Yamaha Virago

The Virago was Yamaha’s first attempt at a V-twin motorcycle, and also one of the first mass-produced bikes to use a monoshock for the rear suspension. Launched in 1981, the first model was the XV750—a cruiser that is popular with custom builders to this day.

Later variants included the XV920, and the range eventually spanned engine sizes from 125 to 1100cc. A redesign in 1984 saw the mono-shock ditched in favor of a conventional dual-shock design, and remodeled gas tanks and ergonomics to reflect contemporary chopper styling.

Today, the air-cooled Virago is the mainstay of European workshops such as Moto Adonis, and it helped launch the careers of American builders such as Classified Moto and Hageman MC. And although production of the Virago finished in 2007, the Japanese v-twin remains a popular choice on the secondhand markets—and inside custom workshops.