Vmax Tips

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Start by having a look at Paul Sayegh's Yamaha V-Max motorcycle tips page. The most complete technical resource for Maxers on the net. Here you'll find most anything the DIY Maxer needs to know.
This is where you can get the famous "Tech clinic videos". (If you prefer to have them on CD you can also get them from Johan Kjellberg on our Shop page).

Join one of the V-Max technical mailing lists, for Vmax technical discussions only. Highly recommended!

Warning! Low oil pressure caused by defective O-ring!

This was first reported by Justin Lassy on Terry Hayden's website (see "Links"):

"If anybody has ever had their oil pan off, they saw a bunch of metal plumbing... all these are oil feed lines. One portion is of concern... there is a feed line that comes off up near the oil filter then eventually splits off into four smaller tubes. (All of this tubing is removable, and is simply held in by the oil pan and O-ring). Almost every time I have had a V-Max motor apart, an orange O-ring has been partially blown out of this plumbing. This means poor oil pressure or at least less than it ought to be. One of the motors had a blown transmission, the other had a *massive* rod failure (had to replace a couple of rods, cases, etc... a $5.5k repair). PCW has found a special seal made by Kawasaki to help rectify this problem. I have the part on order and will report how it works as soon as I get a chance."

The problem is due to two reasons - 1. The hole where the O-ring on the oil gallery pipe is seated is too shallow. 2. The rubber spacer that sits between the pipe and the oil pan is too soft.
The first problem can't be a 100% solved but you can compress the tip of the tube slightly to make the o-ring seat deeper inside the hole. It's a good idea to install a fresh o-ring while doing this, especially if the old one looks even slightly damaged. The second problem is fixed by manufacturing a harder material spacer that won't compress and thereby ensure that the pipe stays in place. Make sure you get get the right measurements to make the spacer thick enough to keep the pipe snugly in place without putting too much pressure.

O-ring and oil gallery pipe

To date (01-06-25) this problem has been found on five out of five bikes in our club that checked. Different year models and origins (Canada, US and Europe)

If you don't want to open up your oil pan to check you can mount an oil pressure gauge instead.

Installing an oil pressure gauge

The gauge should have a range of 0-100 psi.

The sender can be mounted beside the oil level window where there's a large hex aluminium bolt, threads are 20 x 1.5. Replace this bolt and drill the new one to accommodate an 8 mm banjo fitting. Connect a steel braided line from the banjo to the gauge.

Overview of installation	Sender mounted
Close-up	The gauge

You can get all parts at a hydraulics shop

Normal oil pressure for the Vmax is approximately:
Cold engine: 4,4 - 5,6 bar / 63 - 80 psi at 1000 rpm
Warm engine: 0,25 bar / 3,6 psi at 1000rpm, 5 bar at 6000 rpm

Make your own lowered, Sportmax type, seat, by Steve Morris:

"Basically, I'm 5' 7", 150 lbs, 30" ish inside leg. There were times when I felt I needed more stability with my feet down, like when there's a strong crosswind and you're waiting at the lights. I liked the look of the Sportmax seat but couldn't be without mine while it was sent to the US in exchange (also, shipping charges made it an expensive option). I looked around for a reliable upholsterer, found an excellent bike-friendly guy and showed him what I wanted.

He unstitched the OE seat and removed all the foam. He then cut & installed two layers of foam ('comfort' foam on top of a layer of base/harder foam). The cover was pulled into the shape I wanted (as Sportmax) then restiched & glued or stapled onto the base.

Result: the seat looks & feels like a Sportmax, 2" - 3" lower, & MUCH better than the OE seat! Also, you are now sitting IN the bike, not perched on top...

Importantly, I found other benefits, too :
(i) less buffeting around the chest / shoulders
(ii) much easier to manoeuvre / 'walk' the Max with feet
(iii) better handling (honest!) - I found it much easier throwing the Max over when taking corners & bends.

View any of the US VMax sites to see how popular the mod is. Oh, I nearly forgot, my friendly upholsterer did the seat in his spare time and charged me the grand sum of £25.00..."

Solid motormounts
One of the biggest improvements on Mr. Max's handling is to stiffen up the frame by replacing the rubber motormounts with solid ones. This slightly increases vibrations, but those who have done this mod agree that the benefits are more than worth it.
You can buy solidmounts made out of Delrin (a kind of hi-tech nylon material) or aluminium ones from several of the vmax speciality shops.
Another option is to make them yourself using the drawing below, courtesy of Johan Kjellberg.

Solidmount drawing	Scott McKelveys aluminium solidmounts
Bike stripped for installation	Close-up of the two front right mounts

You'll find detailed instructions on how to install them here.