I found this goggling V Max and thought it was kinda funny to hear what some people think about are beloved V Max. Not that some of it isn't true.
www.motorcycle-journal.com/forum/sportbi...ers/22696-v-max.html

Loved the comments in that Forum!!!

Okay, it's true, the Vmax is not a forgiving bike. I certainly wouldn't advise my new-b friend to choose the Vmax for my first bike.

Still, I know Dutch Vmaxxers whose first bike is a Vmax and live to tell the tale, haha.
Mind you, motorcycle exams in Holland are not easy. First there's the theoretical exam you have to pass, than the special manoeuvres (exercises like: figure 8, U-turn, fast slalom, braketest, etc) and finally the roadtest in everyday traffic. I understand that in the US anyone with a driver's license can ride a bike? Oooooh, that's scary!!!!!

But I must admit I learned to ride a motorcycle properly on the Vmax.

Its not that easy anymore here in the US. In CA you need to take a written test and then do a special maneuvering test with very tight loops and 8s without ever putting your feed on the ground. Pretty easy on a small bike but damn hard the larger the bike. Alternatively you can do a CHP (California Highway Patrol) motorcycle safety class: 2 evening of theory and two weekends on a closed course with a final test. Once you finish that you get the maneuvering test waved by the DMV ( department of motor vehicle).

Someone is thinkin' of getting a vmax as their first bike?

Brothers and sisters, here where the vmax is known, ridden and loved with almost religious fervour, there is only one thing we can do:

Join together in prayer....

Amen

My first bike was an H1 ~ I survived, barely

Whoa! My first bike was a James Sports Captain - 200cc of raw power. Well, 200cc of wet fart really but I still remember that bike with fond memories

50cc Puch here. Came with a whopping 2.7hps stock. Rebuilt the entire engine and got a mindblazing 9-11 hps out of it. I was really proud of it back then...

Well, after some consideration, a V Max would be my first water cooled bike; does that count?

I am actually thinking of getting one as a first bike, sort of. I rode a dualie when i was a kid back east on the farm. Havent jumped on a bike for about 19 years.

Reading this is a bit thought provoking but i still think that with some reserve and some knowledge of what the bike can and canot do that it isnt impossible. Perhaps i am talking about something that i dont have a clue about, but i do think that common sense can give someone a chance with that bike. Then again, you folks are the experienced riders, not me.

That being said, you see kids out here barely 16 who ride around on those crotch rockets, the same crotch rockets who are actually more powerful than the vmax. Sure the handling and breaking on those machine is more modern, more forgiving maybe? But the power is still there.

Like i said, those stories are making me think this decision of mine out....but who knows? I've always been stubborn and i've always done what i set my mind to it.