Working out the Bugs on the Virago 1100

It takes me days to get the controls, windshield, vibrations, and servicing just the way I like them. I really can't understand how someone will put up with levers & pegs at weird angles and being windblasted by the shield way low and/or vibrating my helmet. I changed every fluid, they were 2-10 years old. Both hand levers were so far forward they were hard to reach. The foot controls were so high I had to lift my feet 2-3 inches off pegs. That is not safe. They are now ergonomically more correct. Almost all controls are adjustable to fit a wide variety of bodies.

Today I went to the east border check point at 70-80 mph. I was getting blasted by air over top the windshield, so I moved it up at least 4". Maybe the previous owners was real short. Even found the curve over the headlight was adjustable to reduce air coming underneath the windshield.

Being a V-twin at 80 mph and over 4,000 rpm it vibrates much more than my 4 cylinder bikes.

I actually took some tension off the handlebar clamps in rubber sockets and added a bar end weight.

2 tanks of gas so far, looks like it will get about the same MPG as my Suzuki 1100's but is no where as powerful. At 75mph twisting the throttle gets just a little response comparatively.

It has more torque but a lot less HP. 85/70 ft#'s and 60/100 HP. (Virago/Suzuki)

But the Virago handles much better! That's Sam and his 92 Virago above.

Name change

Well when started this Blog 2 years ago all I had were Suzuki motorcycles and the Honda Accord. Now I have 1 BMW, 3 Suzuki's, a Yamaha and a Honda. The theme should be Japanese Crazy but in doing so I would lose many of my devoted readers. Things, time, and attitudes change. Just like jobs, children moving out, and learning to care about life more, I have done the same. With both of us retired our stress levels are down significantly. Linda and I do shut off the TV when nothing good is on and occassionally talk. (Thank you TV writers for going on strike!)

This is the best times of our life, too bad income is down, and health isn't the same as when we were in out 20's. But I would not go back.

Two of my many good friends above, Charlie Card and Sam Faraone. (and my new bike)

1998 Yamaha Virago 1100

Bought my 23rd Motorcycle Thursday. It's only my second
Yamaha. The first was a 1982 Seca 650 Turbo. Very fast. But
this one is a blast to drive. Never sat this low before. It's a Cruiser.
It's small especially for an 1100cc bike. Handles probably the best
I've ever been on. Got 49.6 mpg the first tank. Doesn't need hardly anything. Came with engine case guards, small windshield and a luggage rack. I took the cruiser type bag off the Suzuki 1100 and put it on here as a back rest, got it for $10 at the Yamaha dealer couple months ago, worth $125!. It has much stock chrome and not a scratch. I'm servicing it now but it really does not need much because it only has 4050 miles (yes in 10 years!) My friend, Lowell found it at the closest dealer, 3 miles from the house at the Kawasaki dealer. It was on consignment, the owner paid $7600 for it a year ago and wanted $5000. Dealer knew it was way too high, then said $4500, I said ya right! I offered $3000, Owner said no less than $3250. I walked out. I told Linda about it, we went back the next day, I offered $3100, owner said yes! $3439 with TTL. Found Kelly Blue Book value at $3550 so I really did come out ok, I thought originally I had paid too much.
Anyways, Sam Faraone had one he bought last Aug. I drove it a couple of times and really liked it. Linda said I could not have another bike. One of my 4 had to go. Only room for 4 in the garage.
When the brown 91 Suzuki 1100 gave out 1-2 weeks ago (but still runs) with engine noises and a bad front tire, I could finally (sort of) justify looking and buying a bike like Sam's. I found several within 850 miles but really were either too small cc, too much money, the wrong way (north in the winter?) or too high mileage or problems I could see in closeups. Paying the extra $1100 more than I wanted could be justified by not having to fix one up and/or driving a long ways to get it.
I drove it to Las Cruses today, the more I drove it the more I liked it. Yesterday Linda was going to drive it around the block and didn't come back for 10 minutes. She said "it was hers!" I said ok if you will drive it more often, we will see...

Oh fun

Got to go back to Juarez for the third time to the dentist. 1 tooth pulled last Wed, a week ago, then yesterday, Tue., to get stitches out and 2 fillings. Tomorrow, Thur., to get 4 more fillings. I be over $400 but less than 1/3 what it would cost in the USA.

