Yes they turbo and super charge them. Important to mention geen 2 is way down tuned from factory a reflaah alone yields 240 hoarse and 130 foot pounds.
Yammie, this bike has been around for 35 years, Vmax owners have implemented simple mods to make it stop, and handle much better. I know this guy loves his original bike, but it's actually a dis-service not to modify it to make it more solid and less weird. Not to mention less dangerous.
It’s to bad Yamaha never sold the mt01 in the USA. You would have fun on it. 1700 v twin air cooled with r1 suspension. 530 pounds of fun. I just mentioned it because you thought the v max was an odd combination.
Years of being loyal to this channel, and it pays off. This is the video I've been waiting for.. THANKS YAMM!!! And thanks John for providing those beauties
My dad always tells this story of a Yamaha bike meet in Tennessee back in the 80’s. He rode a 1979 XS1100, apparently one of the fastest bikes of the day. He said he went out for cigarettes one night, on the way back to the hotel he came to a stop light, then another bike showed up, and another, and another, the last one on his rear wheel. When the light turned green he was out in front as usual, then the bike on his rear wheel came around on one wheel and passed him. He got a quick glimpse of the bike but had no idea what it was and was legitimately shocked because he had never lost a street race before, especially in that fashion. The next day at the meet, they were doing free tunings and at the front of this particular tent was that same bike from the drag race. Turns out it was the brand new Vmax, specially tuned and being ridden by a Yamaha factory rider.
V-Boost does open up at ~5700-6000 rpm but it does not increase the fuel supply. Butterfly valves in plenums connecting carbs 1&2 and 3&4 open up and increases the amount of air flow into the combustion chamber, bringing the horsepower from ~90hp to ~150hp. It hits like a turbo and pulls like a bastard. The V-Max was designed to emulate American muscle cars and at the time of it's release, 1985, it was the fastest production vehicle on the market. Since it was designed for making 1/4 mile passes as fast as possible, the frame was made as light as possible. The resulting frame design was very thin and does not lend itself well to cornering. The frame flexes, the front forks were too small, the rims are too thin, and the brakes are underpowered for the weight of the bike. All of this combines to make a white knuckle straight line monster. As for Yammie's comments on the sound, an aftermarket exhaust is 100% necessary to unleash the insanely sexy symphony of sound. Another few things that are very much necessary for "modernizing" the bike are; frame braces, solid engine mounts, converting the front suspension to an USD configuration, having the rims widened to accommodate modern sport touring radials instead of the original equipment bias ply dunlops, and a yamaha venture brake swap. It is also possible to supercharge the original Vmax with an old school roots blower, which looks fucking badass. And you can upgrade the carbs, COPS ignition, short stroke throttle, etc... Surprisingly, even though it's design was based on American drag racing, it was not nearly as popular in the U.S. as it was in Great Britain, Germany, and France which are all home to many examples of highly customized and fully built examples.
All 100% true! In UK a well-cared for original V-Max in roadworthy condition (i.e. it has a current M.O.T.) need not cost as much as you think it might. If you know where to look, you can walk into a dealership and ride one away for less than £5000. Why are they so cheap? Because younger riders can never afford the insurance premiums and older riders (generally) have more sense. P.S. The engine for the V-Max was developed from the engine used in the Venture Royale, Yamaha's super-tourer and their answer to Honda's Gold Wing.
If it increases airflow then it has to increase fuel supply, as well, or you get a lean situation and have to pull timing to keep from getting predetonation.
Cheers for this cracking write up, learned more from this than Yammie's video TBH, thinking about buying one of these (i'm over in Scotland) bike i have my eye on is a 95, Kaplan America has a vid of one with Supertrap exhaust (uncorked though) it sounds like hell unleashed.
