Motorcycle Road Test: 1999 Yamaha V-Max

Even turning the motorcycle's key to the on position generates a little shot of adrenaline, as the fuel pump spools up with a turbinelike whine, hinting at what awaits. But the real fun begins when you thumb the starter and that 1198cc V-4 awakens and snarls a challenge for all within earshot.

Ready? Throw a leg over the stepped saddle, point Yamaha's V-Max in a safe direction and pull the trigger. It might be smoking now but this isn't the gun -- it's the bullet. Snap the throttles open, and it fires down the road. Depending on the heaviness of your throttle hand and the deftness of your clutch control, this bike can explode from a stop with the rear wheel spinning, or launch straight and sure with the front wheel just skimming the pavement.

Sure, some big nasty sportbikes accelerate harder, but they all lay you down into the bike so you can absorb the forces. The upright riding posture of the V-Max means you feel all the acceleration ripping at your arms. You are thankful for that big backstop in the saddle, which holds you in place as the engine bellows like a Top Fuel car as it tears through first gear. Although the wheelbase is shorter than what is found on most big cruisers, it's long enough to keep Mr. Max from standing up and snapping over backward the way some high-powered sportbikes want to do when you hold them wide open in first gear.

If you haven't scared yourself yet, catch second gear with a short, light flick of the lever and grab another handful. But be careful. Letting it run all the way to the 9500-rpm redline in second gear jeopardizes your driving record anywhere in the United States. The speedo is reading more than 75 mph before the little tank-top tach shows redline in second gear.

If you miss it on your blast through second, the rush through third might give you time to take note of one of the V-Max's special tricks. It's called V-Boost, a clever bit of intake plumbing. When rpm reaches 6500, a valve in a crossover manifold between the cylinders in each bank opens, allowing each cylinder to draw through two carbs. It's something like the four-barrel-carb arrangement used in cars. If you happen to have the opportunity and presence of mind to notice while you are accelerating through that portion of the rpm band, you can feel the surge as the extra breathing comes on line.

You don't have to ride the V-Max everywhere at full throttle, of course. Even when you aren't berserking, the engine will impress you. You'll notice throttle response, though slightly abrupt, is strong right off the bottom. The engine ticks along contentedly at 1800 rpm, but wakes right up and yanks the bike forward when you snap the throttle open. You can go from communing with nature to talking to God in a heartbeat. Almost any situation, save an inches-to-spare pass of slower traffic, gives you a choice of three gears. When you do need every ounce of thrust, downshifting to first or second gear provides you with more passing acceleration than any other stock sit-up bike on the road.

With the throttle just cracked, there is nothing to hint at the monster lurking within the engine until you tug, even gently, at the loud handle. If the engine is lightly loaded, such as when riding at moderate rpm in the lower gears, there is a gentle surging. Upshifting to increase the load or simply accelerating lightly gets rid of it.

Clutch action is smooth and progressive, and you don't need a gorilla grip to manage lever pull. Lash (that is, play in the drive train that is taken up when you get on or off the throttle) is virtually undetectable, but there is some chassis jacking that comes with shaft final drive. Because this causes the shaft to rise when you get on the throttle, the jacking -- like the riding position -- adds to the sense of acceleration.

We don't mean to imply the riding position is that of a conventional cruiser. Given its low, narrow, almost-straight handlebar and footpegs set back practically under the rider's butt, the V-Max riding position is certainly not standard cruiser issue. However, trying to hang on to this kind of acceleration with your feet out in front of you and a wide pullback handlebar might be too much to manage. The handlebar permits you to lean forward to resist the forces created during acceleration, and the position of your feet reduces the tendency of your upper body to roll backward. Leaning forward onto the bar puts you in control and comfort when the V-Max is hurling you down the road. The seat-handlebar-footpeg relationship also works well when just trolling around town or out on the highway.

The liquid-cooled, 16-valve V-4 V-Max engine is very similar to the engine used in the new Royal Star Venture and, just like the Venture, it uses a counterbalancer to effectively suppress vibration. You know the engine isn't electric but there aren't any buzzes that put your extremities to sleep or make your backside tingle.

