Yamaha V Max 1200 VS Honda CB1300X4?

[Markgenesis]

Thinking about something different in the new year, older/classic, been looking at the 1st Gen V Max, bike i have my eye on is a 95 Jap import so full power (145 bhp or 127 at the rear wheel), bike has 18K on the clock, completely standard and looks mint.

Doing some research i know about the brakes, handling and also high speed wobble, some say the motor is basically too much for the chassis, what concerns me is the second gear issue, they are known to pop out of second requiring a huge strip down to fix, wondering if this is really common ?, is it only on higher miles/hard ridden bikes ?, obviously a test ride when buying but the problem could rear it's head after i've bought the bike, also the 150 rear tire seems really skinny for a bike with that power and weight, they seem to be limited for tire choice (rims can only take a certain type/make ?)

The Max sounds amazing though, especially with Delkevic or Supertrap cans, legendary bike, cult classic.

Also been looking at the CB1300X4, scarce in the UK as they were never sold here, all are imports, looking at a 98 bike with 14K on the clock, mint looking and standard, TBH to my eyes far better looking than the Mad Max, later bike so maybe more advanced brakes/chassis/handling ? (Max was an early 80's design and never really changed, X4 came out in 97), X4 is about the same weight as the Max but has better tires (190 on the rear. same as my Gen 1 Busa). The X4 only puts out 100bhp which doesn't sound much with 270kg but don't think that would bother me greatly as i cant see it being slow.

[Merch131]

Did 80 thousand miles on a , never had an issue with the engine, 2nd gear problems usually happen at high miles or bikes which have been thrashed. A steering damper, progressive fork springs and the so called Furber fix to the headset bearings moves the weave from 80 to 100mph. A great engine, let down by the chassis, though later years have better forks. The Honda will handle better, but will be bland in comparison

[Markgenesis]

Merch131 said:

Did 80 thousand miles on a , never had an issue with the engine, 2nd gear problems usually happen at high miles or bikes which have been thrashed. A steering damper, progressive fork springs and the so called Furber fix to the headset bearings moves the weave from 80 to 100mph. A great engine, let down by the chassis, though later years have better forks. The Honda will handle better, but will be bland in comparison

Cheers, i thought miles/use would be a factor, the head bearing fix is a solid washer to replace the rubber one ?, that's what i'm also warry off, if i go for the Honda i'll end up wishing i'd gone for the V max, the motor is the thing, the three bikes i have just now all have inline fours, seems daft buying another inline four, the V four would be totally different, the V Max looks slightly easier to work on too with the fake tank.

[carinaman]

All V-Fours sound good. I'd not heard of the Honda before. It's not a V-Max is it.