My Last Ride On The Legendary 1990 Yamaha Vmax 540

[@upnorthvlogs]

I remember my dad bought a brand new 96 Vmax 600 and then it got stolen in two years later I’ve been obsessed with that look ever since

[@minnowlaketuning]

Good reliable engine in those. Would be a good swap for a 540 or the exciter I think

[@upnorthvlogs]

@@minnowlaketuning I didn’t watch your whole video till now. I have an ovation 340 as well picked up last year for 50 bucks for my kids, but I have more fun on that little thing than I did on any of my Polaris 800s and it’s easy to get out of the snow

[@minnowlaketuning]

@upnorthvlogs I love the ovation I got, it's actually hilarious to drive

[@upnorthvlogs]

@@minnowlaketuningPolaris Stupid AutoCorrect and agreed

[@73farmer]

Sorry to see the VMAX go. But, I totally understand your position. Glad to hear it went to a collector.

[@minnowlaketuning]

Yep the guy was extremely happy to get it and has quite the collection, I know she's in good hands at least

[@josephprice6557]

Red head 700 for sure! Reeds and piped makes killer power and the sound is phenomenal.

[@minnowlaketuning]

Oh ya, would be a rocket

[@7080nik]

I had a 1986 V Max 540 for two years . Great sled. Smooth, light and very reliable and decently fast. Unfortunately, I totaled it driving down between the rails on a railroad track. Got caught where there was a switch in the track. I was one of many that did the same thing. Moral of the story, stay as far away as possible from railroad tracks on a snowmobile!

[@minnowlaketuning]

Funny you mention that, I remember trying to hop tracks on a Zr when I was younger and totally flying over the hood onto the ground haha. Oops

[@jefftizz]

Red head triple sleeper! 👌 🤛

[@MrJeffyb69]

I was recently at a snowmobile show and there was a guy that built a 1990 Phaser with a 700 triple red head motor in it, it was bad ass :-)

[@minnowlaketuning]

Now that's cool. I saw a guy stuff a srx 700 in an exciter 570. Definitely unique

[@EVO_Bzil]

THIS YEAR PLEASE BUILD A FIRECAT MOD! Maybe even a 03 stock? With Arctic cat going out of business, these videos will gain alot of traction!! Love the videos buddy

[@minnowlaketuning]

Oh don't worry I've got some more coming on my 04 f7. Just waiting for some dam snow lol

[@EVO_Bzil]

@ i cant wait! I have a 04 f5 with a (chaincase) f7 carb in it. 2 degree key All 440 suspension fabbed onto the tunnel in the rear. Bunch of little things Has 2” picks! Which is unheard of Thing is beyond rowdy.

[@minnowlaketuning]

@EVO_Bzil oh hell ya, I'm surprised you got the 2" studs to clear the exchanger lol

[@EVO_Bzil]

@ anyway I can show you pics?

[@user-le7gv4ym4y]

I bought A 1988 vmax new in 1988 and put 13,000 kms on it and loved it. Sold it in 2015. A beautiful sled and lots of fun.

[@minnowlaketuning]

That's awesome, did it make it 13k without blowing up?

[@user-le7gv4ym4y]

@ it never missed a beat, I left it with the jets it came stock with, but it was hard on clutches. It was the coolest sled around when I first bought it.

[@minnowlaketuning]

@user-le7gv4ym4y that's wild, you got a good one haha, they were known for being pretty unreliable lol. Definitely the coolest looking sleds around in my opinion

[@acdatz6222]

I just wished that we could have got to see the Vmax race the F5. Good luck with your next build.

[@minnowlaketuning]

Yeah I'm a bit bummed out, but having driven both, I honestly believe it would not of been close

[@jameskirk5906]

Love that VMAX brother!!!🎉

[@minnowlaketuning]

Me too 😀

[@Snowmannorth]

I like your idea of the early model Exciter with a triple. No sound like a triple!

[@minnowlaketuning]

Agreed! That would be a blast

[@BMSuperTurboDave]

​@@minnowlaketuningif you have any questions about the swap, hit me up. I've built three of them!

[@algee8228]

Good decision overall. I like the idea of the EX440 build...always liked those sleds.

[@minnowlaketuning]

Me as well. Love those leafers

[@davea5113]

Hey, all for a redhead 700 in a Vmax chassis, install Reed blocks, (or V-force reeds), thinner head gasket and drill the stock exhaust can, clutch it and that Vmax will fly!

[@minnowlaketuning]

Oh hell ya 🤘

[@davelowrey2421]

I like the Exciter idea.

[@minnowlaketuning]

I'm torn between the two, was hoping the comments would be 1 sided but it looks like it's almost split lol

[@davidbrennan5]

Here is my take, get a 1997 Polaris Ultra sp, It has the same engine mount as an XCR 800. you can use the top half of the airbox from the Ultra sp and the bottom from the XCR 800 and the engine will bolt right in. The pipes from a gen 2 chassis XCR 800 will work on the older wedge but you have to dent the pipes around the shock tower. and add a few dents on the top to get the hood to close. You now have a light wedge chassis Polaris with 158hp on pump gas. That is my dream sled. It will sip fuel on the trail and have a better power to weight ratio than most anything newer for lake runs.

