This 1984 Yamaha Virago is among a “unique” 5%. Specialist Jim Danniels explains why.
This 1984 Yamaha XV750 Virago which will be sold at Miller & Miller’s December 7th Advertising & Historic Objects sale this Saturday.
This 1984 Yamaha XV750 Virago has both the features and the historical context to make it special. It’s not exactly rare, but “it is somewhat unique,” according to Miller & Miller’s Automobiles Specialist Jim Danniels, an experienced motorcycle restorer and former Yamaha dealer. Considered a ‘cruiser,’ it was built to emulate the classic Harley-Davidsons and it represents “a pretty well-thought-out design.”
In 1983, former U.S. president Ronald Reagan imposed a 45% tariff on imported motorcycles with engines over 700 ccs. This was done at the behest of the beleaguered American motorcycle giant Harley-Davidson, which had been around since 1903 but was suffering from the impact of Japanese competition.
To circumvent the tariffs, Yamaha simply reduced its America-bound 750 cc motorcycles to 700 ccs. Since Canada had no such tariffs in place the Yamahas imported here stayed at 750, making them distinctive for the times.
The three top attributes of this attractive Japanese XV750 Virago, according to Danniels, are the fact the engine remained at 750 ccs, it has the factory upgraded double-disc brakes on the front fork (as opposed to the single brake version in the U.S. market), and it has the classic design feature of aluminum rims and wire spoke wheels.
“Only five out of every 100 motorcycles sold in North America have these three attributes,” says Danniels.
The bike also retains its original factory ‘candy burgundy’ colour, the mileage is only 18,000 km (which means it was only driven roughly 500 km a year), and it qualifies for an insurance rate of half, or less than half, the cost of insuring a contemporary bike.
In 1988, Motorcyclist magazine wrote of the Virago, “For a total investment far smaller than the purchase price of a less balanced, less able and more extreme motorcycle, you can own and ride one of the very best and most extraordinary motorcycles of the past 20 years.”
This particular model, which will be sold at Miller & Miller’s December 7th Advertising & Historic Objects sale this Saturday, comes via a local estate and has been partially recommissioned for road use.
It’s an attractive motorcycle with broad appeal, a fascinating history and an adventurous future.
Story By Diane Sewell
Item Estimate: $2000 - 2500
Lot Number: 337A
Auction Details: Advertising & Historic Objects, December 7th, 2019. 9 am.
Live Auction Location: 59 Webster St. New Hamburg, Ontario. N3A 1W8
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