Yamaha V Max drag racing a Hayabusa and Yamaha R6

This is at an elevation of 4500 feet. The V-Max was in need of some fine tuning. Dan runs a 12.30 @ 107 on a 1986 V Max in a double break out bracket race. 1 time trial vs Hayabusa, 1 'Bracket Race" against a girl riding the Yamaha R6, 1 "bracket race" vs the Hayabusa

[@smiley19912]

Brings back alot of memories, I had a red 1985 VMax, sold it 10 years later with 13,200 miles on the clock. Kerker exhaust and the V boost servo motor unpluged with secondaries wide open.

[@996superhawk996]

Some people commenting have no idea what bracket racing is. I'll explain. You establish a dial in time and you try to hit that time or a little above on every pass. His bracket race is the last one in the video against the Busa. Look at the scoreboard before he crosses the line. It shows 12.50. That is is dial in time. If he runs faster than that he loses automatically. You can hear they guys in the video groan when they see his time of 12.30 because they know he lost...he "brokeout". I had an '86 VMax and ran an 11.63 at Edgewater stone stock and I'm not a great racer.

[@1etergen]

That vmax rider was great!!

[@skyline44512]

12's on a VMAX is embarrassing...

[@greensocks4507]

Yep

[@chrismcdad]

look at the elevation, 4500' - that's a huge problem for ANYTHING with a carb...

[@chrismcdad]

That elevation is a hP killer

[@RiskIt007]

Had a 85 back in the day with v-boost removed and 4into1 kicker, best ever 10.1... Off the line not much would stay close but most would catch me just before the finish, bike ran out of speed at the big end. Of all the bikes I've had, my mom was afraid of that bike the most:)

[@qwertyI234]

@lextastic It's bracket racing. The starting tree for each individual bike is adjusted based on their dial in time. So the slower bike will leave the line first.

[@Clean97gti]

12 seconds on a v-max? Did he stop for a smoke break halfway down the track?

[@phoenixarizona8441]

He did smoke a sports bike can't be that bad

[@afosiiyt2274]

@@phoenixarizona8441 No he didn't he didnt even beat the r6 and the hayabusa just ate him

[@danbriggs9235]

Looks like it's just a 1200 vmax. 12sec is about right.

[@danbriggs9235]

Also looks like they are bracket racing. The big lead he is pulling on the sport bikes off the line, is due to the light letting him go first.

[@yyfreak1637]

@@danbriggs9235 no, they run high tens stock its well documented.

[@mtadje]

I like the mini wheelies everytime. Oh and nice editing:)

[@turbotadje]

The driver of the Hayabusa said he'd loose traction or wheelie over if he left harder.

[@veryinteresting2208]

That guy on the V Max knows how to come outta the blocks, all he needs is the juice. Best guy I ever seen come outta the blocks was Pete Marshall from Pledger, TX. He had a Suzuki GS 1100 and was taking everybody's money.

[@dexter131]

These guys must be racing in some HIGH elevation - talk about slow times all around the board.. Were they double clutching their shifts?!?!

[@waimeaguyz9074]

I had the v65 and that bike started to fall apart. I sold it and got a 1100gxr. Great bike. I sold it and got the vmax 1200. I have plans to restore it. I let it sit since 2012 till now 2024. I took care of is too.

[@69bigster]

Arne you are completely right. I noticed that too. It takes a experienced rider I suppose,or he might just be nervous??

[@Currahee05GT]

Used to run 10.9's @ 119 on my 1986 FZ750.Was I quick or are these guys slow?

[@turbotadje]

Elevation of this track is 4500 ft. The driver weighs 200 lbs

[@MARINER0939]

Still a V-Max fan

[@GIGABACHI]

SWEET!

[@alpeters4857]

was he starting in 2nd?

[@jrtadje]

sweet moto!

[@crippleguy415]

Bracket racing not heads up ?

[@metalhad]

in my eyes the v max will always win :P

[@keithsmith9889]

Track looks wet. Can get my 85 diverek exhaust to run low 10's

[@ironDsteele]

I think a gen2 V Max (2009 up) could take a stock Busa

[@ShaighJosephson]

It can... The sole motivation of the Hyabusa was to beat the Vmax in the quarter mile... I'm sure they released an equivelent to the Gen 2 as well...

[@starbuck680]

@trickdad1977 for some reason I was thinking that the Vmax put out 200 hp. guess what? was just looking at the specs for it & it only puts out 174.

[@theincredibledorian]

V-max rules!!!

[@rjunio876]

Says alot for V Max. He one bad quik super heavyweight! Yamaha. Hats off... ... J... Busaman

[@grabir01]

That busa would be in the 10's or even 9's if he would learn to speed shift.

