Buying a 535, or do you have one?

Do you know wot to look out for?…. read on

FORKS; soft as standard, but can easily be stiffened up for 2-up riding. The fork seals blow fairly regularly; change the dust seals at the same time. Prize the plastic caps of the top of the stanchions to check for rust – get some money knocked off if buying. If you’ve already bought, clean out carefully and fill with grease. The rear shox will be soft as standard, but a lot can be done. The 750/1100 Virago shox fit, they are a tad longer, therefore sharpening up the steering and increasing ground clearance.

Brakes; the front is just about ok. Steel braided hoses, decent shoes and new fluid is about all you can do. They’ll need servicing fairly regularly to get the best out of them. The back should be good. Front pads and rear shoes last forever.

Fuel tank; the very early 535’s had a dummy tank (and a one piece seat unit) relying solely on the under-seat fuel tank therefore it had a poor tank range. Fuel consumption can vary dramatically from 75 miles to more than 120 to the tankfull. Under normal conditions 100 miles+ shouldn’t be a problem even two up. Don’t trust the reserve tho’ it most probably won’t work when you want it to. Carb icing can also be a problem, so if it runs like a dog when its cold (doesn’t have to be freezing) that may be your problem, if all else fails an additive is available.

Starter motor; the weak spot on any Virago, try it several times it should be nice and quiet. They can be very expensive to repair/replace.

Exhaust; looks nice and the standard ones should be quiet, check carefully the collector box, it’ll rot thro’ whilst the rest still looks immaculate.

Engine; very reliable. It’s an air cooled lump so there will be some mechanical noise. The lacquer on the casings will start to peel off if it’s subject to too much winter salt (that’s why the later ones had chrome covers). Wash off the salt with cold water as soon as you can, warm water activates the salt.

Handling; should be good, if not check out the normal stuff, wheel bearings, tyres, suspension etc.

Tyres; not too much choice, but Continental Milestones are cheap, work well and last a long time.

Comfort; fine for the driver but not so good for the pillion – a tad too narrow for the average sized bottom

Electrics; can be a weak point, especially under the bottom yoke, If you’ve gained a misfire – look here, the coils will also need a spray with WD40 in the winter

 

It is in fact a very good, easy to ride, cheap to run bike. It is well thought out and a reliable bike that can be loaded with more chrome and fancy bits than you could imagine. If you want to add anything to this list, or need more info. Give me a ring on 01246 475704 and ask for malc