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run to the red-line in every gear, the power delivery strong and steady with | run to the red-line in every gear, the power delivery strong and steady with | ||
an extra kick of bhp above 6000 rpm. | an extra kick of bhp above 6000 rpm. | ||
The 500 is more willing to rev | The 500 is more willing to rev | ||
quickly than the larger Viragos and stays smoother in the process. The 500 | quickly than the larger Viragos and stays smoother in the process. The 500 | ||
| Line 154: | Line 156: | ||
note, muffled on the 500 but there just the same, the off-cadence beat that | note, muffled on the 500 but there just the same, the off-cadence beat that | ||
says, well, motorcycle. | says, well, motorcycle. | ||
Some notes on smoothness, or maybe on size: We have all read and heard at | Some notes on smoothness, or maybe on size: We have all read and heard at | ||
great length about counterbalancers, rubber mounts, offset crankpins, frames | great length about counterbalancers, rubber mounts, offset crankpins, frames | ||
| Line 166: | Line 170: | ||
more than a reminder of an engine at work. No problem here, the mirrors even | more than a reminder of an engine at work. No problem here, the mirrors even | ||
remain clear at cruising speed. | remain clear at cruising speed. | ||
The Virago 500 is also a narrow engine, just 13.5 in. across, and the | The Virago 500 is also a narrow engine, just 13.5 in. across, and the | ||
combination of narrowness, light weight and the broad powerband encourages | combination of narrowness, light weight and the broad powerband encourages | ||
| Line 171: | Line 177: | ||
motorcycle than a 450 or 400 and seeming incredibly light compared to most | motorcycle than a 450 or 400 and seeming incredibly light compared to most | ||
550s, especially 550s with Inline Four engines. | 550s, especially 550s with Inline Four engines. | ||
The light weight and short | The light weight and short | ||
wheelbase make the Virago nimble, good for cornering, and make it more | wheelbase make the Virago nimble, good for cornering, and make it more | ||
| Line 180: | Line 188: | ||
Speaking of trade-offs, we've arrived at the Virago 500's downside. It began | Speaking of trade-offs, we've arrived at the Virago 500's downside. It began | ||
back on the drawing board, when the Virago 500 was scaled down. | back on the drawing board, when the Virago 500 was scaled down. | ||
The cruiser look began as a | The cruiser look began as a | ||
chopper look and choppers were originally built from Really Big Twins. Low | chopper look and choppers were originally built from Really Big Twins. Low | ||
| Line 189: | Line 199: | ||
This works up to a point; the [[Yamaha XS1100]] and [[Honda CB1000C]], for example, can be cruised and ridden while the Honda 650 Night-hawk has cruiser elements while still being fine | This works up to a point; the [[Yamaha XS1100]] and [[Honda CB1000C]], for example, can be cruised and ridden while the Honda 650 Night-hawk has cruiser elements while still being fine | ||
in daily use. | in daily use. | ||
The Virago 500, though, doesn't have the wheelbase or any of the other | The Virago 500, though, doesn't have the wheelbase or any of the other | ||
distances to be both a cruiser and a good place on which to go riding. | distances to be both a cruiser and a good place on which to go riding. | ||
| Line 196: | Line 208: | ||
because the control pods are shaped to follow the handlebar contours, makes | because the control pods are shaped to follow the handlebar contours, makes | ||
it harder to reach the controls with the thumb. | it harder to reach the controls with the thumb. | ||
The horn button, for example, is | The horn button, for example, is | ||
tucked down and inward on the left control pod, and the one time one rider | tucked down and inward on the left control pod, and the one time one rider | ||
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during long rides, and the one-position-only seat didn't help riders avoid | during long rides, and the one-position-only seat didn't help riders avoid | ||
feeling cramped. Those are the prices of the Virago's style. | feeling cramped. Those are the prices of the Virago's style. | ||
The hornor, more correctly, the | The hornor, more correctly, the | ||
hornsare loud enough when the button is finally located. The headlight was | hornsare loud enough when the button is finally located. The headlight was | ||
| Line 210: | Line 226: | ||
a turn, and it took prodding and poking at the switch before the signals lit | a turn, and it took prodding and poking at the switch before the signals lit | ||
again. | again. | ||
The Virago's brakes are good enough, being very controllable throughout our | The Virago's brakes are good enough, being very controllable throughout our | ||
stopping tests. From 60 mph, the bike needed 119 ft. to stop; from 30 mph, | stopping tests. From 60 mph, the bike needed 119 ft. to stop; from 30 mph, | ||
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expensive as well. The flip side of that is that the Virago isn't as quick | expensive as well. The flip side of that is that the Virago isn't as quick | ||
or fast at the dragstrip. | or fast at the dragstrip. | ||
The Virago is fun to ride, feels | The Virago is fun to ride, feels | ||
light and agile, sounds neat, gets good gas mileage. It also compromises | light and agile, sounds neat, gets good gas mileage. It also compromises | ||
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deter riders who don't care for that look, yet perhaps too conservative to | deter riders who don't care for that look, yet perhaps too conservative to | ||
appeal to hard-core cruiser fans. | appeal to hard-core cruiser fans. | ||
The Virago is indeed a motorcycle in the middle, good as it may be. | The Virago is indeed a motorcycle in the middle, good as it may be. | ||
Source Cycle World 1983 | Source Cycle World 1983 | ||