1995 Virago 1100. 22k and rides like a dream. Not too big, not too small. Installed front fork springs, as the front end famously wallowed at speed, or over rough tarmac. Progressive fork springs sorted it all out. The front breaks are okay, but you can never too much break. Replaced the break lines with braided stainless steel lines to help with hard stops. After I put on aftermarket exhaust, the carburetors were jetted on the lean side, and the engine ran hot. I rejected them, now it starts better, runs cooler, and has better power. The bike needs a windscreen if it’s used at highway speeds much. A cruse control, or throttle lock is helpful. The saddle looks good, but has few options for movement after you have sat awhile. The horns were replaced for louder units. The engine makes good power, is reliable and designed for ease of maintenance. I adjust the valves myself, saving a lot of money. She rides like a rolling comfy chair. Shaft drive requires no maintenance beyond oil change. Rear shocks have plenty of spring rate for two up ridding. The left pod injects air into the exhaust, causing it to backfire. That stuff was all removed, the lines capped, problem solved. It’s no race bike, not designed for off road use, could use a sixth gear. For an 1100, top speed is 115 mph, any 600cc will top that. Realistically, 85 mph is the outer limits, as the bars get buzzy beyond that speed. The looks get comments at the filling station. It gets 50 mpg. Rear tire lasts 5k, front tire last 8 to 10k. Front fork seals last 10k, the left side always leaks first. Wha? The cables, clutch, speedo and throttle, need replace from time to time, as there failure happen unannounced. I’m very happy with this product. They make nice guitars too!

I have owned Suzuki and Honda bikes after losing my first a 94 Virago 1100 ( won't get into how I lost it). I just this week bought my second yamaha a 1986 Virago 1100. The starter clutch needs to be replaced and that is nothing new for Viragos, starter issues have been prevalent over the years. A minor issue in the bigger picture is the starter as these bikes are reliable performers. They need to be riden short trips will foul the plugs. Best bike I have owned in terms of comfort, riding position, light weight and plenty of bottom end torque.. This bike is a keeper, it's beautifully shaped tank and chromed engine make it an eye catcher.. My 30 year old bike still looks great cleans up nicely and I never get tired of how she feels to ride..

I own two viragos, a 1984 750 and a 1999 1100. The 1984 has 120,000 km and the 1999 has 110,000 km. They both run great. I had the 1984 for about six years and decided I wanted more power. I was looking at Harleys, V Stars and some suzukis, but always came back to the Virago. The other bikes just can't compete all the chrome and unique styling of the Virago. I have taken many long trips on both. The last trip for the 1984 was in 2012 from Toronto to Sturgis South Dakota, with my daughter on the back, almost 5000k with no incidents other than my daughter leaning her knee on my saddle bags and starting them on fire on the muffler. The 1100 is a real head turner for sure. I basically get shunned by any of the Harley guys when I stop at rest stops and gas stations, but that is expected. Because I know for fact that they are envious when their bikes are in the shop for numerous expensive repairs, and I am still riding. And when I do need maintenance and repairs, the costs are surprisingly reasonable.

I love my bike! It never lets down and i always enjoy riding it! It doesnt scrape around the corners and it sits nicely on the long rouds (i put on highway peggs). Its is also good for gravel roads (i live in south africa). My friend has a 78 xs 1100. It is also a nice bike, but i like the v2 better. Sadly, mine has some rust under the crome, but thats only character!

I have a 1997 xv1100 that had 7400 Ks on it when I bought it. Has a few rust spots from sitting with previous owner but I now have 22000 ks on it. Combination of city and highway ddriving but no long trips yet.My only complaint is that it could do with another gear when on the highway. It has lots of power but does get a little buzzy over 120 kpm. Also even for me it is a little bit cramped when sitting over long distances. Also difficult to find aftermarket parts. Other than those minor issues the bike is fantastic and I would highly recommend it

Simply put The Very Best. I have a 1100 Virago. 1996 will never get rid of it , very comfortable, reliable, and a great looker. Bull is his name and Riding is his aim.

Best Points:- VERY Comfy on long trips, great looks - a head turner, best engine ever produced - torquey, ecmonomical when not fanged out to the max, simple and easy to maintain. A tinkerers delight - no fancy fuel injection to go wrong. Bad points:- Needs an aftermarket cruise control on long trips. OEM fork seals do not last long. Ground clearance on corners can be a bit restricted (if you don't set up the shocks and forks properly) I have owned 4 of these over the last 20 years, the latest being a 1997 XV1100 Virage Special. Once bitten.... anyway I have had a good run with them all mechanically, and are an absolute joy to ride. While not being the fastest bike out there, they more than make up for it in comfort and ride quality. The only negatives I have experienced are the starter motors on my early models and the fork seals on all of them, they do not seem to last long, however I did find equivalent aftermarket seals and these tend to last a long time. The lack of cruise control is not really a bad point as the clip on ones can be bought on evil bay for aroung US$30 plus postage, this makes a HUGE difference to RH wrist fatigue on those long hauls. All my Viragos were set up up for long trips by adding; a low 15" windscreen, a set of paniers, sheep skin seat cover, a pack rack and gearsack and highway pegs. They are so comfy that even after 10-12 hours in the saddle I felt like I've just travelled down to the local and back. These are the most underated bikes ever produced and like others I agree it is such a shame Yamaha do not make these anymore. The later XV's just did not cut it for me.

