97 mpg on Virago 250

[PaulB2]

I have gotten the idea somewhere that undersquare engines like this virago has, helps fuel efficiency. And the bike is very narrow as well. I might have to look at getting one even though cruisers are not my thing. This would be a fun bike to play with. Possible additional change might be removing mirrors and using "Bugeyes" mirrors instead, and narrower handlebars. Can you post a pic, and maybe a link to the fairing?

[PaulB2]

The Virago 250 is a cruiser so I moved the pegs back 12 inches for a more standard seating position.

Oh, could you post a pic of this mod, and any other info about it? I was looking at photos of this bike and it didn't look easy to change that. Do you find it cramps your knees? It would work well for me as I'm only 5'9", and I'd almost certainly want to make that change.

I found the rifle fairing for the bike. It looks pretty small.

In your original post you mentioned "38F/39R", I'm not familiar with that term.

I've been looking for one of these on ebay. Closest one for sale is about a thousand miles away. <sigh> Maybe I can find one at the dealer, although I'd rather not pay new prices.

[LesS]

Hi PaulB2,
I don’t have any pictures yet.
I am more of a street bike guy – I bought the Virago 250 only for the V-twin engine (never owned a V-twin before and can’t afford a MG) – and I am trying to make it more of a street bike.
Actually the bike made for me (and you) is the SRV250, but it is not sold in the U.S.

I found the cruiser seating position of the Virago 250 uncomfortable due to a back problem.
I raised the seat up two inches and moved the pegs back 12 inches which made a big difference in the comfort.
Moving the footpegs back on the left side was not too hard to do (for the shift lever, get a 1981 Honda CM400 shifter – it’s almost perfect). For the left side, I mounted 3/4" x .125" aluminum square tubing (6063-T5) 11.75 inches long to the swingarm pivot bolt with an additional support bracket about two inches behind it..

The right side was really difficult – I built/trashed two ideas before I finally got one that worked. I used a steel brace (1/4 inch thick, 1 inch wide, and 17 inches long) which had a 30 degree downward bend. The left end attached to the swingarm pivot bolt and right side attached to the rear brake support bracket (the hole that is directly below the last “a” in the “Yamaha” on the oil filter cover). The rear brake lever and linkage are removed, I bought threaded rod at Home Depot for the brake rod. I used a 1979 Kawasaki KZ400 rear brake pedal lever assembly and cheap “Motosport Super Sport” footpegs (ebay).

To make a Virago 250 a better street machine, you need to move the pegs back, put on lower bars, change the front and rear sprocket for proper street gearing, and reduce the front forks softness (use thicker oil and add an additional spacer).

I have the Rifle Sport fairing (8 lbs). The Rifle Superbike fairing is better suited to the Virago 250 due to its smaller size and weight (5 lbs) although it is harder to find one used. The Rifle Nighflight is very small – maybe OK if you ride in a full tuck all the time.

The “38F/39R” is the tire pressure I run now for better mileage.
-Les S.

[beatr911]

I've been watching these little v-twins and was wondering what kind of MPG an ecomodder would be getting. Despite being an old design (1986 I believe) they appear to be very capable, reliable and durable. Thanks for reporting your findings on the Virago, this is good information and your MPG numbers are excellent! Please post a picture of your set-up, preferably with you on it.

What kind of MPG numbers do you get at a more normal flow of traffic speed of 60-65?

There seem to be few long stroke engines in motorcycling. Bias toward high RPM to increase total output figures I'd guess is the reason. The Yamaha design though seems to give away little to other air cooled 250s but provides remarkably good torque as compensation.

Several Chinese companies make replicas of this proven design and apparently are also reliable if care is taken on the set-up and maintenance by the owner. I'm now thinking of selling my Chinese supermoto, 200cc single, in favor of one of these little v-twin bikes, Chinese or Japanese.

One possiblity to address making a standard out of the Virago is to just buy a Lifan Naked 250. They aren't due to arrive until 2012 but they look to be a nice standard style bike with the great v-twin motor. It just might be a great ride for those of us just not quite ready for a cruiser.

