Japanese Cruisers... In need of a revamp

[Nomadinator]

I think you guys are seriously going to have to reconsider what you call a power cruiser....

Mr. Mean Max is back in town! Going on sale in about 4 months.

Star is bringing back the VMax, but this time they aren't playing around....

Just got my new issue of Cycle World (August issue) and on the cover was a nice, 1679cc, 197 horse power, 123 lbs/ft of torque, monster!

Cycle World - First Look: 2009 Star V-Max

[RichLockyer]

I wonder if the new Max will be able to turn corners?

[jnk]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

I wonder if the new Max will be able to turn corners?

bet not!

[Old Gray Beard]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

I wonder if the new Max will be able to turn corners?

If they wanted it to turn corners it wouldn't be running 18s front and back and if you look at the specs on the forks it looks like the concern is straight line but bet it goes like hell in the 1/4!

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Old Gray Beard

If they wanted it to turn corners it wouldn't be running 18s front and back and if you look at the specs on the forks it looks like the concern is straight line but bet it goes like hell in the 1/4!

So it's the same as the old Max but with a bigger engine and EFI.

[Old Gray Beard]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

So it's the same as the old Max but with a bigger engine and EFI.

So it seems..but I think that is what the masses wanted if it were any different I guess it wouldn't be a VMAX

[BOURBON BOY]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

So it's the same as the old Max but with a bigger engine and EFI.

The flexable flyer handling package was one of the reasons I didn't like the first generation V-MAX. Let's hope they use this motor in a Venture! BB

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by BOURBON BOY

The flexable flyer handling package was one of the reasons I didn't like the first generation V-MAX. Let's hope they use this motor in a Venture! BB

Like the existing Venture, they WILL be putting a "touring tuned" version of this motor into the new Ventures.

That thing is going to smoke any touring bike out there including the GoldWing (until you throw it into a corner).

[Nomadinator]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

I wonder if the new Max will be able to turn corners?

Time will tell on that one. Looks like they beefed up the front end considerably though. Have to wait for one to get tested to find out.

Yes, that will be a brutal Venture... Kind of hard to imagine a full dress touring bike with wheelie bars.... They will probably "detune" it to around 140 hp or so, my guess. Maybe this will warrant a new aluminum chassis to match?

[Fr8Dog]

Originally Posted by ImpactG

I'm sure the Stratoliner is a great bike, but I just can't get past the looks. As far as the V2K goes... not sure where that opinion came from. I've read numerous reports that give it very high marks and I've seen it win shoot-outs with bikes they deemed to put in the same class... including a Rocket III. Don't make me have to spend the time researching and posting links if you don't have justification to the comment. I'll do it... I really will...

I'm game! Post the links! I'd love to read some articles that make me feel good as to why I bought the V2K.

[meangreen]

Originally Posted by Fr8Dog

I'm game! Post the links! I'd love to read some articles that make me feel good as to why I bought the V2K.

If you need articles to make you feel good about your V2K, you must not be riding it much

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Nomadinator

Time will tell on that one. Looks like they beefed up the front end considerably though. Have to wait for one to get tested to find out.

I was chatting with a Venture owner today who is very excited about this. I mentioned the poor cornering of the original Max, and he said that they have lowered the GC in addition to minor tweaks in the geometry.

A big plus is that, on the original Max, the "intakes" on the sides of the tank were dummies. The new one, if you look at the photos they look like a pair of Hyperchargers, rather than a mesh... they are functional and feed directly into the intake ports!

Yes, that will be a brutal Venture... Kind of hard to imagine a full dress touring bike with wheelie bars.... They will probably "detune" it to around 140 hp or so, my guess. Maybe this will warrant a new aluminum chassis to match?

Well, of course it will be "detuned" (more accurately, REtuned to lower the peak torque RPM). IIRC, I think they were speculating about 120hp for the Venture version if it happens.

[Nomadinator]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

I was chatting with a Venture owner today who is very excited about this. I mentioned the poor cornering of the original Max, and he said that they have lowered the GC in addition to minor tweaks in the geometry.

A big plus is that, on the original Max, the "intakes" on the sides of the tank were dummies. The new one, if you look at the photos they look like a pair of Hyperchargers, rather than a mesh... they are functional and feed directly into the intake ports!

Well, of course it will be "detuned" (more accurately, REtuned to lower the peak torque RPM). IIRC, I think they were speculating about 120hp for the Venture version if it happens.

About the only thing the same between old max / new max is the profile of the motorcycle. The new one has 52mm forks, dual 320 mm Brembo front brakes, aluminum frame, etc. The motor's cam chain configuration looks very clever, using only two. The other cams are gear driven off of those.

I seen that the new scoops are functional in a video and in my new Cycle World magazine.

It will be interesting to see what they will do with the Venture. My prediction is a new aluminum frame. Maybe the only items carried over will be the trunk and side bags, who knows? Maybe even the fairing as well.

My detune, retune, power curve remapping, whatever you want to call it, is a little more optimistic than yours. Tough to see them giving up almost 80 horsepower to lower the peak torque 2500 to 3000 rpm. Should be interesting.

2009 Yamaha VMAX Features & Benefits, model features