Blog entries

Eventually it will happen to all of us

Thomas Grover — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:15:26 +0100

Well my luck just ran out today...

Last week I got off work early, at around 1am instead of my usual 6am. The ride home was so beautiful that I just stayed out for a while to cruise around town for a bit. I got stopped twice for doing slightly more than 10mph over the limit. Luckily neither officer saw me just a few seconds earlier smoking the tire across the intersection.&Read More...

2009 new V-Max problems

Claude Abesque — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:49:49 +0100

My V-max 2009 is very very noisy, the front cylinder valve train is incredibly noisy (clic, clic,clic, clicccccccccccccccc .......) and the crankshaft-clutch gearing make a noise like if Yamaha engineer are not able to do good mechanic. After manu complaint and a registered letter to Yamaha, the dealer replace front exhaust camshaft because automatic decompressor unit have fail. After that, the engine become quiet for some kilometers and after that, the noise reappRead More...

New 2010 in Cheyenne, Wyoming

Darel — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:47:23 +0100

Hello one and all. I purchased a 2010 V-MAX; sight unseen, on Saturday when the Yamaha Dealer said he could have me on one by 5pm. F-A-S-T from the start. 300 miles of shake down and I am extremely satisfied with the new Dawg.
I know I'll be looking for advice on what to add on. First, some form of storage....at a minimum a place to keep my leather jacket. (In Wyoming the Dawg must layer up & down, throughout the day.) Also, I see some interesting blog's about performance add-ons on Read More...

Handle bars

David Fuzzell — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:50:38 +0100

Will the sportmax handle bars for the 2007 and earlier model Vmax fit the 2009/2010 models?

will trade

bruce willis — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 19:49:42 +0100

I am willing to trade my flawless brand new factory black bodywork for your new factory red bodywork. Any takers

Catching Up

Thomas Grover — Sat, 22 May 2010 06:42:43 +0100

Wow! It’s been a long time since I blogged about my life and times with Max. I'm going to try to do a condensed edition to get caught up and hopefully stay caught up. The weather has been too amazing to spend it sitting at home in front of the computer and work has actually had me busy enough that I haven't had time to do my personal stuff there either. Damn work! How dare they!?

Let's see, what happened after my ride to Globe? I don't rememberRead More...

What We Know ? Who We Know ?

Mark — Sun, 09 May 2010 12:45:42 +0100

I decided to write an update to my last blog. Reason being I'm not feeling to good about my situation now. I guess I wrote that blog out of frustration. The frustration of being so Limited in how I communicate via this site. I threw myself on the block and let everyone see how I was surviving in the 'Stone Age'. I made it sound kinda Bad and kinda funny with a Positive Twist to it. A Good side and a Bad side. Like YeRead More...

May 16th 2010 Autism Benefit Ride Langstonmotorsports

Joe — Sat, 08 May 2010 15:22:40 +0100

Details:

The benefit ride is going to start at our location

Langstonmotorsports
1622 Illinois Ave. Suite 1
Perris CA 92571

Riders will be here at 9am
The ride will start at 10am

The ride takes a little over an hour each way and we should arrive in Palm desert Between 12-1pm.

Arrival location:

EleRead More...

What We Don't Know ? Who We Don't Know?

Mark — Wed, 05 May 2010 15:17:38 +0100

I recently had some conversations with some members. It got me to thinking. I like to call them conversations, even though we were conversing via this site. It makes me feel like it's no different than talking to someone on the phone or face to face. You see-- That's the thing ,or one of the things I was thinking about. The way we communicate ( the physical parameters) has a lot of bearing on What we know about somebody and HoRead More...

Dragon Fest Aftermath

Oliver Ratzesberger — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:25:13 +0100

Has been over a week since I got back from the Dragon and the best time I ever had at the Dragon. Tuskeegee hotel was an awesome place to stay, the total lack of cell phone coverage and internet a blessing.

By far the best thing that could have happened to this years Dragon VMax Warrior Fest was the Deals Gap Rock Slide earlier this year. Sounds weird but the fact that the road was closed for a couple weeks, reopened just a week before we go there - but only partial (thRead More...

If It's Too Good To Be True ?

Mark — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:03:12 +0100

"If It's Too Good To Be True ?"

Well I had an experience yesterday, Reminded me of one of the many things my Dad use to tell me. I was getting ready to wash the Cobra. Had the bucket full of car wash stuff and all the things required for the elaborate wash process I put myself and My Cobra thru ! That's why I'd been putting it off for a week !!! Anyhow I decided to put it off a while longer,It wRead More...

