Jay Gleason & his 1985 Vmax

Interviewed & taped by Wendy J. Wiencek. A gift to Jay from Yamaha after he set the first world record, quickest & fastest production motorycle, 1984 (on a quarter mile drag strip).

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Vmax
• V-Max
• Yamaha
• drag
• strip
• fastest
• quickest
• motorcycle

[wetweasel56]

Does anyone know if Yamaha detuned the Vmax in the US?

I know the European models were detuned but did they ever do that to the US models?

Tanks

[mysticmama]

Jay says the US models were not detuned. Europe has a limit on the amount of horsepower motorcycles are permitted to have, but that limit doesn't exist in the US.

[rippinandrunnin]

A HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! search youtube for " V Max on Ice" enjoy ;)

[rippinandrunnin]

You need to advance the cam timing 1.5 degrees on any Vmax with a serial number over 2500 or so (Not sure exactly) some late 85 models and all 86 and later models. Most of my guys don't want to pay for the mod and it sucks to have to tear the upper apart when your doing 2nd gear.

[rippinandrunnin]

Sure is, Done it, you can use the slot method but its not my favorite option. I used the CNC and punched new holes 88.5 degrees from the original ones. I don't know if the UK sprockets are different or the did something else for the UK. I found out by accident I had 2 motors apart and i was playing with the sprockets and when I tried to match them up they were of about 1.5 degrees. You may try and google some up,

[wetweasel56]

Then there must be a fix for that, eh? Maybe just figure out which direction to move them and how much then slot the holes in the sprocket a bit and weld up the side you moved them from. I had an 85 model that I know was faster than the new ones. Lots more torque down low and all along the rev range.

Thanks for the info!

[rippinandrunnin]

I was blown away by the 85 superbowl commercial with Jay Ripping it up on the V-Max, I was sold! Hook line and sinker, the next morning i was at the YAMAHA dealer plucking down a payment, I think it was may of 85 when it came in, Purple "Dark Amethyst" AWESOME!! I loved that thing 25 years and 3 V-Max's later and I agree with Jay 100%. I tried a few times to match that 10:33, NOT! Jay is the Man !

[rippinandrunnin]

They were slightly detuned.

[rippinandrunnin]

not to the degree they did in the UK. the first 2500 or so that hit the states were HOT (I had one of each)and complaints were lodged so Yamaha dialed them back. For along time i couldn't figure out how, I finally discovered they had retarded the cam timing by moving the holes in the cam sprocket. Same part #

[wetweasel56]

Thank you so much for the quick answer, mysticmama. And lots of happiness to ya!