The Vmax 1200 is really something else. I was a 3 month newbie rider, strapped some bags on it, shipped myself and the beast to Norway and went for a 3 week adventure through some of the best motoring ways on the planet. A lot of rain, hairpin corners, even snow at Jotunheimen and 1 case of an undercooled shrimp because of riding for hours in the wet snow. I still can't believe how everything worked out, i didn't die and how much of a leap in rider skill it has given me. Since then i have been taking it to the mountains here in Europe every summer. It is a strange love, riding something that tries to kill me most of the time, but it has given me experiences i will cherish for the rest of my life. You CAN push the old one through corners, but it's gonna take some serious balls an faith in the machine to do so. What a great video Yammie, i got a sense you now understand why the Vmax is so addictive. PS, get a proper set of pipes on that old V4 and she will sing, but hell yeah down low it sounds more like a 2 cilinder for sure!
I remember in 85 when the Vmax came out. There was a guy we rode with that bought one, put a Kerker Exhaust on it and K&N made a Vboost kit so the Vboost was always on. Vmax was startling the first ride. SOOO much torque. The 80’s were exciting times for the Motorcycle Industry, bikes started getting stupid quick.
Never had a Vmax (though I may get one sooner than later) but I had and still have a Seca Turbo 650. Not fast now a days but a Turbo on a bike was such a crazy thing for me.
@@Kingofthepnwdorks I always liked the turbo bikes of the 80’s. CX650Turbo, The Seca 650, The Suzuki XN85 and the all mighty GPZ 750Turbo. All were interesting, fun bikes. I had friends with the Yamaha, Suzuki and Kaw. I never got to ride the Honda. The Seca I got to ride only 1 time, but I liked it. The Suzuki handled pretty good with the industries first production bike on a 16” front wheel. I spent a fair amount of time a GPZ750 Turbo…. Super cool you had and have a Seca turbo. I have had more Yamaha’s than any other bike. I’ve wanted a V-Max for some time.
That was the time they’d started figuring out how to make big power, but hadn’t really sorted the chassis, braking, and handling. Made for some very exciting rides. With modern stuff you can get bikes with similar, or more, straight line performance. But, the chassis is much improved and they sometimes don’t feel as fast because they’re so composed.
I took an old Vmax, put syntered brake pads, progressive springs/new rear shocks, frame brace to stiffen up that frame and now it goes, stops and handles beautifully.
Amen to that wanna go crazy change to 620 RK chain drive expensive but insane direct drive with super charger and might as well throw gray bars on back ? Take fine gf she will love big thick billet bal rest and it’s monster 👹. Took mine Daytona bike week and Myrtle beach bike week . No helmets and my girl and me won poker ♣️ run !
Best bike ever for me, owning both the 1200 and the 1700 but I bought them new and I would never buy a used one. To many idiots out there who can't control themselves when they get in touch with the VMax. Plus, most of these bikes are individualized heavily and I dont want to ride around on a bike that someone has individualized for himself.
Sounds like there was no air in the front forks and the rear shocks weren't adjusted. I ran my 1986 VMax with the Dynojet Stage 7 Kit that bypassed the V-boost system, K&N intakes and Kerker K2S slip-ons. Once jetting was sorted out, it Dyno'd at 145. Finally reluctantly sold it in 2013; ran flawlessly all that time. Nothing but fond memories. I get regular great comments back from the new owner. He's as happy as I was.
I turned 16 in 1985. You wouldn't believe what we used to do on those old bikes. my 2nd bike was a cb900 super sport. Back when riding was riding. we all wrecked at least once. No fatalities thank god. Some broken bones, many concussions. Probably why I ride a KLR these days. Great vid!
I have a 2009 (Gen 2) which I bought new. I love it. Its the best bike I've ever owned and I'm 70 years old. Everyone calls it a cruiser but its not. Its actually a traditional naked bike with standard control placement and seating position like just about every bike was before around 1985. It does have unique styling which you either love or hate. I love it.
