Hi,
I'm relatively new on this site.
I currently own 2 vmaxes, a 2006 and a 1986. In total, I've owned 3, but the 1997 vmax (my first one) was totaled when some dude decided to cut right across an intersection from the left hand turn lane, and I laid it down to keep from t-boning him. I slid for over 50 yards, and due to helmet and leathers, sustained no injuries. The bike, on the other hand, had a broken fork brace and was smashed and dented all over.
My 2006 had an accident too, a few weeks after buying it to replace the 97, when some lady ran a red light while on her cell phone and t-boned me in an intersection. Luckily, she hit the engine guard so hard that my entire bike flipped up and wound up embedded on her hood (with me still seated). Insurance totaled the bike out and let me keep it, and it still drives fine except for a slight wobble at 40mph. Once again, helmet and leathers, no injuries (and no, I don't take this for granted).
I guess the moral of this story is: make sure you wear your protective gear! I've been riding vmaxes for 15 years now, and these are the two accidents I've had. The gear made all the difference!
The 1986 was a recent rescue from some air force guy who dumped it due to engine problems. It needed a good carb cleaning, and still needs the some repairs to the vboost, but it is impressive that a nearly 30 year old machine runs as well as this one does after a simple carb cleaning.
All I have to say is that the vmax is a beautifully engineered and constructed machine, and I have loved them since my first one. Every time I consider getting a different bike, a first gen vmax pops up somewhere and I can't resist buying it instead. Maybe next time it will be a second gen, but I'll wait to hear what riders say about it. I like the 40 mpg I get on the original vmax when I'm not punching it, not sure how the 2nd gen does (I've heard 28 mpg).
Anyway, I look forward to reading member posts and learning what you guys have to teach, and maybe helping where I can.