My kant van die draad

Last night, on my way home from a meeting in ‘the deep south’, I stopped by Linex Yamaha in Randburg to have a look at the new V-Max. I only noticed the low-key announcement on their website the day before, but I made a mental note to go if I could make it – turns out I could…

I arrive at Linex around 19:30 and there are many cars and bikes around outside, which is unusual for this time of night. I park and almost drop the Suzuki after putting the sidestand neatly into a stormwater drain. Control re-established, I work on composure and stroll inside as if nothing happened and hope that no-one saw anything. I need’nt have feared – they are all transfixed by DaddyMax. I reckon there are about 60 or 70 people around and the atmosphere is tense with lively excitement. Linexs’ guys have put 3 V-Maxes on display under a simple light scaffold arrangement and the effect is to isolate the bikes in the space of the shop by bathing them in white light from all angles.

I approach the V-Max nearest after I stand back for a few minutes to let other guys mount the beastie and I try to overhear what the conversations are about. The new V-Max is a sight to behold. Let me put this to you bluntly – the V-Max does not leave any opinions divided. Whether you love it or hate it, the visual impact will burn your eyeballs. From the signature double-barrel V-Max airducts, which are now finished in brushed metal, to the polished covers and the really mean tail-end, the V-Max oozes attitude like never before. The V-Max has always been a bad-ass ride. V-Maxes are for people who are genuinely too mean for Harleys. The V-Max is the ultimate I-don’t-give-a-shit ride. The first generation V-Maxes set this trend but I feel that the later incarnation was somehow stylistically sort of a half-breed. It was like it wanted to grow up but still aiming to please the bad-asses and somehow that message got lost in translation. This new machine is very different and yet is unmistakably a V-Max – even from afar. That signature “don’t mess with me“- look is back by the truckload. It just looks even meaner and very, very well put together. The overwhelming impression, once you are over the mean appearance, is that all the components look well finished, well put together, and the whole machine exudes an air of quality and attention to detail. The esteemed gentleman’s bad-ass ride then? Well, I don’t know yet.

I get a turn to sit on the thing and I weigh it between my legs. (This bike weighs 310 kg dry) It feels as if the centre of gravity is very low in the bike and it feels remarkably light for it’s girth. It is not a Bus-King, width-wise, but you do know you are on a big machine. I start the bike and it rumbles to life. The trick display under the small brushed chrome screen on the tank says: “Time to ride – this is V-Max” Now, I don’t know who thought that one up, but I am left cold by this little quip. You don’t need to tell V-Max riders quasi-cool slogans, dude! They Know…  Once the engine starts, this area turns into the displays for temperature and fuel. When you shut it down, this message zone tells you bye with: “Till next time” Cheesy.

With the motor running, I notice that it feels remarkably smooth for a big-bore V-four. (This V-Max makes 200 horses!!!) Sadly, we do not get to ride the V-Maxes tonight. I take some crappy photos with my cellphone and curse myself for not having a proper camera here. Other details I notice about the bike are the black anodised-finished forks, not upside down, but with radiallly mounted brake calipers. The brake rotors themselves are of the gigantic ‘petal’ variety. The bright shift indicator to the north-east of the centre-stage tacho  and the quality and comfort of the seat grab my attention. This bike really sits very comfortably and my Average Joe 5′6″ finds everything right at hand, sitting upright and not reaching for anything. The gun-metal coloured exhausts on each side look slightly short and bulky, but just right on this bike. The stubby tail with it’s massively bright LED brake lights is also finished very well, though I overhear some guys say that the plain black plastic and orange indicators do not look right and fit poorly with the quality appearance of the rest of the bike. The concessionary perch for the pillion is just that – a concession. I suspect it will not see much use for anything longer than it takes for your passenger to lose bladder control, anyway. The engine and short X-type trellis braces between the two cylinder banks and the top reach of the frame looks like its all anodised – the quality of the finish is that good. The whole bike’s colour is not quite gunmetal, but not quite black nor a very dark bronze – it’s a fantastic mix of the lot. Typical V-Max, there is a lot of black around, too.

The key is a trick bit. The key blade itself is stock standard, but it sits at the far end of an odd-shaped bathplug. When you insert it into the ignition, it looks, from the seat, like a rotary switch you would find in the aircon controls of a Toyota Yaris or a Renault Megane, i.e. a big plastic blob.  It’s operation is straightforward – turn to start, push to lock/remove. The assembled crowd agree unanimously that this key will never fit into any known pocket by virtue of being such an odd shape. No – this funky key fits into it’s own special holster, which a dude in a Linex Yamaha shirt tells me is inspired by a Samurai sword & scabbard. I am not convinced – it still looks like you are putting your key in a big black shotglass, complete with neckstring-loop, for those difficult mornings after the Buffalo….. These guys really think of EVERYTHING!!!

I can only speak for what I saw so far, but I think the new V-Max looks vastly better than the old one and it feels like a quality ride. Again, the overwhelming impression is one of quality and attention to the finest details.

I find myself wondering out loud if the bold, top-drawer design and execution of the new V-Max was inspired or at least emboldened by the massive success of the B-King. A huge biker-dude in his full colours next to me says: “Well, the V-Max WAS first.” I decide he has a good point and make my trademark exit stage left - swiftly and deceptively quietly.

Now for a test-ride…..

I am posting a picture, and at the same time I apologise for the rubbish quality:

V-Max at Linex

There is some more information, technical specifications and much better pictures on this lekker site:

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/yamaha/yamaha_v%20max%2009.htm and also some information on Linex Yamaha’s site, here:

http://www.linexyamaha.co.za/ViewNewsArticle.asp?id=59