On the surface, there’s not much that’s special about a Yamaha Virago. But perhaps that’s part of what makes it special. The Virago was an everyman metric cruiser that was offered in pretty much every engine size imaginable over the course of its 26-year model run (1981-2007). Depending on the specific year and the specific market, versions were offered in 125-, 250-, 400-, 500-, 535-, 700-, 750-, 920-, 1000-, and 1100-cc capacities. This example, a 750, is where the Virago story began ─ a story with an outsized impact on motorcycling history.
Powered by a 748cc air-cooled 75° V-twin that claimed a peak power output of 55 horsepower and 47.74 ft-lbs of torque, the XV750 Virago was introduced in 1981 amid a wave of Japan-made cruisers flooding the US market. These Japanese bikes were generally more affordable and more reliable than bikes from Harley-Davidson, which was at the time in the death throes of the AMF years.
Hitherto, Harley had absolutely dominated the US market, especially in large-capacity machines. By the time this particular model rolled off the assembly line, Harley was suffering so badly that it had petitioned the Reagan administration to impose 45% tariffs on large-capacity foreign-made bikes. (Interestingly, bikes from the Federal Republic of Germany ─ aka West Germany ─ were largely exempt, meaning Americans could still get their BMW fix)
In light of current events, it’s probably best if we move swiftly on from any discussion of these tariffs. But one knock-on effect was that Yamaha soon abandoned the Virago 750 in favor of a new Virago 700 ─ powered by a 699cc V-twin that put the bike’s capacity just 1 cubic centimeter under the 700cc cap imposed by the regulations.
One wonders if this capacity switch is what encouraged Yamaha to then go on to offer the Virago in so many different flavors. In Europe, these multitudinous versions of the Virago were well-received, offering riders an opportunity to experience classic Harley/Americana spirit without having to suffer Harley pricing. In the United Kingdom, where I live, you will still find plenty of these available secondhand.
Few are in as good condition as this example, though. According to the seller, the bike is pretty much in original condition, having simply been looked after meticulously. Even the tires are original, apparently. “They are still soft and pliable enough to ride very short distances under very specific circumstances,” the seller says. “If the new owner plans on riding this machine on the street, I would recommend installing new tires.”
I would also recommend doing that.
With just 2,637 miles on the clock, you can find this Virago 750 for sale in Villa Park, Illinois, here on eBay.