Got a new project bike

[bagobones]

The sickness continues. Bought a 1981 Yamaha Virago 750 for $400. She runs, but needs carb work of course. This purchase makes me also the proud owner of what HAS to be the worlds UGLIEST motorcycle seat. UGH!!! I actually test rode this bike in a snow storm which makes it the first bike I have ever owned where I was actually able to ride it before I bought it. It was delivered to my house on a flatbed however, so THAT streak is still INTACT!!!!

Some Ebay activity has netted some good deals on missing bits and pieces and I already have a new seat. Mr. Bones sent me some groovy drag bars with risers. Carbs kits and a cheap ass set of turn signals or also on the way.

I am well aware of the starter issues with this series of Viragos. Does anybody have any other advice (other than "get your head examined" or experience with these bikes?

Also: I now have a beautiful King/Queen seat for an '81 Virago for sale. Actually, I'll give YOU money to take it off my hands!

[mrbones]

Hmmmmm.....you might want to keep that seat. It has some wicked sharp 70's lines to it. Keep seat, add 3 foot sissy bar to match = big smile on face while riding.

[mrbones]

Here's a bobbed '82. If those are stock wheels, you missed the good ones by one year.

[bagobones]

Those wheels start showing up in 1984 and later bikes. I don't know exactly when. Older bikes show up on the net with these wheels but they are retrofitted. They have dual discs which would be nice. That's a costly upgrade I would put way back on the back burner. For now, I'm going to use a GL1100 master cylinder with the single brake. That should be interesting.

[dt]

Oh yeah! Awesome find! 

That bobber is cool, but there are probably a lot of things you can do with that.

[bagobones]

Came up with a paint scheme. It's flat rustoleum colonial red over rustoleum bedliner. The other black parts will be flat black rustoleum texture paint. I hit the exhaust with rustoleum 2000 degree engine paint. That has to be the flattest black I have ever seen. I couldn't find colored bedliner, so i just used the same brand of paint and went right over the top while it was still drying.

I was inspired by the new Indian bikes I saw with flat paint jobs.

You can see the bike is in quite a state of disrepair at the moment. I hope i can remember how to put her back together!

[mrbones]

Looks good, but where's the C__H__R__O__M__E_?_!

[bagobones]

As a moderately wise man once said to me.... "FUCK YOU, CHROME!"

[mrbones]

If I didn't have small kids that would be written on my gas tank.

[dt]

                 

...like the red, too...

[mrbones]

Here's a few pics of Bags progress. He can fill us in on the details later.

[bagobones]

UPDATE:

The project gets moved out of the garage for a looksee. I can't believe how light this bike is. I had forgotten what a brute my GL1100 really is.

An Ebayer actually bought that original king/queen seat for over $100. One man's junk....

The goal now is to make it look a little ratty, but have it be as solid mechanically as possible. New wheel bearings, neck bearings, fork seals, carb rebuild, brake linings, master cylinder - that kind of thing.

Witness what may be the only NOS Yamaha custom accessory seat / sissy bar combo in the world. These two items were bought on Ebay and were listed by different sellers within hours of each other. I paid about $175 total including the sissy setup, the seat and matching backrest. This isn't cheap I guess, but man, the seat has ZERO miles on it. I may not use that backrest, since no passengers are allowed on this ride. It is awfully groovy though..

I had toyed with using some ammo cans as saddlebags, but don't like the look. Wrong for this bike. I DID find a guy who makes saddlebag supports for any bike, including this one. This may be the only place that sells those for this series of Virago. He also does powder coating . Check it out:
 
http://xvfinishes.com/parts/saddle_bag_saddlebag_guard_suppo2.htm

The handlebars are courtesy of Mr. Bones. Next up: carb rebuild. UGH!

[bagobones]

F U chrome. Meet Mr. 220 grit sandpaper.

[mrbones]

Aaahhhh....that's better. Those wheels are even starting to look cool.

[dt]

Pheeew. The seat looks a lot better.

Oh hey. The sissy bar has a medallion mount. Wonder what's going to wind up there?