BIKES4US

With its 200bhp V4, the 2009 V-Max should be quite all right...

The first Yamaha V-Max came out in 1985, when Yamaha took a 1,198cc, 140bhp V4 and made a big, bad, bruiser-cruiser out of it. Now, more than twenty years on, Mr Max is back in his new avatar – the 2009 Yamaha V-Max. We’ve already shown you the first ‘leaked’ pics of this bike last week, and now we have the full spec on the new V-Max from Yamaha.

Yamaha say the primary goals for the V-Max project team were awesome acceleration and strong engine performance, precise and sharp handling, unique styling and Euro III compliance. The result is a 310-kilo motorcycle fitted with a 1,697cc V4 that makes 200 horsepower at 9,000rpm and 166.8Nm of torque at 6,500rpm.

The new V-Max is loaded with electronics. There’s Yamaha’s GENICH technology for starters. That’s Genesis in Electronic engineering aimed at New, Innovative Control technology based on Human sensibilities. Er, yeah… well. Moving on, there’s also Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake (YCC-I) and Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle (YCC-T), which play a key role in extracting 200bhp from that 65-degree V4.

Mr Max rides on 18-inch wheels, and rear tyre size is a truly manly 200/50 R18. The chassis is an all-new ‘diamond-type’ unit made of aluminium. It’s a strong, lightweight structure that’s made of gravity-cast, CF die-cast and extruded aluminium sections. The design incorporates gravity-cast components for the main frame and pivot assembly, while the rear frame is made from a range of Yamaha’s exclusive CF die-cast parts and extruded parts which are welded together.

This combination of different types of aluminium, each with a different rigidity level, is one of the major factors in achieving the overall desired balance of rigidity. And to enhance that balance even further, the V4 engine is incorporated as a stressed member – using cast-iron mounts at the front, the centre of the V bank, and at the top and bottom of the crankcase.

Now that Mr Max is back, other super-nakeds must be shivering in their boots

The V-Max’s front fork has 52mm downtubes, and their oxidized titanium coating ensures better surface hardness and stiction-free operation. The fork is fully adjustable for preload, as well as rebound and compression damping. Rear suspension is link-type Monocross, with the rear shock being fully adjustable for preload, and compression and rebound damping. All settings are remote adjustable.

Front brakes are dual 320mm wave-type discs, gripped by radial-mount 6-piston calipers. Rear brake is a 298mm wave-type disc gripped by a pin-slide type single-piston caliper. The V-Max also gets Yamaha’s latest linear-controlled ABS system, which prevents wheels from locking up under hard braking and provides consistent braking over all types of road surfaces.

The 2009 Yamaha V-Max is limited to an electronically governed 220km/h top speed, though we’re sure aftermarket experts will have something to say about that. And, of course, after you’ve unlocked the full potential of that 200bhp V4, there’ll be the turbos and the superchargers and the NOS systems…

The V-Max will cost about US$18,000 and only 2,500 units of the bike will be made this year. For more details, and to order your own V-Max, visit the official website here