I got to stay off Craigs List

I found this 86 V-Max on Craigs List Friday evening just before I left to go home for the weekend. He said he was tired of paying a mechanic to trouble shoot a ignition problem and wanted to sell quick. After reading through his add and the long list of parts his mechanic replaced I thought , why not I have been wanting one for a long time. I sent him a offer , he responded quick and I called him. We talked and came to a agreement, 1700$ a steal. Went that night to pick it up, WOW it was nice. No scratches, dings and the chrome is nice and shiny.
Bike has 2 new tires, battery, fuel pump and relays, ignition coils and TCI , lots of new relays. seat recovered and more.
Long story short the bike is in really nice condition. I took me less than a hour to find the problem. The saftey relay was filled with rust and water. Installed a new relay and it fired up and ran great.
For those of you who take your bike to a service mechanic, beware of one who tells you " I think it might be......."

 

Great score !! I've always wanted one too !

 

nice bike. I liked mine a lot but couldn't handle when the radiator fan came on it would cook your legs. Having leg troubles it bothered them to much. Wish Yamaha would have directed the air away from your legs. That was the only water cooled bike that ever did that to me. Just an fyi do not slam 1st to 2nd to much they have a real 2nd gear problem. Not sure if it bends forks or messes up the gear they are worse then any other bike out there even the ventures do it

 

The 2nd gear issues were my only concern with this bike. It does shift nice and smooth on the centerstand, I'll take it out later this week for a test run.
My Venture had 2nd gear problems, did not know when I bought the bike. But I could not loose for 500$. Ended up buying a parts bike for 250$ and using the engine.

 

they are a nice bike for sure. they sound great with a kerker also. Mine had all the aftermarket bolt on toys and tnt performance did the carbs and dyno testing on it. The v boost actuator wasn't worth a hill of beans ran better set in stock position. And should you decide to put the cooler fan switch in it every stoplight it will come on. Might be better just stock. But the exhaust sound alone with the pipe was incredible no other bike has the growl that has.

 

I have a Dyno sheet from the PO, 110 HP at the rear wheel. I don't know what I should expect from it. The bike is all stock except the PO had drilled holes in the muffler ends to make it louder. Its too loud for me, I will probably weld the holes shut and keep my eye on EBAY for another muffler set.
What exactly does the V-boost do? I see some cable operated valves below the carbs, not sure what they do.

 

I'm so jealous, probably makes those 1100's feel like kiddie bikes

 

Mlew, that's a great bike at a super price, WELL DONE!

I hear you about the addiction called "c/l syndrome"....it hits me when I'm not expecting it. It always hits when there are no loved ones around to perform a intervention<LOL>....then......I am left trying to figure out where to put the "new bike".

jeff

 

Mine made 125 rwhp. Before they did the carbs i believe it was 105 but the header leaned it out a bit .Here is the link to my bike. Brian had it done the winter before i bought it. It had 10k miles on it when i got it. I know it was not abused Brian wasn't a kid he had forward controls on it and pull back bars. I hated the way it was and returned it to stock and put drag bars on it

 

This is funny! My dearly espoused unit seems to have a 6th sense when I'm snooping around on C/L. You are not getting another (insert appropriate toy here) boat, truck, motorcycle, mp3 player etc. is what I hear!

Loren

 

The C/L syndrome has hit me also Jeffk, but when I called my wife and told her about the V-Max she said " When can we pick it up". I was thinking she would try to talk me out of it, boy was I wrong. Thats why I love her.

 

From memory-
The bike runs on one intake valve per CYL until 5500 RPM to deliver better drivability and low end torque. Then all hell breaks loose !!
You could secure them open if you'd like.
Look up the "Mad Max V-Max" modifications for fun !

 

you lucky bas...nice score!!! Might wanna look into the frame braces if you are gonna stretch its legs often.

 

V boost there is an electric valve just above the carbs that activates at 6500 that connects all 4 carbs so they breathe as 1 4 barrel carb basically. You don't want it open at all times makes throttle response spongy down low. The kit you have a 2 way toggle switch low opens at 2500 hi 5500. You can tell when its working when you turn on the key. Kinda sounds like the fuel pump it will click several times and you can hear the butterfly open and close

 

First time she is on the back and you run it a little to hard the love will be gone lol

 

Yeh, but then he gets to go out on his own and raise a little hell, without the TAP< TAP< TAP< (muffled) SLOW-DOWN!!!!!, in the ear syndrome! :wink: :wink:
:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

 

Damn wish I could get a V Max for that cheap - I love the look and the fact that it is that powerful with a shaft drive (less maintenance).

 

No more fueling up while sitting on the bike. It always seemed weird to me especially with an aftermarket seat .The challenge was get the spout out without dripping on the seat . But you got yourself 1 heck of a bike

 

Hey mlew, don't waste anymore money on lottery tickets for the rest of the year you'd be wasting your money.
I think you already hit the Jacpot! Lucky Bastid! :wink: :wink:
:twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

 

Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket, luck has been good latley. I did forget to say that my wife wants to ride this as hers since my daughter has claimed the XJ1100.
Been going through the bike this evening fixing the crap that the PO and the so called shop had done. Mostly wiring no-no's like but splices and wire nuts. Luckly not many of them.
I should be able to take a test ride by the end of the week, I'm looking forward to it.

 

Thats why she said get it . Now we know who wears the pants lol

 

She wanted one just as much as I did. Timing was perfect, I just got a bonus at work that paid for the bike.

 

Yup, a keeper for sure!!!! Sounds like you not only have a wonderful, loving wife, but you still have possession of your own cahoonas!! Well done!!

jeff

 

Took it for a ride today... WOW this is one Bad @$$ Machine. It runs great just a few minor things I want to fix.
I have a video of me running up the street, how can I post it? Here is a pic anyway.

 

WOW, that cleaned up really well! You sure got a nice bike.....just be careful and practice hauling it down from speed. Yeah, I know, I harp on braking all the time but that's a different animal then you are used to riding everyday in the way that it builds speed so quickly and it will act differently when you clamp on the binders. Hate to see anything happen to anyone......

jeff

 

Beautiful ride. Congratulations!

 

Just throw it up on youtube and then paste the link here. Would love to hear it rev up! That really is beautiful man! Supposed to be the "widow maker" lol, please be careful on it, both of you! Grats on the score!

Mac

 

Mlew, You have me suffering from ram air intake envy! Always thought a VM would be a hoot to ride on those spring days.

Be careful on that thing!

Loren