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Vmax HyperModified

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Vmax Hyper Modified - Roland Sands, Marcus Walz and Ludovic Lazareth take on the Vmax
Vmax Hyper Modified - Roland Sands, Marcus Walz and Ludovic Lazareth take on the Vmax

This looks like it could get really interesting. Roland Sands, Marcus Walz and Ludovic Lazareth are building what is called, Vmax Hyper Modified, scheduled to be introduced at EICMA next month. We all know what these guys are capable of, the idea of turning them loose on a new Vmax seems like the right thing to do.

I’m not sure if this is one bike or 3 bikes, but either way, I expect the results to be far more satisfying than Yamaha’s factory effort. Stay tuned.

Link: Roland Sands
Link: Vmax Hyper Modified

Video below:

Comments

  1. The V-Max already is a Petty Hemi in a ’65 Valiant. When these guys get done with it, it’ll be a beast on the order of the Kraken. Cor Blimey!

  3. It’s certainly great to see the VMax placed in the hands of some very credible enthusiast custom builders. The ‘Max is one of the few bikes that really has its own style and flavor about it on the market, and probably doesn’t get enough due credit.

    Always unmistakingly distinctive in stock form alone, it will be cool to see what these guys do in their bids to customize one of the coolest bikes ever to emerge from Japan.

    • The Vmax is one of those bikes with an appearance that’s very hard to change. I owned two in the past and no matter what you do, it’s always looks the same. It’s also very easy to get really wrong, we’ve all seen those, and very difficult to do anything radical. Lazareth did a nice job some years ago and it will be interesting to see what these guys do.

      Yamaha hasn’t been selling as many as they would like and these customs might get people thinking when they see what a top builder can do.

      • Hi Paul,

        I agree with Sick Cylinder in that the reason behind Yam’s low sales numbers on the Vmax is the price point of the new model, I believe around $20K. With bikes like the VRod, Hammer, and now the Diavel in the same market segment of muscle cruiser and with a slightly lower price point, it’s become a tough area to defend for the Vmax.

        Yamaha tried by raising the bar only to get caught out by the slumping economy. I have always liked the Vmax and the latest rendition is no exception. I am anxious to see what these guys come up with, keep us posted.

        Thanks!

      • Paul,
        I see what you’re saying. Most V-maxes tend to end up looking the same even when modified. I for one do it in my own style: http://www.modellbilder.se/photosession.php?id=29064
        I’ve just finished another V-max even more radically built. It’ll be very interesting to see how the three master-builders compromise. They have such different styles.
        And yes, the new V-max is well overpriced! But I’d love to get hold of an engine…

  4. I had the opportunity to check on some of Lazareth’s creation back in the days when I used to live 1 mile away from his shop, it’s not always everybody’s taste but always impressive, to say the least …. to be continued ….

  5. Yamaha won’t sell many because of their very high prices and also because the new Ducati Diavel is so much better as well as cheaper.

    It will be interesting to see what is unveiled – I presume it will be three bikes.

  6. Seriously …. Yamaha can sell these overpriced lumps for half of what they want and still come out ahead.

    Anyway …. I saw a guy around here in August with a new Max and he had two fart cans … the kind you can buy at WallMart and put on your Hundai ….. one on each side.

    The thing was LOUD … even from 200 yards ahead in traffic.
    Up close the windows were vibrating ….. big … loud …. fast and just nasty. Not for everyone but for those of us who like it …. totally addicting.

    So if mssrs Sands Walz and Ludovic are going to put their hands on it … I want to see the result.