r/CafeRacers • u/Upbeat-Conclusion-88 • May 19 '26

Advice/Help Needed Virago project

Post image

I have this 83 Virago XV750 project on the go. I'm not sure if I should try and get the seat/tank line straight. If I left the tank it just created a gap and still won't get the line of the subframe. Modifying the subframe will take a lot more work and I don't want to go any lower than it is. It's the seat/tank line an important aesthetic with a cafe?

317 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

5

u/southernflagpole May 19 '26

I have an 82 xv750 I just started working on. You’re quite literally an inspiration

3

u/Upbeat-Conclusion-88 May 19 '26

Thanks, I've cheated a bit as this is someone else's unfinished project. Still a long way to go though.

1

u/Particular_Rub_4509 27d ago

I have the same bike. Have you had any problems with the rear outlet manifold being slightly misaligned? I have a weep of oil and smoke coming from mine...

3

u/joven_of_slave May 19 '26

nice setup. i been wanting to do mine forever. still waiting till the time is right

2

u/Upbeat-Conclusion-88 May 19 '26

Thanks, I was fortunate to find this as an unfinished project with heaps of new parts. Just got to bring it all together

3

u/powernation77 May 19 '26

https://www.bikeexif.com/build-cafe-racer
This article has some neat ideas about visual lines.

2

u/Upbeat-Conclusion-88 May 20 '26

Good article, thanks!

1

u/Vifferati May 19 '26

Raise the rear of the tank? That’s what I did, it was easier to add a spacer at the back to get the line I wanted on my 920 build. Plus it gave me a bit of room to sneak the ignition and an electrical cutoff under it. Then I made the seat to line up.

Different tank though, I used the stock tank as it already had the knee cuts. Nice looking build btw, it’ll be clean AF when you’re done.

1

u/Upbeat-Conclusion-88 May 19 '26

I've tried raising the rear but it just created a gap that I'm not sure I could fill to make it look ok. I'm limited with the tank as it's plastic do can't really modify it.

1

u/YearWestern97 May 20 '26

Can I ask what front end you have on your virago? GSXR?

1

u/Upbeat-Conclusion-88 May 21 '26

Yeah, GSXR with cognito moto triple tree conversion

1

u/BadBillyRobinson May 23 '26

Is this just a bolt on subframe?

1

u/GreenFuzzyStuff Jun 18 '26

Not related but where did you get your tank and seat frame?

1

u/Upbeat-Conclusion-88 Jun 18 '26

The tank is a plastic reproduction that is no longer made. The subframe came with the bike but the closest one I've found is the caferacerwebshop.com 2.0 subframe.

1

u/GreenFuzzyStuff Jun 19 '26

Nice! Thank you. I’ll look into it.

1

u/SteppinRazor5000 May 19 '26

Personally, I would drop the front of the tank, or cut the subframe and reweld to be in line with the tank.

I don't think the backbone line necessarily must be straight, but it can't look unintentional. Almost straight is worse than not even close. The latter looks like a design decision, almost straight looks like a mess up.

1

u/Upbeat-Conclusion-88 May 19 '26

Unfortunately can't get the front any lower, it's a plastic tank do can't modify it. I don't mind how it looks the way it is, just not visualising how it will look once the seat is done.