The Yamaha V-Max, later written VMAX, is a cruiser motorcycle that Yamaha produced from 1985 to 2020. It became famous for its 70-degree V4 engine, shaft drive, striking styling and the V-Boost intake system.
Yamaha VMAX at a glance
| Maker | Yamaha Motor Company |
|---|---|
| Class | Muscle cruiser |
| Production | 1985–2020 |
| Engine | liquid-cooled 70° V4, four valves per cylinder |
| Engine basis | Yamaha Venture, tuned |
| Compression | 10.5:1 |
| Induction aid | V-Boost butterfly valves from 5,750 rpm |
| Drive | shaft |
| Dimensions | 2,300 × 795 × 1,160 mm |
| 2009 VMAX engine | 1,679 cc liquid-cooled 65° V4 DOHC |
| 2009 chassis | all-aluminium frame with stressed engine |
| Award | Cycle Guide Bike of the Year, 1985 |
Based on one source (English Wikipedia).
History of the Yamaha VMAX
The V-Max was designed by Atsushi Ichijo in a team led by Akira Araki, with input from Ed Burke and John Reed. On its release in 1985 it won immediate critical acclaim and was named Bike of the Year by Cycle Guide. It was sold in Japan and abroad with only minor changes from 1985 until 2007, earning a reputation for quick acceleration but also criticism for poor cornering and soft suspension. In 1997 it cost £9,359 or $15,322.
The original V-Max was 2,300 mm long, 795 mm wide and 1,160 mm high. Its engine was a tuned version of the liquid-cooled DOHC four-valve V4 from the Yamaha Venture, with the compression ratio raised to 10.5:1 and the V-Boost system added. V-Boost opens butterfly valves in the intake manifold between the first and second cylinders and between the third and fourth from 5,750 rpm, gradually matching rising engine speed on a signal from the ignition system. The valves are fully open at 8,000 rpm, and the system adds about 10 percent to the engine’s top power rating.
Apart from a 1993 update with a larger-diameter fork to reduce high-speed wobble and drift, four-piston brake calipers and other handling and safety changes, the 2007 V-Max was almost identical to the 1985 original. Until 2008 it was sold through Yamaha’s Star Motorcycles division. A new concept appeared at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, and on 4 June 2008 Yamaha released a completely redesigned 2009 VMAX with an all-aluminium frame, a 1,679 cc 65-degree V4 used as a stressed member, an electroluminescent instrument display, Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake, fully adjustable suspension, anti-lock brakes, a slipper clutch, a fuel tank beneath the seat and a distinctive key. It reached India on 20 September 2009. The VMAX was discontinued after the 2020 model year.
Design and features
- V-Boost: intake butterfly valves that add about 10 percent to top power from 5,750 rpm.
- Muscle cruiser: strong acceleration in a straight line, with handling that was always the weak point.
- Long model life: the original design lasted from 1985 to 2007 with few changes.
- 2009 redesign: a larger 1,679 cc engine, aluminium frame, YCC-I and YCC-T electronics.
Yamaha VMAX versions
- V-Max 1200 (1985–2007): the original carburetted model, updated in 1993.
- 1993 update: larger fork, four-piston calipers and handling changes.
- VMAX 1700 (2009–2020): redesigned model with a 1,679 cc engine and aluminium frame.
The VMAX engine came from the Royal Star’s Venture ancestry, and its muscle-cruiser role was later shared with the MT-01. More models are in the Yamaha collection.
Sources
- Yamaha VMAX, English Wikipedia: history, engine, V-Boost, 2009 model, specifications
.jpg){kind=link}