YE Must Be Born Again VMAX

[madmax-im]

197 HP and 122 ftlbs torque....the mighty VMAX is RE-Born Talk abt a long running model.This going into its 24th or 25th year of production...imagine if they never had stopped making the XS/XJ's...This is the baddest boulevard bike out there...dont look for a touring package ..LOL

[The Lorax]

are the "scoops" functional on those? I think I read somewhere that the old ones were essentially ornaments. nice bike, I would consider one if I were looking for something new.

[Bob Falter]

Yamaha designed the V-Max based on the muscle cars of the 60’s and like 99% of the muscle cars the air scoops are just for looks.

Bob

[DJinNH]

I like the bike, just not that exhaust set up. Those huge pipes don't do it for me.

Don

[madmax-im]

+1 on the exhaust pipes ...they look like some kind of musical instrument...I'm not too fond of the headlight either...but aside from those things this is the baddest VMAX yet.At $18k thats a bit much for a boulevard cruiser...IMHO...YMMV Why did Yamaha quit making the XS/XJs' after only 7 years???

[Shuriken]

Originally posted by The Lorax
are the "scoops" functional on those? I think I read somewhere that the old ones were essentially ornaments. nice bike, I would consider one if I were looking for something new.

Bob Falter
Yamaha designed the V-Max based on the muscle cars of the 60’s and like 99% of the muscle cars the air scoops are just for looks.

They are ornaments on my '85 V-Max but they are described in the V-Max features video as "4 functional intakes" on the new max. See the following site. Click on Videos:

http://www.starmotorcycles.com/star/msite/micro_v1.aspx

[Shuriken]

Originally posted by madmax-im
+1 on the exhaust pipes ...they look like some kind of musical instrument...I'm not too fond of the headlight either...but aside from those things this is the baddest VMAX yet.At $18k thats a bit much for a boulevard cruiser...IMHO...YMMV Why did Yamaha quit making the XS/XJs' after only 7 years???

Headlight definitely sucks. Exhaust needs better styling for sure.

[oldyam80sg]

Nice bikes but no top end.I rode one back in the late 80's but also rode a Ducati 900(i believe) Monster.That had a ton of balls...I also tried a Suzuki GS 1150ES-that was sweet!

[TADracer]

It does have a nice 'mechanical' look to it that I definately like but the exhaust? Looks like Yamaha is trying to appeal to the tuner crowd that has those canister exhaust tips under the bumper of their four-bangers.

[oldyam80sg]

I really don't care for the radiator thing.If its going to be there -dont chrome it.That just ruins it!

[egsols]

Originally posted by madmax-im

Why did Yamaha quit making the XS/XJs' after only 7 years???

They were built too good. Why are there still some many around and running great? Every successful manufacturer has to incorporate planned obsolesence into their product otherwise sales will eventually diminish.

[7911special]

Beautiful bike, except for the exhaust and scoops.

I like the agressive rough look, but I also love muscle cars.

I think a new V-Max would sit nice next to my XS with a turbo on it, too bad my checking account doesn't agree on the vmax or a turbo.

BTW I would be happy if the Vmax ran like the XS, they are great stoplight bikes. After having flat tires at 50mph and also going over 140mph before I don't need speed.

If you don't like the Vmax headlight you won't like the KTM SuperDuke then either.

[madmax-im]

Originally posted by egsols


They were built too good. Why are there still some many around and running great? Every successful manufacturer has to incorporate planned obsolesence into their product otherwise sales will eventually diminish.

I can see your point abt the XS/XJs' being built too good...How is it they can keep the V-Max in production for 25 yrs?

[malber]

gone but not forgotten

Originally posted by madmax-im

I can see your point abt the XS/XJs' being built too good...How is it they can keep the V-Max in production for 25 yrs?

If you take a close look at the FJR you can see the XS1100 pedigree.

Question: Is the V4 in the Venture Royale the same as the VMAX? This may be why the VMAX has been around for so long?

[madmax-im]

Re: gone but not forgotten

Originally posted by malber


If you take a close look at the FJR you can see the XS1100 pedigree.

Question: Is the V4 in the Venture Royale the same as the VMAX? This may be why the VMAX has been around for so long?

The FJ1100/1200 was a direct decendant of the XS/XJ11s' basically the exact same engine except its got 5 valves per cyl instead of 4...The FJ line went from 1984-92( i think)
AFAIK the V-MAX and the Venture shared the same powerplant although I suspect it was slighty detuned for the Venture.