Anyone here know much about the older model Yamaha V Max?
Discussion
I've bought this just today, a non-V Boost model with 100 bhp. It was stupidly cheap for the condition and mileage.
Now, most of us know the V Boost version had 145 bhp and a much livelier engine above 6,000 rpm. But would it be very expensive to either get that 145 bhp or else get some sort of bhp raise without spending a lot of money? It's great to ride even with 100 bhp but the weight obviously overwhelms 100 horses fairly easily. I love the style, the quality, the sound, the price and the uniqueness. But i'd love a few extra ponies in the stable to take on that kgs figure of around 265! Anyone got one or know about these great bikes?
Now, most of us know the V Boost version had 145 bhp and a much livelier engine above 6,000 rpm. But would it be very expensive to either get that 145 bhp or else get some sort of bhp raise without spending a lot of money? It's great to ride even with 100 bhp but the weight obviously overwhelms 100 horses fairly easily. I love the style, the quality, the sound, the price and the uniqueness. But i'd love a few extra ponies in the stable to take on that kgs figure of around 265! Anyone got one or know about these great bikes?
Grindle said:
Turns out it's a Canadian import with full power 145 bhp. Result.
I now need to find someone good at seat re-covering.
Surely that’s not a result as you think it’s a bit underpowered and now you don’t have the option of gaining the 45 extra ponies you thought were missing?!I now need to find someone good at seat re-covering.
Years back, one of our customers had a Vboost version with an extra 75hp from the blue bottle hidden in the tassled panniers.....
Was a crazy thing to ride.
Back then, the fast boys were fitting US chain drives to them to lose the weight, and they were 10 second drag bikes in near stock form.
Was a crazy thing to ride.
Back then, the fast boys were fitting US chain drives to them to lose the weight, and they were 10 second drag bikes in near stock form.
patchb said:
Grindle said:
Turns out it's a Canadian import with full power 145 bhp. Result.
I now need to find someone good at seat re-covering.
Surely that’s not a result as you think it’s a bit underpowered and now you don’t have the option of gaining the 45 extra ponies you thought were missing?!I now need to find someone good at seat re-covering.
I hadn't ridden a V Max for 30 years. The wet weight of this thing is circa 285 kgs. I have just spent a year and a half riding a 185 bhp super sports bike bike which weighed 195 kgs and was capable of 0-100 in under 5 seconds and almost 200 mph top end. The V Max is way down on power and very lardy by comparison.
Further, the bike is getting a major service sometime from dropping it off tomorrow because like i said before it has not had one for 16,000 miles. The plugs are very worn and the air filter is filthy. The valves likely need shimming and the carbs balancing will help, no doubt.
I sense it will run a lot better after this week's fettling but of course was never going to match a nigh-on 200 bhp sports bike.
It's also a result on re-sale value. A V Max fan i spoke to said V Boost adds around £1,000 to values of these bikes.
It's a result alright! Happy days.
Grindle said:
Further, the bike is getting a major service sometime from dropping it off tomorrow because like i said before it has not had one for 16,000 miles. The plugs are very worn and the air filter is filthy. The valves likely need shimming and the carbs balancing will help, no doubt.
These bikes are very sensitive to carb tuning, a good service with balancing and mixture setting will make a lot of difference. If yours has been standing for any amount of time it is worth grabbing a torch and checking the inside of the fuel tank, as they are prone to rust. I just fitted a stainless black widow exhaust system to mine, the standard pipes are OK but were always a bit raspy and didn't have much in the way of a deep tone.What is known is that the original VMax is the genesis of the fictional Dynojet HP value.
Back in the day one of the first bikes Dynojet worked on was the Yamaha VMax with its stated 145bhp..
Except that they couldn't get it to measure 145 bhp. Not even close.
So not to upset Yamaha and get no more bikes they created the "Dynojet horsepower' which is a fictional value based on nothing but their need to change whatever the Vmax was measured at on their dyno into Yamahas claimed 145bhp. At the tyre
The fictional unit of power measurement stuck and we have since been blessed with bikes that make more power at the tyre with all the incumbent losses than the manufacturer claims it makes at the crank.
'Tis truly a miracle to see the laws of physics suspended and defied so easily.......
Back in the day one of the first bikes Dynojet worked on was the Yamaha VMax with its stated 145bhp..
Except that they couldn't get it to measure 145 bhp. Not even close.
