1982 Yamaha XV920

[Big AK]

Just out in the garage and noticed another project ike I picked up a ways back. It is a 1982 Yamaha XV920. It is missing a few trim pieces here and there, the tires are cracked and split, and the guy I picked it up from well his dog ate part of the wiring harness and seat. Other than that it looks visually complete. Does anyone of you know if this 86hp motor was a good motor or is this bike just a problem child from the start. The reviews I have found were favorable but then again none really went after the cons of the bike. Oh and I must find a way to transplant the sweet depth finder looking electronic gauge to the FJ, totally best thing ever.

Mostly inquiring to the motor and trans as I want to maybe cafe racer it out a little like

http://www.bikeexif.com/yamaha-virago

or just custom cruise like

http://hiconsumption.com/2012/08/1982-yamaha-virago-xv-920-custom-by-shed-built-bikes/

Anyway, thoughts on the original bikes if you have them would be appreciated.

Big AK

[WhiteBeard]

Oh and I must find a way to transplant the sweet depth finder looking electronic gauge to the FJ, totally best thing ever.

Awesome!

[Big AK]

Yup that is it, all in one kick ass elctronic gizmo. Stop at the beach remove it and one of the mufflers and it doubles as a metal detector to find all that sweet hidden treasure out there. Don't be too envious when you see it on my FJ, I am sure there are some available on eBay 

[SlowOldGuy]

My '82 XJ100 had one of those electronic gauge clusters.  Stupid "warning" light drove me crazy.

It had brake fluid and battery level sensors that kept going bad causing the light to constantly and continuously flash.  I replaced one of them then just shorted the leads to the others together to "fix" them.

The BRIGHT RED warning light also came on when the fuel got low.  It would start flashing (like I couldn't see the LED fuel gauge right next to the light), I'd reach up and hit the reset button which would stop the flashing, but it was still on.  A second push of reset would turn it off.  Until the fuel level sloshed enough to turn it back on again. 

Drove me absolutely nuts!  I hated that bike mostly because of the stupid red light.  Also hated the ergos, but only had to put up with them for about 3 years (something life-changing happened in 1985 and I dumped that bike on my poor brother).

DavidR.

[Big AK]

Yeah, that thing is hideous and is coming of along with the square headlight, maybe the whole front end.

Leaning towards cafe racer but have to see what needs to be done first. Seen one with a R1 front end on it, so definitely have options. Seems like mostly the front ends are changed up though a few did do new rear swings as well, but good to know that it isn't a complete change of every part.

Big AK

[yamaha fj rider]

That speedo only goes to eighty five MPH then it stops, the bike keeps going faster but the speedo stays at eighty five. Kinda kills the Kookaloo.

Kurt 

[FJmonkey]

That speedo only goes to eighty five MPH then it stops, the bike keeps going faster but the speedo stays at eighty five. Kinda kills the Kookaloo.

Kurt 

That was Bill Gates' fault, he said computers will never need more than 64K of RAM.....

[Arnie]

I had an '81  XV1000RH, the first year version, for many years. 
I don't know why the US got a 920cc donk instead of the full litre engine.
Mine had a fully enclosed chain that ran a litre of grease and the 630 chain just didn't wear. :-)
It also had a "hugger" type rear mudguard.  Yam changed to open chain and normal mudguard in '82.  I think they may have also released a custom Virago version with shaft drive.
Mine did not have the strange instruments shown, but normal dual clocks.
It was NOT an 86hp motor, probably more like 70 with lots of torque.
The basic XV motor continued to be produced for many years, mostly as a shafty for Yam's "custom" or "chopper" bikes.

Problems:

Starter clutch on early bikes

Head gasket could blow out between cylinder and camchain tunnel.  Was fixed in '82 or '83 with head gasket design change and support at cam tunnel.

Oil supply to the head MUST be primed at each oil change or no supply to head - this resulted in worn cams and cam followers.  Some early bikes also had improperly heat treated rockers which include the cam followers.

Oil filter (cartridge type similar to FJ OEM filter) could be installed backwards.  This would result in lack of oil supply to head - see above

Hitachi carbs.  They worked fine, but were very difficult to find alternate jets or parts for.  Strangely, the rear cylinder ran leaner jetting than the front.  I still don't know why.

That's all the problems, below are some comments;
Bike used a pressed steel frame with huge wide main spar and the cavity was used as airbox.
They also used a air-adjusted cantilever single shock that wasn't great.
Transmission was fine
Accessories were difficult to find as the bike didn't sell in large numbers

I bought the bike 2yrs old with about 4,000 kms.  It had had a sky-earth incident and the tank was dented and the frame a bit bent.  It also had the oil filter in backwards (see above)

I had the frame straightened and braced at the steering head for slightly quicker than stock steering.  I made a 28 litre fibreglass tank that (IMO) fitted the lines of the bike better than the 19L stock unit and gave me a huge range.  Yamaha gave me new rockers and cams since the bike was so new, even though I wasn't the original owner, since there had been a wear problem on some bikes.  I also fitted a large LaParisian handlebar fairing with tall screen.
I kept that bike for 63,000 kms and 12 years till I bought my FJ.  Was a good bike.
Last Xmas, I saw an XV1000RH at the Toy Run.  I went to look at it and discovered it was MY old bike 14 years after I'd sold it.

Arnie

[yamaha fj rider]

Yamaha also made the XV920R imported into the US in 1983 I think, it was a sports model rather than a cruiser. Just like Arnie said enclosed chain drive and low bars. Not a popular model in the US.

Kurt

[Big AK]

Yeah, Arnie is right not 86hp. Looking at specs from

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/yamaha/yamaha_xv920j_virago%2082.htm

Looks like 65hp, not sure how I got 86, wishful thinking I guess. But that is a picture of the shaft driven beast I got.

Thanks for all the info Arnie, good to know.

Big AK

[yamaha fj rider]

I bought one of these brand new in 1985. Put 30,000 miles on it, before I traded it in. It did nothing to write home about but was just a fun bike to ride. Box stock it would pull away from my friends HD XLS1000 that had been worked on. I paid $2,300.00 out the door and rode it for years then traded it in for $2,500.00 how do you complain about that. 

Kurt

[JMR]

Forget about getting 95% of the carb parts. Even K&L ran out years ago.

[anson45]

I bought a 920 as a left over in 1984. I rode hell out of it until I bought my XVZ1200 Venture as a left over in 1986. It was a good ride with the right tires. Hated the starter noise. No other issues.
Anson