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First Look: Star’s V-Max Concept Bike
Written by: MotorcycleUSA.com Staff
Motorcycle-USA.com   http://www.motorcycle-usa.com
12/12/2006
Medford, Ore.
 
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The V-Max concept bike was revealed last weekend at the Long Beach Motorcycle Show. The bike is a prototype meant to whet the taste buds of V-Max fans around the world who have been thirsting for a redesign to the dated V-Four machine.

One noticeable characteristic on the concept V-Max is the conspicuous Star badge rather than the Yamaha tuning fork logo on the bike's billet aluminum intakes.

"This concept model is being shown under the Star Motorcycles brand as it exemplifies the true spirit of individualism and performance that is engineered into each and every Star Motorcycle," reads a Star press release. "This concept is also bigger, meaner, nastier and more technically advanced that its predecessor."

After a quick glance at the bike there is no doubt this is a V-Max. The massive exposed V-Four powerplant and intake scoops have been a trademark of the Max for 20 years, although the concept's aluminum billet scoops would be replaced by lighter and less expensive plastic ones on a production model. The Max's V-Four appears to grab fuel from its customary underseat storage and delivers power to the rear wheel via shaftdrive. Meanwhile, the concept Max's emissions terminate in the stubby, attention-grabbing quad-outlet exhaust.

The new chassis, featuring a cast-aluminum frame and aluminum swingarm, seems to offer up a longer wheelbase. We're estimating as long as 65 inches, which would help it perform at the dragstrip, where Editor Kevin Duke expects 9-second quarter-mile passes if and when it's produced. The steering geometry appears to be modified
as well, with the front end raked out to as much as 30-32 degrees.

A big question surrounding the new Max everyone will be anxious to discover is its performance capabilities, especially from its new brakes and suspension. The front binder on the Long Beach concept bike utilizes a wavy rotor with radial-mount caliper, with a rear disc out back. Suspension features remote-reservoir dual shocks which are teamed up with a conventional fork.

The bodywork on the new Max continues the swoopy effect of the shiny billet intakes and extends to the five-spoke wheels. Style-wise the Max has some potential, with the new bike hitting a real sweet spot with Duke Danger who commented: "The view from the front is awesome, looking like some kind of futuristic crime-fighting weapon."

But all of our opinions right now are based on superficial looks, not a spec sheet, much less a ride. The real questions for the new V-Max are looming unanswered. Will the fork and rear suspension actually work good enough to allow the bike to be ridden on curves and in a straight line this time around? Will the brakes be on par with the mondo motor? For that matter, will the motor evolve or remain the same? And most obvious, will Yamaha even produce it at all?

"We Build It, You Make It Your Own" is the Star motto, and personalization has been a strong selling point in Yamaha's cruiser brand in recent times. There's no doubt potential Max customers would fulfill the second half of that statement, now Yamaha just has to fulfill the first half. Come on, Star, let's do something here.