[@grabir01]

12's?

[@94SexyStang]

Those Busa's got MAD top end power.....you always "think" you got 'em, until they start spooling up and they come out of Nowhere, lol

[@SeraphimxSins]

Mike Fu Well, this is bracket racing. If they started at the same time, the VMAX wouldn't even have a chance.

[@jamesbottger5894]

@@SeraphimxSins The V-Max in this video wouldn't, but a Gen 2 Max definitely would...

[@Jandejongjong]

Check dyno sheet, busa got crazy torq. Even after 5 years you can still learn something in 2024

[@bigr5378]

A Yamaha V-Max a designed for stop sign the stop sign drag race, it is very hard to outrun a Vmax in the Eighth Mile but in the quarter mile a Hayabusa run neck-and-neck at the end, I have the first and second generation Yamaha VMAX and I raced a Hayabusa on both of them in the 8th mile a Hayabusa don't have a chance against a vmax but as I'm getting closer to the quarter-mile I'm looking in the mirror and a Hayabusa is coming on me real quick and across the line at the quarter mile either bike could be a winner it's that close

[@2010HarleyDynaFXD]

that is true I love my Buell XB12R over my Harley FXD just a lot more machine than the Harley is when it comes to performance and cornering Cruiser's are just cruising but the Vmax is like lets start a riot. Don't worry about it I love all bikes sports, touring, cruiser and dual sport there all fun.

[@JohnSmith-kt1dd]

Hate bracket racing. Use to just race. Didn't matter what you had. Either win or not. But all for fun.

[@kaleschelin8067]

that vmax must be bloated

[@tammyforbes2101]

this probaly was a 1200 vmax cause when I bracket race them I have to spot them too. Now the new one is a different story there every bit as fast as a buss but still can't get around a track. But to each his own.

[@nickroussain317]

Bike weights so much that the launch can be much more aggressive than the super sport. I’d reckon the busa is gonna catch it but the r6 I’m not sure. Such an impressive bike the VMAX

[@everythinggaming7938]

Thanks to the rider the vmax looked competitive

[@tomshade8329]

are the others giving him a head start?

[@camarocanam]

bracket racing, racing the clock, not each other

[@MultiTimthetoolman]

Classic torque versus hp result

[@vmax4ya]

@Rowdie999 .. I guess if you get a good launch ...anythings possible....anyway.. safe riding to ya bro

[@draganm7823]

Pro racer Jay Gleason did 10.84 on a V65 Magna and 9.51 with a VMax. Fast for back in the day.

[@thomaszambelli]

+Dragan M remember him well...he was the best...sorry this guy can't ride...I ran a 9.91 131 mph very first run on my buddies 2014 vmax...

[@draganm7823]

thomas zambelli not everyone knows how to launch a bike and as you know, a poor take off can make a big difference in the time.

[@techmaven5900]

Jay's best time on STOCK production gen1 Vmax was 10.50 at 128.2. I heard he did a 10.76 on another V65 Magna.

[@rjunio876]

Dragan M... U r on it. A T/true Motorcyclist. Cycle World is great as well. Jay Gleason. Top top!

[@vmax4ya]

@Rowdie999 .. it does what ? id have to see it to believe it... got vid ?? maybe if the max had a bad cylinder or two

[@greg657]

best I've seen is 10.2 against gsxr 1000 back I the day. probably Jay Gleason .

[@pfitz9346]

There's a retuned kitted out one doing 9s now.

[@countzero5150]

Cycle world claimed he broke into the nines but I could never find any footage of it and he did say it was knocking on the door when asked if he thought it could do it. Jay Gleason was the best though, if he ran your machine you knew that was the best it was capable of.

[@trickdad1977]

@starbuck680 You really think the newest max wont take a busa??? I bet you still think 2 strokes are better than 4 strokes too!!!!!!

[@xzistpo]

The guy on the busa looks scared to burn his clutch or something. He should be on higher RPM's for the launch. The max is very impressive, It's very fast out of the box and can lead for a while....

[@daynasmum529]

Deluded if he thought that yamacrap would beat the busa

[@yamasakihonda6425]

It is not the 1700 Vmax

[@xzistpo]

It's impressive too see how faster the MAX gets out of the box and for how long it's in the lead. I don't think the busa catches up that quick. Of course we all know how this will end up in the long run, but i'm impressed by that bike that hasn't changed since 1985....

[@jamesbottger5894]

Guess you haven't seen/heard about/read about the 2nd Gen V-Max?

