Star V-Max

[dadofthree]

337 ponies at the crank, wow

 

[SFC RICK]

I've been on lot's of bikes over the 40 years in the business. A bikes nature isn't about numbers, but how it uses those numbers. Take the difference between a Busa and a VMax, both pull the same numbers give or take a hundreth of second in the 1/4. But the Busa is far lighter in weight. It also takes running it in the upper rpm range to get those higher numbers, and it does it sooo smoothly! Just twist the throttle and it's going to run till you bump the top end.

Take the VMax...it's quite heavy all 683lbs wet, but twist the throttle and smooth it ain't! It's going to blast off like a rocket sled and you FEEL the power more than any other bike.

I like the Busa, but probaly like the new R1 better, but that's just me. I wouldn't even think about giving up the new VMax for any of them though.

Sure it ain't gonna ever go faster than 170mph, but when I'm at 151mph I'm always running out of road and having to use the brakes really hard to stop the beast. It handles the twisties far better than I ever thought a big beast could.

I'm also a nut when it comes to modifying my bikes, so since I pulled the Intake Restrictor plate I'm pushing about 204hp at the crank and when I put on the X-pipe next week it should be even more, then when I install the Race ECU it should be more fun than a Barrel of Monkeys.

I love the fact that there are quite a few bikes already in the same performance category as a Busa/14/10/Gxr/ whatever others there maybe. The Vmax is just a BIG American inspired drag bike to play with. It's not the fastest, nor the prettiest, but it's in a league of it's own.

The new VMax is just beginning to come alive on the roads and drag strips and it's going to get faster as time moves on with everything we have to learn and do.

 

[SFC RICK]

The original engine ripped up any rear tire mounted, and even exploded the original Vmax shaft drive line on the test stand which made them redesign the new VMax shaft drive to handle the extra horsepower.

Here's some Otodama info from a Cycle website,

After this weeks announcement from Yamaha about not to release the VMax this fall, I got to speak to a Yamaha insider earlier today about the bike and its progress. The person asked to stay anonymous so I can't share his identity. Take this as an unofficial rumor. If you don't like rumors stop here. If you enjoy the possibilities this might be for you.

Asked about the progress of the Vmax I got a pretty interesting story. The Otodama engine - the 1800cc monster turns out to be just that: a monster. An early version of the engine made 295bhp (!) at the crank. After some troubles with the internal dynos and test setups the bike was tested with that engine configuration. Turns out there is pretty much no rear tire that can hold up against this much power. The engine shredded tires in piece, breaking loose at pretty much any point in time.

The whole setup was described to be pretty much uncontrollable by the average bike rider. Way too much power to keep the bike under control.
5 detunes later(!) the engine got restricted to 'only' 210 bhp. Seems to be as much as Yamaha is willing to give you and me as riders. The good news is that there seems to be plenty of potential in that engine for later upgrades.

The bike is almost ready but just not far enough to be announced in two weeks at the Yamaha dealer show in Florida. There is a minor chance the bike will get introduced later this year or early next year. Yamaha engineers are tying up loose ends and are getting the bike ready for the US market.

As I said earlier take this as a rumor. I truly enjoyed the conversation. The bike is coming - no doubt.


My 240 rear tire, notice massive shaftdrive to handle the power.

 

[jetsetter]

It's funny that when topics like this come up, it's all about the very quickest riders, on their very quickest laps, vs the average Joe that happened to be a good sport and race that night. Then all of a sudden the (insert any bike name here) is faster than the Busa. If you compare the cream to the cream, in other words, the best laps on the Busa to the best laps of the almighty V Max, the Busa is WAY faster. And as far as the street is concerned (not encouraging street racing but...) they don't lay down anything to make the road sticky to make cruiser tires stick to it, there is no line at a quarter of a mile, and topping out at the 140mph range is going to get you whipped by any average 600cc machine with any rider on it. Unless you do the whole "surprise" race thing, and let out before the guy screams around you. (I guess in that case, you decided the race was over at a location determined at the most convenient time during the race. I wonder where the other guy would like the finish line to be?)

