vx250 virago from rat to cafe/fighter

[BennyBones]

Alright, I've been dicking around with this bike for the last 5 years. Over the time it's become a rat bike, I love the look of rat bikes, they wear their history with pride, but that is a bike you are going to keep till the wheels fall off. This is not a bike I am going to keep forever, it's only a 250, but it's a good first bike project.

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When I got the bike, it looked like this.

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Then it looked like this.

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Now I want it to look more like this.

I have my work cut out for me. Bike it already registered, so that is one less thing I have to worry about. The things I intend to do are:
Clipons/Clip-on handle bars. 33mm (ordered off fleE-bay, might replace with better ones later)
Shorter Throttle, clutch and choke cables.
Cafe pan seat and butt stop.
White wall tyres.
Custom open pipe exhaust.
Re-jet carby. (huge dead spot when you apply the juice)
Bar end mirrors.
Paint tank, fenders and side covers.
Rearset controls.
Maybe even bore the engine out and get larger pistons. (guys on the ViragoTech forums are doing them with success).

I've begun to strip the sucker so more photos to come shortly.

[rory90]

she'll be a ripper once its done mate verry different, in a good way. best of luck!!

[brethren22]

dig the concept sketch benny, watching with interest....

[SilentBob]

I would fill in the empty area under the seat instead of just leaving the gap there.
Definitely digging the look.

[BennyBones]

This is either going to be something really cool, or a total wreck. I am hoping for the cool bike. I was thinking the other day that I can make a tray under the seat and move the battery and junk under there making an empty gap like on other cafe bikes. I don't know if this will work with the style I am looking at. I was also thinking about putting those Dominator twin headlights on here, their not very cafe, so I don't know. At the moment I have nearly the whole front end off, seat and tank are gone, so are the fenders, lights indicators and handle bars.

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It's not the most up to date photo, but it's progress. Just taking my time, looking at all the little things I didn't notice before that need to be changed too.

[BennyBones]

Got some more progress done. I have finally gotten around to fully dismantling the bike.
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I am thinking of cutting out the tabs and moving all the electronic gizmos under the seat along with the battery in the cowl. going to repaint the frame and swing arm after I give it a bit of a sand blast.
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I don't know what do with the front forks. Previously I had them painted green with gators covering where the seals rub. I was thinking of sandblasting the forks back to metal and painting a clear coat over it. Or I can go and get them rechromed but that would be money I don't really want to send that way. any ideas there?
BikeChop05.jpg

[brethren22]

there's just something about a bike in bits isn't there. so much potential, so much work to put it back together.....

are the fork stanchions in good shape? i'm sure you could get that paint off without damaging the chrome if so. getting them redone in hard chrome can be pretty exxy. you could always run the boots and covers/headlight mounts if you want to hide the chrome although from your original design it looks like you may want to keep the chrome exposed

[Dirty32]

Looks pretty sweet as it was, but looks like a great project!

Im in Dianella and while I wouldnt know much about putting a bike back together, if you need a hand or someone to pass the tools, or even someone to chat to while your working - let me know.

Would be happy to help out if ya need!

[BennyBones]

Yeah it was a good little cruiser, done me well for the 5 years I've had it. The bike is in dire need of an over haul, the engine is getting a bit sloppy, the brakes had become almost non-existent, and the front wheel would bounce. It pretty much fit the 'rat' description pretty when I think. Sadly, it's just a little too small, physically. a great bike for people under 6 foot, not so much for those over that mark. At the moment I am really into the Cafe Racer look. I know it's not a true cafe bike, but that's some of the fun, and it gives me some wiggle room to go with the bits I like, such as twin headlights.


I was thinking of going with some more gators, some that fit better this time, last ones where just a little too small. one split up the seam because of it. covers are a good idea though, just like on my bonne.
The chrome was starting to get some spots of rust coming though, that was why I painted everything.