[@xzistpo]

@@jamesbottger5894 That comment was written 11 years ago man. The 2ng gen was not in the dealers yet. Also, the bike in the video is not the 2nd gen Vmax. What is your point exactly ?

[@jamesbottger5894]

@@xzistpo I didn't know the video came out before the Gen 2 Max. My point was the Busa wouldn't be beating, or at least would have had a very difficult time beating a Gen 2 Max...

[@entitykeeper8869]

The launches were good, the shifts a bit slow. My old 1992 Vmax had a stage 1 jet kit and was otherwise stock. It would pull 10.30 - 10.40 with Dulop Elites or Bridgestone Battleaxes. I am a big rider at 6'2"" & 200 lbs back then. My launches were between 5,600 - 6,000 depending on track hook up.

[@karlhungus8946]

Sean Wallace: By "5,600 - 6,000," I assume you're referring to RPMs when you dump the clutch?

[@entitykeeper8869]

Yep, depending on how sticky the track was. 5600 - 6000 was the sweet spot for launching. On the street it was 5200-5500 for full engagement. I have an FZ1 now & it sucks to launch. 60 foot times blows, but it still runs low 10's.

[@briankrasne3518]

I got an 85 max and it said its best run was like 10.8 back when it was knew so i was expecting like mid 11s so yeah this guy is like a second off! Idk if the bike is stock but mine isn't cause it has a header. Im put in a racing air filter along with a full synthetic oil change so i think it this guy need to maybe do some maintenance

[@sambrooks7862]

Do you think it's possibly the 100bhp model which was sold in a lot of countries and not the "full power" 145bhp version? My mate has 2 full power models and from a standing start it will, and has, definitely smoke a busa.

[@mikeskidmore6754]

Looks like the old 1200 CC V Max bring on the new 1700 CC with fuel injection..

[@LitenSkada]

Yeah I saw that as well, especially the r6 reaction at start is horrible

[@starbuck680]

@trickdad1977 oh & about the 2 stroke VS. 4 stroke, I don't know about these days but in the past a 2 stroke dirt bike made more power than a 4 stroke.

[@daswada9]

com on people stop arguing the both motorcycles are AMAZING !

[@ragingbullhcwf]

My old Ninja 500 ran 11.96 @ 107mph. A Yamaha V-Max should be in the high 10's/low 11/s even with a "squid" riding it.

[@techmaven5900]

Lol at that 500 Ninja time. Stop fibbing.

[@ragingbullhcwf]

It had a EDCO 540 big bore piston kit, stage 7 jet & full Yoshimura exhaust. I ATE Katana 600's alive and beat most other 600 cc sports bikes until about 110. Took most 750's up to like 80-90 mph. They had more top end.

[@techmaven5900]

That explains it..Did it look stock?

[@ragingbullhcwf]

Yes, except for the oil cooler and slightly bigger radiator. generated too much heat at first & I was blowing head gaskets

[@mrnickbig1]

No, a stock V Max with a competent rider goes close to 10.0.

[@jeffreybaker8467]

I would love to own a vmax 200bhp v4 166 nm of torque. 0-60 mph in 2.88 secs 50-80mph in 1.09 secs. thats my 85 xj900 yammy in the post,still a very fast bike

[@thomaszambelli]

+Jeffrey Baker 900 seca???

[@jeffreybaker8467]

Divirsion

[@vf12497439]

Easy to say from a computer screen but his rev...rev...rev technique doesn't cut it. 6,000 rpm (vboost) and launch. Set the rear shocks at (3) and it should stay close to the ground on take off.

[@trickdad1977]

I know I checked it out I thought when I looked at the new in 09 and considering getting one that they were advertising almost 240 horse I swear I saw an add at like 235 but I looked it up like you 174 and your right a lot more weight so I retract My comment:)

[@saxon1177]

My old Yamaha 550 Vision could run high 13's but as the description explains, high elevation and needed tuning for it. you tards need to pay attention and read.

[@SPRS4]

Sorry, made a post about his jacket looking like a parachute and sitting up on the bike, but I watched carefully and MAYBE the jacket slowed him a little, but I was wrong about him sitting up.

[@LitenSkada]

Actually it can differ a loooot depending on who´s riding the bike, any noob out there cannot just saddle a powerful bike and start producing times like mr Gleason, far from it. Same goes for the extreme 0-60 (0-100kmph) times that some bikes can perform, a 3 sec bike can easily become a 5 sec bike depending on rider.

[@rnasap]

Like on the show: "Pinks". The Busa gave the V-max 20 yards.

[@stevenkoski228]

In 1985 Jay (Pee Wee) Gleason blew up 6 V Maxes establishing the fastest production motorcycle record. 10.32@129mph.