Please, by all means, somebody correct me if I'm wrong. To my knowledge, there has been no stock V Max in the 9's (and they've REALLY been trying). The Hayabusa can't run in the 9's with just anybody on it, but it CAN run 9's bone stock.

If you want to talk mods... It would take a lot of mods to the Busa to get it to the $20K range. Then I don't think you'd want to compare the bikes to one another.

 

[KOTH]

Jetsetter you are spot on with your comments.

 

[jetsetter]

Jetsetter you are spot on with your comments.

I thought so

 

[faster]

It's funny that when topics like this come up, it's all about the very quickest riders, on their very quickest laps, vs the average Joe that happened to be a good sport and race that night. Then all of a sudden the (insert any bike name here) is faster than the Busa. If you compare the cream to the cream, in other words, the best laps on the Busa to the best laps of the almighty V Max, the Busa is WAY faster. And as far as the street is concerned (not encouraging street racing but...) they don't lay down anything to make the road sticky to make cruiser tires stick to it, there is no line at a quarter of a mile, and topping out at the 140mph range is going to get you whipped by any average 600cc machine with any rider on it. Unless you do the whole "surprise" race thing, and let out before the guy screams around you. (I guess in that case, you decided the race was over at a location determined at the most convenient time during the race. I wonder where the other guy would like the finish line to be?)

Please, by all means, somebody correct me if I'm wrong. To my knowledge, there has been no stock V Max in the 9's (and they've REALLY been trying). The Hayabusa can't run in the 9's with just anybody on it, but it CAN run 9's bone stock.

If you want to talk mods... It would take a lot of mods to the Busa to get it to the $20K range. Then I don't think you'd want to compare the bikes to one another.

You are correct. The magazines and the owners always rave about them but they are consistently the most dissapointing bike at the dragstrip. It's rare to even see one there and when they are, they never live up to their hype.

There is however, a procession of Busa'a at the strip. It sometimes even becomes almost monotonous because its one Busa after another after another. Popularity and performance can have its price. I'm a Busa fanatic but still like to see a different brand once in a while. Even a SlowMax.

 

[GSXTacy]

I dont care much for numbers, hell all the bikes out there are so damn quick its amazing. I really have never liked the V-Max. A co-worker has one and never liked the sound or the look.
BUT I did sit on the new one a few weeks ago. Man its comfy. Ive never had a chance to ride one but would love to. SFCRick, THAT is a max I think I could sport. Looks killer. Also, I were comparing apples to oranges here. It two different markets in my opinion. Thats why we have so many choices, you know, different strokes for different folks!

Looks good Rick. Welcome to the org. stay around, I would love to see that beast in person.

 

[jetsetter]

Absolutely! The V Max is a very cool bike. (notice the period, that is a complete sentence, with no "but" in it) I would love to ride one. I like roller coasters, I have my favorite, but I like to ride them all (I even love to take my little boy on the kiddie ones). Same goes for the bikes. The only problem is when the "reputation" is bigger than the bike, and the owners (and fans) go making these statements. I can sit and listen to the guys at the coffee shop brag about how fast their Harleys are all day long, and I am happy that they are enjoying their bikes. But if one were to call me delusional because I disagreed with them saying their bike would tear mine up... I would probably inform them otherwise. But in the real world that doesn't seem to happen nearly as much as it does on the interweb. I catch all kinds of grief about how slow the Hayabusa is... when it's not there, but I can't remember a single time that I had any such comments made when everybody's bikes were sitting there ready to go. I've had guys want to race, but usually it's just for the fun of it, to see how they stack up. There are guys with faster bikes, but most of them have a better understanding of what it takes to go that fast, and there is more of a mutual respect than a battle.