I am totally with you on this being a traditional naked bike and seating position..and that was exactly I was thinking about Vmax. I have liked Vmax since 1999, saw one up close in dealership in 1999..but never owned one. But who knows maybe in future. I love it too.
The handling on the '89 is how it used to be. You just had to learn to work with all the wallowing, weird twitches, wobbles and bouncing and not let it slow you down. They weren't like these modern bikes that powder your behind and sing you a lullaby. 🤣🤣🤣
yep all this new tech sure its safer but to what point and you start to depend on it there has to be a better way to beef up the brakes on that old V max like maybe put some r1 blue or gold dots on it or something like that and maybe beefer springs in the front forks to help bring it up to date. I like the older stuff I have a 90 fzr 1000 and a 97 yzf 750
Even with traction control, wheelie control, and engine braking control off, and power all the way on the 1 setting, my 2021 cbr1000rr has 50 more hp, weighs at least 100# less, and will dog walk the vmax around a track. It was just made for something different, and that’s ok. It isn’t supposed to handle well. It’s supposed to be fun in a straight line, and it does that well. Although, my cbr probably does that better, too. I haven’t looked up 0-60 and 1/4 mile times yet, so idk.
I owned both generation VMAX at the same time and they are both insane in their unique way. I ultimately kept the Gen 2 (actually sold the first then both another because I missed it so much). The Gen 1 was hilarious. Like a sponge with horsepower. So sketchy but it made me feel alive. Also with the right pipes it sounded like a cammed small block V8. Miss it dearly.
The earliest gen1's (1985-92) had sketchy frontends. Single caliper brakes and 40mm forks. They wobbled all over the place so you really needed an aftermarket fork brace and possibly a steering damper. I had an '86 model in college and rode that thing all over New England. The later gen1's (1993-2007) had dual caliper brakes, 43mm forks and larger diameter rotors. They handled much better. My current one's a 2001 and I will never part with it.
That makes more sense then. I have a 95 and I was confused as to why he thought it's so bad haha. The brakes aren't sport bike but pretty good I think and suspension is twitchy and sometimes unsettling, but never bottoms out or feels as scary as was letting on. Must just be the early ones like you said.
I have a 95, as well and was scratching my head as well about most of his impression....revving slow, sounding like a twin, wallowing and glazed brakes. The upgraded suspension and brakes must have helped a lot. I had an 85 in the early and mid nineties and I recall having to be aware of slight front wobble tendencies under certain conditions and weak 2nd gear. I sold it in 1996 or so and bought my 95 in 2021 so there were some years between them but my 95 is strong, stable and frankly, after tuning, is much stronger, quicker revving and more powerful than my 85 was.....and it was a monster.
I sold my Ninja 250 and bought a 1989 Yamaha V-Max. It's big, stupid, and completely one-track minded in its desire to kill whoever is riding it. It's the best motorcycle I've ever owned.
Back in 1987 I got a brand new Harley 883 sportster, and a friend I worked with had a brand new Yamaha V-Max. So we went riding one day and he asked me if I wanted to ride the V-Max, so we switched bikes. We went on to the interstate, and I hit the throttle in 3rd gear, when I looked down I was doing 110, and I was still on the entrance ramp, lol. It was a beast, and I loved it, I did not want to get off of it and go back to the slow 883 Harley. I almost bought a V-Max after riding it, but I never did, I figured I would get killed on it, so I stayed with the slow 883 Harley. I rode it for a year and sold it, and that was my last street bike, as of today.
High Five! Been waiting on this video. I have a 2018 Max, I aquired in 2019, it had 2371 miles on it when I got it. Today, it has a little over 44k miles. Miles of smiles! So much fun!
Just recently picked up the new vmax and wow I love it. It is brutally powerful this is coming from someone who has been into the superbike scene since it all started with the 98 yamaha r1. I will always own a R1 and that has been the case for many years but I also know now I will always own this vmax. It’s just flat out awesome!!!
