Here’s a very nice 2003 Yamaha V-Max with the wheel modification you want, already done. It has an 18 inch rear wheel which gets rid of the now archaic 15 inch that came standard on the original Max and gives you a wide range of tires to choose from. The 15 inch tire looked pretty impressive in 1985, but now, not so much. This bike also has a lot of the UFO parts popular in the V-Max community.
I’ve twice owned a V-Max and loved it each time. Some people don’t think much of the design, I thought it was pretty neat, but it’s not the appearance that makes this such a fun bike, it’s the engine with V-boost, that kick in the pants about 6,000 rpm that makes the bike feel even quicker than it is. On top of that, with the right pipes, the sound of the V4 is a smile all by itself.
This bike looks like it’s been very well maintained. Unless an owner refused to do even basic maintenance, you’re usually pretty safe. These engines are strong and durable, though a lazy owner can mess it up if he tries hard enough.
If you’re a committed sport bike guy that wants to carve corners all day, move along, there’s nothing to see here, but if you like the rumble of a hot rod V4 and think an occasional handful of throttle on a straight stretch of asphalt makes the world a better place, you should try one of these on for size. It’s a hoot.
It’s for sale on eBay. Listing ended.