Project Virago

Good evening everyone, a bit more on the ongoing Virago project, went up to Skipton to pick up a 1981 750 Virago and then across to Accrington to pick up a set of XS650 forks, did nearly 500 miles that day but half the fun of the chase is the hunt, the bike is not pristine but has only done 30,000 miles and has not been messed around with, this doesn,t matter as it will be pulled down and rebuilt in the Cafe racer / streetfighter style, have a look at Docs Chops Forum (not me) Virago cafe racer, this is roughly the style I am going for, And, a week later while on Ebay found another Virago, a 1982 750 with only 15000 miles on the clock and in excellent condition, won the bidding as noone else bothered so now have one to rebuild and another to ride, after a couple of mods, !!!! those silencers will have to go along with a few more subtle changes, regards to all Doc Cox, E=MC2

Lovely bike Nigel.

I can't see anything

Link got tad messed up

Linky

Thanks for making sense of that link Marcin.

Looks good Nigel, I will look forward to how you transform this bike. Cafe racer, is that right?

Interesting project good luck with it,you have picked up a nice donor by the look of it.

Very interesting project Will the end result be like this ? If so, It will be very nice indeed.

Bloody hell that would be a great transformation indeed, what a change that would be

simbo wrote:

Very interesting project Will the end result be like this ? If so, It will be very nice indeed.

Yes that is along the lines of what he is planning I believe, very radical change for sure.

I'm loving that. Good luck with the project and I shall watch progress with great interest

Always look good with straight bars and rear sets,go for it,that will be a nice ride.

.......Can you see what it is yet ? this is the one due to get a complete strip down and modified !! was having a look on ebay at exhaust diverters and at those prices would assume they are made of platinum, but found one on there to copy and add some improvements, and it will be electrically operated with a press button operation to simplify things, having a lot of positive feedback, thank you to all that have commented, also give me any ideas you think would fit and will try to incorporate them and give credit to whoevers mod it is, regards to all Doc Cox E=MC2 (Time for slippers cocoa and bed) :sleep:

And your going to turn THAT in to a cafe racer? good luck matey

Believe me Crash, Doc Cox don't need luck. Watch this space.

Then I will watch with lots of interest

Good evening, yes I agree this will be a challenge, but " If you don,t give it a go you will never know", one of the reasons for choosing the early model Virago was it is a monoshock frame and looks a lot cleaner than shocks for this style of bike, have a close look at the golden tanked Virago above and you can see the lines of mine in it, also a guy in Holland has built one using the original tank and just by raising the rear of the tank about 3" changes the look of the bike, regards Doc Cox E=MC2

Nice That's where the XS 650 forks come into play as well, To lower the front end ?

Love that to bits, a real looker & one off for sure.

The XS forks are indeed to lower the front end also they are twin discs which will help with the braking as the standard Virago disc isn,t all that hot, would eventually like to fit upside down forks but they are not cheap, not far from us in a village called Purton is a guy called Glen who along with his son has opened a bike shop repairing, servicing and building custom bikes, has won awards with his bikes and believe me they are smart, he is a engineer by trade and it shows, plus he is always willing to have a chat a thoroughly nice guy, have a look at his website......www.rollingartmotorcycles.com or even pop in you won,t be disappointed, regards to all Doc Cox E=MC2

Interesting project you've got there Doc, I know it can be a pain sometimes, But if possible get as many photo's of the transformation, I'd love to see the bike evolving over time

Doc do you have a loose time scale for the completed or there about completed job?
When I met up with Dave in Swindon recently he was telling me that you found a rotting jeep in a field some time ago and rebuilt it from the ground up and it is now in showroom condition, got any before and after pics of that? Just being nosey, I love proper jeeps

Good evening everyone, Hi Simbo, don,t worry I will be taking plenty of photos and videos of the transformation of both bikes, really looking forward to getting my teeth into them, will be picking up the low mileage one on friday, Hi Captain Crash, the Jeep I rebuilt is a 1979 CJ7 and took two years and about 1000 hours of time, will put some before and after photos of it on the forum, no time scale for the Virago but it won,t be two years, will be selling the Jeep after Christmas this will then allow me to turn the garage into more of an engineering garage, ask Dave he will tell you what it,s like, in fact I will post a photo of it on the forum for a laugh, well take care everyone regards Doc Cox E=MC2

Doc Cox wrote:

will be selling the Jeep after Christmas this will then allow me to turn the garage into more of an engineering garage, ask Dave he will tell you what it,s like

It is the busiest garage I have ever seen, yet is still somehow functional. How the feck he can still lay his hands on any item he wants within seconds amazes me.

