Recent content by el oso

First, I always considered myself lucky because my vmax was so rock solid and smooth at any speed, where I've read that so many people have problems. But tires wear out, so I had the dealer install new stock-sized Shinko's from MC Superstore on my '06. Read here how so many riders like them, so...

I prefer riding a sportbike when I want to tear up the twisties to trying to make a vmax do something it wasn't designed to do. Even if the modified suspension is perfect, there are huge weight and cg issues. Anyone who rides a vmax and then says "I'm going to make this bike handle" and then...

Yeah, 85, I think you're right. I've read most of the suspension upgrade threads and I'm reluctant to dive into all that. I have sportbikes that handle great so I'm inclined to just ride the vmax in straight lines - it is plenty of fun in that mode! It is just amazing to me that this bike...

I ordered a set of Shinko Tour Masters front and rear, and will replace these Bridgestones now, even though they don't have much wear on them. What to do with the take-offs? I'll never use them on a bike again, that's for sure, but some people like them. I just don't see how these tires can work...

I know that Bridgestone makes a decent product and Yamaha picked them as "issue", so the performance I've experienced while leaned over surprised me. When I get near that "corner" on the tread the rear end starts squirming all over the place. Must be a weight distribution/handling issue if yours...

I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed a problem with the stock Bridgestone Excedra G526 tires. These tires do not have a round profile, more of a shallow curve to the tread and then a "corner" or "ledge" where the tread goes to the sidewall. You don't have to lean very far to get on this...

Little Windscreen Has anybody got one of the Yamaha little windscreens? Do they offer any protection? They look cool, but I'm starting to need at least a little wind blocking to ride a little longer. These windscreens look cool enough to leave on year round, but they look too small to actually...

OK Thanks. I guess I just had sudden break-in syndrome at 9000mi. I was happy with 34, but 40 is great! Now I tell my wife it's just economical transportation. Hey wait - I just realized that the guy I bought it from put 4500mi on it and told me he had always run synthetic oil. I put synthetic...

My max is a 2006, stock except for Supertrapp slip-ons. I always got very close to 34 mpg - very consistent - on my daily 35mi one-way commute. Suddenly, I got 40mpg on a tank-full. Thought it was a fluke, but have gone through three tanks now - right at 40 mpg. I'm riding in traffic on the...

The bike on the French site davidon provided is more like what I was thinking about. Thanks. I also found some neat looking bikes on a site I found by Googling "vmax vs. vrod", again from Europe. I guess I'm more interested in a "Euro-look". The fat gas tank completely hides the upper frame that...

This may be way out there, since the scoops are so beloved by seemingly all vmaxers, but has anyone done any restyling of the bike without the scoops? I can't seem to find any pics along these lines on the net - anywhere. The scoops seem to be the central visual theme of the max for most people...

Awesome! Like I said, the bike ran great - the problem was in my head. 6,000 just seems like a lot of revs. I'm changing the oil every 1,500 mi. with a new Yamaha filter. I just won't worry about it and ride! Thanks.

I took my V-Max on a road trip with some other folks on bikes - about 500mi. total. Our group was cruising pretty effortlessly at about 95 mph most of the way - everyone but me that is - my V-Max was turning about 6,000 rpm! I was too embarassed to ask everyone if we could slow down because I...

Thanks for the input. Based on what I'm hearing, I'll wait till it gets worse.

My max is a stock 2006 except for Supertrapp slip-ons, and has 7600mi. It runs great everywhere except for just a hair open from idle. It idles great and I can shut the throttle from any rpm with no popping, so I'm reluctant to mess with the idle mixture. If I open it just a hair more the...