Hurry home from Globe

Thomas Grover — Sun, 02 May 2010 20:47:36 +0100

Legal Disclaimer – Any opinions, riding practices, feelings about other members, product or retail suggestions, religious beliefs, or beliefs in extra-terrestrial beings dressed in fairy costumes expressed in these blogs are those held solely by me, the blogger. Especially the riding practices, don’t do what I do. Sometimes I’m not safe at all and I know it. Believe me, I reprimand myRead More...

I love my job!

Thomas Grover — Sun, 02 May 2010 17:12:05 +0100

Ok thanks Oliver! I guess now I’ve got an audience so I’m actually a little nervous. These blogs were just meant to be a way for me to document my experiences with Max. Well I guess it’s no big deal. I’ll just keep going on like I was. I may have to explain things a bit more sometimes though so everybody knows where I’m coming from. I know what I mean (most of the time) but you miRead More...

Ride it like you stole it

Thomas Grover — Sun, 02 May 2010 12:43:52 +0100

OK her first service is done on April 20th, 2010 with 1200 miles on her. Man I don't trust these dealership dudes. How the hell do I know if they even did anything? I mentioned the paint coming off of the side panel to the service tech and he said that they wouldn't have had the bike custom painted. WHAT? The sales manager told me they did! Now I don't know what to believe. Oh well, as long as it gets fixed I don't really care. Seth, the sales mRead More...

Just like everything else?

Thomas Grover — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 03:59:25 +0100

Sorry, please remember that I'm playing catch up here so these first few blogs are from memories of days in the past.

So I've had my Max for a little over a week now and I've ridden it pretty much nonstop with the exception of eating and sleeping. And going to the bathroom...I haven't figured out a socially acceptable way of doing that while riding. This bike continues to amaze me. There is just so much power throughout the entire RPM range andRead More...

This damn site

Thomas Grover — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 05:41:05 +0100

So a couple of days into enjoying the hell out of my new black Max, I stumbled across this cool site called starvmax.com. Almost like the bond between me and Max, I'm instantly hooked. When I'm not riding, I'm reading. When I'm not reading, I'm riding. Damn, sometimes I really wish I didn't have to eat, sleep, or use the bathroom. I'd have it made. These guys (and gals) are V Max wizards. They've done all kinds of modifications, dyno tests, made Read More...

Getting to know each other

Thomas Grover — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 04:21:58 +0100

So I'm playing catch up with my blogs about my experiences with my new baby. Please bear with me.

My ride home from the dealership was nothing short of incredible. It was about 15 miles through Phoenix suburbs and then 35 miles of open desert road to the south and east. I got comments from people in cars at 2 different stoplights, looks from everyone that passed, and was so happy my helmet covered my huge grin. I babied it though town as much as I couldRead More...

The Beginning

Thomas Grover — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 02:52:15 +0100

Well, I've been wanting to start documenting my experiences with my new V Max for a few weeks now. I guess there is no better time than now.

I bought this amazing machine on March 29th, 2010. Its a rather funny story to me and many don't believe it is true but I swear it is. See, I had a V Max many years ago and while being young, dumb, and drunk; I crashed it. Flipped it over backwards because I was wanting to show off in front of some girls with a friend oRead More...

NEW MEMBER

panagiotis koutroupis — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:12:39 +0100

HALLO FROM GREECE!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010 VMax Filter Tests

Oliver Ratzesberger — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:10:09 +0100

Today I finally got a chance to hit the dyno room again. On the stand a 2010 VMax that just finished it's initial break-in. Safe to hit it hard on the dyno.

We brought several K&N filters to the test to see if there are any gains to be made just from swapping filters. In our recent filter writeup we discussed several options from K&N that fit the new VMax more or less perfect.

Several hours later and an entire tank and then some used for testing we gathered well ovRead More...

K&N filters for the 2010 VMax

Oliver Ratzesberger — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:05:01 +0100

Finally found some time to compile the article about K&N filter options for the 2010/2009 VMax. The choices are great, the CM-9908 is my absolute favorite. True K&N - not a blue Made-In-China knockoff.

If you have to keep the stock airbox (mainly for noise reasons) this filter should be for you. You can find them all over eBay and the Internet.

Power gains with all drop in filter options are limited, but in return you keep the stock airbox.

