New Yamaha Vmax 1700 cc: the Law of Desire !
The Vmax reappears as an even more aggressive 1700 cc, 200 hp and 310 kg muscle bike. And its buyers will have to be combative, because only 1,500 models are planned in Europe. 1st come, 1st served… From July on the internet! Fire !
Jean-Claude Olivier,
the "father" of Vmax in Europe
Originally developed only for the American market, the Vmax sparked love at first sight with Jean-Claude Olivier, CEO of Yamaha Motor France, when he discovered the prototype in April 1984 during a trip to Japan. Very disappointed that Europe is not included in the program, JCO does not disarm: "after a year spent" claiming "Vmax for France, I get ten US versions that we approve", remembers today the big boss, who then had the idea to entrust one to his friend Bobby Barrier, "the master of Tropezian nights", with a double mission: to introduce Vmax to the elite of French show biz in St-Trop ‘, and bring back the names of nine people wishing to acquire the nine remaining models. But "it is not a list of nine names that he brings back, but of thirty," JCO said: "one of the people on the list, whom as a courtesy, I will not quote, even offered Bobby a check for ‘an amount ten times higher than the price of the Vmax "… Consequently, the promotion of the model is assured, with ten Vmax which furrow the streets of St-Tropez during all the summer of 1985, and this success decides Yamaha to l ” import into France the following year … The Law of Desire, in short. |
Sacrificed in 2002 on the altar of European standards after 16 years of good and loyal service (100,000 sales worldwide including 25,500 in Europe and 12,780 in France!), The famous Yamaha Vmax will reappear next November in dealerships, after the Munich Intermot show, in the form of an even more aggressive "muscle bike".
Its new 65 ° V-shaped 4-cylinder, considerably enhanced in a Diamond-type aluminum frame, goes from 1200 to 1700 cc. It will deliver 200 horses in the free world and the 106 regulation horses in France at 5250 laps (see the full technical sheet below).
Yamaha’s bet is to relaunch this iconic model of the 80s, but equipped with all new technologies of the 21st century. While the original Vmax embodied the ‘dragster’ spirit, combined with a brutal and muscular image, the new model was designed to emit a sense of inner strength, a mere allusion to the incredible power that begs for nothing. to be deployed at any time ", indicates the brand.
Offered at 19,990 euros in a single color (black), its buyers will also have to be just as combative since only 1,500 models are planned in Europe: first come, first served !
Yamaha has in fact decided to renew with so-called "shortage" marketing, which had worked particularly well when the first Vmax was launched in 1985 (see box opposite).
For the new Vmax 2009, reservations will be open from July 1 on the internet only () and delivery will take place in the Yamaha network from November.
Presented last night in the Madrid pampas, in a place kept secret until the last moment, with great reinforcements of motorized shows all more delirious than the others (runs of two muscle cars all blazing out, developing respectively 3000 and 6000 horses, followed neither more nor less by a Spanish aviation show against a background of Pink Floyd!), the new Vmax is likely to meet the same enthusiasm as its predecessor.
Because with its look, its power, its noble materials, its new braking, its technological advances worthy of the most cutting-edge hyper sports (full details below), the new Vmax immediately attracts envy….
We can certainly regret its small 15 liters of tank or the difficulties of finding tires of such dimensions, but above all the new Vmax has an immense quality: it is irresistibly envious! A very stupid quality, but ultimately not so common…
The YCC-I (Yamaha Chip Controlled Intake) electronic variable intake system allows the length of the intake duct to be varied "so that it provides the ideal intake pulse whatever the engine speed": as soon as ” it exceeds 6500 revolutions, electronically controlled servomotors separate each duct, creating a shorter duct (54 mm).
As for the electronic control system of the YCC-T (Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle) throttle opening, designed in the same way as on the brand’s Supersport, it makes it possible to produce the ideal torque curve at all times, preventing the Vmax "to hesitate if the throttle opens too suddenly".
“One of the main goals of the new Vmax design team was to keep the physical dimensions of the new engine as compact as possible,” adds Yamaha. Thus, although the displacement gains nearly 500 cc (1679 cc for the new against 1200 for the old one), the V4 inclined at 65 ° (against 70 for the old one) is shorter by 27 mm from front to back. and higher by only 6.5 mm.
The Vmax is also equipped with forged aluminum pistons, it is equipped with the case-hardened "Fracture-Split" connecting rods used for the first time on the R1 in 2004 and its clutch, ignition and driveshaft cards are made of light magnesium alloy.
The exhaust, fitted with a 3-way honeycomb catalyst, is provided by a 4-1-2-4 system with short and raised pipes while a lambda sensor detects the oxygen levels and regulates injection to reduce pollutant emissions, in accordance with Euro3 standards.
Side cycle, the wheelbase of the new Vmax is lengthened (1700 mm against 1590 for the old one). Its fork coated with oxidized titanium has 52 mm tubes offering "excellent rigidity", ensures Yamaha, with adjustment of preload, rebound and compression.
At the rear, the "Monocross rod" type suspension is also adjustable in preload (with an easier remote hydraulic adjustment device), in compression (by means of a control dial placed under the passenger footrest) and rebound (by another control gimbal under the swingarm).
Finally the braking, often limited on the old model, is "one of the most sophisticated and powerful that a Yamaha motorcycle has ever owned", indicates the brand in tuning forks: hydraulic ABS system in which the central unit is placed under seat, dual 320mm front disc with 6-piston radial calipers and 298mm single rear disc with single-piston caliper.
As for the 18-inch wheels, they are equipped with a 120/70-R18 at the front and a "huge" 200/50-R18 at the rear..
Technical sheet new Yamaha Vmax 2009 (manufacturer data) |
Engine | |
Type | Liquid-cooled 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4-valve |
Displacement | 1.679cc |
Bore x stroke | 90 x 66 mm |
Compression | 11.3: 1 |
Maximum power (free world) | 200 hp (147.2 kW) at 9,000 rpm |
Maximum power (France) | 106 hp (78 kW) at 5,250 rpm |
Maximum torque | 166.8 Nm (17 kg-m) at 6500 rpm |
Lubrication | Wet sump |
Food | Injection |
Clutch | Multi-discs in oil bath |
Ignition | T.C.I. |
Start-up | Electric |
Transmission | 5 reports |
Final drive | Gimbal |
Primary transmission | 1.509 |
Secondary transmission | 3.082 |
Box reports | |
1st | 2,375 |
2nd | 1.810 |
3rd | 1,400 |
4th | 1.115 |
5th | 0.935 |
Cycle part | |
Frame | Diamond type aluminum |
Front suspension | 52mm telescopic fork |
Front travel | 120 mm |
SuspensionAR | Swingarm (Link-type suspension) |
AR travel | 110 mm |
Socket / socket angle | 31 ° / 148 mm |
Front brake | Dual 292mm discs |
Rear brake | Single 266 mm disc |
Front tire | 120/70 R18M / C (59V) |
Rear tire | 200/50 R18M / C (76V) |
Dimensions | |
Overall length | 2395 mm |
Overall width | 820 mm |
Overall height | 1190 mm |
Saddle height | 775 mm |
Wheelbase | 1700 mm |
Ground clearance | 140 mm |
Full weight (oil and gasoline) | 310 kg |
Fuel tank | 15 liters |
Oil tank | 5.9 liters |
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