In the end, there is the champ, and he is the champ until he is surpassed. It's not the champ's responsibility to go out and continue picking on people to prove he is the champ. It is the challengers responsibility to take the title away from him. Running low 10's in the quarter mile (with the best riders they can put on them), and having a top speed of 140 mph, is not what champs are made of in the motorcycling world, at least not anymore.

 

[SFC RICK]

Don't worry, I love to read the threads on this forum and I do ride a busa or two every now and then when my buds want to know my opinion on something or two. I have a couple of other bikes I own and ride. The VMax is just a bike I purchased for the exclusive reasons and the history behind the model. The performance was a surprize and the feel of the ride is incredible. The VMax is a bike in it's own category and all the talk about ..yada, yada, yada....doesn't change that fact at all.

I understand the need to reinforce ones choice, it's human nature. I'm human, we are all human....well except for some a$$holes....

I absolutely love the way some guys and gals have customised thier bikes, they are works of art, more than bike when they are finished. I spend some time at shows with my other two custom bikes and love what people do to them. Now I have this great running VMax and can't wait till Thrusday when my X-Pipe get's here and I install it! After the minor mods I've done it's going to bump the rear wheel output from 175hp to about 185-190ish. Some guys are now running about 195-200hp at the wheel, which ain't too bad for basically a stock motor.

So it's definately a monster of a bike.....and it's gonna get better as the months go on. I can't wait to see what Patric Racing and other racing companies put out in the future.

 

[shadetree57]

Don't worry, I love to read the threads on this forum and I do ride a busa or two every now and then when my buds want to know my opinion on something or two. I have a couple of other bikes I own and ride. The VMax is just a bike I purchased for the exclusive reasons and the history behind the model. The performance was a surprize and the feel of the ride is incredible. The VMax is a bike in it's own category and all the talk about ..yada, yada, yada....doesn't change that fact at all.

I understand the need to reinforce ones choice, it's human nature. I'm human, we are all human....well except for some a$$holes....

I absolutely love the way some guys and gals have customised thier bikes, they are works of art, more than bike when they are finished. I spend some time at shows with my other two custom bikes and love what people do to them. Now I have this great running VMax and can't wait till Thrusday when my X-Pipe get's here and I install it! After the minor mods I've done it's going to bump the rear wheel output from 175hp to about 185-190ish. Some guys are now running about 195-200hp at the wheel, which ain't too bad for basically a stock motor.

So it's definately a monster of a bike.....and it's gonna get better as the months go on. I can't wait to see what Patric Racing and other racing companies put out in the future.

I'm just curious, Will the driveshaft and differential hold all that horsepower if you can get a tire to hook up?

 

[SFC RICK]

I'm just curious, Will the driveshaft and differential hold all that horsepower if you can get a tire to hook up?

I'm sure they designed the new driveline better since they exploded the original V-Max's driveline on the test stand during developement of the new VMax. It was one of the stories in the VMax coffee table book published by Star for Vmax owners. They have designed a much beefer unit to handle the increased horsepower. As far as getting a tire to hook up, that's difficult to do yet, with most saying to keep the rpm below 3000 during launch. Otherwise the tire just spins through the first 3 gears. The weight and wheelbase keep the front end down (sort of).
I read on the StarVmax website that Shinko and some other drag tire makers are working on a tire to help the VMax hook up better, since regular street tires cannot do the job yet.

I'm not going to spend my time on the drag strip much since I ride the streets alot and wouldn't want to make the VMax a dedicated drag bike.

 

[jetsetter]

I'm just curious, Will the driveshaft and differential hold all that horsepower if you can get a tire to hook up?

