Author Topic: Is this a Yamaha Virago 250 or a Yamaha Route 66?  (Read 203 times)

smallengineshop

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Is this a Yamaha Virago 250 or a Yamaha Route 66?
« on: June 19, 2024, 11:57:32 PM »
This is an advertisement for a 1988 Yamaha Route 66 motorcycle powered by a 249cc v-twin engine with 5 speed transmission. It was manufactured from 1988 to 1990. A very similar motorcycle appeared in 1995, called a Yamaha Virago XV250, which I'm willing to bet is a re-badged Route 66. This motorcycle is part of a model line that was significant in motorcycle history.

The 1981 Yamaha Virago XV750 and XV920, was not only the first production Yamaha motorcycles powered by a v-twin engine, but they were also the first production v-twin powered motorcycles produced by a Japanese company. Following the Yamaha Virago, Honda, Suzuki and Kawasaki all started making v-twin powered motorcycles. The Japanese manufacturers at the time thought Harley Davidson was in the toaster oven, and they were all ready to turn the toaster ON, but it didn't work. Harley Davidson survived the Japanese onslaught of Asian v-twins to become the #1 seller of v-twin motorcycles in USA.

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« Last Edit: June 20, 2024, 04:13:37 PM by adminjoe »
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