2008 Yamaha VMAX

A second-generation VMAX, this 2009MY example was first registered on the 11th of December 2008. Purchased new by the vendor from Flitwick motorcycles in Bedfordshire and believed to be one of just 26 UK bikes that year, it was the very first VMAX to be registered in the Britain, a fact that has been authenticated in an email from Yamaha UK itself.

Interestingly, the vendor was asked if he wanted to delay registering it until January 2009 to gain the new registration number, something he declined. He also turned down numerous requests from motorcycling magazines to review it, all of whom were keen to be first out of the block by testing the first UK-registered bike.

Used only sparingly since then as part of his collection of cars and bikes, it has still covered under 3,000 miles from new and has never seen rain. Wearing a recent MOT certificate and freshly serviced, it has been lightly modified with a number of factory approved or OEM modifications, all of which have been fitted by Flitwick Motorcycles, the supplying dealer.

What can we say about the bodywork other than what little there is still looks like new? The new and repainted wheels match the factory aluminum air scoops perfectly, and yet the work has been done so discreetly that you’re unlikely to notice that it’s anything but stock.

Well, unless you are especially eagle-eyed, in which case you’ll have noticed that the factory black paintwork has a very subtle metallic burgundy flip to it under the right lighting conditions.

Afficionados might also have noticed the VMAX’s lower stance and seat but, for us, the highlight is the hideously expensive but utterly gorgeous Akrapovic titanium exhaust system. As you know, it’s a scientific fact that titanium makes everything better and this is an especially gorgeous example of form meeting function. Obviously, it sounds as wonderful as it looks and liberates a few extra bhp into the bargain.

The badging, light lenses and fasteners are also like new, as is the black leather seat, which is neatly offset by subtle red stitching.

The wheels are, of course, like new (hell, they are almost new…) and are fitted with matching Metzeler Marathon tyres – and you all know how we feel about matching tyres by now, don’t you? The front might be a modest 120/70ZR18 but the rear is now a fearsome 240/40VR18.

Stuffed full of drive-by-wire and similarly high-tech trickery, while it is limited to a top speed of 137mph the electronic brain is programmed to recognize drag-style full-bore runs, under which conditions it boosts the top speed by another 6mph. Thus ridden (aided by the programmable strobe light on the instrument cluster to indicate the perfect change-up point), sub-10 second quarter miles are available, traction permitting, of course…

The VMAX has been modified with the following OEM or Yamaha-approved aftermarket parts, all of which have been fitted by Flitwick motorcycles, the supplying dealer:

• A £1,700 cat-delete Akrapovic titanium exhaust system, which releases a little bit more horsepower and, more importantly, makes an incredible noise. Please see the video for a taste of how good it sounds but you really need to hear it in person to fully appreciate its bowel-loosening note.

• A factory lowering kit comprising front springs and a rear lowering bracket and damper.

• A lower kickstand.

• A factory lowered seat.

• A factory 240mm rear wheel plus a new standard factory front wheel. Both wheels have been repainted in silver/grey/shadow to complement the factory aluminium air scoops. Oh, and those air scoops are as functional as they are attractive as they form part of the bike’s ram-air induction system; this is a very clever motorbike and everything there has a (usually high-tech) function.

The owner tells us that all of the parts are extremely valuable and rare (the chassis work alone set him back £3,200) and, more importantly, the vendor guessed that his bike would become a classic one day and so retained all the original parts.

So, it comes with its original black wheels and tyres, the full exhaust system, kickstand and springs, etc. All-in-all, the vendor estimates that there is at least £5,000-worth of parts, all of which come as part of the final hammer price. This means that the new owner can easily take it back to stock should they wish at no extra cost.

The vendor even commissioned Flitwick to fit four new spark plugs at a cost of almost £300 in August 2020 as he was keen to present the bike in the very best possible condition. He succeeded, and he tells us that it is running very well and rides as it should.

As you can see, the engine and mechanical components are almost obsessively clean. This, along with its one-owner-from-new status and low-mileage, raises this collector-grade example to full-blown museum reference quality.

You think we exaggerate? Just take a look at the fins on the radiator then and think about the care that’s gone into maintaining them in that condition. Or the fact that the factory chalk inspection marks are still visible on some fasteners. Yup, that’s right – this bike has never seen rain, much less a jet wash…

The VMAX comes with all the original booklets and wallet plus the two keys and toolkit as well as the original sales invoice. But then you’d already guessed that, hadn’t you?

The Yamaha’s MOT certificate, which is valid until August 2021, garnered the bike’s first advisory point. Yes, it’s first ever advisory was for a noisy exhaust, something that clearly rankles with the vendor, his bike’s clean-sheet pass history being marred by a comment made by the garage that fitted the exhaust in the first place and whom hadn’t felt the need to mention it during any of the previous tests…

Still, that aside you can live with a comment like that to enjoy that glorious noise, can’t you? (And, if you can’t, then the original exhaust is supplied with the bike.)

It has a number of expired MOT certificates plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this bike has been maintained to a very good standard.

If you’d like to inspect it prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

NB: The cherished registration number is being retained by the vendor and an age-appropriate number will be fitted.

The V-Max was a bona fide classic from Day One, and the second-generation VMAX built on that already stellar reputation. This means that many owners recognized the model’s potential for future classic status from day one, looking after them with an eye to their future collectability.

Which is what happened here. Carefully curated, it benefits from a few prudently judged, factory sanctioned modifications to better suit its owner’s mood. And yet, he was canny enough to retain all the factory parts to enable its second owner to convert it back to its original specification should they value originality over performance (and noise!).

With a guide price of somewhere between £15,000 and £22,000, we can see the VMAX drawing a huge amount of attention from collectors who are weary of seeing tired and neglected examples being touted for too much money.

NB: We are also selling the vendor’s KTM Duke II.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular bike is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.