Hi Ken, Long time since i've sent you a message this is Aug 23/24 .. I just needed to watch this amazing videos Plus this one with the 1984 Virago Ken I'm so over the top excited !!! As I not sure I mentioned to you on any of my messages ,That I once owned A 1984 Virago 1000 with all the trimings gold I only had 16000kms on it did some re-chroming just to give it thickness ,Man I loved that bike only had it for the couple of years mostly parked and ended up selling it to a North Van School principal ..Shortly after I wished I wouldn't have sold it. I was grieving the loss of two baby brothers in a car accident a few years back and resently my beautiful Mom she never got over the loss . Ken your videos gave me happyness and peace ,as I started thinking about the Virago I once had as watching your joy once you finished the restoration !! I laughed to myself Ken with your big Grin giving the bike a little run in the starter test .What I can't believe after selling my 1984 Virago 1000 .. I just thought to take a look on Market place Facebook I really never go on there anymore since Covid . Didn't even know they had a market selling platform .. Anyways I spotted this charming Virago As I had sold mine over 33 years ago God time flys . It was awhile before I could get a hold of the owner .So I connected by text then talked on a land line ''Wow My lord as we chatted he said He had bought this Virago from a principal in North Vancouver %^&* Get out of town I bet you might of guessed YUper Doo It;s my old bike from 33 years ago .The principal ended up selling it to buy a new Goldwing to tour around with his wife ..Ken the guy who owns it now an older fellow 75 years old now! He road it off and on but had a heart attack and ended storing it for over 20 years He said he didn't ever want to sell it but his wife was worried in case he would have an incandescent if he ever decided to take it out So it was in a heated garage for over 20 years And I'm going to pick her up this week ,I have already started thinking about another restoration as its now has alittle over 26000kms ..😁🏍 Thanks Ken for your energy my friend Ralph Columbus from West Coast BC
Wow!!! Ralph - of course I remembered you mentioning your Virago, but to find it after all these years? That's a miracle right there. Crazy odds and if that's not a message, I don't know what is. I hope you can get it as soon as you can. If you need any help with it please email me at kensworldrestorations@gmail.com. That's forwarded to my personal email account. I'm at work for the next couple weeks still but let me know the moment you get the bike back!!!
My 1995 xv1100 benefited from stainless break lines, $115 us, and 12 inch shocks in the rear, as the stock 11 inch bottomed out too often, especially when riding two up. No longer. The bike lists more on the side stand, and sits a little taller. I changed the primary jet from .40 to .425 , one step richer, and found it starts easer here in the front range in Colorado, elevation 5,000 feet, and up to 14,000. And shimmed the needle jet using a nylon washer, making it easier to accelerate away from stop. The engine runs much cooler than stock. Presently it has 34k + and operates like new. Throttle and clutch cables have a limited life span. Valve adjusts, air filter clean, spark gap, carb sync, rear drive oil change annually, fork and engine oil change as needed. Tire pressure weekly. Best wishes, Harry.
Hi Ken, what a great feeling having such a great bike to ride. I've been following along as I have a 1981 XV1000 which I am working on. Thanks for documenting your journey with the bike restoration
Sounds great, I’ve always ran about 11 or 12 psi on my front forks and 28 psi in the front tire. I’m pretty sure I’ve watched all of your rebuild videos on it, great job.
Thanks for the info!! I think I’ll keep it like this too. It’s nice and firm but still rides smooth. That is for the comments Randy…alway much appreciated.
Mine (1995 vintage) doesn’t have the air valve and the front was really soft. Now I run beefier fork springs and it helps, but I still bottom out sometimes. Granted: I ride mine like a sports bike and the roads here are bumpy…
I've found your Channel! And pleeeaaase never shut it down or delete videos... I am driving a 1996 XV750. And i love the golden parts. I will do it in my Viggy, too. Love your channel just because of this Video alone. Big fan here from germany. ❤
Best bike I have ever owned, was my first bike, 1990 Virago 1100 that I bought in 1990, wish I still had it. Had forward controls made for it, lowered the seat and put a 12" windshield attached to the bars, oh also lifted the bars about an inch. Wow! what a bike. Congratulations on that beauty it sounds and looks fantastic. Take care and be safe.😎
I love these comments! Bikes are about life and experiences and it's great when we find one and it give us a chance to breathe a little. Thanks for the kind words - I've got a windshield and highway pegs I'll install this coming spring. It's her 40th birthday in May and I can't wait to take her out on the open road again. Take care.
I love the sound of the Virago. Everything from the air being pulled through the frame to the engine note with the gears in the shaft drive. It's like music.
I see you are in NW Calgary. I also ride an old classic in NW Calgary; a 1996 Virago 1100 Special. I know what you mean about running rich; I replace my spark plugs every year because of it, and the fact that I haven't changed the carb jets yet.
Ken. What a sweet ride! Don’t sweat the little imperfections. I know, I’m a little ocd myself while I work on things, but once they are done, I think of the imperfections as something that gives the thing its character. The dents and scratches are there to show it’s been around. I was waiting for a top speed run! I know what you mean about engine braking. Sometimes when I downshift and get too lazy about rev matching, I get a slide out of it :) I get the same on the sv650 btw. Another torqy v-twin :) You probably don’t need to rejet the carbs. Maybe just a little mixture adjustment will do? I’m so, so happy for you. Can’t wait to go for a ride together:)
Thanks buddy...really appreciate the wonderful comment. It is full of character - one I remember very well from 1984. The only mixture adjustment I can do is with the idle - this version has the Hitachi carbs. It's pretty easy to rejet and I've had good results in the past. I can't wait wait either my friend.
