From the Archives: Yamaha V-Max

1985 was an eventful year. Bobbysocks secured Norway's victory in the Melodi Grand Prix with the song "La det swinge", a-ha had their big breakthrough with "Take on me", and Yamaha unleashed the raw-skinned V-Max which, with its brutally strong 1200cc V4 engine, scared the hell out of its competitors. Yamaha also wrote the following in its sales brochure: "When we wheeled out the V-Max , the opposition stayed home".

Yamaha came into its own in 1985, and with V-Max they literally showed their muscles. It oozed power from the compact custom, a motorcycle that aroused enthusiasm among owners, and a portion of awe among competitors, because neither Suzuki , Honda or Kawasaki could boast a similar model in the same segment, and with the same brutality in terms of power.

With a power plant of a V4 engine that in full power version delivered a whopping 145 hp, it was nothing short of brutality on two wheels, and no machine for novices.