i have owned a 1985 xj700 maxim X, 1998 virago 1100 Special, 2001 Harley Davidson XL1200C, and a 1977 CB550 Super Sport. I went searching this spring for another 1998 Virago 1100 Special and bought one with 3208 actual miles on it. These are the BEST all-around bike you can buy. My wife has owned a 2005 vulcan 500, 2009 Vulcan 900, 2003 Harley XL883C, and now has a 1994 Virago 535 Special. her favorite? : the virago 535. Father-in-law has owned MANY bikes, rode my Virago, and sought out and bought a 1997 Virago 1100 Special. you can't go wrong with a virago !!!!

Just small correction about the Virago fuel system, it is really not bad. There are two situations this fuel system deals with. First is the obvious, running out of gas and using reserve portion, a normal petcock can handle that. But a petcock should always be shut off when cycle is not in use. This is because float valves are not reliable shutoff mechanism. This addresses the second problem of the gas tank can empty into the crankcase, rjin the oil and cause engine damage. The Virago fuel system adresses both concearns. It does not use a petcock but has a sensor that when low fuel level is detected shunts power to the fuel pump which eventually cause the motor to sputter. This signals to rider to switch to reserve which then restores power to fuel pump. The genius of this design is that the crank case will never get gas flooded as with the petcock design which can allow gas to trickle through carb, past valves, through cylinders and then into the crank case. On Virago design the main tank feeds sub tank, the sub tank feeds fuel pump, the fuel pump feeds carbs which are naturally higher than sub tank. To me this is very clever design.

Thanks for the review. As a first time buyer I really liked that you took the time to explain everything.

I'm rebuilding an older 700 and enjoyed your post. I'm not a cruiser type guy but hope to ride it some and test it out. It's been sitting for 20 years or so. Thanks for your interesting post. Good job!

Loved the video, thinking of upgrading from my 535 as I've got my advanced motorcycle test coming up and must say you've sold me on it.

I like the way you moved from "it's not a bad bike" at 15:45 thorough that "little chirp" from the drive-shaft, ending with "it's a great bike" at 16:05 :)

68 comments in 4 years. I thought this was kinda weird too until I listened at the end when he said "...my first video review..." Not bad at all, as he says. I say not bad at all for a first video posted to anywhere. Off the cuff and repetive but knowing that this was his first puts it into a whole new light. He was trying not to say how much he loves that bike and wishes he had a different style. But a fine job for the first and I must say good quality video and sound. Good job MaksWerks yeah, I love my Virago too. And I sold my first one.

I had a 1985 Virago 700 and I agree with Jeff Larson, you can't find a better bike. I never did long distance , but I did ride it to DC and other little adventures with no problems what so ever. Never ran out of fuel, and those curved handle bars were so comfortable. It was a sweet beautiful bike that had straight pipes so it was loud. My favorite bike till I totaled it.

I own this motorcycle, same year and all. Love it. Love the little insurance box too.

Thanks for this excellent and practical tour of the Virago. Quite inspiring.

Just buttoning up my 92 1100 after a pre season tune up and valve adjustment. Annoyingly, the small cap under the crankcase cover that give access to manually crank the engine, came off in two pieces. So here I sit waiting for a replacement. I also had to replace the stock fuel pump with an inline after market one, when the old pump failed on me. I wasn't going to pay $400 for a factory pump when a $50 generic Napa pump works just as well.

nice bike! thanks for posting I have the virago special 1100, 96. love it. great machine.

Nice build man looks like a whole new bike!! Wanting to bob mine out just got it about a week ago

Good review! I currently own a 93 Virago 1100 with 30k miles that I picked up for $1600. It's an amazing bike plus the engine on mine was completely rebuilt as well as a custom jet kit installed in the carbs. The torque is amazing on these bikes.

Great video! What brand and model windshield is that, and how is it on the freeway?

This was my first ever bike and I loved it. even back then in 2000 it would turn heads as I cruised along all day at exactly legal speeds lol. Mine was turquoise blue and cream with gold mag wheels. I'm embarrassed now to admit the I even had the tan leather gloves and snakeskin cowboy boots to go with it. Then Girlfriend decided she could not look sexy enough on it compared to all those girls perched on top of the sports bikes that flew passed us so it had to go. I replaced it with a GSXR600 and have since moved on to a ZZR1100 which I absolutely would not swap for any other bike in the world, but just sometimes I do hark back to my Virago and think ahhhh she was beautiful.

After selling your virago what did you get (if anything). I have an xv920(83') that I'm currently turning into a street fighter but am thinking of getting a 90's 1100 within the next year for cruising / camping and road long trips. Given that premise, I don't know what other bikes I should also be looking at for that purpose. I also love the V-Max but Ive read they weigh alot and don't corner well and they are not as much of a cruiser. They sure look nice though.

