In MotoGP, manufacturers have long since accepted the fact that a V4 engine configuration offers the most performance potential. Yamaha has stood by the inline-four configuration for literal decades, but is also now in the process of making the switch. This is somewhat ironic because this is the same brand that discontinued what was once the wildest V4 motorcycle on the market.
We’re talking about the original V-Max. It had absolutely nothing to do with premier class motorcycle racing; it was inspired by drag racing. Where everything is sacrificed in the name of straight-line speed. More than two decades after it was first introduced, it finally got updated in 2009 and was transformed into one of the most powerful cruisers ever built. This has left a rather large VMax-shaped hole in the model lineup, and if that V4 engine Yamaha’s racing division has been working on ever makes it into a production motorcycle, we wish the VMax could one day make a triumphant return to the American market.
There Are A Coupe Of Other Power Cruisers We Would Love To See Again
While we still have a handful of great power cruisers on the market, the selection is not what it once was. The first alternative to the VMax that really sticks out is the Honda Magna 750. Unlike the Yamaha, its V4 was plucked straight out of a sports bike and reworked for the Magna. Honda actually has a wide selection of cruisers, but a more powerful, inline-four CBR650R-derived Magna 650 could be a fun bike. Equally, a modernized Kawasaki VN2000 could take on the new and improved Softail lineup, while something like the Moto Guzzi California might serve as a touring-friendly rival to the R 18 Classic.
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These used cruisers offer impressive bang for the buck for those looking for a more simplified riding experience
The Yamaha VMax Could Shake America If Resurrected
Introduced all the way back in 1985, the V-Max was one of the very first muscle cruisers. While other models that followed often made use of repurposed sportbike engines, this V4 was specifically designed for Yamaha’s cruiser line. This is a fact that is particularly hard to comprehend when you look at the kind of power that was on offer, but even though it was a fantastically powerful lump, it was also fantastically heavy, and had no sporting pretentious whatsoever. It was all muscle.
The Mother Of All Updates
That version of the V-Max went along unchanged for over two decades, and the model was only updated back in 2009. It got a thorough overhaul, and the biggest news was the addition of fuel injection, a ride-by-wire throttle, and Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake. This system effectively replaced the comparatively crude V-Boost system. Its short intake tracts are desirable for high horsepower, and a longer intake is desirable for torque delivery.
This system offered the best of both worlds riding experience, and it is fair to say that the VMax’s best is better than most. With nearly 200 horsepower on tap, it was a fire-breathing monster. Bringing back this beast will add some much-needed performance to Yamaha’s almost non-existent cruiser lineup.
2009 VMax Specifications
|
Engine Type |
V4, liquid-cooled |
|
Displacement |
1679cc |
|
Max Power |
197 HP |
|
Max Torque |
123 LB-FT |
|
Transmission |
5-speed |
Here’s How Much A 5-Year-Old Yamaha VMax Is Worth Today
Over the years the VMax helped define the muscle cruiser segment and has since gone on to become a cult classic
Yamaha Needs A More Powerful Cruiser
To be fair, Yamaha just needs a new cruiser; it doesn’t even necessarily need to be a fire-breathing V4. The current lineup consists of the beginner-friendly V Star 250, and the Bolt R Spec, which is essentially a Sportster clone. This is a rather sad state of affairs for the Japanese brand, which seems to have all but given up on the whole cruiser thing.
The Star Motorcycles Debacle
At one point in time, Yamaha had the most extensive cruiser and touring bike lineup in the entire motorcycle industry. Star Motorcycles was envisioned to be the Lexus of the motorcycle world, with a host of premium offerings all taking aim at Harley-Davidson. Unfortunately, Yamaha got it wrong on two fronts. Firstly, the designs Yamaha brought to the table were all around a decade behind all the other manufacturers, all heavy on chrome and light on innovation.
While this had worked a treat for Harley, it didn’t ever fly with other brands trying to compete in this space. Secondly, the market was grossly overestimated. All the way through the 00s, more and more consumers shifted towards more sporty or more versatile options, and most cruiser buyers just aged out. Yamaha ruthlessly killed off this sub-brand, and while a few models were retained for a time – including the VMax – we have not seen a new Yamaha cruiser since this failed experiment.
Why The Yamaha Bolt Is Comparable To A Harley Without The Price Tag
The last-gen Harley-Davidson Sportster models heavily inspire this metric cruiser.
Yamaha’s V4 Plan Will Always Start With The YZF-R1
The YZF-R1 is essentially the golden goose. Other models may come and go, but the fact that Yamaha walked back plans to terminate this sports bike serves to underscore just how much a halo sports bike model means to the brand. If there will ever be a shift to a V4, the R1, or whatever top-of-the-line superbike takes its place will most certainly get this powertrain first. But, in an effort to maximize the use of this powertrain, we can’t help but feel that a Ducati Diavel competitor could well be on the cards. If you’re going to put all this energy into beating Ducati on the track, it makes perfect sense that something for Joe Public could follow.
As it stands, Yamaha hasn’t even gotten the MotoGP engine to work properly yet. There is also every chance that this engine never gets used in a street bike at all. Much like KTM and Honda, who both run V4 engines in MotoGP, yet don’t offer road-going versions. Also, if it fails to deliver on track, we already know how ruthless this brand can be. This dream will fade into the sunset just like the Star Motorcycles moniker. But, if it succeeds, a new VMax could shake up the whole cruiser market.
Source: Yamaha Global