[@minnowlaketuning]

Haha we think alike. Way back in the day I had a 96 if i remember right ultra with psi lake blaster triples on it and an ultra spx CDI. I think a bone stock ultra with triples on it made close to 150hp. Best way to make big power in a wedge chassis. Better than the storms were

[@davidbrennan5]

It would be a rocket, you can take 100+ lbs off a wedge sled pretty easy. gauge cluster, seat, lightweight hood rear suspension swap, plastic ski's, then you have a real weapon and its a sleeper. Only the 96 Ultra and 96 XCR 600 SP had the oil lubed water pump crankcase oil reservoir, they can/did have crankshaft seal issues on that section of the crankshaft, big bucks to repair, look for a 1997 Ultra sp , they were purple. Those were updated. The XCR 800 top end will literally bolt onto the Ultra bottom end. You can port the XCR 800 cylinders and bore the rack carbs and get over 170hp and you have power valves. Keep it stock and it will last as long as a Yamaha triple.

[@Harpazoed]

Those things look sweet. However the cranks go out BigTime. My uncle used to drag race them. And he had all sorts of issues with his

[@minnowlaketuning]

Very very temperamental engines for sure which is the main reason why I'd like to do the swap

[@Harpazoed]

@ I almost bought one in 1990. But my dad talked me out of it. But they are bad Azz looking.

[@EmilForsberg_GRYBO]

I do agree that the Vmax was one of those things where it was "too nice to drive"

[@minnowlaketuning]

Yeah it was insanely nice. Ah well I think I'll get another one that's not as nice and then I can have some fun on it

[@MrJeffyb69]

Do a Vmax-4 750 or 800🙂 Or try and find a good project late 70's early 80's Kawasaki invader , love the hideaway headlight look, kinda like the vmax540.

[@minnowlaketuning]

Yup those invader 440 LTDs were cool, interceptor 550 too, both pretty hard to come by now lol. Wanted a vmax 4 when I was younger they were just kind of under performers, mega heavy and the early 750s made weak power. 130 or 135 from what I remember. Hard to bite on it when a tcat 900 from the same era was over 160hp lol. But very unique and they sound cool with quad pipes

[@MrJeffyb69]

@@minnowlaketuning yeah, those vmax -4 750's were slower than I expected. I had a buddy of mine who let me ride his 94 vmax-4 and it felt slower than my 2001 ZR600 EFI 😞 I heard the 800's were better, but like you said, with a thunder cat 900 or 1000, it's not even close!! I did have a 1998 Vmax 700 XTC with the triple/ triple red head, that thing was FAST!! Maybe find one of those, they're pretty cheap 🙂

[@minnowlaketuning]

@MrJeffyb69 the plan is to get one of those red head 700s and toss er in another 540. I think that would be cool

[@MrJeffyb69]

@@minnowlaketuning that would be bad ass :-)

[@rickmechelke284]

Exciter leafer with a liquid. I'll buy it from you when finished.

[@minnowlaketuning]

At this point I think I have to do both the vmax and the exciter haha

[@garagenerd1951]

You know my vote! Vmax 540/700 MOD!!

[@minnowlaketuning]

Oh hell ya

[@BMSuperTurboDave]

I'd also like to see this. The pipe wouldn't need to be modified.

[@RichardRichter-v8n]

Really interested in swapping a newer or at least more reliable twin into older V-max chassis so you could look cool but at least ride it

[@minnowlaketuning]

100% and it would work and around good with the factory 540 twin pipes. I'm torn between that and the triple, the triple would be cooler but the twin is probably the better option for fitment etc

[@RobBrabant]

Sucks to see it go but if it’s not going to pay off in content then it’s not worth keeping. I see a lot of big KZbinrs doing the same thing. I’m patiently waiting for the triple in the vmax chassis lol

[@minnowlaketuning]

Unfortunately that's the reality. Yeah I think that 700 in there would be pretty cool

[@trentwright5450]

Hey i recognize those streets and trail from somewhere lol.

[@minnowlaketuning]

🤫 shhh hahah

[@privatear2001]

Wasn't there another snowmobile that looked like a V-Max but was an SRX, maybe? were there any made (in that body style) that DIDN'T have problems? I always wanted one too but ended up buying an 89 SRV instead. She was left over for a couple years and so I got her for $6000 vs like 8 or 9K for the V-Max in 1991. But I dearly wish I could have had a V-Max. I always liked the look of them the best. If I had ended up staying at home in Newfoundland, I'd probably have a store with 10 vintage machines by now. I still have the SRV and a GS-250 from 1974. I love snowmobiles more than any other form of transportation! They're so much fun! Anyway, sorry you had to sell 'er. Hope you can find another one with less problems. All the best!