@@KensWorldRestorations Oh yes...very good Got it, I actually cleaned the carburetors with decarbonizing agent (CAR 80). I had another difficulty removing the main gigleur (which has this plastic tube surrounding it) as it is very locked and I noticed that it threatened to turn the emulsion tube, so I was afraid of breaking it. The slow gigleur didn't want to let go either. And coincidentally, the problem is in the carburetor of this cylinder. Despite the fact that I sprayed a lot of decarbonizing agent on the circuit, especially the slow one, in the opposite direction of the flow. As you said, everything is very small and complicated, the ideal is an ultrasonic cleaning. I've even been thinking about putting an injection system on it, manufactured or assembled here in Brazil...it's costing around US 410 for sale,,,, but I didn't quite understand the logic of it injecting simultaneously into both carburators, despite the lag angles between the cylinders (70 degrees)..... I preferred and imagined that the injection nozzle would pulsate at the correct moment after opening the intake valve of each cylinder; But until it works cool for the videos. He uses the shavers only as a TBI (Butterfly body) with the rest of it all closed and without fuel. They even export these kits to other countries. There is software through the application on your cell phone, which uses Artificial Intelligence in which you make injection time adjustments, delay, fuel pressure, etc. If you want to see or are interested, watch their videos here on UA-cam; yhe name is .... Easy Rider | Tecnologia Embarcada Thanks a lot for the help.
Wow!! thanks! I love these kind comments. It is a great bike and it deserved to get another 4 decades of life. I've got some life & work stuff I need to sort out but I'll be takin the Virago out for some more riding this season. Cheers!
Hi Ken , I was surprised to here my name ! Wasn't sure you had the time to read the mail :) Yupper do The awsome Virago sounds like my 1000 back in the day, Haven't really taken my 1100 anywere yet been restoring my 94 cutlass convert & TJ jeep ! Still hard to get into it . With still missing my brother times sure flying by. That sound , The sound of my Cobra Fairlane 429 super Cobra Jet fourspeed it' was the Same color as your Virago of course Shaker Ram air ..Still the freedom open air both have good times .Be safe Ken and have fun ,Looks like your other restore is bringing back alot of memories ,Hope it's mostly good one's and a fun build . Let's hope the fire's die down ! Ralph West Coast BC
Hi again Ralph. I was thinking about you and your brother. I'm also riding with the memory of lost friends, so I share your grief. These rides open up the mind and free the soul which is why I love to ride and fly. Today I'll be riding in the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride in Calgary.
I absolutely love the 97 through 99 years. Yamaha finally gets all the bugs ironed out and then they discontinue it. If I ever see a later model year like yours I'd definitely pick it up.
That’s awesome!! Thanks for the comment. I’ve got about 50 videos of all the maintenance and restoration I did to the Virago along with a list of all the parts and vendors. Put another Virago back on the road, bro!!
Man you put in serious work to get her cherry as she is! Sounds sweet and looks like it ridea sweet. My 98' 1100 is still a work in progress. Gotta do the forks and change out the rear shocks for something taller (lowered by the PO) re-skinning the seat and adding some gel pad. Gotta put baffles in the exhaust, these are loud with open pipes
That all sounds pretty cool. I love the later model Viragos - Yamaha finally worked out all the kinks...and then stopped making it. Geez. If you notice my seat, it's OEM but not period correct. The 84 seat looked good but it only had a single row of buttons and lacked padding. I bought an 1100 seat cover and had some extra padding added in places. It helped but I never thought of adding gel...maybe next time!
@@KensWorldRestorations yes i have and i took it all apart and didnt see any bad gears and the clutch gear turns on way and not the other;i quit riding it 5 years ago because of this problem.
@@leroylightfoot7358 The starter clutch is supposed to catch in one direction and slip in the other. The only way you can test this function is by hand and it’s still not enough torque since it will seem ok in your hands but slip under heavy load. If you think all the idler gears are ok and the starter solenoid seems to be doing its job, then the starter clutch might be faulty.
Dear KensWorld Congratulations ! ! ! Your motorcycle is very beautiful and reliable after careful restoration. You who have a lot of knowledge on these bikes I ask you... My Virago 750 is strange and when cold, only the front cylinder works and after it warms up, the rear one goes in and both work normally... the carburettors are OK (I changed needles and seats... float at normal level ) and equalized ... spark plugs / suppressors changed .... coils OK and with good spark (very strong and blue) and with normal primary and secondary resistances. I watched a video that the repairman changed 2 Oring rings that are in that plastic tube that guides the keel, complements the venturi entering the fuel tank and externally surrounds the NOZZLE (tube with spray holes) where the main gigleur is fixed. Of course, there in the venturi is an area of high speed and vacuum, could it be that if these rings have bad seals, they could leak excess fuel and flood the cylinder? ... especially at idle where the throttle is closed and there is a greater vacuum between it and the throttle? Thanks. ,,, Sorry for my bad english, I'm using Google, I live in Brazil
I use Google Translate also but I'll post this in English so other can read it too. It sounds to me like your starter circuit is dirty. Either the choke is stuck or the idle jet is not getting the proper fuel through. Sometimes cleaning with carb cleaner isn't enough because of how small the starting/idle jets are in the carb. You may need to get it cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaner.
Would you consider doing a walk around video of this bike say in a open area if ever possible thanks in advance great bike man really loving this rebuild
Hi Ken, thanks for your great Yamaha XV1000 videos. In a previous video you said you replaced the coils on another Virago, where did you get replacement coils from (that are compatible with the original mounting bracket and low voltage electrical plugs?✌
I got the coils from Ali Express direct from China. There are a lot of vendors that show images of what looks like the correct coils. The problem is that Yamaha coils are mirror images of each other and the coils I finally found were identical. The plugs for the low voltage/trigger wires were in the wrong place as well (see my ignition coil videos). I had to offset the mounts with washers in order for the plug wires to clear the frame mount and hope that the wires don’t rub against the frame post. So far so good and the coils have been performing well.
What’s the top speed now? Mine gets to 114mph GPS speed (a bit higher indicated, which is wrong). It sounds so good!!! I’m glad it’s back on the road, and shining!
Maybe 110mph max. It’s still not as much torque as the 1100 and it’s running rich still. But yeah, she sounds amazing!! It runs like new. Suspension, steering, brakes, everything. Sooooo happy!