As a high school kid in the '80's, I fell in love with the V-max when it debuted. I finally bought a mint-condition 2005 (20th Anniversary version) around 2009. Like you found out riding in the twisties, it's really unnerving on its bias-ply tires, wooden brakes, and a suspension that feels like there's a hidden hinge in the middle of the frame. I loved looking at my V-max in the garage, but soon traded it for a better bike to ride on my favorite weekend twisty roads.
I own a 94 I bought brand new, still have it, still ride it and OMG I still love it! I think you just have to get used to its characteristics, Learn how to ride the Mighty Max and you can ride these things very fast in the twisties. My buddies on sport bikes are amazed how I can keep up. I'll lay that thing over and drag hard parts.
Incredible in depth review bro! I Really felt like i was riding right there with you! love the comparison between the 2 bikes..I havent ridden since I was in my late teens, I'm 63 now... Ive had street and motocross bikes but no longer ride.. the street is pretty terrifying around where i live, even in a car! However, i think once you have been bitten by motorcycles, the Interest at least, always remains..that why I enjoy reviews like this!
I bought a 1991 Yamaha Vmax in 2016 and owned it for a couple years when I bought a 2009 Yamaha vmax. They are such insane bikes, so much fun and I have not felt a bike accelerate that hard. I put pipes and a nash flash on my 2009 and that made a noticeable difference in power, which is incredible for a bike that already made 200 hp stock. I worked at a motorcycle shop for a couple years and no other bike came close to feeling as fast as that second gen. I ended up selling it to pay for college and I now ride a 1980 Honda goldwing. The one thing I do not miss is how often I’d find myself going past 100. It was too easy on the vmax and I find myself having more fun pushing slower bikes to their limit.
Same thing with my ZRX1200R, which I've only ridden 7000 miles over 20 years. The constant urge to twist the throttle and greatly exceed posted speed limits was fun but I'm 61 now and I don't need the risks that come with that. I'm planning to sell it in the spring and get a cruiser (Vulcan S, 900 or M50) or maybe a mid size naked bike.
I have the same problem with my cbr. I can go back to the future in first gear, and that’s over ten miles an hour over the highest posted speed limit in Arkansas. Redline in second gear is the fastest I’ve ever taken it on the street, and that’s way too fast, as it is. 😂
And the gas tank is under the seat on the old one. That's just a cover next to the clocks. And the reason they feel so wollowy is the obvious rear tyre profile, and the frame is actually bolted together. A left and right, two half a frames bolted together😮 I put an r1 front end on mine and it absolutely transformed the bike into a drift machine.
I can definitely tell your used to the ultra precise handling of today's bikes. :) The old Max is really not that bad for its age, other than you REALLY gotta squeeze the brakes cause she weighs so much. However, with the correct tires, tire pressure, suspension settings (air, oil, and preload) and brake pads, I can ride my 89 max briskly with no worries. I can take her to 135 with zero head shake and occasionally scrape a peg in turns. Riders who aren't smooth on the clutch/throttle and not used to it's tremendous engine breaking will not feel confident in the twistys. Oh, and the engine sound... put a pipe on it and anyone who rides with you will say you sound like a hopped up V8, not a couple of twins. I love my modern bikes but still keep the Max in the stable cause it just delivers a special look and FEEL that stills brings a smile to my face.
Keep in mind you are on a Texas Highway. Most other highways, it has a MUCH better feel to it. Because 150mph is no issue. JUST don't turn or make room to stop or you can SEE the forks flex backwards. Lol
The modern VMAX is like the hellcat of bikes where as your bike is like putting a big turbo on a new zo6 Corvette both are manly & respectable & I honestly thought you disliked vmax's & I couldn't understand why but I guess I was wrong seems like your having a blast...
Idk if you've ridden a Gen 2 VMAX but they aren't really cruisers. It kinda looks like a naked and a cruiser had a child and they fed it steroids and crack. My 2020 is piped and programmed and triple threat air box, stock it made 200, so it probably makes around 220 now and it weighs 650 wet not the stock 697.