[LesS]

The last 7 fillups I have gotten 95.3 mpg on my 40 to 65+ mph commute with hills and some stop and go.

Here are my averages:
93.6 mpg - my old commute to Norwalk CT (highway, 20% stop & go)
87.9 mpg - Commute to Somers NY (hills, slower 2 lane roads 45-65 mph, some highway 60-65mph, 30% stop & go)
89.2 mpg - Commute to Somers NY after some eco mods
96.7 mpg - 7/17/11 -One time record I95 constant 55-60 mph
95.3 mpg - 8/17/11 -last 7 fill ups Commute to Somers NY - tire pressure higher at 38F/39R, cargo box taller 21"H - 8/11/11 new chain, modified exhaust, cargo box removed, a little lighter traffic.

"beatr911: What kind of MPG numbers do you get at a more normal flow of traffic speed of 60-65?"
When my Virago 250 was closer to stock about 92 to 94 mpg.
Now with a few mods about 96 to over 100 mpg.

Some other Virago 250 owners have gotten over 100 mpg.

[LesS]

Here are a few pictures.

It is a 2002 Yamaha Virago 250, which is a cruiser - I am trying to change it to be more like a street machine and keep it minimalist - I only add things that are really necessary and I remove what I can (have removed about 25 lbs).


Virago 250 Front - with Rifle Sport fairing by lstrick115, on Flickrhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/34116766@N07/6038874660/


Virago 250 mods-exhaust &amp; footpegs by lstrick115, on Flickr


Virago 250 rear by lstrick115, on Flickr


Virago 250 footpeg mod by lstrick115, on Flickr


Virago 250 forkbrace added by lstrick115, on Flickr

[PaulB2]

Thanks for the photos, it looks like you were doing about what I would do to the bike. Maybe longer shocks in the rear to jack the back end up. With the lazy front geometry you should stay out of trouble with stability no matter how much it's cranked up back there.

Nice fork brace, always a good idea...

Yes, the SRV250 looks ideal. Oh well, maybe that Lifan will be a decent standard.

This little v-twin engine may be ideal for our purposes...

[beatr911]

LesS, very very good numbers!

Short of welding in alternate locations for the footpegs, looks like you did well with what you have to work with.

I see your nicely modified exhaust and it looks like the air cleaner is different from stock too. I'm guessing you rejetted as well. Do you have details on the intake/exhaust mods? Also please address performance and mileage effects these had.

These might be things others would want to do if they purchased one of these.

It would be good to have a condensed list of mpg mods to perform on these bikes as I think they may be the mileage kings over the Ninjette.

[low&slow]

Les, Thanks for posting the pix and great job on the mods and the fuel economy results. The 250 Virago is definitely a contender for a high mpg MC project.
Thank you, L&S

[LesS]

beatr911
Thanks for your comments.
When I got the bike, the muffler was already gutted and it was already re-jetted; I do not know what size jets are in it.
The air filter is a “Pancake Air Filter Triumph / BSA - center mount” $29.00 + $5.05 shipping, from ebay seller lowbrowcustoms. It was hard to mount so I should have gotten an offset mount instead of center mount.
I modified the exhaust by cutting the lower muffler after the back cylinder pipe junction, cutting the top muffler at 10 ¾ inches, and then joining the two together, so I no longer use the middle section of the muffler assembly – which reduces weight by 4.6 lbs plus I left off the rear chrome non-functional pipe which weighs 1.0 lb.
The performance and gas mileage seems about the same, but the sound was not as good as the stock muffler (gutted) - and it was louder.
I doubled the size of the aftermarket baffle and it improved the tone (not just the loudness) to where I don’t mind it, but it still seems to sound “harder” than the stock muffler, whereas the stock gutted muffler assembly had a smoother, more powerful, more pleasant sound - at 65 to 70, the sound reminded me of a Moto Guzzi.
It still sounds “good” – but the stock muffler sounded better.
I will probably try a bigger muffler, and see if I can get it to sound better.

low&slow
Thanks for your comments.