Yamaha XV920

[thumpism]

Hate to let it go and have several prospective buyers now. Damn.

SOLD: THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST!!!

[bk brkr baker]

Thank's Thumpism for the hospitality !
I drove all the way home through some wild weather, and made it at 6:15 am.

[vernon dent]

Originally Posted by axis power

always had a hard on for one of these don't ask me why. one popped up a couple of weeks ago in michigan about 20 miles from my son's house.
4,000 miles, from the sellers description, is 100% running, riding, cosmetically beautiful. went back and forth on price, agreed on $1500.00. picking it up in two weeks.

picked the bike up last week. very nice cosmetically, only a little fade on the right side cover and a few scratches on the mufflers.
headlight in-op, front cylinder has a knock that seems to come and go. runs, rides, shifts, stops. ended up buying it for $1100.00.
is it just me or did yamaha design this bike as their take on a modernized black shadow (big v twin, hidden rear suspension, swingarm mounted rear fender, big ass headlight, etc)?

[bk brkr baker]

It's not just you.When I brought home my '81 I told my buddy Mike,I'd bought a Japanese Vincent. Without missing a beat he said "I was ready to buy one of those ,but , they started coming back to the shop with starter trouble right away , so I bought a Seca 650 instead. "
Mike was the head mechanic at the local yamaha shop at the time.

[vernon dent]

Originally Posted by bk brkr baker

It's not just you.When I brought home my '81 I told my buddy Mike,I'd bought a Japanese Vincent. Without missing a beat he said "I was ready to buy one of those ,but , they started coming back to the shop with starter trouble right away , so I bought a Seca 650 instead. "
Mike was the head mechanic at the local yamaha shop at the time.

i knew someone else had to see the likeness.
my plans are, detail it, figure out the front cylinder noise, put some super bike bars on it and ride it. the starter is good on this one. its a real 4,000 mile bike that i'm in cheap enough in to mess around with. good power, i think i read they were 64 horsepower or so. i know it will flat spank my 2010 883 iron.

[bk brkr baker]

[Zippydapanhead]

I started going through books to thin them out as part of a slow motion move and I found my old Yamaha Factory Service manual for the 1981 Yamaha-XV-750-H, XV-920-RH # LIT-11616-XV-90. It served my 920 BOTT racer and my 920 post-racing street racer. Is 20 bucks OK?

[Hawk Medicine]

Originally Posted by MIOB

I've got one, together with a friend of mine. We're doing some 'minor' modifications to it:

No offense but that has to be the ugliest bike in the world! No, really....

[MIOB]

Originally Posted by mymindsok

No offense but that has to be the ugliest bike in the world! No, really....

None taken. It was at a very early stage of building it. It looks better now.

[MIOB]

Hmm, I thought I posted more photo's of it in a more finished state, apparently not. This is what it looks like now:

[vernon dent]

Originally Posted by Zippydapanhead

I started going through books to thin them out as part of a slow motion move and I found my old Yamaha Factory Service manual for the 1981 Yamaha-XV-750-H, XV-920-RH # LIT-11616-XV-90. It served my 920 BOTT racer and my 920 post-racing street racer. Is 20 bucks OK?

if you want to sell it for $20.00 i'm a player. can paypal or send funds. pm me. thanks

[thumpism]

Originally Posted by bk brkr baker

Thanks Thumpism for the hospitality !
I drove all the way home through some wild weather, and made it at 6:15 am.

Glad you made it safely. I'm composing a detailed email with as much background info as I can recall about the bike. Glad my old 920 found a good home. Who knows, I may get another someday.

[Zippydapanhead]

[/QUOTE]

I remember when Yamaha over-produced in '82-'83 to best Honda in sales and it did not pan out to think that "if you build it they will buy it". My local dealer was running a 2 bikes for 1 sale with a Seca 650 thrown in for every 920 Virago.

I see the swing arm changed color... Did you keep the shaft, fiddle with it, or go to a chain?

[JicJac]

http://s1185.photobucket.com/albums/...view=slideshow

A couple weeks ago I purchased this 1981 XV290R for $1500 from a retired Yamaha service manager. As you see from the slideshow, I am repainting and creating a cafe' style bike from it. This is my fourth Virago, although I've been a Harley rider for the most part. I'll be reading this great thread and keeping you informed as I make progress.

JJ

[Zippydapanhead]

So the previous owner wasn't shy about a little pimp job, but... I bet the wheels and carbs are goners anyhow. Replacing the forks, wheels and brakes on the front? When you pull the grab rail and the rack, think about trashing it all and living with the seat and liner with a smaller tail light and indicators. Goodbye 40 to 50 pounds, right now!