Thanks for the video. I have an 1985 and a 2010. Both are great bikes. You have to understand that the gen 2 would never exist if there was no gen 1. They are both a joy to ride.
@@Brewmaster721 Back in '87 I purchased an '83 V45 w/1900 miles on it. In the winter the original owner kept it in his heated basement. That was my first bike and I loved it. 30 + years later and no more bikes between, I walked into a Harley dealer to kill some time and ended up putting my John Hancock down on a new '17 Breakout. Always liked the VMax. Whenever I see a video on one I'm half tempted to trade. Nothing else looks like a VMax and compared to my Harley, it's a canyon carver. Hey, my Breakout is a damn nice bike too though. Hmmm. PEACE from Philadelphia
I never really noticed any handling issues with my '95 VMax, possibly because all of my previous bikes were even older. As a kid, my first motorcycle was a '71 Honda that the previous owner had modified to race as a sleeper bike. Too young for a license, no insurance, helmet, or riding gear, I'd blast up and down the gravel roads and dirt paths of rural Kansas at over 100 mph, most often just wearing only a pair of cut off jeans and maybe a pair of sneakers. Maybe. By comparison, my Max was a dream to ride. It felt like an extension of me, bristled with power, and to some extent -- perhaps what you experienced -- gave me a more vivid feel of the road. An Army buddy of mine bought an '85 model when these first came out. There was nothing else like them on the road that I knew of. Back then, the term I heard tossed around was not "widow maker" so much, but "rider swatter". Many first-timers would try to take off the way they did on other bikes and the VMax had so much torque that the bike would rotate on the rear wheel, kind of like a mouse trap going off. Never been on a 2nd gen VMax, they look like an amazing machine. As for supercharging one, unless you're drag racing them on a track, why bother? It already has more speed for highways than a guy could ever need. Happy for you to have experienced these, hat tip to the owner for his enthusiasm and generosity.
I had a V45 also it is fast but no way as fast as a VMax fast. I love the V45 n wished I had the V60 Magna instead. Wish the made bikes like that again where you can sit n it’s like a chopper it has the same engine as a Honda Hurricane ❤
My 1979 GS1000 feels the same. I did a bunch of twisties and got reminded just how far things have come. The brakes only work when the fastest thing around was a souped up VW Bug.
I had a old 86 VMAX pull up next to me at a light when I was on my Yamaha Raider 1900cc and I barely stayed ahead of him and the really sad part was I don't think his bike was running right but having a bike with a 700cc smaller eng that's 23yrs older having that kinda power was fun to see
I own both. My Raider has Freedoms sharp curves, Ivan's Flash, and a K&N. No way it's keeping up with my 97' Vmax (aftermarket exhaust and carbs dialed in). The Raiders are really fast for a cruiser, but the Vmax is a whole different ballgame.
When talking about the outdated handling of the '87, I remember the promotional photo of Kenny Roberts getting one sideways in the dirt. I wish I could find a poster of that.
I still ride my 1990 most weekends... It's not the fastest bike on the road anymore. But the power delivery it still more satisfying than a sports bike.. old school brute horsepower and there's nothing gentle about it! It's a challenge on some roads as a vmax will shake and buck you off at high speeds. Ya gotta ride it at your own risk. Basically the motor it too big and powerful for the undersized frame they put it in.. Although that kinda adds to the fun really. As for the v4 sound .first thing to do is change those standard pipes to one's that growl! Then the beast comes out to play! Lol. They sound great!
You should take a ride on a 1985 kawasaki 900 Eliminator! I think you would be a sure believer that bikes truely did use to be dangerous. My local dealer had 6 of them and the 5 other than mine didn't make it a mile from the dealersip before they wraped themselves in to a knot! Impressive machine especially when you become accustomed to it!