Best Points:- VERY Comfy on long trips, great looks - a head turner, best engine ever produced - torquey, ecmonomical when not fanged out to the max, simple and easy to maintain. A tinkerers delight - no fancy fuel injection to go wrong. Bad points:- Needs an aftermarket cruise control on long trips. OEM fork seals do not last long. Ground clearance on corners can be a bit restricted (if you don't set up the shocks and forks properly) I have owned 4 of these over the last 20 years, the latest being a 1997 XV1100 Virage Special. Once bitten.... anyway I have had a good run with them all mechanically, and are an absolute joy to ride. While not being the fastest bike out there, they more than make up for it in comfort and ride quality. The only negatives I have experienced are the starter motors on my early models and the fork seals on all of them, they do not seem to last long, however I did find equivalent aftermarket seals and these tend to last a long time. The lack of cruise control is not really a bad point as the clip on ones can be bought on evil bay for aroung US$30 plus postage, this makes a HUGE difference to RH wrist fatigue on those long hauls. All my Viragos were set up up for long trips by adding; a low 15" windscreen, a set of paniers, sheep skin seat cover, a pack rack and gearsack and highway pegs. They are so comfy that even after 10-12 hours in the saddle I felt like I've just travelled down to the local and back. These are the most underated bikes ever produced and like others I agree it is such a shame Yamaha do not make these anymore. The later XV's just did not cut it for me.

After moving to Ireland I decided to purchase a motorcycle and found myself owning a 1987 gold edition (i.e. wheels, speedo, tach, etc...)700cc Yamaha Virago (American Import). In the few years that I owned the bike I covered the entire Republic of Ireland on several occasions. It never missed a beat and was perfectly reliable throughout its time with me. It always produced enough power and I can agree with many other of the reviewers on this site that her speed is equal to and possibly slightly "nippier" than an HD Sportser. It was great for long journeys and perfect for a daily commuter. It was also a very comfortable bike for my wife, then girlfriend to ride two up on. The bad bits: It rains most of the year in Ireland and I found myself constantly polishing all of that chrome. Now that I am back in Canada, I am looking to buy a Virago again in 2012 but admit that I am also considering having the engine (chrome bits) painted mat-black. But that is just a personal thing. The starter is prone to problems on these early Virago's, but I had changed mine immediately after buying it as to avoid any possible problems in future. This is a great bike for beginners as well as the experienced and it should never be underestimated! There are limitations to what you can do to 'bob' it unless you actually change the entire rear of the bike... which you can see via YouTube and range from really great to pretty shabby. Thus, unless you know what your doing, perhaps enjoy the bike for what it is and as it is.

firstly , i love my virago , and having owned many bikes , the only thing that comes close to the virago is kawasaki's vn series , but in my humble opinion , the virago has a better engine , the riding position and build quality is much the same .

whether touring around my back yard ( scotland) or road tripping throught europe , the virago never misses a beat , its so comfy that the only time you need to stop is for fuel , it never fails to turn heads too .

there are loads of bolt on extras to further enhance its appearance , iv ridden a harley 1200 sporster for a while and much prefer the viragos agility and comfort .

fit it with a rear rack and it will take all your camping gear , beer and a bonza sheila too..

go buy one , keep it real , keep it safe amd rock on .

big al

I bought my XV100SE a few years back from a guy who had her covered in blankets in his barn. When he pulled the blankets off it was love at first sight. The bike had less than five thousand kilometers and looked like it had just been wheeled out of the factory. Everything was shiny and in mint condition. There have been a couple of issues with the starter motor jamming (known problem) but still always starts and is very reliable. The bike is only used in the summer and lives in my garage the rest of the time. It's such a lovely comfy bike and is full of character that I could never sell her. She's almost at 10000 kms now, so I know there is literally years of life in her yet. I would definately recommend this bike to anyone.

The Virago 1100 is great for grins and is a reminder of what cruisers used to be - and should be today. Lightweight, relatively nimble and fast. Even nearly three decades after the model was launched, it is still a viable ride and preferable to a Harley Sportster, both 883 and 1200. Much quicker than both - and a much better value.
Positive attributes: Weighs about 450 pounds wet. Great on corners and curves (for a cruiser). Comfortable seat. Not a Harley styling clone. Killer engine that runs all day and is silky smooth when properly tuned.
Negatives: Parts are getting hard to find. Can look cheap as it ages. Brakes are just okay. Not a long distance vehicle.
Suggested upgrades: RETURN TO STOCK (OEM) PIPES! Most aftermarket exhausts are simply about loud and actually drain performance. This is perhaps the single most important move I made when restoring my bike. Also, braided brake cable makes a dramatic improvement in feel.
My riding experience: 43 years with a variety of cruisers, sportbikes and dirt bikes.
Current stable: 2009 Kawasaki ZX600R; 1997 Kawasaki ZX-1100; 1993 Harley FXR; 2007 Harley Springer CVO; 1984 Honda Sabre V-4 700c.

it is really a shame that yamaha have stopped making the XV1100 .
mine has performed flawlesly from new.
in the twelve years and 48000 miles it has never let us down.
She has been accross to europe through france into spain on three occasions and never missed a beat.
she really has been a joy to ride and own.
the low seat hight and light weight also meant that my wife could ride her when i got tired on long trips and i could ride pillion for a change..
she is now semi retired with only short runs out down to the coast on sunny days for long weekends .
A truly great allrounder that can be used all year round and deserves it`s classic status.

My bike is a Sydney (Australia) purchase and found the local registration rules a lot easier than when I shipped here to Vienna in 2005. New EU regs made life extremely difficult - also the 1100 was never sold in Austria.
For total reliability, the bike cannot be beaten. It is always a comfortable and relaxed ride and despite fuel economy which is not brilliant (40mpg) I would not swap my 1100 for any other right now.

I love 1996 virago1100, it was one of the quickest and most reliable bike I ever own. Never had a problem with the bike at all in the 13 year I have owned it. I love picking on Harley who thing it one of the clan until I blow there mirrors off. Long trip up the coast of Southern Calif, or any where are no problem. My virago1100 is my commuter bike my other bike is 1982 Honda CBX, another great bike.