Although the three-section saddle is fine for short trips or daily use, the crowned shape gets to most riders after a few hours of steady riding. This and unimpressive range are the only factors that limit the V-Max as a traveling machine for a solo rider. The suspension rarely makes the road feel harsh and shaft drive completes a package that, except for the need for frequent rear-tire replacements with some owners, is remarkably reliable and easy to maintain. If Yamaha's power cruiser has a weak spot, it's handling. Although it was less of an issue when it was introduced a decade and a half ago, the machine isn't quite as steady in fast turns as we have come to expect on current bikes. True, no other machine has to contend with the VMX12's combination of weight, shaft drive and monster power, but we suspect some juggling of steering geometry, tire sizes and suspension rates could make the bike feel just as steady in corners as it does blazing off the line. Some of the wiggling seems to occur in concert with the engine's steady-throttle surging at low loads, which isn't a threat, just unsettling. The slight stability shortage isn't dangerous, since it announces itself gently, but it limits the bike somewhat.

Other aspects of handling get high marks. The bike steers lightly and it's easy to manage at crawling speeds. Perhaps because of the narrow handlebar and comparatively short wheelbase, it is easier to handle at creeping speeds than some milder-mannered cruisers. The suspension, which includes air-pressure adjustments up front and damping controls for the dual rear shocks, offers acceptable control, though there is certainly room for improvement. That chassis jacking related to the shaft final drive doesn't interfere with control during cornering, though it does change the geometry a bit more than most cruisers with power changes. Few riders will drag anything in turns. The brakes are an even match for the power, though we wish for better suspension rates up front to handle hard braking on bumpy surfaces and better braking traction from the tires, which also feel slightly dated.

One V-Max ritual long practiced around here provides great amusement for V-Max veterans at the expense of V-Max virgins. Staffers for Motorcycle Cruiser and its sister publications who have never ridden a V-Max are regaled with tales of block-long burnouts, shoulder-spraining acceleration and other white-knuckle exploits prior to their first rides on the bike. This is intended to distract the victim from the real issue. Just before riding away, the mark is repeatedly warned to take it easy with the throttle. And, just as he puts it in gear, he is told that the bike is low on gas and should be filled promptly. In fact, the machine is already into its reserve tank. Since the fuel selector is in the on position, the engine will die moments after the virgin rolls out of the driveway. He will probably see the low-fuel light glowing, which will send him searching for the fuel petcock. However, the V-Max, which uses a pump to get fuel from the under-seat tank to the engine-top carbs, doesn't have a conventional petcock. If the neophyte is sharp, he'll spy the switch on the right handlebar. This is actually a great feature, assuming you know where it is. Instead of removing your left hand from the handlebar and feeling for the petcock lever, you simply flip the switch with your right thumb. Of course, you have to know it's there.

But that's just the beginning. When he gets to the gas station, he has to find the fuel cap. Most of the rookies know it's under the seat, but it usually takes them a long time to find the two levers behind the rear shocks that must be pushed simultaneously to make the rider's backrest portion spring up to reveal the locking cap. This also provides access to the toolbox and document compartment. Uninitiated riders sent out to get gas on the V-Max have sometimes spent most of an hour searching, not always successfully, for the fuel cap. Pity the new staffer who comes back and admits defeat. Once you know about them though, the peculiarities of the fuel system are assets compared with conventional designs, and not just because of their entertainment value.

Some other unique design features also have advantages. The space under the cover that looks like a fuel tank is occupied by the airbox, fuses and radiator overflow tank. Unlocking the metal cover provides quick access to these components. A small panel, which houses the tachometer, a small temp gauge and the warning light cluster, rises from the front of the dummy tank area. The turn signals include a self-canceling feature. True to its 1980s origins, the V-Max includes a centerstand which offers some security and safety advantages as well as a valuable maintenance aid.

The styling is also reminiscent of the bike's 1980s roots. The faux scoops alongside the dummy tank would be a comic overstatement if the bike didn't live up to its power claims so completely. Higher on our list of things to change are the dated turn signals and some of the related mounting bracketry, particularly up front. This year the front fender, dummy tank and tailsection are finished in a textured carbon-fiber pattern (which was created using a film applied to the parts) then covered with clearcoat.

For a discussion of the V-Max design and development process, see the Yamaha Design Cafe. This story also includes interviews with the people responsible for various aspects of the V-Max's creation. In addition, the site includes a year-by-year history of V-Max changes.

The V-Max's ferocious reputation intimidates some riders, though not necessarily the ones it should. While it is true more temperate motorcycles, such as either of the Honda musclebikes (Magna and Valkyrie), have more rounded personalities, the power of the V-Max won't get you into trouble unless you let it. Sure, its ability to develop velocity with such immediacy can get you in trouble, but it can also get you out of harm's way. Its throttle still works both ways and does not need to be opened all the way. It's not a safe place for riders who don't know their own limitations, but for those who do, the V-Max is an unmatched kick in the pants.