Hello,
I'm in santa Fe right now, but the idea i going back to Denver riding a bike.
i found this 98 virago 1100 with 24000 miles on it. The price is ok (3500)
but I'm not sure becuse of the mileage.
I have a v-star 650 back in Colorado so i can wait to ride again, but I really want to do my way back in 2 wheels.  
My question is what you think of this virago, 24 thousands is too much? How much life in this machine?  

I sold my Drifter with 36000+ on it, and after tweaks, it rode better than new. The Mileage barrier was broken by the metrics a long time ago, and by HD with the introduction of the EVO engine. Pre EVO, major work was 20k, EVO pushed it to 100K.

My ONLY concern is if the bike has been sitting for a couple of years. Gaskets could dry out. If it's been ridden, you should be golden.

My latest bike is a wing, and I expect 100-200 thousand as the low maint period on the bike.

Yes, they really are that good these days. Tires, oil changes, valve adjusts, and other normal perodic maint should be all you need. If you're buying, you may want someone to do the once over.  

I have a 1983 Gold Wing Interstate with almost 97,000 miles on it. It doesn't smoke, rides great, and in my opinion has at least another 97,000 miles of life left. I will admit that I have made suspension upgrades from Progressive Suspension, a different seat, Pioneer sound system, but everything else has been routine maintenance.

It all comes down to how the bike was taken care of. My Wing had not been ridden for several years before I got it, and it needed carb work. Watch for cracked, weather-checked tires, dried gaskets, gummed up carbs, etc. If you are mechanically inclined, a good service manual can help you accomplish most repairs.

In my opinion, an old bike can have a lot of charm and character. By riding and customizing an older scoot, you will also stand out from the crowd.

Good luck and ride safe.