Update on my December 31, 2024 V Max impulse buy
I bought a 2006 with 33K miles
Mods:
UFO exhaust
K&N filter
Probably some carb work because it starts right up and runs flawless
Straight no rise handlebars
Braided front brake & clutch lines
Headlight cowl & windscreen
11.5” rear shock (unsure what brand)
Center stand removed
HID with ballast headlight
Lots of led lights all over the bike.
While on Christmas vacation I found this bike for sale 8 miles away in Southport, NC. I test rode the bike and it handled terribly. It started easy and ran smooth and strong. I got it home and started going over it.
Front tire had 9 psi. Rear tire had 15psi. Both tires were date code 2016 and squared off from riding straight line. Both forks were leaking badly. Both brake calipers were covered in fork oil. Brake pads were dripping fork oil.
Over the last few weeks I installed
-Tires Shinko 230s 110 front, 150 rear. (stock size)
-Rebuilt forks with progressive springs and 10 W oil. Sag 25mm
-Cleaned calipers & rotors and installed EBC FA160 HH pads.
-Replaced fluids: motor, rear end, radiator, front brake, clutch, rear brake, & blinker
-wrapped pink housing fiberglass insulation around the exhaust baffles
I went for my first real ride yesterday and absolutely fell in love with the bike. The sound and feel of the motor are exactly what I had hoped for and it certainly met my expectations. The front end feel and brakes are good. Night and day difference from that first test ride with flat tires. Imagine that, huh? The rear feels ok as long as the road is perfectly smooth. Any bumps and the rear is too stiff and rebounds my butt out of the seat. It has some brand of lowered 11.5” shocks. Not much feel of what the rear is doing and not confidence inspiring at all.
The ride I went on involved mostly under 60 mph tight twisty backroads in the mountains of Western North Carolina. It was sunny, 50*F and the roads were dirty. It hasn’t rained recently and we’ve had snow a few times in January. A few of the roads we went over are completely washed away due to the devastating flooding from Hurricane Helene in Sep. 24’. I saw entire houses and bridges smashed and twisted into trees 30 feet above the Cane & Toe river in Yancey county NC. I did have to ride a few ¼ miles sections of makeshift dirt/ gravel road where the road washed away.
I rode the bike mostly in 4th gear. The amount of low end torque is amazing and allows for not downshifting into tight corners. My riding buddies were on a Suzuki Bandit 1250 and a 22’ BMW 1000S (sport touring) When running wipe open straight line pulls, The V Max power was right with the Bandit, and noticeably less than the BMW.
I am a skilled motorcycle rider with 30 years of racing experience both on and off road. I’m a riding coach with Precision Track Days in the southeast U.S. I worked at a Honda Suzuki dealership in college 2003-2005. A co worker had a V Max and I remember how awesome it sounded !!! This is my first non sportbike street bike I have ever owned. I thought I was just going to ride it for a month or so and then turn around and sell it. After riding yesterday I think I will keep it for a while. I made a call to an old racing buddy who works at Ohlins this morning and asked him to see what he could find that would work for the V Max. If I can get the rear end sorted out…. The thought crossed my mind about taking it to ride on a roadcourse trackday. Maybe, we’ll see. I’m looking forward to riding on a hot day with some clean pavement and some leathers on. I’ll try to get you guys some knee down pics. I am so impressed with the V Max community and the wealth of information on this page. I appreciate the folks who have helped me gain knowledge on the bike. I signed up and paid my dues as a supporting member today.
I bought a 2006 with 33K miles
Mods:
UFO exhaust
K&N filter
Probably some carb work because it starts right up and runs flawless
Straight no rise handlebars
Braided front brake & clutch lines
Headlight cowl & windscreen
11.5” rear shock (unsure what brand)
Center stand removed
HID with ballast headlight
Lots of led lights all over the bike.
While on Christmas vacation I found this bike for sale 8 miles away in Southport, NC. I test rode the bike and it handled terribly. It started easy and ran smooth and strong. I got it home and started going over it.
Front tire had 9 psi. Rear tire had 15psi. Both tires were date code 2016 and squared off from riding straight line. Both forks were leaking badly. Both brake calipers were covered in fork oil. Brake pads were dripping fork oil.
Over the last few weeks I installed
-Tires Shinko 230s 110 front, 150 rear. (stock size)
-Rebuilt forks with progressive springs and 10 W oil. Sag 25mm
-Cleaned calipers & rotors and installed EBC FA160 HH pads.
-Replaced fluids: motor, rear end, radiator, front brake, clutch, rear brake, & blinker
-wrapped pink housing fiberglass insulation around the exhaust baffles
I went for my first real ride yesterday and absolutely fell in love with the bike. The sound and feel of the motor are exactly what I had hoped for and it certainly met my expectations. The front end feel and brakes are good. Night and day difference from that first test ride with flat tires. Imagine that, huh? The rear feels ok as long as the road is perfectly smooth. Any bumps and the rear is too stiff and rebounds my butt out of the seat. It has some brand of lowered 11.5” shocks. Not much feel of what the rear is doing and not confidence inspiring at all.
The ride I went on involved mostly under 60 mph tight twisty backroads in the mountains of Western North Carolina. It was sunny, 50*F and the roads were dirty. It hasn’t rained recently and we’ve had snow a few times in January. A few of the roads we went over are completely washed away due to the devastating flooding from Hurricane Helene in Sep. 24’. I saw entire houses and bridges smashed and twisted into trees 30 feet above the Cane & Toe river in Yancey county NC. I did have to ride a few ¼ miles sections of makeshift dirt/ gravel road where the road washed away.
I rode the bike mostly in 4th gear. The amount of low end torque is amazing and allows for not downshifting into tight corners. My riding buddies were on a Suzuki Bandit 1250 and a 22’ BMW 1000S (sport touring) When running wipe open straight line pulls, The V Max power was right with the Bandit, and noticeably less than the BMW.
I am a skilled motorcycle rider with 30 years of racing experience both on and off road. I’m a riding coach with Precision Track Days in the southeast U.S. I worked at a Honda Suzuki dealership in college 2003-2005. A co worker had a V Max and I remember how awesome it sounded !!! This is my first non sportbike street bike I have ever owned. I thought I was just going to ride it for a month or so and then turn around and sell it. After riding yesterday I think I will keep it for a while. I made a call to an old racing buddy who works at Ohlins this morning and asked him to see what he could find that would work for the V Max. If I can get the rear end sorted out…. The thought crossed my mind about taking it to ride on a roadcourse trackday. Maybe, we’ll see. I’m looking forward to riding on a hot day with some clean pavement and some leathers on. I’ll try to get you guys some knee down pics. I am so impressed with the V Max community and the wealth of information on this page. I appreciate the folks who have helped me gain knowledge on the bike. I signed up and paid my dues as a supporting member today.
