Why the Yamaha VMAX Redefines Muscle Bikes: Design, Power, and Performance. Riding

Make sure to subscribe to ‪@MotoRoUsa‬ for more Yamaha Vmax content. @motorousa was nice enough to let me ride his Vmax. Now it's on the list of bikes I need to get.
The Yamaha VMAX is undoubtedly one of Yamaha's most interesting and quirky bikes. Known for its muscular design, powerful V4 engine, and unconventional riding style, the VMAX has carved out a unique place in the motorcycle world. Its styling is both modern and retro, with a distinctive bulky fuel tank and muscular bodywork that harks back to the muscle car era. However, it's not just its looks that set the VMAX apart; it's also its unconventional riding position, with forward-set footpegs and a low, drag-style handlebar that give the rider an aggressive stance. The VMAX's V4 engine is a technological marvel, producing incredible amounts of torque and horsepower, making it a thrill to ride. All of these unique features combine to make the Yamaha VMAX one of the most interesting and unforgettable bikes ever made by Yamaha.

[@charlesdeherrera9498]

You really made a good choice with that machine and I'm proud of your save and rebuild. God bless you! From an older Vmax guy.

[@mironkorzalko7761]

Supertrapp slip ons are awesome on that bike... there's a mod I had on my 92, a simple toggle switch that allowed Vboost to kick in at 3k, when you wanted even more torque pulling on your arms on cruise night.

[@Markycarandbikestuff]

The 145hp is at the crank on this engine, the shaft drive eats a lot of power, a healthy Max will have about 115 - 120 at the rear wheel, huge torque though, a V Max will pretty much match a Gen 1 Hayabusa on the 1/4 mile, past that though and the Max will run out of steam and the Busa will be gone, still impressive though, i have a nice 95 Max, absolutely love it, no where near the death trap some claim it to be, awesome bike.

[@dakkedankos4116]

That's a sweet Vmax, glad you took it out of the grave, it deserves to be ridden to the wheels fall off.

[@esv5182]

Then rebuild it and ride it some more.

[@MalfunctioningAndroid]

@@esv5182this

[@Gary-ys9be]

Now imagine one with a stage 7 carbie kit on it 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I love my max

[@jessecornelius392]

The sound the best with the 4 into 1 kerker system.

[@localguy8]

I started owning a 1986 VMax in SF. I used it as my commuter bike no parking problem going to work!! Also then crossing both bridges was free n u can ride on the Diamond lane. I have to refuel every 110-120 miles or you’re pushing . It s now sitting in my garage in Vegas for sale

[@russellvonastel7111]

The best bike in the world

[@keithhoughton4308]

Yamaha's response to Honda's V65 Magna. Musclebikes.

[@moomoobates9231]

I don't believe it's all about kicking butt, I've owned three. They are unique and awesome bikes. Each to their own.

[@sirloin6662]

When you really get on it from 0 to 100 strait up awesome.......i just got an 85 and it rips

[@russellvonastel7111]

Trying so hard to find one

[@rik331]

It is a light to light bike. I have a 1989 with Super Trapps.

[@richardhocking9996]

It was known as a muscle bike like the muscle cars for the US Market

[@richardwestmoreland4796]

I don't know a lot about how bikes are supposed to be put into any one category but I think the closest you are going to get for this VMAX is when you said if it was a car it would be a muscle car. In other words it's like a Chevy Camaro,a Plymouth Cuda, or a late model 5 litre Ford Mustang to name a few in terns of showing off its muscle but doing it in a moderate way. I could have included a Chevy Corvette or say a Dodge Viper but there really isn't anything moderate about those cars. A bike like this VMAX has to have the gearing just right or it won't be much good for many things but with the proper gears and the power it has it can be a great bike for getting out on the highway and passing most anything in a relatively short space and then tucking yourself back in to traffic until you want to pass the next vehicle that you feel is getting in your way. The perfect bike for when you have slept through your alarm and are running late for work. With prudent use of a radar detector and some skillful riding you might just make it to work with a few minutes to spare on a bike like this VMAX.

[@keithhoughton4308]

140 bhp in a dangerous chassis. What more could you want? Bought mine in 87, drag raced it in the UK and still have it!

[@toddlehman928]

Exactly, that's why they feel so powerful

[@AdamWeston]

I used to think my vmax was quick until I got an r1... now my vmax seems like a snail

[@toddlehman928]

They're not super quick certainly not fast compared to today's bikes, but there's something to the feel of a VMax, probably the mid-80s technology, not such a good frame, mediocre brakes, it's fun as hell. I took my friends Hayabusa to 165mph, felt like my VMax at 95mph.

