Mannish Woman
Has Yamaha ever built a V-twin sportbike? Pretty sure the answer is “no.” Which may or may not be a shame. When the first Virago got here in 1982 it was also the first Japanese V-twin, a standard like all bikes were then, and the Harley crowd was incensed. Blasphemers! Atrociteurs! But they got over it, and the poor Virago descended into the gold-chain excesses of the disco cruiser era. But you have to admit this 750 Virago, stripped of all its cruiser accouterments and with its early Mono-cross inspired rear suspension and shaft drive on display, is an interesting proposition for a cheap urban runabout. I stumbled upon this one, built by Tomas Vom Hinterhof in Deutschland, here. Somebody tell me why this is a bad idea before I start looking for a cheap Virago?
Cool vid here.
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"When the first Virago got here in 1982 it was also the first Japanese V-twin . . . "
The (1978) Honda CX500 (and later 650) series comes to mind. Undeniably V-twins (cylinders splayed at 80 degrees), just with the crankshaft and the "V" angle turned 90 degrees from the more familiar Harleys and Ducatis. A respectable five-year production run, including the memorable 500 and 650 Turbocharged models.
John, this time, you really forgot to do your homework. As others have mentioned, there's the MT-01 of the modern era, the XV920R from 1981 and 1982 (as well as the similar TR1, which sold in Europe for much of the 1980s), and the XZ550R Vision from 1981, 1982, and 1983. BUT, if there's any argument that that plethora of bikes is more accurately described as power cruisers or sport-tourers, then I submit to you THE quintessential Yamaha V-twin sportbike, which Yamaha produced from 1991 through the 1995 model year and is arguably the best-handling sportbike that's ever existed: the TZR250R, TZR250RS, TZR250RSP, and the TZR250SPR. Pure 2-Stroke Spirit!