Cloudy 2 days now and going to rain for the next 3-5 days. Can't wait for winter to be over.

Linda and I are bored here too.

Glad I got out of the stock market, they are so dang emotional and stupid. Dow's down over 1000 points. It will get worse.

Guess what planet...

Looking for another bike. Found 3 today. 1 on Ebay went too high, another had too many problems, and a third the guy wanted $1500 more than it's worth. I'll just keep trying. Too cold or wet to go riding now, anyways.

Writing this cause I'm bored but now got nothing else to write.

Looking

Linda has not said no, nor yes either, but she is not stopping me either. This time I want a Cruiser bike like Sam's. It's a Yamaha Virago 1100cc. Cruisers are lower, feet forward, usually comfortable, lot's of chrome, high handlebars, smaller tanks, usually V-twins with 2 cylinders, lower in horsepower, but high in torque. This one is a little different, first it's NOT a Harley look- alike, it's lighter in weight about 450#'s, lots of stock chrome, shaft drive, little frame showing, handles better than my Suzuki 1100's, has a soft seat, has a Tachometer (many Cruisers do not), and has enough power for me. They get 50+ mpg.

The Virago will look like the one in the picture, except that is a Harley Davidson 883 Sportster. That is Cle, one of my friends that I ride with on Thursdays. He is 62. Great guy!

Sorry about your Midwest weather been cold here too in the low 20's at night and mid-40's during the day, But it's suppose to get back to normal in the high 50's. As you wish winter was over.

The tooth I had pulled last Wed. still hurts today, Sunday. It took the dentist over an hour getting it pulled out, the gum is got a big hole it it too. Got to go back to have the stitches taken out and 3 cavities filled.

What the hay!

Went to the dentist in Juarez today. Took him an hour to get 1 tooth out that has been hurting for 2 years. It had about 1/3 of the enamel missing under the gums exposing the nerve. Now I got another hole in my teeth but it maybe better than every time I chewed it hurt with pressure, heat and especially cold.


Time for winter to be over. Been in the low 30's at night and mid 50's during the day. Typical EP weather. Tomorrow cold and windy, cutting into my riding. I still hated to retire my 91 Suzuki, it would run much longer if I wanted to spend more on it. I would rather have a different bike now.


Linda found our N Gauge train today, we had in Joliet. It is missing track and a transformer, but for less than $40 can add it to my train board in my room. There will be 4 different tracks.

Picture taken by Hubble of M82 Nebula

Retirement

No, not me! Been there, done that for 5 years already. Talking about my 15 year old 1991 brown Suzuki GSX1100G bike. 97,400 miles. Bought it new in Feb 1993. This was (is) my all time favourite bike. Fast, reliable, economical, comfortable, & fast. Even at 97400 miles it would out run all but one of my 30 friends bikes. Just not worth putting more money into it. Tires worn out, more engine noises, handling gone. Came home with a bulge in the front tire. Besides I have another one, a BMW touring bike, and a 400 dual sport. Time to move on, it's a good parts bike.

Time for a cruiser. Like Sam's Yamaha Virago 1100. Lots of torque, shaft drive too, much chrome, great handling, low and comfortable but in a different way. I'm looking, but tired of going too far to pick one up. Someone within 350 miles will be selling one by spring/summer 2008. Many used bikes just need batteries, tires, overall cleaning, carbs serviced, and/or brakes serviced to get running again. My second hobby after riding bikes.

But I'm in mourning, please pray for me and it!

Holidays Over, Back to Work, URRR, Play

Thank for coming, you are all special. Thanks Wes for playing with me in the garage. I loved it! Wish you were here so we could play anything other than with computers! Parts should be in next Friday so I can put the BMW fully back together. Did about 6 major projects while it was apart this time. Even made the turn signal light stay on all the time, except when they are set to flash.

2 times this week it was in the 60's. Rode to Sierra Blanca both times. Met another couple that want to join our riding group today. We lose 1 and gain 1 every month.

Back to helping Howard rebuild bikes, how novel! But I did help Benny twice this week work on his house. I ask them to buy me lunches when we go riding. I get free food, they get cheap labor.

Linda is sick, hope it nothing more than her allergies, to me sounds worse.

Man, retirement is tuff. Got asked what I do today, Said I'm a professional "BUM".

Stay warm, healthy, wise and you know...