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tracy

New Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2003
Messages
386
I'm in the market for a new bike. Being a musclecar nut - the Yamaha VMax really interested me. No longer the fastest bike, but in the real world of average riders it is almost as quick.

I have Concours, but with two small children the concept of going on exceptionally long rides or trips has eluded me, so I thought a good around town bike would be more realistic.
 
I've owned a Vmax and let me tell you,,,,,Max may not be the fastest around anymore but it is still the fastest cruiser by far made. I have a buddy that has a Suzuki TL1000R (crotch rocket) and we stayed side by side. Max will run with the big displacement V-twin and mostly stock 600cc crotch rockets but not the big inline four bikes. Mr. Max is still way cool and still commands respect!!! :cool: VTX-1800cc and the V-Rod are easy kills for Max. :D :cool:
 
I used to have a 85 v max as well. It was ridiculously fun to ride. I had a little work done.....I d go riding with some guys and they said "you know your smoking the tire, right? " I was like what...."yeah at 75 you get smoke rolling off the tire"

They sorta leave like a mopar, they raise up in the rear when you nail it.

The only down side, is that they get no respect from none bikers.....the laymen thinks its a wanna be harley....which is a terrible insult imo.

I have a turbo zx11 now....no mistakening its intensions at all.

you could try a zrx 1100 or zx 11 instead of the concours...

or an old gs 1150
 
v-max

My mods consist of only exhaust and fine tuning the carbs..
When I go street racing for sport bikes I can beat 9 out of 10 of todays 1 litre sport bikes from a stop to about 1000 ft.
The Max launches way better than any sport bike from a dead stop...thats the advantage. However rolling or top speed runs requires more concentration and you would probably lose to the more modern sport bikes..
But to me 1/4 mile contests gives the Max the advantage ...
just dump the clutch at 5000 rpm and Max launches hard with just a hint of wheel spin but always be cautious if she decides to hook up cause you may have 600+ lbs of metal on your chest!!
No off the shelf cruiser can touch the MAX.
 
Good comments - thanks. I agree totally, no longer the fastest but the thing runs solidly in the 10's in the 1/4. The quicker bikes are only a few tenths faster and in the hands of non-professional riders, it's anyone's contest. No cruiser except for the Triumph Rocket 3 has a chance.
 
Originally posted by tracy
Good comments - thanks. I agree totally, no longer the fastest but the thing runs solidly in the 10's in the 1/4. The quicker bikes are only a few tenths faster and in the hands of non-professional riders, it's anyone's contest. No cruiser except for the Triumph Rocket 3 has a chance.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't say only a few 10ths faster,,,,,the Honda CBR 900RR, 929RR, 954RR, CBR 1100XX, Suzuki GSXR 1000, GSXR 1300 Hyabusa, Kawasaki ZX9R Ninja, ZX12R Ninja, and Yamaha R1 all run under the 10.30's. The CBR XX, Hyabusa, GSXR 1000, R1 and the ZX12R all run under the 10.10 mark. Max is a high 10.80 bike with a professional rider. My XX would walk my Max every which way there was. The Max from the factory weighs 581 lbs with 145 bhp, my XX from the factory weighs 462 lbs with 164 bhp. with my mods it dynoed at 181 bhp. With all this said pick your matches wisely. I still miss my Max!! :(
 
V-Max

I have an old magazine that tested a stock V-max and the fastest 1/4 mile time recorded with a 130 lb test driver was a 10.26 @128mph.
Then they added slicks, exhaust and lowered the front fork 3" with tie down straps and the MAX blasted to a 9.85 et. so the MAX can still keep up with todays bikes with simple mods, even if it is almost 20 years old with little change..
 
Originally posted by gnturboray
I wouldn't say only a few 10ths faster,,,,,the Honda CBR 900RR, 929RR, 954RR, CBR 1100XX, Suzuki GSXR 1000, GSXR 1300 Hyabusa , GSXR 1000, Kawasaki ZX9R Ninja, ZX12R Ninja, and Yamaha R1 all run under the 10.30's. The CBR XX, Hyabusa, R1 and the ZX12R all run under the 10.10 mark. Max is a high 10.80 bike with a professional rider. My XX would walk my Max every which way there was. The Max from the factory weighs 581 lbs with 145 bhp, my XX from the factory weighs 462 lbs with 164 bhp. with my mods it dynoed at 181 bhp. With all this said pick your matches wisely. I still miss my Max!! :(
Click to expand...