Always thought the Virago was a nice looking bike when they first came out, It's not a Honda but....😁 Greetings from southern AB. Forgot to say bike looks great, nice job
Ha! I totally get it...I was always torn. I've had a number of Hondas and still plan on finding a nice mid-80's V65 Magna to restore. Since my first bike was a 1974 Yamaha DT100, I leaned that way after - like most people do. Nice to see another fellow Albertan chirping in...cheers.
good job man - not a fan of the gold accoutrements but if that's to the original spec then all good - have an '92 1100 and have enjoyed watching you bring this baby back to it's glory - is that the original light binnacle for the bike? looks like the 535 binnacle
Thanks Gary...yep, surprisingly I'm not a big fan of the gold either but it's a memory from days gone by where my friend Tom and I would ride together. He rode this very bike while I had the 84 FJ1100. We traded bikes all the time and rode all through the coast of Nova Scotia. I just wanted to bring this bike back to life and rekindle the memory. Everything is stock and OEM on the bike so yeah, the binnacles are original. A lot of parts were used on a lot of different bikes of that era. Cheers.
My steering head bearings were shot - whenever I used the front breaks, it would make a clunk sound. Moving the steering from left to right (lock to lock with the bike on the centre stand) it would crunch and get stuck in places. Now it's smooth as silk, not heavy at all and very precise.
@@KensWorldRestorations I've touched just about every other part of my bike, so steering is next. It's not bad, and I think some of the heaviness comes from the narrow handle bar, which inhibits torque on the (stem when not leaning).
The bike looks great Ken! And the sound of that engine is lijk music. I had one myself bud was so stupid to trade it for a BMW R850R ...rides great bud boring....seeing your video and Virago makes me wanne trade the bmw for a Virago again 😀
Hi. Ive got an 87 virago 1100. If you have any insight on a problem i have it would be great. I was coming home one day and she started firing on one cylinder. Got home went to bed. Woke up and went to have a smoke. Smelled gas. Looked under the bike and found a puddle of gas and oil leaking out of the seam of the transmission. Havent had time to tear her down. If you have any idea of things i should look for let me know. Nice bike man.
Thanks for the comment. That's a tough one - when you leak gas it can come from anywhere. The fact that you mentioned it was only on one cylinder might point to a stuck float which will cause fuel to leak all over the topside of the engine. Gravity will do the rest and if there's been an oil leak, even a small one, you'll get that combo dripping on the underside of the engine. I'd be really careful because if the carb leaks into the cylinder for long periods of time (overnight) your crankcase could have fuel mixed with the oil. I'd only be speculating if I tried to diagnose this - best thing to do would be to find out where it's leaking fuel, do an oil change and fix the oil leak while you're at it. Good luck with it all.
Working my way through all your videos. I have an '87 xv1100, i am trying to bring back to life. I get a "slow" to no crank even when trying to jump from a car. No whizzing sound, like i hear other years have on the starter gearing. Is that a sign of a rusty/corrided ground on the starter (solenoid)? Can i pull it fairly easily?
Hey Bill - thanks for the comment. I'd say slow to no cranking even with a great battery could be bad wiring or a bad starter, or both. If you take the cover off the solenoid, you should be able to see it energize, trying to pull the starter gears into place. If that is happening, then I'd look at the starter itself. It could be seized (bearings) or the brushes could be shot. The solenoid comes out fairly easily but removing the starter requires you remove the left side engine cover to get at the starter clutch. Have a look at my video on the starter gear repair...good luck with it all.
Hi. Well that was both Great AND Depressing, but ultimately Inspiring. First, you gotta admire a Man who takes Altitude into account when setting carbs. An unusually high sense of awareness. Great Bike, I know I have that exact same Model and Year here in Yorkshire, England, where it is a rare Bike. That's the Great bit. The Depressing bit is I'm now 72 and circumstances and illness have kept me off it for 8 LOOOONG Years now, so I don't know if I'll ever be Fit Enough to ride it again. You can Take the Man off the Bike, but you CAN'T take the Bike out the Man, so I still spend long Hours just looking at them. THANK YOU INTERNET ! But the Inspiration bit is that I CAN do a Restoration on it ! Or something creative !! It was hurriedly put in Storage so NEEDS one, but there ARE some things on the Bike I don't like so might do a 'Resto' on it, that is to CHANGE some bits. Have you recovered from your fainting yet ???? That Seat and Back Rest annoys me. Its a Bike really suited for only ONE, and a Back Rest would be fine if it supported the Rider. Other than that it just gets in the way of slinging one's leg over it when getting on. I hate the One-legged-backward-hop dismount ! (I think there is a Honda with a Flip-Up back seat Pad that does this job, so I might Make one. The Bars height is next. Even at a moderate 50-60MPH speed of Traffic here, One is blown back like a Parachute. My Helmets are pulled up back over my head, so a cool open face helmet with sun shade peak is out the window (no good ) ! So lower Bars. Maybe even a nose fairing for Air Flow Control and to tidy and protect the Clocks ??? Foot pegs could become Foot Plates with dual forward controls.. Let's face it, if EVER there was a Bike more suitable for Bobber Makeover, it's the Virago. I'm jolly good at my Job, so the Mods don't have to stop there. I am an Engineer and have picked up so many tips and tricks from ALL THINGS BIKES that I could write a Book about them. Probably a Workshop Manual at least. Anyway I'm salivating on the very Idea right now, so I'll just mop my shirt front and sign off. I've subscribed. This is the first of Your Vids that I have seen, but you can be sure that if the Project starts, I WILL be seeing your others. Regards. Keep out the Ditches, .
