2009–2017 · Hyper Naked · Buyer's Guide
Four Cylinders Of Pure Torque
Yamaha built this one around a 1679 cc, 65-degree V4 making 199 hp and 123 lb-ft, and everything else on the bike exists to cope with it. The aluminum frame, the fully adjustable titanium-coated fork, the shaft final drive and the 200/50-18 rear tire all read as consequences of that engine rather than styling decisions. Chip-controlled intake and a ride-by-wire throttle keep the delivery usable on a public road. In a class judged by raw force, the V-MAX sits at the blunt end of it: no ride modes, no traction control, just ABS, a slipper clutch and adjustable suspension at both ends.
It rides planted rather than nimble, and that suits it. This generation ages well. Build quality is solid, the shaft drive keeps the maintenance list short, and aftermarket support runs deep enough that no two used bikes look alike. It fits a rider who wants presence and brute force from a big V4 and is comfortable being the only traction control on board. The honest caveat is reach. At 683 lb with a 4.0 gal tank you plan around fuel stops and think twice about tight parking lots. Nobody buys this for sensible reasons. You buy it because 123 lb-ft through a 200-section rear tire never gets old.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 199 hp (146 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 123 lb-ft (167 Nm) |
| Displacement | 1679 cc |
| Engine | V4 |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 5-speed |
| Final drive | Shaft |
| Fork | Telescopic |
| Front brake | 320 mm |
| Front tire | 120/70-18 |
| Rear tire | 200/50-18 |
| Wheelbase | 66.9 in (1699 mm) |
| Seat height | 30.5 in (775 mm) |
| Wet weight | 683 lb (310 kg) |
| Fuel capacity | 4.0 gal (15 L) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Drivetrain
Safety
Thumb the starter and the V4 settles into a deep, off-beat idle you feel in the tank before you really hear it. The riding position is roomy and upright, wide bars, feet slightly forward, and at 30.5 in the seat is low enough to flat-foot at lights. Your first impression is bulk. The mass telegraphs through your wrists at walking pace and wants a firm hand until the bike is rolling, then it turns into calm. At real road speed there is a steady low-frequency pulse through the grips and pegs that stays alive without going numb or buzzy. Wind protection is nonexistent, so sustained highway pace above 80 mph becomes a workout for your arms and neck. Then you forget all of it the first time somebody follows you into a gas station to ask what it is.
Oil pump failure (safety recall)
On 2009–2011 models, high oil pressure could cause the oil pump to malfunction and stop pumping oil, leading to severe engine damage and possible stalling. Yamaha recalled 2,300 units worldwide to replace the oil pump free of charge.
Ground wire harness (idle instability recall)
On certain 2009 VMAX motorcycles, excessive electrical resistance in the ground wire for the accelerator and throttle position sensors could cause unstable idle speed or a hanging idle around 3,000 rpm. Yamaha issued a recall (NHTSA 10V327) to install a sub‑lead wire.
Shaft drive leaks
A few owners have reported fluid leaks from the shaft drive assembly. While not widespread, the leak can be messy and may require resealing.
Where this Yamaha V-MAX pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Torque
Displacement
Wet weight
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the V-MAX is actually built for.
It rewards open canyon sweepers and hard drives onto the next straight. On the tightest Angeles Crest sections the weight and wheelbase make you work for every turn. Buy it for the engine, not for quick changes of direction.
Made for Angeles Crest Highway · Coronado Trail / US 191 · Highway 1 / Big Sur
If tight technical precision is your priority, this is the wrong tool. It is long, heavy and built to hammer forward. As a road bike for pure engine drama, though, it gives you something sharper machines never will.
Made for Barber Motorsports Park · WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca · Circuit of the Americas
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Yamaha V-MAX. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2013–2014
Brutal V-Twin With Luggage
About the same used price as this bike at 12 yr
Competitor · 2017–2018
Italian Thunder, Cruiser Lightweight
Roughly $2,800 pricier used than this bike at 9 yr
Competitor · 2015
Italian Muscle, One Of 500
About the same used price as this bike at 11 yr