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About this manual
Its purpose
The purpose of this manual is to help you get the best value from
your motorcycle. It can do so in several ways. It can help you decide
what work must be done, even if you choose to have it done by a
dealer service department or a repair shop; it provides information and
procedures for routine maintenance and servicing; and it offers
diagnostic and repair procedures to follow when trouble occurs.
We hope you use the manual to tackle the work yourself. For
many simpler jobs, doing it yourself may be quicker than arranging an
appointment to get the vehicle into a shop and making the trips to
leave it and pick it up. More importantly, a lot of money can be saved
by avoiding the expense the shop must pass on to you to cover its
labor and overhead costs. An added benefit is the sense of satisfaction
and accomplishment that you feel after doing the job yourself.
Using the manual
The manual is divided into Chapters. Each Chapter is divided into
numbered Sections, which are headed in bold type between horizontal
lines. Each Section consists of consecutively numbered paragraphs.
At the beginning of each numbered Section you will be referred to
any illustrations which apply to the procedures in that Section. The
reference numbers used in illustration captions pinpoint the pertinent
Section and the Step within that Section. That is, illustration 3.2 means
the illustration refers to Section 3 and Step (or paragraph) 2 within that
Section.
Procedures, once described in the text, are not normally
repeated. When it's necessary to refer to another Chapter, the
reference will be given as Chapter and Section number. Cross
references given without use of the word "Chapter" apply to Sections
and/or paragraphs in the same Chapter. For example, "see Section 8"
means in the same Chapter.
References to the left or right side of the vehicle assume you are
sitting on the seat, facing forward.
Motorcycle manufacturers continually make changes to specifi-
cations and recommendations, and these, when notified, are
incorporated into our manuals at the earliest opportunity.
Even though we have prepared this manual with extreme care,
neither the publisher nor the author can accept responsibility for any
errors in, or omissions from, the information given.
NOTE
A Note provides information necessary to properly complete a procedure or information which will make the procedure easier
to understand.
CAUTION
A Caution provides a special procedure or special steps which must be taken while completing the procedure where the
Caution is found. Not heeding a Caution can result in damage to the assembly being worked on.
WARNING
A Warning provides a special procedure or special steps which must be taken while completing the procedure where the
Warning is found. Not heeding a Warning can result in personal injury.
Introduction to the Yamaha XV
The Yamaha XV (Virago) series are highly successful and popular
cruiser-style motorcycles.
The engine on all models is an air-cooled, V-twin with overhead
camshafts. .
Fuel is delivered to the cylinders by two Hitachi or Mikuni
carburetors; XV535, XV1000 and XV1100 models use an electric fuel
pump.
The front suspension uses a pair of conventional forks, adjustable
by varying the fork air pressure on some models. Fork damping is
adjustable on XV920 J models.
The rear suspension on 1981 through 1983 models uses a single
shock absorber and coil spring. Later models use twin rear shock
absorbers with concentric coil springs. Spring preload is adjustable on
all XV700 through 1100 models; shock absorber damping is adjustable
on 1984 and later XV700 through 1100 models.
The front brake uses a single or dual disc; a drum brake is used at
the rear.
Shaft final drive is used on most of the bikes covered in this
manual. Some models use an unusual chain drive system, with the
chain completely enclosed in housings and running in a bath of grease.