I've got a Gen 1 Vmax. I think you got it dead on in your conclusions about everything about the Gen 1. But I did notice something. You were laughing a lot and having a good time. That's why a Vmax has sort of a cult behind it. It's not easy but it is addictive.
The V-Max was Yamaha's answer to Honda's V-65 Magna, available a couple years earlier and was the quickest bike during that time period. I had one and can tell you, it too, was a beast that didn't handle for shit. I used to say it had way too much motor for the chassis. Fun at a whole nother level. Maybe a good idea for a yammienoob vid would be to get one of each and compare them.
I had a 1989 VMax and was out of motorcycling for 25 years while I had a family and 3 kids, colleges houses etc. Then when I heard they were stopping VMAX production in 2020 I HAD to buy another! So I bough the last one in my area! I was lucky to get it! They were very high demand at the end. I love my VMAX 1700 2020. It reminds me of the 1980s! So much power, its a motor and a half! and now the chasis is refined for high speed and very stable. I am very happy with this awesome one of a kind bike!
A supercharged gen 2 would be insane. My 09 with no cats and a power commander 5 will melt the rear tire on demand in 1st, 2nd and 3rd. It's absolutely addictive.
In February 2021 I wanted to buy a new Vmax 1700, the dealer here in NJ didn't have one though. I new it was being discontinued but didn't know when. Yamaha had none left in the U.S. but accepted the order. It took 3 months from Japan but finally came! The build date says 12/20 so I'm guessing I got one of the last ones. I absolutely love it! The all black look it intimidating and most people think it's just another V twin cruiser. Wrong. I also have a 2008 Suzuki Bking and both bikes are keepers.
Great review, I had an late 80's VMax my wife purchased for me for my 50th birthday. After the first ride with me - my fault balls-to-the-walls in Santa Monica, CA she never would ride on it again. A year later settled for a BMW R1100RS. The good news, I'm still alive and still happily married. After many more bikes over the years, my newest ride is an 2021 First Edition BMW R18, a beautiful bike, black with white hand painted pin strips, but a little quirky with those HUGH 900 cc engines sticking out in the wind when you need to make a tight or U turn at my advanced age. I've had a love for motorcycles since I was 16 on my Honda 305 Super Hawk in high school. I will continue to ride as long as I still feel safe to do so, then I'll default to cage transportation. Enjoy life to the fullest, and keep the rubber side down!
I had a ‘00 V-Max and your “plan your braking” comment made me laugh out loud. That is an absolutely true statement. Accelerating and braking were both exhilarating.
Way back when I had a little money I owned a brand new 1986 Vmax. If I had never owned any other big muscle bikes before this one, I most likely would have loved this bike. But while a great quarter mile bike, they were a lot of work to try to hustle through the corners and at that time I owned 3 other bikes in my garage that were close in horsepower but 150 to 200 pounda lighter than the Vmax, that were way easier to control through the corners. At 600 pounds my Vmax didn't want to make quick transitions from turning left and right quickly like my 450 to 500 pound bikes would. I don't think I even owned it 6 months. Sold it because I seen it as such a death trap in the corners
I had the 85 ... I installed a Kerker 4-2-1 header and the Dyna V Boost elimination kit ... the thing sounded like a small SB Chevy ... It would raise the front wheel about 18" in 1st, 2nd & 3rd but never try to go over ... I thought the clutch was bad until a buddy told me that the wheel just simply comes loose. Yes, you had to force it around corners 'cause it only liked going straight ... but you could do it once you got used to it and it didn't argue too much. I rode a Z1-R (still have it) and I rode with Z's alot ... I could simply "throttle play" with them no matter what they tried. You could have a passenger on the back and let the clutch out with NO throttle ... and it would pull away. This was the funnest bike I EVER owned !!! ... I miss it ...
There's a guy near me who races a Vmax at the local street drags (legally done) He wins every time. He's got that thing setup good, and he knows it well. It sounds absolutely amazing too.