I'm sure they designed the new driveline better since they exploded the original V-Max's driveline on the test stand during developement of the new VMax. It was one of the stories in the VMax coffee table book published by Star for Vmax owners. They have designed a much beefer unit to handle the increased horsepower. As far as getting a tire to hook up, that's difficult to do yet, with most saying to keep the rpm below 3000 during launch. Otherwise the tire just spins through the first 3 gears. The weight and wheelbase keep the front end down (sort of).
I read on the StarVmax website that Shinko and some other drag tire makers are working on a tire to help the VMax hook up better, since regular street tires cannot do the job yet.

I'm not going to spend my time on the drag strip much since I ride the streets alot and wouldn't want to make the VMax a dedicated drag bike.

Is there any way to put a 17" rim on it? If there were, it would make the selection of tires a lot more appropriate for it's power output.

When the preliminary info was coming out on the new Max, there were three things I was disappointed in. The bike is very heavy, I mean I wouldn't expect it to be a light weight, but I think it's a bit heavier than it should be. They kept the drive shaft, that is maybe the biggest gripe people had about the original. The drive shaft takes up more power than a chain, and it's more difficult to change gearing ratios. But the biggest surprise to me was that they didn't have a 17" wheel on it. I wasn't really surprised by the shaft and the weight, but I think Yamaha really made a mistake on the rim size.

Being no stranger to the power level the new V Max offers, I knew they were going to have trouble hooking it up. When the reviews came out bragging about how it would spin the tire at will in any of the first three gears, I felt like my suspicions had been confirmed. The mags make it sound like it spins it's tire, because it has such monster power, but I know that much power can be held by a good tire. If the tire companies are willing to tool up to produce a special tire for a limited production bike, I would think it would be very expensive.

 

[SFC RICK]

I'm sure there isn't an aftermarket wheel in 17" for the VMax since it has OEM 18" rims. But there will be 18" drag tires soon specifically for the VMax in the near future.

As far as the shaft drive goes, Yamaha/Star have researched this aspect for years and noted that previous Gen I owners wanted to keep the shaftdrive and Yamaha decided the customer knew what they wanted. Hence the new beefy rear pumpkin to handle the power, another reason for the additional weight.

It's amazing when you consider that a Busa weighs in at about 485lbs? and the VMax weighs 685lbs, Good god! what a 1/4 time would a VMax have if it was 200lbs lighter! something in the hyper 8 second realm!

Anyway, Back to the real world now....I think the tire thing is going to work soon enough and VMax owners will have a sticky drag tire.

I wouldn't use one....but maybe some would have a VMax set-up for the strip only.

 

[jetsetter]

It just seems to me that it would be better to have a 17" rim on the bike. There are 17" street tires that would hold it with no problem. I have used tires on the Busa that wouldn't hold it, and it is aggravating to say the least, when your feathering in and out of the throttle trying to get it to hook. To me, it's as much a problem on the street as the strip. It doesn't really matter to me where I'm at, when I twist the throttle, I want the bike to move.

I'm sure you would know better than I, but I've sure heard a lot of people complain about the V Max being a shaft drive. There are more than a few of the old ones that have been converted to a chain, although part of that may have been to allow the use of a better size of rim. A shaft is perfect on a bike like a Goldwing, but it seems like a big compromise on a no compromises type of a bike.

As for 8 seconds... If it were 200lbs lighter, didn't have a shaft robbing 10 more hp than a chain, didn't have a speed limiter at 140 mph, and had a really good tire that would hold everything you could throw at it, it might run in the 8's. But 8's are very fast.

 

[KOTH]

...
It's amazing when you consider that a Busa weighs in at about 485lbs? and the VMax weighs 685lbs, Good god! what a 1/4 time would a VMax have if it was 200lbs lighter! something in the hyper 8 second realm!

...

Stock Wet Weights:

VMAX = 685 lbs. (but I have seen 700 in some mags)
Hayabusa = 583 lbs. (according to "Rider" magazine)

 

[jetsetter]

Stock Wet Weights:

VMAX = 685 lbs. (but I have seen 700 in some mags)
Hayabusa = 583 lbs. (according to "Rider" magazine)

He quoted the dry weight of the Hayabusa, and the Wet weight of the V Max. So there is more like a hundred pounds difference.

