Yamaha Virago custom

One of the most underrated custom platforms has got to be Yamaha’s Virago. It first appeared as the XV750 in 1981, and made an immediate impact—to the point where it was one of the bikes that prompted a US tariff on imported motorcycles over 700 cc, arguably to protect Milwaukee. The Virago sub-brand was soon spread thin with subsequent models going down to 250 cc, but the 80s big-bangers are still held in high regard.

The custom shown here is a 1981 model, rebuilt in Haaksbergen in the Netherlands as a tribute to the Zero Engineering style. I’d be happy to have this one in my garage. [Thanks to Anthony Lukas.]