Greetings
So this year I was pumped to have purchased my dream motorcycle a Gen 2 Yamaha VMAX 1700. Phenomenal bike, I did a bunch of work to it to make it more long distance worthy (larger tank, Corbin seat, windshield, hard luggage, heated grips) and used it as a daily rider. Fast as hell and rode really great at speed... 190WHP is awesome... Bike also has a full exhaust, Re-flashed ECU and modified air/box.
Unfortunately a month / 5K miles later I encountered an emergency situation that required a slow speed maneuver (Jack-wagon from out of state started backing up into me and not looking) I executed the maneuver correctly but severely injured my right elbow and after 100 miles of riding I was in so much pain I had to take it easy. I took a month off to rest my elbow (back to daily riding my 2018 Bonneville T120 that has 78K miles). 2 weeks ago, sick of seeing the Mighty Max sit I took it out for a ride, 100 miles into the ride my elbow started to hurt, not bad but prevalent. Made it home iced and got back on the T120, last weekend I decided to winterize the Max and needed to fill the tank with some E free gas... Coming into the gas station AGAIN another out of state Jack-wagon pulled out and almost hit me. AGAIN the same slow speed emergency maneuver and this time I felt my muscle contract but my arm didn't move... The elbow got really screwed up and the dull pain roared back to excruciating... So now after multiple doctors appointment and on a PT regiment for 2 months there hoping I can retain some of my strength from the arm. The team of medical professionals are all warning if I keep riding the VMAX especially doing these low speed maneuvers that I risk permanently injuring the joint. They recommend I go lighter, I want the power of the Max so.... I started to look at the FZ-10 as a viable replacement (roughly same power to weight).
So I had a few Q's.
- What is the fuel range of the FZ-10 during spirited riding?
- What is the fuel range of the FZ-10 while touring or conservative riding
- How well does the FZ-10 tour?
- Is there any aftermarket ranges extenders (IE re-flash or larger fuel tank?)
- Heated grips an option?
- How is the maintenance schedule? Oil Changes? Valve intervals?
I rode a Gen 1 FZ1 for the better part of 80K miles in 3 years and it was the best bike I've owned in terms of predictability and reliability. I bought my Bonneville T120 brand new in 2018 and I should be able to finish the season off with 80K miles on the odometer. I bought the VMAX to replace the Bonneville as my daily rider but I just can't ride it. I'm looking hard at the FZ-10 (cruise control is a huge thing for me now) or a used FJ-09. I would love the power of the FZ-10 but I would feel even a FJ-09 would be bounds quicker than my Bonneville.
Current VMAX up for sale:
Setup for weekend riding:
Setup for daily riding and touring:
T120 Setup for casual riding (where I want it to be starting next season)
How it currently sits back to touring and daily riding duty (it's been cold and snowing up here in Vermont hence the huge screen)
Feedback would be great, Sorry if I went off on a random story here but I am thinking the FZ-10 is going to be a better bike for my injury in healing and preventing another injury. The VMAX is AWESOME but it just isn't going to work for me in the long term...
Thanks for having me!
Best,
-Jedz
Had a 2009 Vmax and put 33K miles on it. Great bike but HEAVY and LONG wheelbase took a lot of the joy out of riding it. Also had it set up for touring.
Sold it and bought a 2013 Yamaha FJR. Great for touring but only okay in the real twisties. And all my Tn, Ga and NC riding buds sold their Warriors and bought naked bikes.......So I bought one too!Handling in the tight stuff is awesome, power is NEAR but not Gen2 Vmax power (like 2nd gear roll on burnouts!) but the weight and wheelbase differences are staggering!
Shoot me a PM with particular questions. Oh yeah, both have ONE THING IN COMMON: TERRIBLE FUEL MILEAGE!
You will LOVE the Fz/Mt10, trust me