An old Yamaha Virago doesn’t quite have the same appeal as an old Harley, but there was a time when the Virago and its ilk had The Motor Co. worried. Back in the mid-80s, the influx of Japanese-made cruisers prompted Harley-Davidson to lobby the US government to impose tariffs on large-capacity imported motorcycles. It’s safe to assume that the Yamaha XV920 Virago was one of the biggest threats.
As an early-80s cruiser, the XV920 Virago ticks every box. Its offbeat styling epitomizes the era, and it makes more power than an early-80s Sportster. It hasn’t aged well—but it has caught a second breath as a popular choice for custom projects.
This Yamaha XV920 Virago street tracker is the work of Nick Ghobashi at Bueno Co.…