Yammie, you need to remember that bike is designed to go fast in a straight line. If you lower suspension 2 inches it handles much better but you feel every single pebble in the road.
I daily a vmax 1700. Makes 185 wheel with 4 to 1 pipe/open airbox/and flash. Shinko tires hook, stock tires spin. Also added a wilbur suspension and some other things. Owned many sport bikes (s1000rr's, busa, ninja) and this thing is the best.
The reason it sounds like a parallel twin at low revs is that it switches from 2 to 4 cylinders when you increase the revs, for efficiency, and city driving
8:57, that is not the gas tank, but many people think it is 😉 That is the air box cover, right above the carbs, the gas tank is actually hidden underneath your lumbar backrest
Great vid Papa! I have a 2004 Vmax and used to ride in a Vmax club with a guy that did indeed have belt driven supercharger on his. He also had a rear tire sent to him every two weeks automatically, because he had a tendency to roast the tire. A lot. That bike is a legend for a reason. Cheers!
really enjoyed this one. would be cool if you could do a whole series of riding older bikes. an OG 700 or 750 Interceptor, ride, review would be awesome IMO,
7:45 I swear I thought that blue car was gonna pull out. Yes, the old Max is bad ass. I love mine. Owned an 85 and now a 2003. The more you ride it...the better it gets. V4s were all the rage back in the 80s with Hondas, Yamahas and even Suzuki of the top 4 popped off some muscle. I still would have loved to own a V65 magna.
Always wanted, but never bought a Gen1 VMAX...in 2017 the stars aligned and I bought a brand new '17 Gen2. The VMAX is addictive, every single ride! I ran mine at the Street Fights in Bristol, TN at the end of last season, first time in my life dealing with an actual tree, my best run of the night was 10.726 @120.17mph...not too bad for an old man that had never done that before, had a blast! I've been riding on the street for over 48 years, the VMAX brings back what was always exciting about bikes! I've done the Nash flash, DD clutch mod, cat eliminated, Delkevic 4into2 exhaust, & the airbox mod w/K&N
Back in the day I has a GS1000 which I had bored out to 1100 with wise co pistons, capped off with a Harris exhaust. The only mate I had that could keep up with me had the old style V-Max. Insane machine!!!!!
Had my Gen 2 ECU Reflashed it dyno'd at the wheel 201 H/P I was turning 9.7 in 1/4 With the front strapped and a 240 rear tire kit. For daily riding I never really liked the way it turned. Just always felt like it wanted to stand up in the corner. My Diavel was much better for commuting. 60 years old now and 36 years as a Tinknocker has blown out both shoulders. The bikes just sit for the most part nowadays. Great revue of 2 Iconic Motorcycles.
It's funny to hear a young rider talk about 'old' bikes. Even then, there were differences that would really make you wide eyed in disbelief. I rode Guzzi's, and didn't really care much for Japanese bikes- they were all a bit too much like riding Mom's sewing machine- Vmax included. I was out with a neighbor who'd been really intrigued by the Guzzi, so one day after lunch I offered to swap on the ride home; he had a nice little Suzuki four. After we got home, he climbed off- stared at the Guzzi, stared at his bike, and said; "well, they're both MOTORcycles...."🤯😂
Fairly easy to ride anything fast on those roads, come to the UK every kind of corner just about everywhere except motorways and dual carriageways. Great fun!
Two original models and a few more newer ones roaming Guyana, South America. The owners decimated many sport bikes and still do during stop light and official drag races. Most of the younger bikers don't have a clue how fast these machines get down a quarter mile. Thanks for posting. You should try to test older bikes. There are many survivors that are in good condition which can be showcased. Great post.
Had a V65 Sabre loved that thing. Have a TL1000 VStrom and an ST1300 and neither give you the rush the V65 does. Also had a Kawi Z1 900 but that thing was a slug compared to the VF1000 Sabre.