I had a 86 Suzuki gs750. Nice little cruiser. I had a 86 Honda Sabre 1100. Which was a fast little bike Now I own a 95 virago 750 red/white. Only 9,000 miles. It’s a nice cruiser bike around town. I’ve owned this bike longer than the others if that tells you any thing. I like the seat and throttle response on it

Excellent video. Learned a lot.

A few wrong information, 62 horses and the fuel switch is there for a reason. Once your light goes on, you can switch to reserve and look out for a gas station. He tells people that overhauling the carbs is very easy and changing the oil filter difficult? It's actually the way around.

Love those bike man, look soooo cool.

12:52 It's not really my style . . . 13:39 The thing that really makes the bike for me is the styling . . .

think the hp is off a bit unless they detuned the newer bikes my 87 535 hit the dyno at 62hp max 7500 rpm but i do have jordean pipes and is rejetted.

The pulled back handle bars are the best

Man it is a great review thanks I got a virago a week a go and I agree with you thanks for taking the time to do this excelent reviw have a great day (by the way Im in chihuahua mexico)

I had a 1986 1100, I did some long distance, it was fine. Though the buttons on the seat caused some long term problems. He is a little off on the first years, there was an 1000cc in 1985, it would backfire and blow a carb off.

You should be a radio dj because you are good at non-stop talking talking talking talking . . .

Great vid.

The reserve switch is used when the main tank is empty. Switching the reserve switch on allows the bike to run off the reserve tank under the seat.

Decent and fair review, I have a 1994 Virago XV1100 I bought new. It's been a great bike, I'm only 5'7" so it's a great fit for me. Throughout your video I kept wondering why you bought the bike since you stated it wasn't your style, then I heard at the end you were selling it. Guess you bought it to fix up and sell. Mine brand new in 94 was $4200. I put some Vance & Hines Classic II's on in 2006, couldn't stand the stock pipe sound, it was more of a single exhaust with the resonator box that fed into the two exhaust pipes. The Classic II's made it a true dual exhaust.

Great video! What brand and model is your windshield and how is it on the freeway?

Nice ride I love my 98xv1100

Be good if you could get an after market dif ratio, it just seems geared too slow for the open road. I like the blinker auto reset, the air assist in the forks on some models and the adjustable dampers in the rear shocks. Ive owned 4 of these and the carbs, starters, peeling of engine chrome, dash corrosion and fogging of the clocks were a problem on all of them, the hardest one to fix was the foggy clocks, they have to be tediously pried open. I found detergent based oil works great and synthetic oil makes the clutch slip and the only fix is new plates. I think the reserve switch is over the top also, I understand it's to make the pump intervals shorter but it could have been incorporated into the reserve light with a relay perhaps, thinking of doing that with my current bike and repurposing the switch for additional lighting., 🤔

nice drive

Rear carb might have a bigger jet because the rear cylinder always runs hotter so putting more fuel in it would keep it cooler. Just a guess

This guy didn't know much about bikes when he did this video. It looks nothing like any 70s bike. The engine is not rubber mounted. And though it isn't rubber mounted, it actually has very little, if any vibration when running correctly. His was not running great. It would have been funny to watch him do a 1970s Harley Sportster review. Those actually had horrific vibration, an the front axle would move back and forth 3 inches at idle. The Virago har a 90 degree vtwin (like a Ducati) and is nicely balanced. The Virago is a great bike that rides nice and is enjoyable to put around on, or hustle a bit.

30 seconds in. Saw the trunk. Instantly sold.

Now explain to everyone watching this video how in the hell do you bleed a manual back drum mechanic set of brake shoes!

I like the backrest

Do you guys have any corners in your country?

There is a reason for the fuel switch. When your low on fuel it runs you out and your supposed to turn res on to get you to a gas station. The point of it is the primary selection is slightly off the bottom of the tank while res is at the bottom of the tank, you dont wanna run on res all the time becuase any dirt and debris will be picked up in res and clog the carbs. Majority of bikes are this way and for good reason. These bikes dont have fuel pumps, just a petcock with 2 different lenght pickups

No virago forum? ? ? The virago forum is actually quite excellent.... imo

So leaving it on reserve all the time, and you aren't afraid of running out of gas somewhere? And the oil filter on mine is pretty easy to change. I'm not too keen on the air filter system, but it seems to work pretty good. I had to rebuild the carbs on mine as the previous owner royally screwed them up, and had the jets in the wrong carbs, and the needles were not set the same on both carbs. Mine is a 95, and it has 21K on it and runs like a dream. I just wish it got better fuel mileage, and the tank was bigger. Where did you get the windshield, or was it already on there? And I'm trying to find a luggage rack like the one you have.

