A Southern California scene: On a hot summer Saturday afternoon, the parking lot at Pepe's Taqueria is a Surfer's-only hang-out. and only the locals are welcome. At Pepe s. stock machinery gets as much attention as the, fish taco. But the Virago. fluorescent in chrome and pseudo- gold, strides across the parking lot like the Bette Midler of motorcycles: Overstated, Outrageous, talented and flashy. flashy and flashy.

"Great paint.... How long did it take to airbrush this tank . ?
Who did the chrome .. . ?
How much ..?
What's your phone number ... ?"
   Where most bikes die of sameness right on the lot, the Virago definitely makes the Pepe's scene. Do they know it's all factory issue? Do they care? Yamaha's XV1100 Virago is mass-produced V-twin individuality for $4749 a copy. Buy two. You'll spend less than you would for Harley-Davidson's Softail  Custom enough less to cover the

difference between the big Virago and its closest price rival. Hondas 1100 Shadow. at 54898. Chose an- other big twin—Suzuki's Intruder or Kawasaki's Vulcan---and pay S1150 more than the XV s asking price On 1987's ever-widening Big-Inch Boulevard. how much engine you have matters less than what you do with it, and the 1100 Virago does more with less than any of the latest carpetbagger vees. Surviving seven model years and as many restylings