Thanks for taking the time to write such a great comment. I get that the Virago isn’t for everyone but I know why some love it and why it has obtained near cult status. For all the quirks and headaches, it’s character is undeniable. We who love the spirit of freedom and whom enjoy life to the max will always find our departure from the every day. My Virago isn’t and probably never will be my favourite motorcycle but it is my reminder of a different time. It’s never really been about the bike, has it? It’s the experiences, the friendships and the moments that all become memories. I’m glad we’ve connected and share a common bond.. That’s what this is all about for me. I hope to continue to do this as long as I can, reaching out and rekindling memories for others as well as myself. Cheers. Ken
@@KensWorldRestorations The Virago, or "Viagra" as us Old Timers used to call it, is what we term a 'Milestone Machine'. That is a Machine that shows OTHER Manufacturers how to do the Job PROPERLY and sets New Standards to be followed, as in my Lexus LS400, another Japanese Machine that took the Market for very good reasons. The XV was Reliable, NOT Messy, Stylish and COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE, 4 factors offered nowhere else, so of course it is a Cult Vehicle. A Landmark Vehicle. My ONE Gripe with the Bike was an ANNOYING Misfire at tick over that my Mechanic at some Cost$ had Three Goes at but couldn't solve. (Bare in mind mine is one of the first made and even Japs have teathing troubles.) But I learned to live with it, and the Virago is not the kind of Bike one would expect to blend in with anyway. Then in my Researches I read a Canadian Review of the BRAND NEW Yamamahahaha, (the laugh was on me !) Virago XV1000 and how it had managed to Out-Harley Harley, right down to their ANNOYING TICK OVER MISFIRE ! Bugger ! It was built in from NEW !!! But it all adds to it's charm. My fave Bike ever is the Suzuki SV650. JUST ENOUGH Power with Great Handling to have Fun on, Leave Traffic and a lot of BIGGER Bikes Standing and NOT kill you or lose your Licence. Win-Win-Win-Win-Win Oh, and it's Price. ANOTHER Win !!!!!! But let's face it ALL Bikes, indeed everything with wheels, has their Place and we have reasons to place them as OUR Favourites in that function. Regards from Yorkshire. Hobbit Country. .
I live in Calgary - there's always good and bad. The riding season is short with long, cold winters. Spring is ugly when the snow melts and we don't usually get a chance to ride until May. Otherwise, yeah, summers are gorgeous out in the mountains.
wow what the hell i didnt even know my 86 has air in the front forks... just got going with fixing up my new 86 and it feels like a full on wheelie when i give it gas
Yeah, cool, huh? Just don't use a compressor - it's way too much volume/pressure. A small bike hand pump is all you need - the smaller the better. I'm running at 10psi and it gives me a great ride with just me. Probably up to 15psi with 2 up and some gear. Love the power and sound of these torque monsters!
@@KensWorldRestorations I literally looked after pausing your video and couldn't believed that I missed the valve and missing cap. good to know, thanks! I was pretty close to giving a burst from the compressor but idk the PSI it's at nor the spec.
@@EASTNSIM9454 Weird that the spec is not in the service manual, but in the owners manual. The pressure is anywhere from 5 to 17psi and because the volume is so small, a hand pump is recommended. I got the smallest bicycle hand pump and each stroke is about 1psi. Using a compressor will probably blow the o-rings out. I did make a video on the front fork restoration and there's some other videos that show how I tore it all apart and reassembled it. I bought an ATV tire pressure gauge (low pressure) that maxes out at 20psi. Works perfect. What surprised me is how well my repair worked out - it holds the air perfectly and hasn't leaked since I rebuilt the forks.
@@KensWorldRestorations im sure its in my book i just never looked at the front suspension info. i just tinkered with the ride height and rebound on the back. no one on other videos or on FB groups mentioned it. my bike only has 8K (miles) and it rides super well, so i wont be rebuilding suspension. but we'll see...
@@EASTNSIM9454 The air adjustable front forks went away sometime in the late 80's early 90's models. It's so obscure that most people don't even know about it but since I was doing a full on resto, I wanted to make sure the system worked. That's amazing that you have a bike that old with only 8K miles...pretty cool.
I’m 6’ even. (183cm) long arms and legs with a short torso. Great for bombing around on shorter rides but I find it much more comfortable on the highway with my windshield on.
You're absolutely right. Turns out I had a lot on my mind while I was making the video and just rambled past the obvious. The fork seals are band new but not OEM (just Chinese imports). Kinda sucks that I have to take the front end apart to get better seals in there.
It was my first test ride after a frame off, year-long restoration. I had to take it easy and stay close to home. I'll get a longer trip in this summer and post that video.
Hi Ken, Long time since i've sent you a message this is Aug 23/24 .. I just needed to watch this amazing videos Plus this one with the 1984 Virago Ken I'm so over the top excited !!! As I not sure I mentioned to you on any of my messages ,That I once owned A 1984 Virago 1000 with all the trimings gold I only had 16000kms on it did some re-chroming just to give it thickness ,Man I loved that bike only had it for the couple of years mostly parked and ended up selling it to a North Van School principal ..Shortly after I wished I wouldn't have sold it. I was grieving the loss of two baby brothers in a car accident a few years back and resently my beautiful Mom she never got over the loss . Ken your videos gave me happyness and peace ,as I started thinking about the Virago I once had as watching your joy once you finished the restoration !! I laughed to myself Ken with your big Grin giving the bike a little run in the starter test .What I can't believe after selling my 1984 Virago 1000 .. I just thought to take a look on Market place Facebook I really never go on there anymore since Covid . Didn't even know they had a market selling platform .. Anyways I spotted this charming Virago As I had sold mine over 33 years ago God time flys . It was awhile before I could get a hold of the owner .So I connected by text then talked on a land line ''Wow My lord as we chatted he said He had bought this Virago from a principal in North Vancouver %^&* Get out of town I bet you might of guessed YUper Doo It;s my old bike from 33 years ago .The principal ended up selling it to buy a new Goldwing to tour around with his wife ..Ken the guy who owns it now an older fellow 75 years old now! He road it off and on but had a heart attack and ended storing it for over 20 years He said he didn't ever want to sell it but his wife was worried in case he would have an incandescent if he ever decided to take it out So it was in a heated garage for over 20 years And I'm going to pick her up this week ,I have already started thinking about another restoration as its now has alittle over 26000kms ..😁🏍 Thanks Ken for your energy my friend Ralph Columbus from West Coast BC
Wow!!! Ralph - of course I remembered you mentioning your Virago, but to find it after all these years? That's a miracle right there. Crazy odds and if that's not a message, I don't know what is. I hope you can get it as soon as you can. If you need any help with it please email me at kensworldrestorations@gmail.com. That's forwarded to my personal email account. I'm at work for the next couple weeks still but let me know the moment you get the bike back!!!