10.80's - 10.10's = a few tenths right? Yes those bikes are faster, but being a few tenths slower than a Hyabusa is something I can live with. If not, plenty of mods are available for Max.

What year was your Max? To me it's one of the great classic bikes. Sounds and feels like a small block Chevy.
 
My Max was a 2000.:) You cannot go wrong with Max. It's apples and oranges comparing to sport bikes. Max doesn't handle for sh$t and when you get up over a 100 mph the back of the bike wants to shake but its straight line acceleration is scarry. That classic muscle bike look is unbeatable amongst all those plastic wrapped look a like sport bikes. ;)
 
VMAX

I have a 97(black and silver). I added drag bars,lowered the front through the tripple trees and strapped the front(when it needs it:D ). Now, for a total of about $50, it's perfect! The drag bars and lowering the front, really makes it look long and low. When you accelerate through first and it gets "on the boost" the rear tire starts to spin, hit second and it puts down a 20' mark then "chirps" third:eek: ! %$#$ snow on the ground...... Have fun!
Ross L
 
Re: VMAX

Originally posted by Ross L
I have a 97(black and silver). I added drag bars,lowered the front through the tripple trees and strapped the front(when it needs it:D ). Now, for a total of about $50, it's perfect! The drag bars and lowering the front, really makes it look long and low. When you accelerate through first and it gets "on the boost" the rear tire starts to spin, hit second and it puts down a 20' mark then "chirps" third:eek: ! %$#$ snow on the ground...... Have fun!
Ross L
Click to expand...

Did your handling improve with the changes? I've heard that some of the Max's handling woes can be reduced.
 
There cool bikes but putting things in perspective there is no contest b/t the Vmax and modern sportbikes.They have very little fuel range,handle like a twenty year old design, and really are overpriced.
The times people are quoting (the 9.85) are outrageous.I am not saying it wasnt done but no way average joe blow will run those times.My ZX-11 would lay the serious smackdown on my buddies Vmax from any gear and I guarentee neither of us could probably ride out of the 11's on a track.
 
yes

It makes the steering much more responsive and keeps the front end down(a little better). The handling isn't bad IMO, unless you're comparing it to something, say another motorcycle;) . It does have a tendency to "wobble" between 100 and 110 mph if the tires are worn or pressure isn't right. Many people replace the rubber washers in the headset w/ steel ones and eleminate this "characteristic". I don't mind it. It makes me appreciate life and how delicate it can be:D . The only other change I would make would be a wider rear wheel that would hold a 200 series tire. I run a 180 on the stock(black) rim. Go for it!
 
Originally posted by bucky
There cool bikes but putting things in perspective there is no contest b/t the Vmax and modern sportbikes.They have very little fuel range,handle like a twenty year old design, and really are overpriced.
The times people are quoting (the 9.85) are outrageous.I am not saying it wasnt done but no way average joe blow will run those times.My ZX-11 would lay the serious smackdown on my buddies Vmax from any gear and I guarentee neither of us could probably ride out of the 11's on a track.
Click to expand...

The Vmax was ever intended to compete with a sport bike. It's not a fair or realistic comparison. The 9.85 1/4 mile time was on a modified Vmax with a professional rider and is doccumented. I vaguely recall the article, it was printed in the eighties.

The Vmax is more along the lines of the V-Rod and the power cruiser segment. In that context, it's a bargain and it will eat their lunch with the possible exception of the new 2300 Triumph. kes. The fact that the VMax is still in production after nearly 20 years, is still popular and a great selling bike and has legions of fans is testiment to how fun it is. Also, having owned sport bikes, I can tell you that typically your body says uncle before the gas tank goes dry. You can ride a Vmax all day as long as there is a gas station every 150 miles.
 
Re: VMAX

Originally posted by Ross L
I have a 97(black and silver). I added drag bars,lowered the front through the tripple trees and strapped the front(when it needs it:D ). Now, for a total of about $50, it's perfect! The drag bars and lowering the front, really makes it look long and low. When you accelerate through first and it gets "on the boost" the rear tire starts to spin, hit second and it puts down a 20' mark then "chirps" third:eek: ! %$#$ snow on the ground...... Have fun!
Ross L
Click to expand...
Ross how many miles are on your Max?
 
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