Hi all.

I've been lurking for a few days, soaking up all your pearls of wisdom regarding the Max. Thank you! Here's my ride history:

2010 Red Yamaha Raider 1900; 22-Jun-'11 > current ...7,100 km
2010 Red Honda VRF-1200 DCT; 30-Jun-'10 > current ...12,000 km
2008 Silver Suzuki B-King 1300; 05-Aug-'09 > 30-Jun-'10 ...10,300 km
2009 Orange Suzuki V-Strom 650; 21-Apr-'09 > 04-Aug-'09 ...8,500 km
2007 Black Suzuki Burgman 650; 18-Aug-'08 > 28-Apr-'10 ...11,500 km

My Buds rib me that I'd yet to buy a tire as I trade before I can wear one out! (However, I finally broke down and re-shoed my Viffer.) Most of those same Buds are cruiser pilots. Never having owned one, I took a leap of faith a year ago. After a solid month of research, I settled on the Raider, whose specs suggested a level of performance akin to my VFR and (former) B-King.

Saddly, I was disappointed. I'm guessing the Raider rocks the cruiser category, but frankly paled in performance to my other recent rides. I also discovered that I prefer my feet under me, rather than in front of me. I spent the last year WANTING to like the Raider, but alas, no go...aka, it must go.

My wife just bought a new V-Star 950, upgrading from her 600 Shadow. In the process, I spied the 2012 Max and dared to perch. I've always liked the bold styling and recalled MotoUSA head-to-head review vs the B-King. (I went with the King at the time due to availability and pricing.) Still having 4 (of 5) years to pay on the Raider, as a lark I asked about a trade in toward the Max.

As fate would have it, they have someone after my specific Raider (+ farkles), offered to buy out my Raider loan (through Yammy), and ALLOW me to start fresh...with the Max (and it's ADDITIONAL $7000!) as a requirment in the deal.

I know many of you are fortunate enough to have more than one ride in the stable and can appreciate how the mood-of-the-moment becons a different experience between the legs. I'm torn between fiscal-responsibility and live-for-today. At this moment, I'm leaning toward getting the Max. I'll update once the hammer is dropped...or not.

Cheers,
Saint (Wayne)



"Do unto others BEFORE they do unto you..."

Hey Saint welcome to the forum, your right life is to short, and the last thing you want when your old is any regrets! drop the hammer buy the max you won't be disappointed... get them to throw in a second rear tire, your going to need it..

Buyers remorse is a lousy Sandwich , I have never heard of a Gen 2 owner at least on this board

Say I really wish I didn't buy that V Max , This is the most exciting bike I have ever owned and even after
Couple years and over 25 K is still a Rush every time you twist the Throttle.

How to find a "REAL" bike......take a look at their Service Manual.....speaks volumes......kinda tells you a lot about the effort and engineering that was put into the product.

I own several brands of bikes....one brand Service Manual covers all years for this bike and a lot of the tightening specs for this bike just say tighten....overall the effort put into this bike matches their service manual.....irritates me every time I'm around the bike. The other brand service manual covers one year and has complete coverage and torque specs for everything....you can see the effort applied in the bike itself and also carries over into mechanical performance.

As far as fiscal-responsibility and live for today....easy choice....remember 2008 and what happened to the financial marketplace. Watching years of hard work disappear in a moment is not fun nor does fiscal managers really care about your loss...they come up with everything in explaining that's the way it is. What about the future......well watching the market drop hundreds of points because someone heard a fly pass gas is not for me!

Luckily I slapped down a grand on an awesome second generation bike released in 2008 and learned to live for today and enjoy what little the puppet controllers will allow me to have!

Ken

Just do it The smiles will never wear off or go away.. There's no other bike like it, and you won't have a problem wearing out a tire, I promise

Just received word I'm approved for Yammy financing, but the summer rates don't apply to the Max...DOH!

Full list price, financed @ 9% for 5 years. Next step, consult with Chief Financial Officer...yes...wife.

FYI, the Raider with 1900cc, has 1/2 the HP of the 1700cc Vmax

Full list price at 9% for 5 years?!?!? OUCH!!!

You might be better off selling the Raider privately and financing the Max through a Credit Union/Bank at a far lower rate. I was quoted 2.99% at my Credit Union when I considered a loan for the purchase of my Max. I'd do some serious number crunching before I accepted that deal. Take a test ride on it first... I seriously doubt you will be disappointed, but it will clearly help you decide if the expense is worth it (gotta have some cash for mods, too). Just my 2 cents.

Scott

A new V Max would be the ideal Fathers day gift , but I would be working them for better terms their has to be some wiggle room.

Saint wrote:
The deed is done (!) and along the way I was able to meet and chat with our own VmaxMercer. He offered me a ride on CinderMax (awesome!), but where I still had my Max-cherry I was saving myself for my own Max. VM is a great guy who LIVES motorcycles and has appreciation and respect regardless of one's choice of mount. Looking forward to our first multi-Max run!

On the 3 hour trip home from the dealer, I was probably the first Max owner NOT to lay some rubber. Probably psychological as the dealer wanted extra $'s to put new tires on my
Raider trade-in. Unfortunately, he KNEW I wasn't going to go home without the V-Max.

With a gentle throttle hand, I found the Max's performance very similar to my 2-year memories of my B-King. Handling wasn't quite as sharpe, but was still rock-solid and confidence-inspiring. No buyer's remorse this time!!! So glad to have joined the family.

Cheers,
Saint