My 1995 xv1100 benefited from stainless break lines, $115 us, and 12 inch shocks in the rear, as the stock 11 inch bottomed out too often, especially when riding two up. No longer. The bike lists more on the side stand, and sits a little taller. I changed the primary jet from .40 to .425 , one step richer, and found it starts easer here in the front range in Colorado, elevation 5,000 feet, and up to 14,000. And shimmed the needle jet using a nylon washer, making it easier to accelerate away from stop. The engine runs much cooler than stock. Presently it has 34k + and operates like new. Throttle and clutch cables have a limited life span. Valve adjusts, air filter clean, spark gap, carb sync, rear drive oil change annually, fork and engine oil change as needed. Tire pressure weekly. Best wishes, Harry.
Stock shocks are 12’ on Virago already, not sure how and why your bike had 11”.
Hello. My Virago 1100 came with 280mm rear shock, that's 11.02 inch.
Hi Ken, what a great feeling having such a great bike to ride. I've been following along as I have a 1981 XV1000 which I am working on. Thanks for documenting your journey with the bike restoration
Hey Paul! It is definitely the "new bike feeling" all over again. Thanks for following along.
Sounds great, I’ve always ran about 11 or 12 psi on my front forks and 28 psi in the front tire. I’m pretty sure I’ve watched all of your rebuild videos on it, great job.
Thanks for the info!! I think I’ll keep it like this too. It’s nice and firm but still rides smooth. That is for the comments Randy…alway much appreciated.
Mine (1995 vintage) doesn’t have the air valve and the front was really soft. Now I run beefier fork springs and it helps, but I still bottom out sometimes. Granted: I ride mine like a sports bike and the roads here are bumpy…
Really nice with all the brass details!
I've found your Channel! And pleeeaaase never shut it down or delete videos... I am driving a 1996 XV750. And i love the golden parts. I will do it in my Viggy, too. Love your channel just because of this Video alone.
Big fan here from germany. ❤
Holy cow...you put in some serious work!!! Do a vid of the bike up close and showcase your work in detail. Mothership Yamaha would be proud.
Thanks for the really kind words...I did - here it is...ua-cam.com/video/3EexqGkvU-I/v-deo.html
Best bike I have ever owned, was my first bike, 1990 Virago 1100 that I bought in 1990, wish I still had it. Had forward controls made for it, lowered the seat and put a 12" windshield attached to the bars, oh also lifted the bars about an inch. Wow! what a bike. Congratulations on that beauty it sounds and looks fantastic. Take care and be safe.😎
I love these comments! Bikes are about life and experiences and it's great when we find one and it give us a chance to breathe a little. Thanks for the kind words - I've got a windshield and highway pegs I'll install this coming spring. It's her 40th birthday in May and I can't wait to take her out on the open road again. Take care.
I owned a YAMAHA Virago 750 more than 10 years ago. The engine sound is very familiar to me.
I love the sound of the Virago. Everything from the air being pulled through the frame to the engine note with the gears in the shaft drive. It's like music.
That bike is so fresh Ken what a work of love you put in to it enjoy the ride!
Thank you so much...really means a lot to read comments like this.
Working on 91 Virago … must say yours sounds and looks awsome
Thanks man...love to see that more people are keeping them going.
I see you are in NW Calgary. I also ride an old classic in NW Calgary; a 1996 Virago 1100 Special. I know what you mean about running rich; I replace my spark plugs every year because of it, and the fact that I haven't changed the carb jets yet.
That would be cool to run into you on the road…seeing two Viragos together. Now that would be cool.
Ken. What a sweet ride! Don’t sweat the little imperfections. I know, I’m a little ocd myself while I work on things, but once they are done, I think of the imperfections as something that gives the thing its character. The dents and scratches are there to show it’s been around.
I was waiting for a top speed run!
I know what you mean about engine braking. Sometimes when I downshift and get too lazy about rev matching, I get a slide out of it :) I get the same on the sv650 btw. Another torqy v-twin :)
You probably don’t need to rejet the carbs. Maybe just a little mixture adjustment will do?
I’m so, so happy for you. Can’t wait to go for a ride together:)
Thanks buddy...really appreciate the wonderful comment. It is full of character - one I remember very well from 1984. The only mixture adjustment I can do is with the idle - this version has the Hitachi carbs. It's pretty easy to rejet and I've had good results in the past. I can't wait wait either my friend.
@@KensWorldRestorations Oh yes...very good
Got it, I actually cleaned the carburetors with decarbonizing agent (CAR 80).
I had another difficulty removing the main gigleur (which has this plastic tube surrounding it) as it is very locked and I noticed that it threatened to turn the emulsion tube, so I was afraid of breaking it. The slow gigleur didn't want to let go either. And coincidentally, the problem is in the carburetor of this cylinder.
Despite the fact that I sprayed a lot of decarbonizing agent on the circuit, especially the slow one, in the opposite direction of the flow.
As you said, everything is very small and complicated, the ideal is an ultrasonic cleaning.
I've even been thinking about putting an injection system on it, manufactured or assembled here in Brazil...it's costing around US 410 for sale,,,, but I didn't quite understand the logic of it injecting simultaneously into both carburators, despite the lag angles between the cylinders (70 degrees)..... I preferred and imagined that the injection nozzle would pulsate at the correct moment after opening the intake valve of each cylinder; But until it works cool for the videos.
He uses the shavers only as a TBI (Butterfly body) with the rest of it all closed and without fuel.
They even export these kits to other countries. There is software through the application on your cell phone, which uses Artificial Intelligence in which you make injection time adjustments, delay, fuel pressure, etc.
If you want to see or are interested, watch their videos here on UA-cam; yhe name is ....