Ah now I get why you have posted pics of two seperate bikes. So you have bought two of them with one being a donor bike?

Hi Crash, the tidy one will be mildly modified and the not quite so tidy one will be the complete strip and rebuild, have been very lucky getting these two as the earlier models are getting harder to find, also have two engines I picked up off preloved about two months ago, this is a site worth looking at for a wide range of items and advertising on it is totally free, off to pick up the tidy one tomorrow, (my Christmas has come early ) will be putting more photos on tomorrow, regards to all Doc Cox E=MC2

Good evening everyone, have,nt taken all the shots I wanted to, arrived back too late, but will be appraising it tomorrow prior to the tidy up, had it fired up and sounds like a healthy engine, an afternoon of work should see it looking a lot tidier, so until then here is a shot of it on the way home at the new services at Cobham,

" border="0" />Sorry, Here......

Nice looking bike Doc Shouldn't take too much work to get it tidy again , Love those wheels.

beautiful wheels for sure

Thanks Guys, yes the wheels do look alright, on closer inspection I don,t think the bike has ever seen a British winter due to the lack of corrosion on the whole bike, spent less than half an hour on it this afternoon removing bits and putting another set of bars on and already it has improved the lines, will be working from front to back checking all the wiring, cables etc. the plastic sheathing on the wiring has gone very hard so will be replacing it with Spirap which also looks neater and allows the cable to have a smoother run, and if you ever have problems all you do is unwind it, will also be looking for any inline electrical crimps, these are used to join a few cables together and as they are normally made of copper corrode badly after a few years, will solder them instead and then shrinkwrap them, also the clutch cable needs lubricating and rerouting along with the throttle cable, have some before and after photos and as long as nothing hiccups here goes (and the....garage)

 Side view

Rear view

Looks better already I'm jealous of that centre stand in a big way .

After the change.  

Thanks Simbo, yes it looks a lot better now and the centre stand is a blessing

These are the bits I removed and changed to give it a cleaner look,  

And finally by popular request the inside of my Garage


 

She looks really good, great platform for your planned modifications. To be honest I would be happy with her as she is but I am really looking forward to your plans unfolding with this bike. Is that front mugDaurd Chrome?
I think you need to go to the car boot sale

Doc Cox wrote:

And finally by popular request the inside of my garage  
I take it your slim and agile   Kinn

el you've got some gear in there ! I think you need an extension

captain crash wrote:

I think you need to go to the car boot sale

For Fucks sake don't suggest that to Nigel, he will come back with more than he takes.

I spy with my little eye, a Jeep.

Theres a Jeep in there, I think it has been camoflaged very well

Bear with me Crash, will put some Jeep before and after photos on,..... when I find them

This is after a tidy up and big throw out, not slim exactly but agile, although have nearly become stuck a few times, you have to work out a good exit strategy before entering it,

The bike is certainly looking good,well done.

Thanks Alfie, will be doing a few more subtle clean ups this weekend, the indicators will be replaced with some smaller bullet units that Glen from motorcycle art can supply, does anyone know of a firm that does smaller rear no. plates as that EU stickered one has to go, yes the front mudguard is chrome, will also be looking at modifying and fitting the XS front end, Happy New Year to you all, regards Doc Cox. E=MC2.......

Nigel I always get my plates from HERE although you will find plenty of others on the net.

Mr Intruder wrote:

Nigel I always get my plates from HERE although you will find plenty of others on the net.

I used them for mine as well and they did a good job

Now that is desirable in a very big way