[@minnowlaketuning]

Thanks for watching and commenting. The only other one in this chassis was the 81 srx 440 but it was even more unreliable.

[@privatear2001]

@@minnowlaketuning I watched and commented on your video last year (or was it the year before?) when you described your lucky find for the V-Max. Were you able to iron out the problems and get 'er running optimally? or were there still problems with it at the end? She's a beautiful sled. Wish I had her up in Northern Newfoundland. Lots of snow up there for six or seven months out of the year. Thanks for showing the video footage of you out driving her at the end. Awesome sounding machine!!! Got the SRV up to 135kmh once on Stone's pond - the end of the pond came up quite fast! But I think the liquid cooled engine in this can go even faster. So I guess you did get the problems ironed out then... good on ya! All the best!

[@danielpomeroy]

I think the VMAX was a 540cc fan cooled whereas the srx was a liquid cooled triple.

[@privatear2001]

@@danielpomeroy the older V-Max up til like 1989 or 90 was two cylinder as far as I remember, and liquid cooled. It had a system under the seat to chill the coolant. If it was icy conditions, the V-Max didn't cool as well because it needed snow thrown up by the track onto the interface. The SRV or SR-540 (less cooler cousin of the V-Max) was fan cooled. I have an 89 SRV. I wanted the V-Max because it was the coolest machine I've ever seen, but I couldn't afford it at the time. I don't think the SRX would have been a triple because they only made those in the bigger engines for the later V-Max 600 and up. and the SRX was only a 440, as far as I remember. That should have been only a two cylinder, I think, In 91, the 89 SRV was $6000 Canadian and the V-Max was about 8 or 9K, as far as I remember.

[@danielpomeroy]

@@minnowlaketuning probably why Yammy engineers came up with the exciter and enticer series of sleds. A lot more reliable.

[@flipNation44]

I think an polaris weage would be a cool build..

[@minnowlaketuning]

I used to love the wedge chassis. Had a couple, had an indy 650 with pipes l, big bore, porting etc. was a fun sled

[@86D150]

What about a 700 red head in an 80 exciter, would be a rocket!

[@minnowlaketuning]

Yup that's an option as well

[@threedollarhands4731]

Niiicccceeee

[@donmann8400]

Know how you feel, Have a 93 Mach Z and a 75 440 Merc Sno twister both worth too much to ride and damage.

[@minnowlaketuning]

1 mistake and that's all she wrote, wish I had the room to store it, it would be on a shelf lol

[@just_in_time5518]

My vote if in matters is another V-Max!!! 😂

[@minnowlaketuning]

Looks like most of the votes are trending this way haha. Looks like it's most likely gonna be another vmax

[@just_in_time5518]

@@minnowlaketuning sweet! But i agree why you sold the other vmax... it was just to nice to ride! haha

[@minnowlaketuning]

@just_in_time5518 it really was, stressed me out when I drove it haha

[@johnwinslow4503]

Wasn't the Vmax the sled that Yamaha ordered dealers to destroy due to a liability issue?

[@minnowlaketuning]

82 srx 500 I believe, they sold some to dealers and then got the majority of them back and destroyed them

[@joeymac837]

540 With the 700 triple.

[@minnowlaketuning]

That's what I'm leaning to as well

[@danielpomeroy]

Probably going to have to modify the sled because the 540cc is air-cooled and the 700 triple is liquid cooled

[@svenriemann3897]

If you were super cautious, you wouldn't be sparking your way through town on the street. For shame

[@minnowlaketuning]

Sparking my way through town? What? I drove probably less than 1km on the streets. Weird comment

[@Larry-cl5eo]

Get a v max agine

[@tedc4990]

Thats a 1986 vmax not a 90

[@minnowlaketuning]

100% a 1990

[@tedc4990]

@@minnowlaketuning In 1990 Yamaha's muscle sled was the Exciter. 1987 was the last year of the vmax 540.

[@minnowlaketuning]

@@tedc4990 made until 87 in the states and up until 1991 in Canada

[@larrywarner9314]

You don't make money from KZbin unless you get montinized or wut ever they call it , if your not making videos every day and posting them then you broke.

[@minnowlaketuning]

Yup, I've been monetized but unless your bringing in massive views than it's very very minimal

[@toddyuill3924]

A old srx 440 would be great they were cool old sleds

[@minnowlaketuning]

@toddyuill3924 yep, we had a 1980 on the channel here but never ended up getting it going

[@paulmazzola398]

How about trying to find a rare 500 SRX? Those sleds are extremely rare.

[@minnowlaketuning]

I think there's only a handful of em.

[@martybeaudry5747]

had one years ago mine was an 89. What a pile of garbage, useless clutching, useless suspention and crappy in deep snow. Sharp looking and thats it

[@minnowlaketuning]

The looks definitely save it haha, yeah suspension isn't the greatest, I did a little to the clutching because it was lacking.

[@martybeaudry5747]

@minnowlaketuning you name it I tried it. Rode it till it dropped a piston shirt at 17000km.fixed it and sold it