Easy Rider | Tecnologia Embarcada
Thanks a lot for the help.
Good show mate, great bike, great resto, and thanks for riding like a pro. 😊👍
Wow!! thanks! I love these kind comments. It is a great bike and it deserved to get another 4 decades of life. I've got some life & work stuff I need to sort out but I'll be takin the Virago out for some more riding this season. Cheers!
Hi Ken , I was surprised to here my name ! Wasn't sure you had the time to read the mail :) Yupper do The awsome Virago sounds like my 1000 back in the day, Haven't really taken my 1100 anywere yet been restoring my 94 cutlass convert & TJ jeep ! Still hard to get into it . With still missing my brother times sure flying by. That sound , The sound of my Cobra Fairlane 429 super Cobra Jet fourspeed it' was the Same color as your Virago of course Shaker Ram air ..Still the freedom open air both have good times .Be safe Ken and have fun ,Looks like your other restore is bringing back alot of memories ,Hope it's mostly good one's and a fun build . Let's hope the fire's die down !
Ralph West Coast BC
Hi again Ralph. I was thinking about you and your brother. I'm also riding with the memory of lost friends, so I share your grief. These rides open up the mind and free the soul which is why I love to ride and fly. Today I'll be riding in the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride in Calgary.
Nádherná kombinace barvy,chromu celkově ukázkový stroj 👍
Děkuji mnohokrát! Opravdu se mi líbí vzhled této motorky a rád na ní jezdím.
Sweet ride 💫💫💫
Nice job! I have a 1997 XV1100. I had an 1982 XV920 previously.
I absolutely love the 97 through 99 years. Yamaha finally gets all the bugs ironed out and then they discontinue it. If I ever see a later model year like yours I'd definitely pick it up.
I just picked up an 84 xv1000 limited edition. This video puts a fire under me to get it restored quick!
That’s awesome!! Thanks for the comment. I’ve got about 50 videos of all the maintenance and restoration I did to the Virago along with a list of all the parts and vendors. Put another Virago back on the road, bro!!
Man you put in serious work to get her cherry as she is! Sounds sweet and looks like it ridea sweet. My 98' 1100 is still a work in progress. Gotta do the forks and change out the rear shocks for something taller (lowered by the PO) re-skinning the seat and adding some gel pad. Gotta put baffles in the exhaust, these are loud with open pipes
That all sounds pretty cool. I love the later model Viragos - Yamaha finally worked out all the kinks...and then stopped making it. Geez. If you notice my seat, it's OEM but not period correct. The 84 seat looked good but it only had a single row of buttons and lacked padding. I bought an 1100 seat cover and had some extra padding added in places. It helped but I never thought of adding gel...maybe next time!
Hi Ken,Ken here i have an 85 xv1000 virago,thanks for the vidieos what a nice bike you've made
Thanks so much…really appreciate comments like this!
@@KensWorldRestorations i think my problem is the outer gear of the planatarys inside the starter turns i think it should what do you think
@@leroylightfoot7358 have a look at my starter gear replacement video and let me know if that helps.
@@KensWorldRestorations yes i have and i took it all apart and didnt see any bad gears and the clutch gear turns on way and not the other;i quit riding it 5 years ago because of this problem.
@@leroylightfoot7358 The starter clutch is supposed to catch in one direction and slip in the other. The only way you can test this function is by hand and it’s still not enough torque since it will seem ok in your hands but slip under heavy load. If you think all the idler gears are ok and the starter solenoid seems to be doing its job, then the starter clutch might be faulty.
Dear KensWorld
Congratulations ! ! ! Your motorcycle is very beautiful and reliable after careful restoration.
You who have a lot of knowledge on these bikes
I ask you... My Virago 750 is strange and when cold, only the front cylinder works and after it warms up, the rear one goes in and both work normally... the carburettors are OK (I changed needles and seats... float at normal level ) and equalized ... spark plugs / suppressors changed .... coils OK and with good spark (very strong and blue) and with normal primary and secondary resistances.
I watched a video that the repairman changed 2 Oring rings that are in that plastic tube that guides the keel, complements the venturi entering the fuel tank and externally surrounds the NOZZLE (tube with spray holes) where the main gigleur is fixed.
Of course, there in the venturi is an area of high speed and vacuum, could it be that if these rings have bad seals, they could leak excess fuel and flood the cylinder? ... especially at idle where the throttle is closed and there is a greater vacuum between it and the throttle?
Thanks. ,,,
Sorry for my bad english, I'm using Google, I live in Brazil
I use Google Translate also but I'll post this in English so other can read it too. It sounds to me like your starter circuit is dirty. Either the choke is stuck or the idle jet is not getting the proper fuel through. Sometimes cleaning with carb cleaner isn't enough because of how small the starting/idle jets are in the carb. You may need to get it cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaner.
I have it too from 95, it is amazing thing to own. :)
It is…I’m finding more often people stop and talk to me about it…really gathers a lot of attention these days. And just so much fun to ride.
Отличный мотоцикл! Сам владею Вирагой 1100.
Я люблю эти мотоциклы. Модель 1100 более плавная и имеет немного больший крутящий момент. Легендарный.
Would you consider doing a walk around video of this bike say in a open area if ever possible thanks in advance great bike man really loving this rebuild
Here ya go! ua-cam.com/video/3EexqGkvU-I/v-deo.html
Have the same Virago but cant find a front rim in South Africa
Hi Ken, thanks for your great Yamaha XV1000 videos. In a previous video you said you replaced the coils on another Virago, where did you get replacement coils from (that are compatible with the original mounting bracket and low voltage electrical plugs?✌
I got the coils from Ali Express direct from China. There are a lot of vendors that show images of what looks like the correct coils. The problem is that Yamaha coils are mirror images of each other and the coils I finally found were identical. The plugs for the low voltage/trigger wires were in the wrong place as well (see my ignition coil videos). I had to offset the mounts with washers in order for the plug wires to clear the frame mount and hope that the wires don’t rub against the frame post. So far so good and the coils have been performing well.
