2009 Star V-Max - First Ride

To make the engine more compact the valvetrain has a hybrid drive, with each intake camshaft driven by a chain and the exhaust cams driven via gears. This also allows the included valve angle to be closed up to 29 degrees, further reducing space in the cylinder head.

While the engine displaces almost 500cc more than the old version it is seven millimeters shorter front-to-back and more than one inch shorter in the cylinder head area thanks to the 5-degree-smaller Vee angle. Features borrowed from the company's sportbikes include YCC-I (two-position intake stacks), YCC-T (ride-by-wire throttle), ramp-type slipper clutch, fracture-split carburized connecting rods, and ceramic composite lining for the open-deck cylinders.

The 52mm Soqi conventional fork is fully adjustable and has a titanium oxide coating. Six-pot radial-mount calipers are borrowed from the R1 and grab wave-type 320mm rotors. The master cylinder is a radial-pump unit, and the ABS uses the same parts found in the FJR1300. Bridgestone BT-028 tires are sportbike wide but 18-inch rather than 17, and were designed specifically for the V-Max.

The swingarm is a cast aluminum piece with the shaft housing incorporated into the design. A single Soqi shock and its linkage are practically hidden inside but adjustments are made easy by remote access. This is the rebound adjuster peeking out behind the left-side exhaust. The shock's remote reservoir and its compression adjuster are on the right-hand side.

The cast aluminum frame uses the engine as a stressed member and bears a surprising resemblance to the company's sportbike designs. The subframe is a combination of extrusions and controlled-fill die castings.