 

[tclause]

Probably a decent drag bike but thats it. It's almost 700 pounds in all the wrong places and about as aerodynamic as a brick.

 

[mach1970]

I have been reading this line of posts with interest. I own both a 2009 VMax (i posted pics on the forum some time ago), and an 08 Busa (in the fastest color Orange/Black). I love them both. I also have a bunch of other bikes in my stable that I love for various reasons. The Vmax is nothing like the Busa. I love the shaft drive (No maintenance and keeps my rear wheel clean), love the riding position, love the power. They finally made a VMax that can handle and stop (I also have an older VMax). To me it is like comparing a 60's big block muscle car, to a modern corvette. Both make 400HP. The new Vette does it almost in silence to the driver. The 60's big block, throws you in the back seat, peels the skin from your face, and lets you know you are in a 400HP car. The Vette will outrun it all day, but the smile on my face after driving my big block never goes away! Number's aren't everything, they're only half the story. The Vmax lets you know what it is doing and it is awesome. The Busa is awesome too, but it is almost too smooth and silent that you don't even notice the power. I like the feeling of all that torque, and the VMax has more torque than any bike I have ever ridden.

Just my thoughts on the subject.

Rob Hatfield

1966 Aermacchi M50S
1966 Honda S90
1966 Vespa Super
1966 Honda Dream 250
1967 Honda Superhawk
1968 Vespa Sprint
1968 Aermacchi Rapido
1968 Triumph Bonneville
1970 Honda CT70
1970 Honda CL70
1981 Suzuki GS1000GL
1982 Suzuki GS1000SZ Katana
1982 Suzuki GS1100GL
1982 Suzuki GS1100E
1983 Suzuki GS1100ES
1984 Honda Magna V30
1984 Yamaha FJ1100
1988 Yamaha FZR1000
2000 Yamaha VMax
2003 Honda Goldwing
2008 Suzuki Hayabusa
2009 Yamaha VMax

 

[tclause]

I have been reading this line of posts with interest. I own both a 2009 VMax (i posted pics on the forum some time ago), and an 08 Busa (in the fastest color Orange/Black). I love them both. I also have a bunch of other bikes in my stable that I love for various reasons. The Vmax is nothing like the Busa. I love the shaft drive (No maintenance and keeps my rear wheel clean), love the riding position, love the power. They finally made a VMax that can handle and stop (I also have an older VMax). To me it is like comparing a 60's big block muscle car, to a modern corvette. Both make 400HP. The new Vette does it almost in silence to the driver. The 60's big block, throws you in the back seat, peels the skin from your face, and lets you know you are in a 400HP car. The Vette will outrun it all day, but the smile on my face after driving my big block never goes away! Number's aren't everything, they're only half the story. The Vmax lets you know what it is doing and it is awesome. The Busa is awesome too, but it is almost too smooth and silent that you don't even notice the power. I like the feeling of all that torque, and the VMax has more torque than any bike I have ever ridden.

Just my thoughts on the subject.

Rob Hatfield

1966 Aermacchi M50S
1966 Honda S90
1966 Vespa Super
1966 Honda Dream 250
1967 Honda Superhawk
1968 Vespa Sprint
1968 Aermacchi Rapido
1968 Triumph Bonneville
1970 Honda CT70
1970 Honda CL70
1981 Suzuki GS1000GL
1982 Suzuki GS1000SZ Katana
1982 Suzuki GS1100GL
1982 Suzuki GS1100E
1983 Suzuki GS1100ES
1984 Honda Magna V30
1984 Yamaha FJ1100
1988 Yamaha FZR1000
2000 Yamaha VMax
2003 Honda Goldwing
2008 Suzuki Hayabusa
2009 Yamaha VMax

Sorry fell asleep at vmax