I just bought a new 'Max and I love it. I've owned a Maxim 1100, Honda 900RR, FJ1100, and a few random Enduros. Here are my humble thoughts on the matter:
- It feels downright creepy in corners compared to a sportbike
- Both my 900RR and my FJ1100 were more fun to ride hard and fast...but my V-Max is more fun to ride OFTEN or for extended periods of time. For me, sportbikes are torture if you aren't "sporting"
- A 'Max will friggin carve compared to an Enduro!
- I think the shaft drive makes it FEEL less stable than it actually is by virtue of varying the geometry on accelleration/deceleration
- I used to drag pegs occasionally on my Maxim 1100 (a Yamaha shaft-drive sport cruiser) so I'm sure one could do so on a ' Max as well
- If you want to learn your limits and push them, don't get a 'Max.
- I've seen enough guys fail to make corners or hit gravel when they are at the edge of the traction envelope that dragging my pegs at speed just isn't that appealing anymore
- A V-Max is a bike to relax and ENJOY riding. Comfortable, easy to make the "go-fast", dependable, cool looking, and looks enough like a Harley that you can usually trick those guys into waving :rofl_200: