Photo: Purpose Built Moto
Although you will find no shortage of XV750-based projects in today’s custom bike world, it’s safe to say the one pictured below stands head and shoulders above most. It was put together by Purpose Built Moto (PBM) of Gold Coast, Australia not too long ago, with a 1981 variant of Yamaha’s lineup acting as the starting point.
The Aussies really went to town here, improving the vintage Virago in just about every way. Their work started at the back with some significant structural changes, and the swingarm was the first item to go under the knife. PBM amputated the standard brace to make room for a chromoly trellis replacement, which connects to an adjustable monoshock supplied by Ride Dynamics.
At the front, Tom Gilroy and his crew used Cognito Moto triple clamps to install a pair of inverted forks taken from a Yamaha R1. With the XV750’s suspension taken care of, the guys proceeded to mend its slouched posture for good, and this could only be achieved by way of an all-new subframe. As the exhaust system was going to be an under-seat affair, it was developed at the same time as the rear framework.
The stainless-steel pipes snake their way back to a couple of boxy silencers, but this new exhaust is far from the only powertrain upgrade. Purpose Built Moto also fitted high-compression pistons, fresh connecting rods, and bigger valves, while porting the V-twin's cylinder heads to match. Following these modifications, the engine's capacity grew to a whopping 1,050cc and its compression ratio reached 10.5:1.
On the dyno, this whole shebang translated to 58 hp at the rear wheel, more than the Virago was originally able to summon at the crank. Along with the upside-down forks, the R1 we’ve mentioned earlier donated its beefy front brakes, too, helping the XV750 keep all its newly-acquired power in check. Five-spoke aftermarket wheels round out the unsprung sector, wearing grippy Bridgestone rubber over their rims.
Tom’s experts repositioned the stock fuel tank, so as to make it sit level with the bespoke solo seat they placed further back. The only other piece of bodywork you’ll find here is a custom front fender, and PBM’s proprietary seven-inch Flashpoint headlight can be seen a bit higher up. In the cockpit, this modified Virago bears aftermarket instrumentation, clip-on handlebars, and adjustable control levers, as well as a pair of underslung mirrors.
We find more stylish accessories toward the rear, in the form of CNC-machined foot pegs and a swingarm-mounted license plate bracket. The latter is equipped with tiny LEDs acting as both taillights and turn signals, while all the electronics are wired through Purpose Built Moto’s very own Black Box control module. Lastly, Justin at Popbang Classics took care of the paint job, wrapping the tank in a stunning olive-green hue.
At the front, Tom Gilroy and his crew used Cognito Moto triple clamps to install a pair of inverted forks taken from a Yamaha R1. With the XV750’s suspension taken care of, the guys proceeded to mend its slouched posture for good, and this could only be achieved by way of an all-new subframe. As the exhaust system was going to be an under-seat affair, it was developed at the same time as the rear framework.
The stainless-steel pipes snake their way back to a couple of boxy silencers, but this new exhaust is far from the only powertrain upgrade. Purpose Built Moto also fitted high-compression pistons, fresh connecting rods, and bigger valves, while porting the V-twin's cylinder heads to match. Following these modifications, the engine's capacity grew to a whopping 1,050cc and its compression ratio reached 10.5:1.
On the dyno, this whole shebang translated to 58 hp at the rear wheel, more than the Virago was originally able to summon at the crank. Along with the upside-down forks, the R1 we’ve mentioned earlier donated its beefy front brakes, too, helping the XV750 keep all its newly-acquired power in check. Five-spoke aftermarket wheels round out the unsprung sector, wearing grippy Bridgestone rubber over their rims.
Tom’s experts repositioned the stock fuel tank, so as to make it sit level with the bespoke solo seat they placed further back. The only other piece of bodywork you’ll find here is a custom front fender, and PBM’s proprietary seven-inch Flashpoint headlight can be seen a bit higher up. In the cockpit, this modified Virago bears aftermarket instrumentation, clip-on handlebars, and adjustable control levers, as well as a pair of underslung mirrors.
We find more stylish accessories toward the rear, in the form of CNC-machined foot pegs and a swingarm-mounted license plate bracket. The latter is equipped with tiny LEDs acting as both taillights and turn signals, while all the electronics are wired through Purpose Built Moto’s very own Black Box control module. Lastly, Justin at Popbang Classics took care of the paint job, wrapping the tank in a stunning olive-green hue.
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