What’s the top speed now? Mine gets to 114mph GPS speed (a bit higher indicated, which is wrong). It sounds so good!!! I’m glad it’s back on the road, and shining!
Maybe 110mph max. It’s still not as much torque as the 1100 and it’s running rich still. But yeah, she sounds amazing!! It runs like new. Suspension, steering, brakes, everything. Sooooo happy!
Always thought the Virago was a nice looking bike when they first came out, It's not a Honda but....😁 Greetings from southern AB. Forgot to say bike looks great, nice job
Ha! I totally get it...I was always torn. I've had a number of Hondas and still plan on finding a nice mid-80's V65 Magna to restore. Since my first bike was a 1974 Yamaha DT100, I leaned that way after - like most people do. Nice to see another fellow Albertan chirping in...cheers.
good job man - not a fan of the gold accoutrements but if that's to the original spec then all good - have an '92 1100 and have enjoyed watching you bring this baby back to it's glory - is that the original light binnacle for the bike? looks like the 535 binnacle
Thanks Gary...yep, surprisingly I'm not a big fan of the gold either but it's a memory from days gone by where my friend Tom and I would ride together. He rode this very bike while I had the 84 FJ1100. We traded bikes all the time and rode all through the coast of Nova Scotia. I just wanted to bring this bike back to life and rekindle the memory. Everything is stock and OEM on the bike so yeah, the binnacles are original. A lot of parts were used on a lot of different bikes of that era. Cheers.
Fantastic job! The steering on my '95 is quite heavy. Did you do anything to yours or is it heavy as well?
My steering head bearings were shot - whenever I used the front breaks, it would make a clunk sound. Moving the steering from left to right (lock to lock with the bike on the centre stand) it would crunch and get stuck in places. Now it's smooth as silk, not heavy at all and very precise.
I’d have a look at the steering head bearing and the locknut. It’s not an easy job but makes a huge difference in safety and handling.
@@KensWorldRestorations I've touched just about every other part of my bike, so steering is next. It's not bad, and I think some of the heaviness comes from the narrow handle bar, which inhibits torque on the (stem when not leaning).
The bike looks great Ken! And the sound of that engine is lijk music. I had one myself bud was so stupid to trade it for a BMW R850R ...rides great bud boring....seeing your video and Virago makes me wanne trade the bmw for a Virago again 😀
Thanks Peter! Very kind words and yeah, the sound is amazing. Shifting down and hearing the shaft drive whine just makes it so unique.
Hi. Ive got an 87 virago 1100. If you have any insight on a problem i have it would be great. I was coming home one day and she started firing on one cylinder. Got home went to bed. Woke up and went to have a smoke. Smelled gas. Looked under the bike and found a puddle of gas and oil leaking out of the seam of the transmission. Havent had time to tear her down. If you have any idea of things i should look for let me know. Nice bike man.
Thanks for the comment. That's a tough one - when you leak gas it can come from anywhere. The fact that you mentioned it was only on one cylinder might point to a stuck float which will cause fuel to leak all over the topside of the engine. Gravity will do the rest and if there's been an oil leak, even a small one, you'll get that combo dripping on the underside of the engine. I'd be really careful because if the carb leaks into the cylinder for long periods of time (overnight) your crankcase could have fuel mixed with the oil. I'd only be speculating if I tried to diagnose this - best thing to do would be to find out where it's leaking fuel, do an oil change and fix the oil leak while you're at it. Good luck with it all.
Working my way through all your videos. I have an '87 xv1100, i am trying to bring back to life. I get a "slow" to no crank even when trying to jump from a car. No whizzing sound, like i hear other years have on the starter gearing.
Is that a sign of a rusty/corrided ground on the starter (solenoid)? Can i pull it fairly easily?
Hey Bill - thanks for the comment. I'd say slow to no cranking even with a great battery could be bad wiring or a bad starter, or both. If you take the cover off the solenoid, you should be able to see it energize, trying to pull the starter gears into place. If that is happening, then I'd look at the starter itself. It could be seized (bearings) or the brushes could be shot. The solenoid comes out fairly easily but removing the starter requires you remove the left side engine cover to get at the starter clutch. Have a look at my video on the starter gear repair...good luck with it all.
@@KensWorldRestorations thanks Ken for the videos and reply. I am working my way through your video series each night. They are GREAT!!
Hi.
Well that was both Great AND Depressing, but ultimately Inspiring.
First, you gotta admire a Man who takes Altitude into account when setting carbs.
An unusually high sense of awareness.
Great Bike, I know I have that exact same Model and Year here in Yorkshire, England, where it is a rare Bike.
That's the Great bit.
The Depressing bit is I'm now 72 and circumstances and illness have kept me off it for 8 LOOOONG Years now, so I don't know if I'll ever be Fit Enough to ride it again.
You can Take the Man off the Bike, but you CAN'T take the Bike out the Man, so I still spend long Hours just looking at them.
THANK YOU INTERNET !
But the Inspiration bit is that I CAN do a Restoration on it !
Or something creative !!
It was hurriedly put in Storage so NEEDS one, but there ARE some things on the Bike I don't like so might do a 'Resto' on it, that is to CHANGE some bits.
Have you recovered from your fainting yet ????
That Seat and Back Rest annoys me.
Its a Bike really suited for only ONE, and a Back Rest would be fine if it supported the Rider.
Other than that it just gets in the way of slinging one's leg over it when getting on.
I hate the One-legged-backward-hop dismount !
(I think there is a Honda with a Flip-Up back seat Pad that does this job, so I might Make one.
The Bars height is next.
Even at a moderate 50-60MPH speed of Traffic here, One is blown back like a Parachute.
My Helmets are pulled up back over my head, so a cool open face helmet with sun shade peak is out the window (no good ) !
So lower Bars.
Maybe even a nose fairing for Air Flow Control and to tidy and protect the Clocks ???
Foot pegs could become Foot Plates with dual forward controls..
Let's face it, if EVER there was a Bike more suitable for Bobber Makeover, it's the Virago.
