Any experience with the VMax?

[Cobia]

Hi,
I'm getting a hankering to buy a used VMax (can't afford a new one!!) and apparently the most improved ones are from '93 onward.
Anybody have any experiences to relate about ease of upkeep, etc.?
Thanks.

[foreda]

Vmax

Check you area Yamaha dealer to ensure they have someone qualified to work on the VMAX as not all dealers do! My brother in law had the anniversary model but I can't remember the year offhand but this particular model had some stabilty issues. I remember the first time I rode it he told me whatever I do, do not let go of the handlebars. After doing some research, I found there were frame alignment issues with that particular model. That's about all I know.

[Cobia]

Thanks Foreda

The 20th anniversary issue was the 2005 since they were introduced in 1985. As far as I know they corrected a lot of issues in the 1993 and forward. They supposedly reinforced the frame, went to bigger fork tubes, etc.
How was the ride on that rocket?

[TomRodgers]

I have previously owned 3 Vmax's... my first was an '89. The second was a 93. The third was a 96.

The 89 had more torque... the 93 was a real bitch in the turns....and had the 'wobble'.

the 96 seemed fine.

I installed a 4-1 Hindle exhaust...a thermostat off a volkswagon ( stocker allows the temp to get hot enuf to scald your legs) improved fork brace (you will need it..bike handles like a pig)...

get ready for the bunny hop that our '11's dont have....

Also, it seems that the 2nd gear issue we have on our 11's was carried over to the earlier year Vmax's.....on both the 89 and 93 i blew the 2nd gear....Yamaha used a different steel on that gear that was hardened..but if it let go...WHAMMO 2nd gear gone.... the 96 never had that issue.

thats all for now

Other than that, i loved all 3. Just

[barberad]

I have previously owned 3 Vmax's... my first was an '89. The second was a 93. The third was a 96.

So Tom, why an XS now? Tell us about some of the differances. Likes/dislikes and comparisons/opinions with the XS/XJ.

Thanks,
Dan

[TomRodgers]

Thats a LONG story....not really. Got married, had 4 kids. Moving from small house to larger one...

I traded for newer bikes as i had funds.....

I have been without motorcycles for about 8 years now.....and i was lucky to find all 3 of my XS's for CHEAP!!!!!

The Vmax's in my opinion are stump pullers. Much like the XS's. The 'bunny hop' is a little weird...but very smooth.

The Vmax has 'shorter legs' than my standards....probably in the range of the specials...

Handling between the two is about the same....you arent going to fly through the twisties with a Max...but from stop light to stop light...LOOK OUT!!!

I was lucky enuf not to have to do a whole lot of work on my Max's...just oil and such. The carbs are a bitch to do anything with...

I did have different front springs put on (progressives) due to the fact that my right hand/wrist has this condition that causes spasms at low speeds and is cured only my going fast. I dont think there was 1 single day that i owned them that the front tire didnt come off the ground!!!!

I like the older look/style of the XS's for the projects im working on, but if i could i would buy another Max in a heartbeat.

If nothing else, newer and easier to get parts for. Ya just gotta love the Yamaha engineers....seem to have their $hit together!!!

[Cobia]

Bunny hop??

Thanks for the info, Tom.
Now, regarding the bunny hop...??
When does it happen? Upon acceleration? Deceleration? Net effect of it?
Thanks

[TomRodgers]

Upon hard accel, the rear end of the bike 'lifts up'. decel it squats back down...

its a little un-nerving at first, allows the rear end to 'break loose' so i would suggest a 'soft' compound for fun......

you get used to it real quick...its kinda fun after a while.

[Cobia]

Thanks,
Just what the Yammie engineers avoided in our XS/XJs by having the engine turn CCwise.... Didn't hey already know???
I guess they didn't want to re-invent the wheel since they kind of started with a Venture engine to begin with...???

[TomRodgers]

Let me know if you need any other info....i may or may not have the answer.....

[Cobia]

I will.
Thanks, Guys

[DGXSER]

A very good friend of mine had the 85 for about ten years or so. That was a VERY fast bike. Dealers told him it was the only bike they ever had brought back because owners could not handle the power.

We took that bike all over on twisties and all. One time we out in the very rural area, roads we had never been on, me on th eback, and we went about 130 mph (I saw the speedo through my glasses pinned to my face) through curves and all, it was a blast and scary as he!!.

He had a kerker exhaust with alot fo the baffles removed. I only recall him having the carbs cleaned every three years or so. Nothing else ever done to it I can think of.

[dpotter58]

I sat on a 2009 at Thunder in the Valley and it gave me a chubby
One of those can't afford it bikes that I would like to have just to take out for a blast once in a while...

[oldnortonrider]

Here is a link that might help explain the "head-shake" problem > http://www.starvmax.com/forum/13-tec...it=10&start=20

I had a new '89 VMax in 1989. Everything worked perfect, except it had a head-shake problem that I could never get solved (pre-internet time). The steering neck bearings "felt" that they were torqued proper, and I definitely knew how to check them. But, at that time, I was not aware of "the special way" of adjustment that needed to be applied, as 'splained in above link. At that time, couldn't figure out what to do to get rid of the wobble. Anything above 25mph, if you took your left hand away from the grip, it would start its head shake. Also, in above link, one of the riders says he couldn't get it completely cured until he added a fork brace. Newer models probably cured that part when they went with larger diameter fork tubes. At any rate, at the time I didn't have the time to trace down a cure, and was quite angry about a new machine having this "unsolvable" problem. Was a mystery to the dealer, too (Searcy, AR). I kept it for a year, had only about 2500 miles on it, and sold it at a fair loss in disgust. Reason I'd not logged more miles on it, was that it was NO fun to ride. Except for the power. It would try to do a little bit of wobble above 80 with even both hands on the bars. If I'd known at the time about the VW thermostat cure for the "hot" problem, I might have kept it. It would burn me up, at a stop light, and was difficult keeping the heat gauge needle outta the red, at stop lights and in traffic in warm weather. Might have kept it, and eventually, stubbornly, figured out the head shake "solve", on my own~~I was also worried that my 18 year old son, that was quite an accomplished rider, might have a bad spill, before we could solve and stop the wobble problem.

[zx11racr]

vmax

I have had 2 v maxes. I still own one. My 95 had the head shake problem. I was never able to get it cured. It never felt unsafe just didnt like it. I have a 93 with lots of miles on it and it never shakes. Rock solid at any speed. They are fun bikes to ride. I dont really feel like they are suited for the hiway due to pretty low gearing but to each his own. I still enjoy riding the V max. Not really another power cruiser like it around.


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