The Virago was Yamaha’s's first V-twin cruiser motorcycle, and one of the earliest mass-produced motorcycles with a mono shock rear suspension. Originally sold with a 750 cc (46 cu in) engine in 1981, Yamaha soon added 500 cc (31 cu in) and 900 cc (55 cu in) versions.
The bike was redesigned in 1984, switching from a rear mono-shock to a dual-stock design, and adding a tear-drop shaped gas tank. That year,Herley-Davidson, fearful of the inroads in the US market made by the Virago and other new Japanese cruiser-style motorcycles, pushed for a tariff on imported bikes over 700 cc.