I love the LCD display on my 920. I hate that box of rocks starter and am not a huge fan of the hitachi carbs. Those Mikunis are slightly better due to parts availability. Fun fact, the 920 had more power that all the other viragos stock due to emissions BS. Official idle speed on those 1100s is 1000 + - 50 rpm. There are two virago forums as of 2020 and they are excellent. And that engine is part of the frame and because of that it is solid mounted.

Hey motofriends :) i didn't quite get how the fuel system works on this bike. So when riding normally, with fuel in the tank, you should switch to "res" or "on"? And the second fuel tank isn't only for emergencies? Fuel always flows through it? Is it the same on 535 model? I've just got smaller brother aka 535 as my first bike. Haven't rode it yet, because i bought it in winter :) so i'm trying to learn as much as i can about this bike :). Any help is appreciated :) thanks

my dads dream bike

1 have a 1986 27 thousand km love it

Nice video of riding the bike, but nothing he says about the bike in this video is correct. Don't ride with the fuel switch set on reserve. Leave it the other way until the light on the tach comes on.

At the beginning of the vid you said it was an " okay bike " at the end you said it was" a great bike", which is it ?

I just got me a 1983 Yamaha midnight virago 750 there just alsome

Going to buy one tomorrow. It's a 93 Virago 1100 with 30k miles. Stealership wants $1600 for it which I don't think is too bad.

Lol I went the art institute north Austin and had an apartment right there! Anyways just got a 98 gonna cruise her in this heat!

What kit did you use for the carburetor rebuild. I've acquired a 99 13k sat for a couple of years. Thanks in advance for the info.

8:28 Yea nothing's wrong. My '86 XV700 is loud as hell but it's perfectly fine.

Great review, I've been looking to get a bike, between a virago or a v star is what I've narrowed it down to. Anyway, just a little info. With the dual carb setup, with the 2nd carb having a larger jet (if I remember this right), the smaller jetted carb would provide the main idle and low speed fuel supply, and while you pick up speed, the 2nd larger carb will kick in and start pushing fuel via vacuum.

Nice vid quality...Idle is a bit high and TONS of mis-information!

You said it has a Mustang seat, is that original or aftermarket???

I’m looking at a 1994 virago vx1100 for $1000. I never rode before. Would you recommend this to beginners?

Nice video..Did you sell the bike?

How do you bleed the mechanical rear brake?

Wha cost the virarago

XV1100 came out in '86

I got the ultra rare Chain Drive 920rh

Well now ... mate🤨 , how can I find that SOUTHERN COMFORT commercial 🙆‍♂️😂😂😂 I need to see it 😂 Big hello to everyone 🙋‍♂️ and I bought myself as first bike two months ago Virago 1100 😎 still haven't ride it 🙆‍♂️🙆‍♂️🙆‍♂️ Best of luck to you with this channel and wish you all to have an EPIC day 🍻🍻🍻😀🙋‍♂️ I apologise to all for my bad English, sorry it's not my native lang, 😅

I'm building a 1/12 Tamiya model of VX1000 and this is just a very useful reference.

Sorry but the engine of a twin is all about torque, not HP, so the important part about the engine is the 85 Nm of torque, not the 65 Hp... But nice vid !

You still in Austin?

My first bike was a 1100 virago. I drove that damn thing everywhere feeling like a bada**

Makes me miss the one i had. Lol.

птица Говорун отличается умом и сообразительностью

how is it with two up was looking at one for me and my girl but we ain't the smallest ether any ideas?

Pretty sure that's not how the reserve system works.

My only wish with my xv1100 is that it had an extra gear lol

The art of talking too much while saying very little that's either funny or informative. Also, the added art of saying "Not a bad bike." about 3,000 times during video.

Son fallas pero por que no la cuidavan o por que no le davan mantenimiento por que Esa moto es japonesa es buena moto

Is this bike too small for a 6'2" frame?

Tank is bigger than 3.5 gallons....over 4

fahrrad ???

I just recently purchased a 98 1100. Is there anyone who works on this bike, that can offer some knowledge? I am having backfire problems

I'm about to pick up a 91 Virago 1100... Any idea if they are pretty much the same? With storage and what not

'basically'..'as u can see'...

Top speed?

Co ty wiesz o śniadaniu.?

Sería genial si te callaras un momento, y dejaras escuchar el motor!!

cant hear the engine wit all the yapping.

Rather than wearing a shirt open to the belly button from the 70s you might just be better off putting on a pair of good quality protective motorcycling gloves from the 2020s. Especially on a highway! Then if you should ever have an accident, you'll be less likely to have two grated stumps on the end of what's left of your bare, unprotected arms.... Don't mean to put a downer on you but here in France it's illegal to ride without gloves and hi-vis apparel. Coming off a bike HURTS!

GLOVES? ...FFS!

you got a rice burner

Completely stupid to be reviewing a bike seventeen years after it was built.

The specs list the 1100 with a 4.5 gal tank not 3.5. Also it only has about 50 hp on the wheel not 60. 60 crankcase...