So not to upset Yamaha and get no more bikes they created the "Dynojet horsepower' which is a fictional value based on nothing but their need to change whatever the Vmax was measured at on their dyno into Yamahas claimed 145bhp. At the tyre
The fictional unit of power measurement stuck and we have since been blessed with bikes that make more power at the tyre with all the incumbent losses than the manufacturer claims it makes at the crank.
'Tis truly a miracle to see the laws of physics suspended and defied so easily.......
I have always taken claimed power figures with some salt, some supercharged cars have been found to have nothing like the claimed bhp but then a few turbo cars had more when they were checked out ! I had a 3.2 Honda NSX years ago with a claimed 276 bhp but it felt nearer 325 to me.
Anyway my mechanic has the bike and i'm looking forwards to it coming back to me Sunday.
Anyway my mechanic has the bike and i'm looking forwards to it coming back to me Sunday.
Thing is you felt the weight overwhelmed your believed 100bhp.
But then you find it's a Canuk import with the claimed 145.....
Does it feel any faster now or is the 100 closer to the mark
Point is they never made 145. Not even close. But oh how the legend lives on
Regardless, enjoy it for what it is and forget about the alleged power
But then you find it's a Canuk import with the claimed 145.....
Does it feel any faster now or is the 100 closer to the mark
Point is they never made 145. Not even close. But oh how the legend lives on
Regardless, enjoy it for what it is and forget about the alleged power
I did 80,000 miles on my full power Vmax, had it dyno'd when it was just run in.. made 127 hp at the rear wheel, perhaps the claimed 145 was at the crank?
Best mods I made was to fit lower bars, progressive fork springs and a steering damper... moved the weave from starting at 90 to 110.. Also did the mod to the steering bearings which seemed to help.. think its called the Furbur fix.. there's a rubber shim which needs to be replaced with a steel version. Don't know if it made any difference.
Best mods I made was to fit lower bars, progressive fork springs and a steering damper... moved the weave from starting at 90 to 110.. Also did the mod to the steering bearings which seemed to help.. think its called the Furbur fix.. there's a rubber shim which needs to be replaced with a steel version. Don't know if it made any difference.
Steve Bass said:
Thing is you felt the weight overwhelmed your believed 100bhp.
But then you find it's a Canuk import with the claimed 145.....
Does it feel any faster now or is the 100 closer to the mark
Point is they never made 145. Not even close. But oh how the legend lives on
Regardless, enjoy it for what it is and forget about the alleged power
It's fast enough for the fairly poor brakes and handling. But then you find it's a Canuk import with the claimed 145.....
Does it feel any faster now or is the 100 closer to the mark
Point is they never made 145. Not even close. But oh how the legend lives on
Regardless, enjoy it for what it is and forget about the alleged power
ATEOTD, 1200cc of V4 DOHC will never be exactly slow, once it's been serviced and set-up. Whether the claimed 145 is nearer 130 or not. But from everyone i have asked the reply has been the same regarding the 2 models. The weedy 100 bhp version is best avoided. It seems from peoples' views that the 145 model is probably 130 really and the 100 PS / 98 bhp model likely accurate.
Don't diss the 145 model too much though. The late great Pee Wee Gleason did a 10.3 quarter mile on a stock V Max in the 1980s. A S/S quarter mile in just over 10 seconds. That's Ferrari 488 territory. McLaren 650S. Ferrari 458 Speciale. Just half a second slower than the current Yamaha R1, 35 years on. Impressive for a lardy shaft driver!
Love the old V-Max, grew up in awe of them as they had a reputation for eating small kids and causing earthquakes. When I got to ride one found it to be a big, comfy, docile thing (until six grand) and handled and braked much better than the big Zeds I rode. If yours feels lacking, I take it you can hear the V-boost operating when you switch the ignition on? If you can't, Google it.
An old guy I know, in his seventies, runs one with a few mods, puts out about 180brake at the rear wheel... absolutely loves it, reckons it's a fantastic bike in all weathers/conditions and he doesn't exactly hang about. He is a bit eccentric tho', also runs a Dodge Viper and several old muscle cars.
An old guy I know, in his seventies, runs one with a few mods, puts out about 180brake at the rear wheel... absolutely loves it, reckons it's a fantastic bike in all weathers/conditions and he doesn't exactly hang about. He is a bit eccentric tho', also runs a Dodge Viper and several old muscle cars.
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