Today, I wanna talk about a real beast from the past, the 1985 Yamaha Vmax. This is not just another bike, it’s a legend on two wheels.
I remember seeing this thing for the first time and thinking, “Wow, that’s a monster.” It’s got this massive V4 engine, and I heard it puts out like 145 horsepower, which is insane for a bike from back then. I knew I had to get my hands on one.
So, I started looking around, checking out classifieds, you know, the usual places. And let me tell you, finding a 1985 model wasn’t easy. A lot of these bikes have been modified or, you know, not really taken care of. But I was determined.
The Hunt
- Started scouring online classifieds and forums.
- Checked out local bike shops and asked around.
- Almost gave up a few times, but something kept me going.
Finally, after weeks of searching, I found one. It wasn’t in perfect condition, but it was a start. The owner was asking for a decent price, and after a bit of haggling, we struck a deal. I was so happy and I couldn’t wait to get it home and start working on it.
The Restoration
The first thing I did was give it a good clean. Years of grime and dust, it took forever. Then, I started checking all the mechanical parts, you know, engine, brakes, suspension, the works. There were a few things that needed fixing, some parts that needed replacing, but overall, it was in better shape than I expected. Got new tires.
Rebuilt the carburetors, and changed all the fluids. But, I was not really satisfied. I wanted to make this bike perfect.
Going Full Throttle
So, I started looking for original parts, which was another challenge in itself. But, I managed to find most of them, some from old collectors, some from online stores. I even managed to find an original exhaust system, which was like finding gold.
I repainted the whole thing, got the seat reupholstered, and basically gave it a complete makeover. It took months of work, a lot of late nights in the garage, but it was all worth it.
The Result
When I finally finished, it was like a dream come true. The bike looked amazing, and it ran like a dream. I remember the first time I took it out for a ride after the restoration, it was an incredible feeling. The power, the sound, the looks, it was all there. I would cruise it around the local block to show off.
This 1985 Yamaha Vmax is more than just a bike to me. It’s a piece of history, a symbol of power and design. And I’m proud to be its owner and to have brought it back to its former glory. It took a lot of time and effort but trust me, every bit of it was worth it. A few years later I did end up selling it for $4 to a young buck, and I hope he loved it as much as I did.
