Want to be one of the cruiser crowd without forking out a fortune? Does cheap insurance and low maintenance bills ring your bell? Are you desperate to get your leg over even if you're only 5ft 1in tall?
Check out Yamaha's shaft drive XV535 Virago. It could be just what you're looking for.
The Virago is one of the neatest factory customs on the highway, with huge finning on the cylinders contributing to the heavyweight cruiser image while still keeping the flab down to an easily manageable 182kg (400lb).
Pullback bars and stacked pipes, bobbed rear mudguard and forks with that Easy Rider rake all add to the image. Chrome spoked wheels will be a pain to keep clean, but polishing your baby is part of the fun of owning a cruiser.
The 535cc V-twin pumps out 44bhp at 7500rpm, not enough to wrench your arms out of their sockets but plenty for 80mph cruising speeds - if you can hang on against the wind. And unlike most cruisers, the Vigaro has a reasonable amount of ground clearance, so you can hustle through corners without dragging footpegs or pipes.
The Vigaro has a well-deserved reputation for reliability in all weathers. With a low centre of gravity and easy handling, Yamaha's middleweight cruiser is a big hit with women riders. But there is a downside. The pillion seat is a tad on the small side, so make sure your passenger has a small bum!
.jpg)