I'm jolly good at my Job, so the Mods don't have to stop there.
I am an Engineer and have picked up so many tips and tricks from ALL THINGS BIKES that I could write a Book about them.
Probably a Workshop Manual at least.
Anyway I'm salivating on the very Idea right now, so I'll just mop my shirt front and sign off.
I've subscribed.
This is the first of Your Vids that I have seen, but you can be sure that if the Project starts, I WILL be seeing your others.
Regards.
Keep out the Ditches,
.
Thanks for taking the time to write such a great comment. I get that the Virago isn’t for everyone but I know why some love it and why it has obtained near cult status. For all the quirks and headaches, it’s character is undeniable. We who love the spirit of freedom and whom enjoy life to the max will always find our departure from the every day. My Virago isn’t and probably never will be my favourite motorcycle but it is my reminder of a different time. It’s never really been about the bike, has it? It’s the experiences, the friendships and the moments that all become memories. I’m glad we’ve connected and share a common bond.. That’s what this is all about for me. I hope to continue to do this as long as I can, reaching out and rekindling memories for others as well as myself. Cheers. Ken
@@KensWorldRestorations
The Virago, or "Viagra" as us Old Timers used to call it, is what we term a 'Milestone Machine'.
That is a Machine that shows OTHER Manufacturers how to do the Job PROPERLY and sets New Standards to be followed, as in my Lexus LS400, another Japanese Machine that took the Market for very good reasons.
The XV was Reliable, NOT Messy, Stylish and COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE, 4 factors offered nowhere else, so of course it is a Cult Vehicle.
A Landmark Vehicle.
My ONE Gripe with the Bike was an ANNOYING Misfire at tick over that my Mechanic at some Cost$ had Three Goes at but couldn't solve.
(Bare in mind mine is one of the first made and even Japs have teathing troubles.)
But I learned to live with it, and the Virago is not the kind of Bike one would expect to blend in with anyway.
Then in my Researches I read a Canadian Review of the BRAND NEW Yamamahahaha, (the laugh was on me !) Virago XV1000 and how it had managed to Out-Harley Harley, right down to their ANNOYING TICK OVER MISFIRE !
Bugger !
It was built in from NEW !!!
But it all adds to it's charm.
My fave Bike ever is the Suzuki SV650.
JUST ENOUGH Power with Great Handling to have Fun on, Leave Traffic and a lot of BIGGER Bikes Standing and NOT kill you or lose your Licence.
Win-Win-Win-Win-Win
Oh, and it's Price.
ANOTHER Win !!!!!!
But let's face it ALL Bikes, indeed everything with wheels, has their Place and we have reasons to place them as OUR Favourites in that function.
Regards from Yorkshire.
Hobbit Country.
.
I have a 96 1100 with cobra slip on luv it
A little more punch to the tone I bet...
Man where u live is nice, here in northeast new jersey, its so crowded its not fun riding a motorcycle
I live in Calgary - there's always good and bad. The riding season is short with long, cold winters. Spring is ugly when the snow melts and we don't usually get a chance to ride until May. Otherwise, yeah, summers are gorgeous out in the mountains.
dayumn thats nice
that is an amazing restoration.. i really wish i had the funds to try and convince you to restore my 87 virago 1100.
wink wink.
wow what the hell i didnt even know my 86 has air in the front forks... just got going with fixing up my new 86 and it feels like a full on wheelie when i give it gas
Yeah, cool, huh? Just don't use a compressor - it's way too much volume/pressure. A small bike hand pump is all you need - the smaller the better. I'm running at 10psi and it gives me a great ride with just me. Probably up to 15psi with 2 up and some gear. Love the power and sound of these torque monsters!
@@KensWorldRestorations I literally looked after pausing your video and couldn't believed that I missed the valve and missing cap.
good to know, thanks!
I was pretty close to giving a burst from the compressor but idk the PSI it's at nor the spec.
@@EASTNSIM9454 Weird that the spec is not in the service manual, but in the owners manual. The pressure is anywhere from 5 to 17psi and because the volume is so small, a hand pump is recommended. I got the smallest bicycle hand pump and each stroke is about 1psi. Using a compressor will probably blow the o-rings out. I did make a video on the front fork restoration and there's some other videos that show how I tore it all apart and reassembled it. I bought an ATV tire pressure gauge (low pressure) that maxes out at 20psi. Works perfect. What surprised me is how well my repair worked out - it holds the air perfectly and hasn't leaked since I rebuilt the forks.
@@KensWorldRestorations im sure its in my book i just never looked at the front suspension info. i just tinkered with the ride height and rebound on the back. no one on other videos or on FB groups mentioned it.
my bike only has 8K (miles) and it rides super well, so i wont be rebuilding suspension.
but we'll see...
@@EASTNSIM9454 The air adjustable front forks went away sometime in the late 80's early 90's models. It's so obscure that most people don't even know about it but since I was doing a full on resto, I wanted to make sure the system worked. That's amazing that you have a bike that old with only 8K miles...pretty cool.
Man, where are you from?! I feel like we’re not tooooo far from eachother
In Calgary up in the NW side of town.
@@KensWorldRestorations ahhhhh im out in ottawa!!!
how tall are you? I'm thinking of buying one but im fairly tall
I’m 6’ even. (183cm) long arms and legs with a short torso. Great for bombing around on shorter rides but I find it much more comfortable on the highway with my windshield on.
In the old days some people bobbed these .
Oil comes from fork seals leaking
You're absolutely right. Turns out I had a lot on my mind while I was making the video and just rambled past the obvious. The fork seals are band new but not OEM (just Chinese imports). Kinda sucks that I have to take the front end apart to get better seals in there.
Oh man she's sweet!
Thanks Don!
Just get a real Harley, no need for a wannabe.
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Buy America man come on
it's a bad video, you go from traffic light to traffic light, hit the road on a long trip, it seems like a lazy video to me
It was my first test ride after a frame off, year-long restoration. I had to take it easy and stay close to home. I'll get a longer trip in this summer and post that video.