[@derekmillen42]

Anyone who hasn't tried a Vmax really should...King of the road

[@toddlehman928]

I have a 97. Got it under 13,000 miles, very clean, Supertrapp slip ons , drag bars, SS braided brake lines, needed a Starter clutch. $2800😃

[@derekmillen42]

@toddlehman928 nice. I was the 3rd owner of mine..the first guy apparently tried to upgrade all the parts but the second guy tried to turn it into a street fighter and made a total mess of it so I done my best to restore it. I regret the day I had to sell it

[@henrydegan6204]

Good review with only minor errors, well done. Vmax with capital letter V doesn't stand for max speed but for max Volume (= displacement) even when it showed up in the market in1985 it was not the fastest bike. But it was the biggest V4 engine. And it was the most powerful. When you compare that bike to modern standard, you need to respect that it is from 1985 with only minor modifications since then. I bought mine new in 1995, still own it with some 60.000 mls and there was no hassle at all. Meanwhile it is my secondary bike as I bought the Gen 2 VMax (1700 cc) back in 2017. Actually, often use them as commuter bike, the fact that it's shaft driven keeps maintenance costs very low, it is heavily underrated for its every day capabilities, it just runs and runs and runs. Its category is "big bike" in the history of the black shadow, the Münch Mammoth, the early CB 750, CBX and Z1300 and the Rocket 3. The diavel is not that category as it is to small and not "impressive" enough, even it's a fast and strong bike.

[@gotmylk]

Actually “Vmax” is indicative of “Velocity Maximum”. When the design team created the bike they were working to obtain the fastest production V twin starting with the 90hp Venture engine as their baseline.

[@WoS-bv5tg]

@@gotmylk that is not true. The international symbol for velocity is "v", not "V". Capital "V" stands for volume. They never wanted to create the fastest bike in terms of max speed but the best accelerating bike. And me personally, I enjoy the immense torque of these big V4 engines (not V twin as you stated). Relaxed and yet powerful riding, incredible low maintenance and incredible good reliability. Close to perfect bikes.

[@gotmylk]

@WoS-bv5tg thanks for the clarification/correction! I've been wrong for a long time. Lol! The v-twin was an accident caused by my glaucoma medicine. But the "V" for volume vs. "v" for velocity I was not thinking that deeply about and totally blew it. 1985 max owner for 20 years. Lol!

[@MrPepper312]

And no hassle shaft drive.

[@Bass.Player]

Why try to categorize it? It's a motorcycle that is a street cruiser more or less. I had two of these in the past and when you turn the key on you can hear the v-boost motor run, it opens and then closes. If you unplug it when it's wide open it will stay there in V-boost all the time, the idle is a little choppy but it hauls ass. These bikes came with a radial tire on the front and a bias tire on the rear from the factory....

[@akirasanakirasan5347]

I am 6ft tall and cannot fit on the bike far too cramped no way to change seat position

[@mikerodriguez785]

This kid is scared to get on it and open up that throttle

[@xpresscolourart5531]

Sorry I had to comment again This is actually painful to watch the guy is saying it’s crazy and wow etc etc and he didn’t even get to experience the vboost ….. absolutely unbelievable 😮

[@VehicleHunter]

Triggered much? 😆

[@driojal]

They are the very intoxicating motorcycle, can't never change gears below 8-9k rpms. It is definitely a trouble maker

[@konstantinNeo]

Well I ride a Dremel and Im not complaining.

[@brianittel9533]

It's 580 lbs

[@ducatione]

If only they were chain driven!

[@Gary-ys9be]

Stick a set of shorty pipes on it 🤣

[@kevinbourgoin3772]

I have one foresale its a1999.

[@jeremiah1st]

Every time you hit the 6000 rpm you shut the throttle.........Is that fear? Try from first gear to fifth gear with maximum throttle and no clutching....That's how you ride the V-Max......it's made to accelerate and when you ride it real well you leave sportsbikes behind you on the track when you know how to put the horses on the asphalt. So next time you ride the V-Max I know you will flip out. Its the best bike ever and it is a class of it's own without any competition for almost 40 years in a row. The Yamaha Raider is the best cruiser ever.

[@Gary-ys9be]

Only way to ride em is sideways lmfao had 3 just love ‘em hooliganism on wheels 😎👍🇦🇺

[@Nilu-sl4dp]

What colour is your v max 😂😂

[@malcadorthesigillite2541]

580 lbs is not light in motorcycle terms.

[@Markycarandbikestuff]

Yeah, i don't know why he thinks that, i have a 95 V Max and a Gen 1 Hayabusa, the Max is way heavier than the Busa and the Busa is a big old lump.

[@wakajawaka44]

Yamaha V-Max 2009 dry weight 271kg wet weight 286kg

[@daniellang6112]

Had one. Salt drive? Come on!! Really? Shameful!

[@xpresscolourart5531]

You haven’t a clue what your riding and you did not reach vboost !!!! Go give the bike to someone who understands what the bike can do

[@mauriceclemens3286]

A Ducati Diavel will kick its ass.

[@peterschweizer214]

😁.... yeah, but the Vmax is doing it`s thing since 1985 🙂

[@VehicleHunter]

But you can get a vmax for 4000$ can you get a Ducati Diavel for that?

[@carrizog60]

Try that with a vmax from the diavel era... The 1700. Ducati who? 🤣

[@keithhoughton4308]

All the Vmax bikes ever built will survive if not written off. No one could scrap one of these icons.

[@thomasbiancuzzo9889]

Italian pos if it ran it might,they all suck. 14:50