The Big Air outpeRead More...

FXLiner for Sale!

Oliver Ratzesberger — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 04:11:42 +0100

Having a new bike on the way to join the stable, I need to make room. My loss is your chance!

Grab this unique Custom Star Stratoliner at a fraction of the build cost.

This is the bike that defined the new line of Liners from Yamaha/Star. Winning various awards including the 2007 Star Motorcycles Bike of the Year Calendar - that crowns the top custom builds in the country. This unique, 2000cc big-bore, custom painted, 240, NOS injected cruiser monster will surely turn heads for Read More...

THE PHOTO

Marc Sablow — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:42:01 +0100

VMAX PHOTOGRAPHY

Marc Sablow — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:24:44 +0100

The outfit that took the picture is neussephotography. The owner is a woman, Agnes. Some of her websites include www.neussephotography.com which is predominately a wedding site, and www.neusse.net, which looks like beautiful women to me. She will take photos of anything and she has the eyes. Had her make me a three foot wide version of my Max. Cannot go to sleep without staring at it. I am sad to discover I am a freak. Perhaps a fabulous woman draped over my VMAXRead More...

Exhaust with CAT done for the most part.... Now wating on Mike for the final Who-rah

Ms. Randi Galves — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:58:46 +0100

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal Read More...

VMAX ATTITUDE by Kristoff

VmaxAttitude By Kristoff Christophe — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 06:08:32 +0100

GoPro Hero HD Mounting options

Oliver Ratzesberger — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:14:38 +0100

I have received a lot of questions about how to mount the all new GoPro Hero HD camera on the new VMax.

One of the nice things about the Hero HD - when you get the motorsports package - is that it comes with a ton of mounting options. Stick on mounts for straight and curved surfaces, a major suction cup, that holds on thigh to anything smooth and flat and various extensions to get any angle you like.

In addition you can get rather cheap options for handle bard clRead More...

Into the Fog - Now live in a VMax theater near you!

Oliver Ratzesberger — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 06:38:22 +0100

Gotta have some fun. A short break between two storm fronts hitting NorCal.

Recipe: 1 VMax, decent leathers, 1 GoPro Hero HD

2h of riding, 4h of editing

There we go, a short little ride up the local mountains to get the true blood going. That Conti Race Attack 240 is more and more becoming my all time favorite. Tons of grip, even on wet surface and on that really bad road up Mt. Hamilton. It's a workout for sure and the camera mounts are getting their share of hyperRead More...

GoPro Hero HD First Impressions

Oliver Ratzesberger — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:20:44 +0100

Santa was kind enough to drop of a brand new GoPro Hero HD mini camcorder including the full vehicle mounting kit.

The new model now support full HD up to 1080p and 30fps or 720p at 60 fps - amonts other various resolutions. When running with a 32GB HDSC card that's good for at least 4h of video footage, 8h and more at 720p @ 30 fps.

Given the need for the occasional slow motion clips, I opted to run the 720p@60fps for the first trial runs.

OutRead More...

Factory CAT mmmm.... Got - 2 - go ----->

Ms. Randi Galves — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:39:00 +0100

Well I just removed the factory cans and was surprised how little it changed the amount of sound. The CAT is really clamping down the sound in a major way.

I am taking the CAT off and going to cut it apart just for the fun of it. My friend suggested that we close off the LH side exhaust and make a 3" formed tube RH coming up as the factory exhaust. We can use one of those cans for the little cars you see buzzing by. They are Stainless Steel and will look good wiRead More...

December 2009

Ms. Randi Galves — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:27:11 +0100

Today is Friday the 4th of December. It's 25 degrees outside and my bike is cold in the garage. Thank goodness my Jeep is close to keep it company.

Tomorrow I hope to have time to take Marks suggestion about the can dis-assembly and give it a go~~~ I have all the tools, (Dewald Drill on the charger) but learned something today as Mark has no CAT... :( I still have one and I am not sure about how good it will sound. I am going to make all those Read More...

Beautiful November Fall Sun in California

Oliver Ratzesberger — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:55:44 +0100

This morning was just too good to pass it on. Had to roll out the Vmax - even though a couple parts are missing and others need to come off for powder coating.

Took the SLR with me and shot some 450 pics in just about 1h. Fresh air, the day after a little rain, just perfect.

I hope I was able to capture the moment. Here are a few shots of the VMax. Once I am done here I need to take her for a spin. ;-) {nomultithumb}