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I had Cobras with the baffles punched out and switched back to stockers with 5 holes drilled in each muffler. The bike runs better with the stockers (the Cobras are a one muffler per cylinder deal with no shared chamber to equalize exhaust pulses) and probably makes a tad bit more power to...

Another nice thing about switchable V-boost is the ability to go back to stock or turn off the V-boost entirely. Having V-boost at 3000rpm makes the bike a much more aggressive machine at around-town speeds. I wouldn't feel comfortable letting anyone ride the Vmax for the first time with the...

There was a set of Cobras on my Vmax when I bought it with the baffles punched out. They were LOUD but it was very hard to get the bike idling right. The stock exhaust (and many aftermarket ones) exit all four cylinders into a single compartment, which helps equalize the exhaust pulses. The...

I don't like the diamond plate--it's definitely out of place on a bike.

I've got the Z-boost (I think, I forget) which gives the option of V-boost completely off, on at 3000 or stock at 6000. On at 3000 makes a big difference for around town riding. Stock, the Vmax feels strong off the bottom end, up to around 3000rpm, and then sorta weak until the V-boost kicks...

Shawn, what did you use to mount the gauge to your handlebar or speedometer? I ought to be able to find a gauge itself no problem, and the same goes for the line, but what about the part that screws into the engine block? Thanks!

I've been browsing on Ebay for oil pressure gauge kits. I've found a couple where the gauge mounts low on the side of the motor. They're reasonably priced, at around $60 or so shipped, but a gauge that low is only good for monitoring when starting the bike or maybe when stopped at a light...

I would like to know the effect on oil pressure of using this additive. Too bad the previous poster didn't have a gauge hooked up to be able to monitor that. My Vmax doesn't have any real problems, per se, but it does clunk into first gear when cold, and shifting could stand to be a little...

Mine was leaking from the clutch slave cylinder. At first, I just removed the slave and noticed some pitting inside, so I sanded it with a very fine grade of sandpaper to clean it off. That helped, but it was still leaking somewhat. So I bought a slave cylinder rebuild kit (basically the...

Do you really think it's necessary to change it that many times?

Keep in mind that he said that this is his FIRST oil change. Assuming it's a new bike and he's following the manufacturer's 600-mile first-change interval, then it's too early to put synthetic oil into the engine. 1500-2000 miles is a commonly accepted point for switching to synthetics. The...

Your definition of spirited hard riding must be different than mine. Either that or you have a magically strong frame. On an 85mph backroad sweeper, my chassis was flexing badly enough that if I would have pushed much more, I think I would have lost control. It felt like the front and rear of...

I prefer the mirrors in the stock location. I was thinking about filling the handlebar with lead shot to see if that helps. Of course, I've been meaning to do that on my Z1000 for a year now and still haven't gotten around to it.

I've got Racetech spring and Gold emulators in my forks, and they made a big improvement over stock. I don't know the specifics, because my local bike shop ordered and installed them for me. I also have Works Performance Steel Tracker shocks out back. MUCH better than stock as well.

I just did the solid motor mounts a month or so ago. It is a pretty long, involved job, but it's not particularly hard if you are mechanically competent. Most of the work is pulling the exhaust, rear tire and rear axle. Once you get all that taken care of, there's not a whole lot more than...

I've got long arms and long legs, so what I do on a long ride when I want to move around is just sit my butt back on the passenger seat. That gives me a bit more legroom to the pegs but I can still reach the handlebars without crouching any more than I do on one of my sportbikes.

I agree with not adding it to your oil. This stuff may work just fine in car engines, but you've got your wet clutch to worry about. And quite frankly, unless there is a problem with your engine that you are trying to resolve, putting in an additive for no reason is asking for trouble.

I beg to differ--there's no reason why a muscle cruiser shouldn't have good suspension and tires to back up its power. The Vmax wasn't intended to be a backroad bomber, but why shouldn't it be able to keep up with a relatively quick group ride on the twisties? I do have more sporting bikes...

Is that a radial front tire? What sizes and brands of tires are you running?

The thermostat is the absolute first thing I would have thought. I saw your other thread about where to buy a stat--but here's a quick fix if you don't want to spend any money and want to find out FOR SURE if it's the stat. Simply remove the old stat. Top off the coolant and go for a...