[@jamesbottger5894]

Not true. None of the V-Maxs he rode ever "blew up"....

[@DennisH22A]

Don't care about times. His launch was good, but trapping 107? That's pretty slow. Maybe a new model we didn't know about called the Vmin?

[@steveo451]

hes right

[@RogerioSilva-th1hr]

Here in portugal we got 125's doing 12-13 sec this is embarassing lol

[@alangt]

@turbotadje I believe you (or him), but the lag is too f*cking big at the beginning. He could do a little better and smoke so hard the VMAX.

[@williewiss6944]

That was driver error all the way. Crappy shifting to say the least.

[@jackandblaze5956]

12.30??? What the heck? My stupid old Virago does that. Something's wrong with that VMAX

[@sambrooks7862]

Probably not the full power model?

[@esv5182]

@@sambrooks7862 It wasn't tuned for 4500 ft elevation

[@ABCDEFGHIJKELA...]

there's no fucking way that V-Max was doing what it's capable of.

[@williespoonemore3392]

Jez my 80 xs11sg would a toasted both a them . some one is sandbaging lol .

[@markpearman2631]

Back in the 80s I ran 131mph in 11 seconds on a fj 1200. This seems slow

[@69bigster]

So lets get this right.....it's a handicap race lol

[@simonbelanger3257]

Lent pour un vmax de ces annee.. Aurais pu rouler dans les 11 bas avec un bon pilote

[@rakhaputrasandikah]

for the low rpm, yamaha's naked bike still worthy

[@netrioter]

something was wrong with this V-Max... a 85 V65 Magna could do 10.50, so could a Suzuki GS1150. The original V-Max could do low 11's or better .

[@WASTED__POTENTIAL]

Lol. world record setter Peewee Gleason set the record on a V65 at 10.9. Thats with a 115lb god of drag bikes on top. 10.5 is a bit optimistic. Just sayin. For a 25-30 year old bike with an amateur rider, 12s isnt all that bad.

[@techmaven5900]

netrioter I rode my stock 92 Vmax to an 11.3 at 121mph..I'm 240lbs..I also had a Suzuki 1200 Madura that I ran 11.90 at 114. Something is not right with the bike in this vid..when and where was this? Secondly, for the record. Jay Gleason's best on the V65 was 10.70. He did a 10.47 on a GS1150 and a 10.32 on a 85 Vmax.

[@thomaszambelli]

+john robert thank you for correcting them...the bikes that gleason tested were all factory stock out of ther box...no factory tweaking.

[@johnjones3648]

No. No. No. A 1985 V65 would NOT do 10.5. Come on, man!!!

[@thomaszambelli]

jay gleason did 10.33 on a factory vmax.in 1985...watch the video interview.

[@milanmaes2507]

Far Out! crawl embarrassed What do you think... !

[@ronnyminjarez9120]

Was this the 1200 or the 750?

[@thomaszambelli]

+Mr. Sir ??? no such thing as a 750 cc v max...or is this your attempt at humor ..?

[@dwayne8964]

The 750 is the fzx 750 (baby vmax)

[@starbuck680]

@trickdad1977 a new busa puts out 194hp & weighs 573lbs. the Vmax puts out 200hp & weighs 683lbs. that's a lot of weight for only an extra 6hp. not to mention the fact that the busa is more aerodynamic. still think the Vmax would beat it in a race? I think not

[@SeraphimxSins]

starbuck680 Yeah, this was with a handicap.

[@tomshade8329]

actually it has torque because of the v4. as for beats pretty much every sports bike. haha look at 1/4 mile times on most bikes. and rider determines most of it.

[@codenamedav]

+Tom Shade ^^^ yes. i took my beloved 85 sabre to the strip in 2002 with a chen shin pumped up to 35 psi, slipping clutch, bad coil, jeans, no burn-out and a soft launch and pulled 12.5's at 110 against modern sport bikes exhausts, dropped suspensions, sticky tires and riders who were regulars out there. i couldn't believe they were doing fat, smoky burnouts and hammering the clutch. i couldn't even hear my bike! but, i love my bike and i race dirt bikes so mid twelves were easy. however, even with a soft, warm tire and an aggressive launch and a clutch that held, i know that i can't break 11's like pee wee gleason on a factory prepped, brand new bike. it's all about the rider - these new 600's can do 10's with a pro, but the average knucklehead couldn't bust 14 seconds on a good day. i eat em' for lunch on the street every chance i get.

[@kenmarzinsky1062]

I must say I Really hate these cloudy films with no close shots at the end to see who really won or the posted times. Who won? Why hide it and why make your viewers guess?

[@turbotadje]

This video was taken 14 years ago. Cameras back then weren't like todays, and it was difficult in not impossible to focus in on the times. If you read my explanation above, this will answer some of your questions. There is a win light at the end of the track for each lane. Not trying to hide anything.

[@legion6277]

My old Katana 750 will run a high 11

[@chrisrandall7689]

Needs to lay up on those handle bars and pin it.....busa shouldn't run him back down in the quarter....unless he's changed sprockets.

[@JRODD666]

this is slow for a vmax. Remember a stock vmax went 10.3 by Jay Gleason

[@69bigster]

R6 and hayabusa had a really poor delayed bogged down start,this is a very bad example of what times these sport bikes can achieve. I have a gsxr k71000 and it does a 1/4 mile run in 9.56

[@tomshade8329]

power to weight people...

[@fullcirclerepair2655]

12:30 slow I'm working on mine now it should run nines

[@LitenSkada]

Who is driving the busa + r6 and why are they just standing there waiting after start or at least the r6 rider react extremely slow before start accelerating? Not saying which bike is the fastest or arguing just that this does not look realistic at all unless their reaction time is horrible beyond imagination of completely new to a drag strip? Look at v max vs r6 start again and see what I mean.

[@jasonsousa4522]

Wrong the VMAX has 123 foot pounds of torque @ 6500 RPM. Very high low end torque so off the line it will always beat a sport bike. The gearing on sport bikes are towards horse power and require very high RPM for max torque.

[@SlowGoat54]

My Busa with only a few bolt ons made 104rwtq at 7000 rpm and 82rwtq at 3000 rpm. Just saying.

[@johnjones3648]

The Vmax does NOT have 123 foot pounds of torque @ 6500 rpm!!!!! What are you smokin', man????

[@designsbynoz]

My first thought. This has to be bracket racing, or everyone the v max raced sucks.

[@tammyforbes2101]

There bracket racing and they have to give the vmax a head start to make it close. Its not heads up and no a vmax cant outrun a r6 or a busa but they are the fastest crusier made.

[@guitarman2164]

Tammy Forbes Wrong. V-Max is faster than a R6. Busa? No...R6? Yes.

[@johnjones3648]

Umm....GuitarMan216, you're wrong.  In the right hands even an R6 can beat the mighty Max.

[@karlhopkins713]

John Jones The old ones yes the new ones no only if the vmax rider sucks the best for a new vmax is a 10.11

[@Willie.dangle]

idk y ppl like the vmax so much. everyones like oh they r so fast and have so much power! what a load of crap. id take a street bike over a vmax anyday and blow it away on a track and in a drag

[@bringdnoiz]

my o2 sv650 ran a 12.55 @103 on only my third pass down a dragstrip on a bike ever so id have to say im not that impressed with all the v max hype going around ans all. dont get me wrong your bike is quick but my bike is a shit ton smaller! oh i weigh 200 lbs too. bringing the total weight of my sv to around 550 lbs with only a 650cc v twin. Oh yeah i hit the rev limmiter in third gear also.

[@chevellesbc]

Should be mid 10s all day long. Something not right there

[@buzzerjj]

All the comments here about how crap the Vmax is do make me laugh. It's a design from the mid 80's and yet it still gives modern day bikes a run for their money, which is pretty astonishing really. Modern big bike riders do seem to get all defensive when they see an old VMax up against the newer stuff. So a 2013 modern large capacity bike can beat a bike that hasn't really changed since 1984.. whoopy doo.

[@heathhill7802]

Just can't drive

[@starbuck680]

@trickdad1977 wtf are you smoking dude?

[@Halai-mahalai]

Хули он стартует вперед всех. Спать хочет

[@tomshade8329]

my thoughts?... Ever watch isle of man tt? see any vmax's there? HAHAHAHA

[@jimmycole1212]

***** In your mind, that comment probably made sense. However, the rest of us are having trouble translating whatever you said into English.

[@stevet4064]

How about Harleys or Goldwings, Concours? A vmax isn't a bike for the ISLE OF Man race. Who would talk this kind of crap?

[@breed4659]

Tom Shade. if every single bike was designed to be ran around a track we would have a grand total of like 5 motorcycle models to choose from

[@Filthypagan357]

its a 86 a 85 what's the original they cut the horsepower down on the 86 because people were killing themselves on the 85 if you want the real Vmax you go 85 or the modern stuff

[@techmaven5900]

Wow. All mis-information.

[@Bigbriansc]

YOu didn't beat them...you just cut a better light. The bike is pretty slow if you're giving up that much handicap.

[@teamNFDgt5]

Lool