Most motorcycles currently offered to the buying public are narrowly focused and limited in many ways, the most important of which is comfort. The ordinary, fairly light, plain old motorcycle with a comfortable riding position is virtually extinct.  If you want one, as many of us do, you have to make t yourself from a cruiser or a sport bike  With a little massaging, a number o motorcycle models in the market place can fit my somewhat loose concept of balanced. ordinary motorcycle. Among the best are the 1982 and 1983 Yamaha Virago V-twins, one of which, a 1982 750, is the subject of this article.
   What, you might ask, is an ordinary motorcycle? Why should I want one, and how can it be made from a Virago? Good questions; glad you asked.
   If you enjoy riding a motorcycle every where all the time, you need one that does many things well. It has to be comfortable during an all-day ride. It needs t have powerful brakes, good range, reasonable acceleration and sufficiently re fined handling to be fun on a mountain road. Above all, it must have balanced performance. The throttle, brakes an steering must work together, so none re quires any special attention.
   My list of desirable changes for the Virago is fairly short. Most are those I would recommend for almost any motor cycle: high-friction brake pads, braided steel Teflon-lined brake lines, suspension components and carburetion changes. The mods specific to the Virago are relocated footpegs and a lower handlebar. Early Viragos had a reliability issue (the starter motor) that can be eas- ily and permanently fixed (see sidebar). None of these changes requires major  work;

all are bolt-ons aimed at releasing the superior all-around performance of the Virago that lies just below the surface of its cruiser styling. The modified Virago is one of the most relaxing and comfortable motorcycles I have had the privilege of riding. There is no particular reason this is so. Rather, the Virago embodies a number of definable features that makes it a superior

performer in day-to-day riding.
Its engine is smooth and has heavy
flywheels that make it deliberate in its response to throttle or loss of traction
There are two generous cushion mechanisms in the drivetrain that help make
power delivery extraordinarily smooth
and predictable. Steering response is
fairly slow, and straight-line stability is
great, making the Virago easy to guide
The seat is better than most.
Other features contribute to the Virgo's balanced and easy-to-use performance. It has self-cancelling turn signals