Motorcycle Wanted 2001 vs 2005??

[fordla67]

I’m looking for opinions on 2001 vs 2005 VMax. 2001 (grey) has 10k miles, has some mods, BUT he also has all the stock parts removed. Looks to be in good running condition.

2005 (red) has @24k miles, pretty much stock. Single owner looks to be in good condition.

 

[Fire-medic]

The '05, what's the # on the faux tank badge? Even though the '05 has more miles, it's a 20th anniversary bike, so it has some interest to a collector. Other than being a fun bike to ride, there really isn't much collector added value to any of them. maybe if the bike was one of the first or the last built, or a numbered 20th anniversary edition. Something like a Jon Cornell record-setter/holder, a Mad Max chain-drive, or a heavily-modded power-adder bike (NOS, supercharged, turbocharged, big-bore, or some combination) would be worth a premium.

Which one 'floats your boat?' I think I'd go for the '05, but you should make your choice based upon which one moves you the most. Are you a tall guy? The '01 might fit you better with its high-riser Z-bars, and the forward controls.

 

[fordla67]

The '05, what's the # on the faux tank badge? Even though the '05 has more miles, it's a 20th anniversary bike, so it has some interest to a collector. Other than being a fun bike to ride, there really isn't much collector added value to any of them. maybe if the bike was one of the first or the last built, or a numbered 20th anniversary edition. Something like a Jon Cornell record-setter/holder, a Mad Max chain-drive, or a heavily-modded power-adder bike (NOS, supercharged, turbocharged, big-bore, or some combination) would be worth a premium.

Which one 'floats your boat?' I think I'd go for the '05, but you should make your choice based upon which one moves you the most. Are you a tall guy? The '01 might fit you better with its high-riser Z-bars, and the forward controls.

Thanks for the reply, this was what I was looking for. I do like the idea of the 20th anniversary. I’m going to ask about the badge serial number. I’ve heard some don’t have a number. But if they do and it’s under 2000 it’s a keeper.

Now if I told you price were $1500 difference should that sway me?

 

[Fire-medic]

. I’ve heard some don’t have a number.

They do if the number hasn't been washed-off or pried-off.
It's an angular piece of metal with an embossed number, and here in the USA, yes, it's between 1 and 2000. It's glued to the tank badge, behind the steering head, shaped like a VMax engine.. If it's not there anymore, it probably fell-off from someone washing it too hard, and the small number plate fell-off.

If the difference is $1500 and you like the bike, don't let the price differential keep you from getting something you like.

The #1 thing to check I'd say, is that it doesn't pop-out of second gear on a 1-2 gear change, and then opening the throttle quickly. If it stays in-gear as the revs climb over 6K rpm then a common problem with the VMax has been eliminated.

 

[Coastal Grey]

I’d go with the 05