Yamaha is typically known in the motorcycle world for Supersports and liter-class machines. One of the very few motorcycle brands that represent Japanese ingenuity, Yamaha has matured over the past few years and has ventured into many genres including previously unchartered territories like cruisers.
In the advent of the ‘90s, Yamaha brought out the VMAX as a muscle cruiser. Though the name seemed to be a bit off, the bike was by no means a phony. In fact, the Yamaha VMAX was one of the more sought-after power cruisers available at the time.
The VMAX had a sophisticated chassis that was quite uncommon for a cruiser. The Yamaha VMAX was given a thorough refresh in 2009 and since then, the power cruiser hasn’t been very good in terms of sales.
With stricter emission norms burdening automakers, Yamaha’s reason to stop pouring money into developing a new VMAX made sense. This inevitably paved way for the power cruiser’s demise post-2020.
The lack of Euro 5 compliance and falling sales led to Yamaha discontinuing the VMAX.
Yamaha VMAX: A Brief
Yamaha introduced the VMAX in 1985. This was an unorthodox move for the Japanese brand especially considering that it came with a V4 engine. The 1,197-cc motor produced 145 horsepower and 83.1 lb-ft of torque. Back when it was launched, the VMAX quickly gained attention and positive reviews started flooding in. This led to the VMAX receiving the title "Bike of the Year" from Cycle Guide. Apart from a mid-cycle refresh it received in 1993, the VMAX remained relatively the same until 2008. Post which, Yamaha introduced an all-new VMAX with a completely new chassis and upgraded components.
The 2009 Yamaha VMAX came with an upgraded V4 that displaced 1,679 cc and now made 197 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque. Chassis-wise you now had upgraded brakes with anti-lock function, fully adjustable suspension, slipper clutch, and heavily revised styling, which was received with mixed reactions.
The VMAX was quite literally a monstrous motorcycle. Power was immediate but simultaneously proved to be pointless given the heft of the motorcycle. Although the weight was evident, with the wide handlebar, there was plenty of leverage to create a light steering response, which made the VMAX very handy in low-speed corners, tight traffic, and crowded parking lots.
Yamaha VMAX: The OG Power Cruiser Bids Farewell
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. The VMAX in its entire 35-year production run saw just one major update. Because of this, the product started to become obsolete thanks to emerging players like the Ducati Diavel. Although the VMAX was modern by 2010 standards, the Diavel ran circles around the Japanese cruiser after its debut. This led to dwindling sales and Yamaha decided to focus on their cahs cows instead of dumping more cash into the VMAX. Not to mention the stringent emission norms imposed down the line. Yamaha hardly bothered with any of that and to top it the VMAX wasn’t even Euro 4 compliant let alone Euro 5!
Another nail in its coffin came in the form of its rather steep price tag. The 2020 VMAX was a $17,999 proposition and considering its antisocial character paired with an uncomfortable ride and choppy handling, it was hardly justified. The mighty VMAX will be missed but the OG power cruiser shall remain in the hearts of every fanatic who once drooled over the idea of a muscle bike.
Sources: YouTube, Motorcylistsonline