Yamaha V-Max | The first real mechanical bike?

Yamaha V-Max

With Ian Falloon

There are a few models in Yamaha’s history that have earned their niche in motorcycle folklore, and one is the Yamaha V-Max.

Born in the United States, and strongly influenced by the late 1970s renaissance of clutches and muscle cars; everything about the V-Max is attention-grabbing: its presence, its intimidating styling, its bulk, and its utter commitment to speed on the straight.

It looks quick when stationary, and the rattle and growl of the exhaust suggest it won’t disappoint once it’s underway. The V-Max is a monster, a monster, and the first true muscle bike.

The impetus for the V-Max came after Yamaha Director Akira Araki visited the US for market research. He was so impressed with the drag race over a bridge on the Mississippi River that he saw an opportunity to do a bike that emphasizes straight line speed. Honda has just launched the V65 Magna 1100 cc and Yamaha is not to be outdone.

This bike has evolved as part of the formula that has shaped American culture from muscle cars to trucks.44 Magnums and Mack: Putting maximum horsepower into a powerful, simple, split frame mixed with all the bells and whistles, and added nothing unnecessary. The target is a player who tackles the ball at a wide mid-range.

For the V-Max, Yamaha took a tuned version of the twin overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder, liquid-cooled V-4 from Yamaha Venture. The compression ratio is raised to 10.5:1, the intake valves are enlarged from 29 mm to 30.5 mm and the exhaust valves are increased from 25 mm to 26 mm.

Flow is improved by slightly reducing the size of the valve body and expanding the carburetor from 34 mm to 35 mm. Beefier’s camshaft adds mid-range power. Key engine and transmission components have been strengthened to help withstand additional stress.

Although Yamaha wanted to install a turbo engine, this was not possible with the V-four configuration. Instead, they designed an ingenious V-boost setup that simulates a turbo by feeding each cylinder two carburetors from 6,000 rpm, through the use of a throttle-controlled butterfly valve. servos.

The valves are fully opened at 8,000 rpm, which increases capacity efficiency by 10%. The results were astounding, the V-Max receiving a second major blow when the cracked valves opened. The announced peak power was 145 hp, a significant figure in 1985.

Unlike the engine, the V-Max’s chassis is quite orthodox. The frame is conventional double steel, with double rear shock absorbers. Axle drive to 15-inch rear wheel and wet weight of 274 kg. But good handling was never part of the V-Max’s intended purpose, and it was a huge success, garnering a dedicated, almost fanatical following.

Due to its rather antisocial traits, Yamaha never really took notice of the V-Max, instead adopting a somewhat apologetic attitude. The V-Max is so unique that no other manufacturer has bothered to produce a worthy competitor. Finally, noise and emissions control marked the end of the carburetor-enhanced V-Max, but not before it was in production twenty-three years. The V-Max remains an iconic, brutal and unique muscle bike.

Five facts about the Yamaha V-Max

1. Born in the US, the V-Max was developed under the guidance of Ed Burke, who is responsible for many of Yamaha’s American creations. A small group of Japanese engineers was seconded to California in 1983 to perform engineering work.
2. Headed by Araki, the team is set up in a studio at design firm GKDI in Santa Monica, California, an outside design office of Yamaha. For almost a month with colleagues Ashihara (engine designer) Kurachi (body designer), they worked to put the V-Max on paper then flew back to Japan to showcase it.
3. Europe received the V-Max in 1986. European versions have 104 hp and no V-Boost. The V-Max proved extremely popular, and in the late 1990s, more were sold in France than in the US.
4. Until 2008, the V-Max was only offered through the Star Motorcycles division of Yamaha Motorcycles in the US. The 2008 V-Max version is virtually identical to the original 1985 version. About 100,000 units of the original V-Max were sold globally during two decades of production.
5. For 2009, Yamaha released a completely redesigned VMAX with an all-aluminum chassis and a 1,679cc, liquid-cooled V4 DOHC engine producing 197hp. Instead of the V-Boost on the original V-Max, the new VMAX has been injected with fuel. This lasts until 2020. Trev tested that last generation machine, Yamaha V-Max Review (Link)

Specifications Yamaha V-Max 1985

• Engine – 1198 cc, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 70 degrees, V-Four
• Bore x Travel – 76 x 66 mm
• Compression Ratio – 10.5:1
• Power claimed – 145 hp at 9000 rpm
• Announced torque – 112 Nm at 7500 rpm
• Induction – Mikuni BDS35 Carburetor 4 x 35 mm
• Ignition – CDI
• Clutch – Wet, multiple discs
• Gearbox – Five-speed
• Frame – Double Steel Pipe Crib
• Rake – 29 degrees
• Trail – 119 mm
• Wheelbase – 1590 mm
• Front suspension – 40 mm Kayaba fork, pneumatically pressurized, 140 mm . stroke
• Rear suspension – Dual Kayaba shock absorbers, preload adjustable, travel 100 mm
• Tires – 110 / 90-18 (F), 150 / 90-15 (R)
• Final Drive – Shaft
• Saddle height – 765 mm
• Ground clearance – 145 mm
• Weight – 254 kg (dry), 274 kg (wet)