This seat marks one of the final steps in this build. I recently got all the parts back from PC. My tank will be done soon. I finished wiring the bike last night and everything is working! Haven’t tried to run it yet, need to do a little more buttoning up first. But I’m very, very close!
I’m VERY excited about this build.
This is the nicest seat I’ve done yet. I’m a bit of a perfectionist…so even though most of my seats are FINE, I see all the little flaws and things I could have done better. But this one is the closest I’ve ever come to being completely happy with my upholstery job.
I have officially adopted my newest build into the family. Her name is Mayonaka (“Midnight” in Japanese), or Maya for short. Here are my two beautiful kids playing in the yard together.
I’ve been wanting to do another virago build ever since I finished my 750. But these days I’m really getting away from the large displacement machines so you can imagine my excitement when a 500 version popped up on CL in my favorite shape (non-running piece of yard art) and price. This little guy is VERY similar to the 750 and 920 big brothers, except sized down in every aspect. What more could I ask for? Here are a few day one pictures.
mmmmmm…fuzzy seats are classy!
This thing hurts to look at…such an ugly machine. But don’t worry! With a new front end, new wheels and tires, new sub frame and seat, and a thoroughly detailed motor and single carb conversion…this thing may not look too shabby!
These carbs are WEIRD! Down draft, cool stuff.
I was pleasantly surprised to turn the key and see lights! Then I pressed the starter button and she cranked! So I cleaned these old dusty carbs out and put them on…Lets see what happens next.
My second attempt at making my first seat was a bit more successful. But I’m not satisfied yet…
Borrowed some equipment to take some much needed pictures of my latest builds.
The 3rd bike I customized to any significant extent was my 1980 Virago 750. Picked this little peach up, no title, the guy hadn’t ever heard it run, I just hoped it had compression (later tested at 150psi in both cylinders! ..Phew..). Sadly I have no pics of the original bike…But I use this as reference, except imagine it way rougher!:
Anyway, this one I tore down to the backbone frame/ motor hanging from the rafters of the shop. Took every bolt off the bike and spent hours with a wire wheel polishing the hex heads and nuts…But times flies with Bayside on the radio and Jazzy (my shop cat) playing with the wire looms!
She always wants to be part of the action…
The biggest trick was the front-end swap, I used the ninja 250 front-end because it is a bit shorter, and they have a 16” front wheel, which matches the 16” rear much better than the stock 19”!! So I found the front-end on a forum, had them shipped and assembled them that night. Ordered a tire, picked up some chrome clip ons from eBay and it all slipped right into the stock virago triple trees! (the same works for some XJ models…fyi):
HOWEVER it’s not that easy, as would be expected, the virago weighs about 2x that of a ninja 250 so it was a scary beast to ride. So I ordered some Sonic Springs .97 spring rate (stock is .44) NOT progressive springs. Oh man did it change things! Now I love to ride that thing, corners great! Also built the exhaust from scratch, lots of hacking and welding!!
Then there was the tailpiece…Love the virago because I was just able to build a sub frame and bolt it on, no permanent damage done! I made it from some angle iron and 16 gauge sheet metal…That thing is STOUT. Drilled holes in the end for some tail lights, and it bolted right up. My only regret was not putting denser foam in the seat…maybe someday…
I tried painting it myself, and this is a picture of it with my paint job…it looks okay but doesn’t hold up to gas…
So I had my paint guy (Kevin…awesome dude) re-do it and it looks very similar but now you can pour all the gas you want on it and it doesn’t do a thing! Plus it’s glassy smooth…mmmmmmmm.
I think that’s a good summary of that bike~
After these pics it got better paint, a newer rear tire, and a white/ black faced mini speedo.
ONE-UP Moto Garage 