drool drool drool

[R3TARD]

This is shaping up to be a big year for Yamaha, not only is Valentino Rossi back on form, but they’re launching the new V-Max—at 210bhp the most powerful series production motorcycle ever—next week, which should soon be followed by the all-new 2009 R1.

[95FZR600]

That looks very fast!

[R3TARD]

We're expecting the new Yamaha V-Max to be the world's fastest accelerating production motorcycle, regaining the title its forerunner held when it was launched back in 1984.

A standing quarter mile in under 10 seconds is expected, thanks to a massive V-four engine, at 1800cc, and more than 200bhp.

[R3TARD]

[old_school]

Very nice... I want one of them, a fatboy and a new r1, oh and a motard... I sound like crashoverplick

[megaloxana]

That R1 looks sick, except for maybe the seat/tail/exhaust part...looks kinda funky

[tommyj27]

The mid-lower cowling on that R1 really reminds me of an 08 CBR1000, not sure what I think of the rear end; would have to see more angles. Colors are cool though.

I think I prefer the look of the Warrior of the V-MAX. Sure the Warrior probably doesn't do 10s quarters, but it's nothing to sneeze at either.

[YAM93]

I really wonder how many V-Max's will sell with the new re-design. I doubt many Victory riders will come over. They must be targeting them because I can't think of any other segment it would appeal to, besides "old V-max fans" and newbies who will get themselves killed on these beasts. I sat on last year's model, it's heavy as hell. Quite comfortable but a lot of bulk and money, just not my style. I'd get a Supermoto any day over that. With gas prices getting worse you'd think Yamaha would wise-up instead of pursuing maximum horsepower and torque on every single model. At some point the law of diminishing returns has to set in.

The R1 looks pretty sweet.

[chefen2006]

The new V-MAX looks like a bike Darth Vader would buy. Or maby Batman Looks like the designers have won the battle whit the engeners. Not a good thing.

[tommyj27]

Has anyone looked at the FZ6R at all? Is it just a fully-cowled FZ6 with clip-ons?

[Fartblood]

I love V-Max's, old and (by the looks of it, new too), but at £16,000 in the UK, who's gonna buy it?

Fastest independent test of a bikes acceleration was a ZZR1400 (only £8.999 in the UK) which squirted out the quarter in 9.21 at 151mph, so the V-Max might not quite get the fastest accelerating tag, though i'm sure it'll be no moped.

OK, the V-Max has style in spades whereas the ZZR1400 lookes like someones tupperware lunchbox, but in terms of the ammount of metal you get and the technical sophistication your money buys, how the hell do Yamaha justify £8000 more than a Kawasaki that is faster?

[mszilves]

That R1 looks sick, except for maybe the tail/exhaust part...looks kinda funky

Yeah, I've seen the new tail from a few angles and it really does look funny to me too, kind of a weird stubby looking thing, unproportioned with the rest of the bike I think. That's my only knock against it, otherwise looks to be an awesome bike.

It also has the new so-called "crossplane" crank setup, where the pistons are all 90 deg off from each other instead of the pairs you see common today. According to their marketing hype, it creates a smoother/more balanced engine, and a different kind of exhaust note. To be seen...



I think they should have kept the styling of the concept bike, it is WAY hotter IMO.

[FasterThanUr]

They got some cool stuff going on with the new R1

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/msite/micro_v1.aspx

[Fartblood]

Indeed, though is it worth it? The current R1 has a level of performance that is completely inaccessible on the road, so why pay for even more that we'll also never use?

I think bike design is sadly losing its way.

[95FZR600]

I want that R1. That thing is bad ass!