After purchase I discovered it was a rebuilt, so mileage numbers are doubtful. I put tires on it, a seat cover, and I had the carbs balanced (and that made a huge difference). As it became harder and harder to start, I began to have troubles with the starter jamming (the thing would overheat, and the brushes were about done in).
The gas tank was stupidly small. 160 km on a tank was a good day.
It finally gave up the ghost as the timing chain was so stretched that it no longer started or ran reliably.
I liked it, but as it was only made 1 year as a 500 - it was enlarged to a 535 cc the next year - parts and support are very thin.
The Yamaha Virago 500 was manufactured from 1983 until 1986, when it was indeed changed to the Virago 535. At this point the monoshock assembly was abandoned in favour of traditional shocks mounted on either side.
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