Yet another 81' Virago XV750 custom

[Jacobsdad2007]

Started here..... With a few pages of motivation on the wall behind.

First order of business, no more chopper style front end.

Sitting a bit better with the 16" wheel up front.

Starting on the single carb manifold.

Cleaning up the frame for powdercoating. Still have to cut off the fiddle-bits no longer needed. And make the damper mount to weld on the neck.

Pulled the motor to check pistons and to strip down for powdercoating and polishing.

Front cyl good, ordered new rear jug and piston. Will re-ring and hone, replacement is within spec like front cyl.

Started work on tank.

Ignore the subframe, was playing with the PVC to see what I liked. Welding up the chromoly rear subframe tomorrow.

Last big hurdle, CNC'ing the brake rotor adapters for the GSXR rotors. Everything else I hope to have to the powdercoaters in the next week or two. Then it's final assembly and wiring. Still need to decide on headlight and gauges.

Will update as it moves along. More to come

 

[beachcomber]

Keep them coming ............. I just love the variety of styles that the Yam Vees throw up.

 

[Getnjgywitit]

I'm diggin the tank work! Makes the stock tank look a lot better!

 

[guernz]

COOL PROJECT. All these Virago threads make me want to build one. I wonder if anyone has ever converted one to chain drive?

 

[notlob]

COOL PROJECT. All these Virago threads make me want to build one. I wonder if anyone has ever converted one to chain drive?

Beachcomber has a chain drive. In Europe they were the XV920 and XV1000 or TR1.
I've just been offered a chain drive XV750 in part ex. Spent last night trawling the viragotech board and seam like its a pretty rare bird. To answer your question, a few have done it on the viragotech forum, from what I gathered in my brief stay there, they use the gearbox and drive from the XV920 or TR1 or XS750.


i'll be watching this build just in case I get the XV750

 

[Jacobsdad2007]

Started trimming the fat on the frame. Removed many tabs, original carb connections, and wire tabs.

Worked on the rear subframe, will finish the back when I decide on a seat. Thinking about using the DCC original. I like the stinger look on the back. But will use alcantara and leather.

I will tig finish weld the subframe after I finish the hoop.

Also played around with the rear shock and wasa able to turn it over 180 degrees. This allows the controls to exit the bottom rather than on top where they can be seen.

More to come, stay tuned.

Jeff

 

[biker_reject]

Sweet! I can't wait to get started on the subframe on my XV project, but there is one bike at the head of the line before that can happen. Love the tank, too. I was actually thinking of doing the same thing last year, but went instead with a totally different tank.

 

[Cafe-XV750]

We're gonna have to have a cafe XV ride-in someday!

 

[Rich Ard]

Would you enlighten us as to what was necessary for the GSXR front-end swap? I am going to be getting started on an XV920 shortly and am considering doing likewise. I know that there are several years of Ninja fork tubes that will pop in to the existing triples (resprung of course), but boy that USD fork looks nice.

 

[biker_reject]

On my project, I pressed out both stems and swapped them. Had my machine shop sleeve the XV stem into the gixxer lower triple and bore out the upper clamp. They also threaded a 1" plumbing fixture bolt to the bottom of the stem as extra measure that it wasn't going to move, period. Did the All Balls bearing upgrade for the XV stem. Pics are in my thread, but I don't know what page it's on.

 

[Rich Ard]

Thanks!

 

[Jacobsdad2007]

The Sportbike fork swap is easier than most make it. The Virago stock stem is approx 30mm in diameter where it presses into the lower triple. The GSXR stem measures approximately 32mm. I pressed the stem out if the original, tig'ed the stem from the bottom about 1.5" up all the way around, and welded a threaded bung into the bottom. Then turned it on the lathe to the exact dimensions of the GSXR stem. Finally I pressed it into the GSXR lower and then threaded the grade 8 bolt with 1/4" washer into the bung on the bottom. Trapping the stem in the triple so as to keep the stem from ever coming out. Not that it could ever anyway I used a 20ton press to install it after the stem was put into the freezer and the triple in the oven to 180*. For the upper triple the sportbike had a 30mm top, therefore the 25mm Virago stem was too small. I turned an aluminum bushing that matched the ID and OD of the stem and triple and pressed it in. Worked very nice. I'm happy with the result.

More pictures to come. Have been working on the bike but haven't updated pics yet.

Jeff

 

[spyra78]

Any updates on that beaut?

 

[Jacobsdad2007]

After a long break I am at it again. Standby...

 

[Jacobsdad2007]

I am looking for a simple yet very high quality set of switch controls for the bars. Pref billet, anyone have a fav setup?

 

[scoobie1]

i really like your gastank
i going to steal the idea :
how is the lenght of your frontfork?
is it long enough or are you going to extend it?

 

[yent0088]

Awesome build!
Starting my own virago hopefully soon. Your fork swap info is really helpful!
Love the tank!

Keep it coming