and enjoy it. And for those who never had the chance to see an original up close, mine should be as close to that as I can make it. Stay tuned for a couple more videos - I'm starting the paint stripping on the frame tomorrow and should have all the frame and center stand done this weekend. Videos to follow shortly after.
@@KensWorldRestorations it all sound wonderful. I couldn't hope to get my bike back to stock after the last two owner's as they stripped the mixture control and AIS off the bike trying to make it more Harley-esque with hardly a budget or clue to where they were going with it. I would cut it for the world, but will do some modifications to help it handle better, and be easier to ride, as an article I read from the era spoke of a few shortcomings that were present even then. The paint is going to be the most notable difference as it's likely to became a graphics extravaganza before I'm completely done.
@@murraykriner9425 That's a bit disappointing but it all sounds like she's in good hands now.
There is nothing better feeling to restore the bike that you love before riding it. Great clean and light place to work with your love bike ❤️❤️❤️👌👌👌👌
You're absolutely right...there is no better feeling!! Thanks for the kind words.
Loving it! Nice job. Keep it coming.
Thanks for the patient and care to an awesome bike.😀
Thanks Vabe! Much appreciated. I have a long way to go but at least I get quite a bit of work done on it every time I'm home. Next video will be in about a month - I'll be painting the frame.
@@KensWorldRestorations Great effort! Nice videos btw. Congrats! :)
At last! Thank you for making this series of videos. My wife has a 1985 Virago 1000 that she bought in an unloved state and I am about to restore it for her. I have been struggling to find any good references for doing this, so very happy to have found your channel, I will be following with interest. Now if only i could find a good source for parts.
Hi Andrew! Thanks for the wonderful comment - I really appreciate that. I do have a video that talks about where I got a lot of parts. I consider myself the scroungemeister and I find that finding parts for this old girl were a bit of a challenge. I was lucky in that the bike was about 90% all original. So most of the parts were actually restored and not just new parts slapped on it. I don't think I can put a link to the video but it's #20. I think the spreadsheet I made is still there (www.tinyurl.com/kensworld). Cheers and good luck with the restoration!
Thank you so much for this series! I'm currently tearing my 84 Virago 1000 down this winter. I am having issues with it running for 20 minutes then dying on me. I change the spark plugs then it runs for another 20 minutes. I'm looking forward to following along with your videos and any helpful hints you drop in along the way. Keep up the great camera angles and nice lighting!
Wow!! Thank you Derek. Comments like this really lift me up and give me that kick to keep going too. I only started this so that my family could watch along and if it helped anyone person, then that's a bonus. I'm glad that the videos are helping and if you have any other questions about stuff that I didn't get up on the video, feel free to send me an email - my contact info is on the main page.
I have a 85 and was stolen and they cut it up pretty bad. Luckily. I have a frame and motor and forks and wheels. My harness is absolutely destroyed. Have any recommendations for wiring harness for reasonable priced or aftermarket?
I'd look for eBay for something like that or an online motorcycle wrecking yard. Because there were so many variations of the Virago sold over the years in so many different markets, stick with the same year when it comes to wiring looms and ignition modules. Good luck man...I've had a bike stolen and it sucks.
I had virago 535 some times ago. It was super machine :-) Greetings
Greetings! I drive a friend's 535 when I'm at work. Great bike!
Where is video 3 ?
Working on it right now. I work away from home and I try to get 2 - 3 new videos done about once a month. I've got a lot more stuff off the bike and expect to have the engine removed in the coming days. Stay tuned!
Mine is missing the whole MCV unit and when I took the left side cover off it said xv750 on it haha
You'll probably see more of that. The MCV was there in the earlier bikes to tame the backfiring when you closed the throttle quickly. In the more recent 1100's, the TCI got more complicated and managed the backfiring through a better range of timing and mixture control on the carbs. There's only about 5 different versions of it and a lot of people take it off when they tune it with new jetting/exhaust. There will be a lot of parts that are common to all of the XV700/750/1000/1100 from 1984 to 1999. Have fun brother!!!
@@KensWorldRestorations Thanks! Mine is Australian delivered and someone did install a custom exhaust so that makes sense.
Not much different than the 700 this far . I’m restoring on that’s sat for 15 years and not drained of gas . Carbs came out nice from the ultrasonic. Tank is in the garage soaking while I go through the rest of the bike .
Very cool. Yeah, you're right - not much difference from any of the Gen 2 Viragos - pretty much everything from 1984 to 1999 is a basic platform. Good luck with your resto!!