• Articles
  • Motorcycles for Sale
  • Motorcycle Parts
  • Motorcycle Manuals
  • Models
  • Collectibles
  • Contact

The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Roland Sands Vmax Hyper Modified

By Paul Crowe

Roland Sands on the RSD Vmax
Roland Sands on the RSD Vmax

Last month we told you about the three builders Yamaha chose to modify the new Vmax. Each builder went his own way and this is what Roland Sands came up with. Most impressive, is the extremely short time frame each builder had, only 3 weeks! When you see the results, you have to respect the experience being brought to the task, novice builders would be in the design and mockup stage when these guys were rolling out their finished bike. As Roland explains in the video, he’s got a lot of ideas floating around in his head all the time, so when this challenge came up, it was time to quickly apply what he knew.

The RSD version was quite a redesign, the fuel tank was moved below the swing arm, clip-ons were installed, the exhaust was re-routed, body work massaged and, by Roland’s estimate, about a hundred pounds was removed. It almost makes the big Max seem sporty.

RSD Vmax initial design sketch
RSD Vmax initial design sketch

His initial sketch is close to what they built and, to my eye, what he turned out is a lot more pleasing than the stock unit in just about every way.

He accomplished what many builders fail to do when working on the Vmax, he made it look different while still focusing your eyes on the engine, which is what the Vmax is all about. If you go to the original Vmax Hyper Modified link, you’ll also see that the other two builders, Ludovoc Lazareth and Marcus Walz, didn’t redesign the Vmax to the level achieved here. As I said, from start to finish in 3 weeks, wow. Nice job, Roland!

Link: Roland Sands Vmax

Video below:

Posted on November 30, 2011 Filed Under: Motorcycle Builders


-- Subscribe to The Kneeslider --

Be the first to know when something’s new!


Be sure to check out The Kneeslider’s motorcycle manuals and literature listings.

Your purchases through ebay links on The Kneeslider may earn a commission for this site.




« Exquisite Little V12 Engine
Ural M70 Anniversary Edition Celebrates 70 Years of Building All Terrain Sidecars »

Comments

  1. akaaccount says

    November 30, 2011 at 12:09 pm

    Sweet. No, it’s not a supersport or a cruiser but man I love it.

  2. B50 Jim says

    November 30, 2011 at 1:50 pm

    Mr. Max has worn the crown for outrageousness for many years, and this exercise adds a few more jewels to the crown while giving it a facelift, buffing and wax job. Good work, but it begs the question, how much is too much? With the V-Max, we might never know the answer to that question, and who cares if we ever do? Crank it up and hold on!

  3. cycledave says

    November 30, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    Now that’s a proper VMAX!!!!!! Awesome job RSD!

  4. hoyt says

    November 30, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    Cool. I like it more after seeing the video. Where is the gas filler cap?

  5. Kevin says

    December 1, 2011 at 12:24 am

    I highly doubt it was a real 3 week project. They always say ridiculous time frames like that for the chopper shows and Extreme Makeover Home Edition, but they are full of BS. So I bet this is the same and it wasn’t truly only three weeks.

    Either way, good work as always by RSD even if it isn’t anything I would ever want or care about. Can’t top that Desmo tracker though.

    • Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" says

      December 1, 2011 at 10:35 am

      Maybe, but both Marcus Walz and Ludovic Lazareth made comments about the time pressure and very short deadline, so, whatever the time frame, it was short.

  6. aTo says

    December 1, 2011 at 5:51 am

    what about the other 2 bikes?

    Ludovic Lazareth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhj0zh_Lmdo

    and Marcus Walz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jwv7oREkjak

    • Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" says

      December 1, 2011 at 10:44 am

      I mentioned both of those builders in the article. The reason I wanted to point out the RSD version is due to the greater actual change to the standard Vmax that he made and how he altered the function into a more sporty and less custom cruiser direction. The other two, though certainly fine work, didn’t push as far in the time available.

  7. GuitarSlinger says

    December 1, 2011 at 11:14 am

    Hate to be the voice of descent here , but Roland’s VMax custom looks an awful lot , in fact too much like a Harley Davidson V-Rod with a couple of tweaks

    Come on Roland … you can ( and have ) done a heck of a lot more original and better .

    • Sid says

      December 4, 2011 at 3:33 am

      What are you looking at? The VRod’s seat is about 5 inches lower and the foot pegs are ~ 15 inches forward of the RSD VMax. Exhaust and hand controls are also totally different as is color and finishes.

  8. Les says

    December 1, 2011 at 11:55 am

    A monstrosity commissioned by the yamaha marketing department.

    I’ll have 17 whoppers and a diet coke, please. Hold the ice.

  9. GuitarSlinger says

    December 1, 2011 at 12:19 pm

    Marcus Walz’s VMax gets my vote , hands down

    Thanks aTo for the links !

  10. Nicolas says

    December 1, 2011 at 3:14 pm

    I believe that these 3 guys have taken different approaches : As Mr Lazareth and Waltz said, their intent was to keep the original personality and main design characteristics of the Vmax, while Sand’s one looks more like a Roland Sand bike that happens to be powered by a Vmax engine.
    In that perspective, I believe that Sand’s Max lost something in the process, it’s surely a cool design but that could have been done on any big machine, and it kills the Max’s personality imho.
    The german and the french Max look to have better proportions too … but hey, who am I to criticize I couldn’t do it myself and I’m not the one who commissioned and financed these cool bikes.

  11. Carolynne says

    December 2, 2011 at 3:00 pm

    I actually think that is a pretty nice looking bike, though its not the type I normally like. I am afraid to ask but would that be what you would call a “crotch rocket”? I thought though a lot of you guys did this for the chicks, so how come there is never good seating in the back? or maybe I have got it wrong and the whole idea is the wife/girlfriend cannot ride along?

  12. Rex says

    December 2, 2011 at 9:50 pm

    Strait up Roland…..Takes that rowdy bike and adds lightness and looks.

  13. Beef Wellington says

    December 3, 2011 at 8:30 am

    The only thing that looks remotely like a V-Rod is the headlight. RSD did the business on this one. Three different builders with three different styles that anyone can appreciate. But personally I prefer Roland Sands’ formula of less weight and more aggression.

Subscribe to The Kneeslider

Be the first to know when something's new!

Search articles on The Kneeslider


Do You need motorcycle parts?

Everything from normal maintenance items to hard to find out of production parts, look here first.
Be very specific for best results! Use part numbers if you have them.


Be sure to check out The Kneeslider’s new motorcycle manuals and literature listings.



Your purchases through ebay links on The Kneeslider may earn a commission for this site.



From The Kneeslider Archives

Ariel Square 4 wooden car

Ariel Square 4 Powered Custom Wooden Car

Kawasaki factory auto racing

Kawasaki Factory Auto Racing

RSS What’s happening on HorsePowerSports

  • DeLorean Motor Company is Coming Back with an Electric
  • Ford Shares Open Source CAD Files for 3D Printing Truck Accessories
  • If You Need a New Car, Buy an Old One Instead

Motorcycle Engine Powered Cars

Copyright © 2025 · The Kneeslider · Website by Crowe Computer Services
US Army veteran owned and operated
This website proudly Made in the USA!
Made in the USA