hey guys,

I have an opportunity to buy a 97. The prob is that it is not running and was laid over a while back. Other than the road rash, the starter and radiator are off the bike. It also has NOS on it.

The guy assures me that it runs good and that we can do a pressure check on it. Now, I've bought my share of cars and bikes, and the guy seems to be honest. What I am concerned about is whether or not the NOS would provide enough torque to damage the drive shaft. ?? I'm a decent wrench but am not familiar with Vmaxes or NOS.

I can determine whether or not the engine+ is in good shape, but the drive line is where I have questions.

So, anyone have a solid feel on whether or not the shaft would most likely be ok? Anyone got a way of checking its condition. BTW the bike has 18K mi on it. Whats typical lifespan of a Vmax engine? Anything I should be mindful of when buying a Vmax?

THx in advance,

L

Unless he's practically giving it away, I'd look elsewhere. I suspect you are already thinking this way, aren't you???

Plenty of other Vmax'es out there that you can be much more sure of what you are getting.

My $.02

Mike.

That's the chance you take buying something like that. I'd be a whole lot more concerned about the bottom end & transmission. I doubt the driveshaft has a problem, but I'd want to hear it run to make sure there's no rod knock, or broken 2nd gear.. Vmax engine usually good for 60k at least (prolly not with NOS tho)..

Makes you wonder why the starter is missing I could see clipping the radiator but hitting the starter on a lay over ? Like Mike said ?? if you wish to proceed maybe buy a starter and bring a battery and some fresh gas you can start it without a radiator
and at least go thru the gears before you overheat if it does not work out sell the starter on the Gen 1 forum or e bay and return the battery You could end up with a dud if you dont.

No_Max wrote:
I thinking the exact same thing, the shaft and final drive the Vmax have always been pretty stout, second gear however is another story. You also cannot be sure everything is good in the engine with out hearing it, you can have good compression and still have a problem.

vmaxmercer

vmaxmercer wrote:
+1 & +1 The drive shaft is the last thing you have to worry about on these bikes. Transmission CANNOT be checked without riding the bike. A bad second gear may not show it's self unless it's under a good load.....like WOT.

If the rest of the bike is there and in decent ridable condition I'd pay maybe $500 for it....more if it was really nice and I knew where I could get a good motor for under $1500. IMO

Mark

if it had a good backrest on it and a full header exhaust that wasnt trashed id give 1k for it. but meh, just spend 3-4k and get one thats ready to go

its all fun and games until you get it home and find out the radiator costs 1200 bucks and the starter pieces are 600+ lol

im rebuilding the starter on my old 03 right now, one metal piece that wraps the start clutch. 150 dollars. id hate to find out how much everything would cost.

DON'T DO IT!!!

buy my old vmax 1989 (with 85000Km), and I belive you will be happier as with this 1997

he will sale this bike, he has to look that you can make a testdrive
I'm shure, don' buy this Vmax



p.s. sorry my 1989er is not for sale

Cunningham wrote: +1 to that.. Unless it waaaay cheap and you have extra $$$ and time to fix it. I got my 85' Vmax for $500 and put back like $3200 to get it running and ready to go....Soooo, it all comes down to what YOU want to do.