Thinking of selling my vmax and picking up a Invader. How do these compare? Will I enjoy as much as my vmax?
xsivhp
Active member
keep vmax . . . . hands down a better sled in my opinion.
Brad_69
New member
The Invader is in my opinion one of the best looking sleds as a leaf spring suspension sleds. As far as a comparison, their is NONE. 540 engine out preforms and more reliable. The handling is hands down better and even though the suspension isn't that great on the V-Max, it is far better the the Invader. Brad
YAMMIEGOD3:16
Active member
MOST LTDS I SAW WERE SLOW. SO SLOW THAT MANY UPDATED THEM WITH INTERCEPTOR 550 KITS. EVEN THAN THEY WERE DOGS. I BELLIEVE THE STANDARD INVADERS WOULD BLOW THEM OFF. VMAX WAY BETTER. 3:16 (yammie tony)
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This has got to be the first time I have heard someone state that the 540 engine was reliable. I have seen and had first hand ongoing issues with them.
800
New member
Well 540's weren't reliable, maybe the last 2 years were OK, and nor were the 4/6's, however, a good 4/6 in an invader chassis could run, they were way to over ported for the heavy LTD which they were put in. You can't convert a 4/6 to an Interceptor, the bottom end is different, but if you had the Int in the Invader chassis or an Interceptor, that heavy 540 was finished.
YAMMIEGOD3:16
Active member
ROTFLMAO !!!!!!!!! HEY 800, THAN TELL US WHAT KAWI DID WITH ALL THOSE 550 KITS THEY SOLD TO THEIR DEALERS. WHAT SLED THEY WORK ON ? SEEN MANY LTD,s WITH 550 KITS. 3:16 (yammie tony)
Gorkon
New member
My 83 V-Max was not beat in the ten years I owned it! Not until I got my 93 750-4! I flat out ate those Invaders……600 Indy's, Tigre's, Blizzards, you name it!
My brother in law bought a new 650 RXL in 92 to ‘finally’ beat up on my mean little Yamaha. Alas, he was quite upset, as my 9 year old, 8000k 540, was right beside him! Shortly thereafter I re-ringed my 540 and beat him! And my suspension was smoother than his RXL! The V-Max's suspension may not be much by today's standards, but it was, and still is light years ahead of riding a leafer!
I can't imagine more fun than throwing some TLC and new tech at a 540 V-Max. Flat slides, clutching, Ohlins struts, plastic skis! A little porting and some modern pipes! Never mind Invaders, you'll be giving new 600 owners fits!
I'd love another 540, and the 83 was by far the best looking and my favorite. If you don't want her, I'd take her, but, I just can't do it right now, trying to score a new Apex LTX GT to ride this winter!
So I guess you got my vote figured out. Best. G.
My brother in law bought a new 650 RXL in 92 to ‘finally’ beat up on my mean little Yamaha. Alas, he was quite upset, as my 9 year old, 8000k 540, was right beside him! Shortly thereafter I re-ringed my 540 and beat him! And my suspension was smoother than his RXL! The V-Max's suspension may not be much by today's standards, but it was, and still is light years ahead of riding a leafer!
I can't imagine more fun than throwing some TLC and new tech at a 540 V-Max. Flat slides, clutching, Ohlins struts, plastic skis! A little porting and some modern pipes! Never mind Invaders, you'll be giving new 600 owners fits!
I'd love another 540, and the 83 was by far the best looking and my favorite. If you don't want her, I'd take her, but, I just can't do it right now, trying to score a new Apex LTX GT to ride this winter!
So I guess you got my vote figured out. Best. G.
vt700
Member
I think it doesnt matter what a Yamaha runs against on here it will be faster.
800
New member
550's
Keep laughin Tony, he said 4/6, that is a 1980 4/6 LTD, a 4/6 is based on an Invader lower end. That will not accept 550 jugs. The 81-82 LTD's were 8 transfer port engines and looked identical the "square" Interceptor motor, those engines would accept 550 parts.
And since you know so much about this subject, how could I tell a 440 from a 550 motor from 10 feet away, just by looking at them?
I owned 16 Interceptors and numerous other Kawi's so I think I have this subject covered, oh, I still have one, and the triple "800" Kawi.
YAMMIEGOD3:16 said:
Keep laughin Tony, he said 4/6, that is a 1980 4/6 LTD, a 4/6 is based on an Invader lower end. That will not accept 550 jugs. The 81-82 LTD's were 8 transfer port engines and looked identical the "square" Interceptor motor, those engines would accept 550 parts.
And since you know so much about this subject, how could I tell a 440 from a 550 motor from 10 feet away, just by looking at them?
I owned 16 Interceptors and numerous other Kawi's so I think I have this subject covered, oh, I still have one, and the triple "800" Kawi.
Attachments
YAMMIEGOD3:16
Active member
HEY 800, ALL I POSTED WAS I SAW MANY LTD,s WITH 550 KITS. YOU POSTED THEY WON,T FIT . THINK I PAID ATTENTION TO WHAT YEAR THESE LTD,s WERE. 3:16 (yammie tony)
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this helps "ME" a lot. Thanks
800
New member
Nope 550's only fit on 81's and 82's not 4/6's which werer 80's they were the same color as 81's and easily mistaken
opsled
Active member
I would keep the Vmax unless you had a chance to replace it with an Intercepter. I don't think you would be happy with the 4/6 unless you are a die hard Kawi guy. Although some like the looks of the Kawi's (the Intercepter is the only one I like) They were all prone to many more problems than (most) comparable Yami's of the day and parts for them are getting VERY!!! hard to find. I have rode a few and found them to be heavy handling with a very hard seat. I've never been on an Intercepter but wasn't impressed with the speed of the others. I have also parted out 15 to 20 different Kawi's in the last few years and find them much harder to work on as their fit/finish and the way they are built isn't up to par with a Yamaha.
The Vmax 540 (in proper tune) will beat them all in every catagory with the possible exception of the Intercepter in the speed catagory but you will get a lot of argument on that issue. The Intercepter has a much higher value than a Vmax right now because of it's rarity and reputation for speed but I would rather ride the Vmax.
The Vmax 540 was actually a very reliable sled if properly maintained and the owner paid attention to the fuel he was running. I have seen many with well over 6000 miles on them and still running strong. They needed premium fuel and clean, properly jetted carbs for temps/altitude and they would run for a long time without issues.
83 was the first year for the Vmax and after the 81 SRX issues Yamaha was playing it safe when they set up the 83 Vmax from the factory. They were jetted fat and had milder porting than the following years. There were many Vmax's that did burn down but most of that can be attributed to improperly done mods, bad fuel or dirty, improperly adjusted carbs.
The carbs had slightly different jetting from right to left and it is not uncommon to see them switched around by someone that doesn't know. That can cause a lean condition on one side under certian conditions. The dealer we have hear has been selling Yamaha since 1973 and he said that most of the burn downs he saw in the Vmax 540 was during the first ride of the season. Guys that would run cheap fuel, fire it up with last years gas and peg the throttle across the lake spent a lot of money in uneeded repairs at his shop.
This is just my opinion but I hope it helps.
Good Luck, Phil (opsled)
The Vmax 540 (in proper tune) will beat them all in every catagory with the possible exception of the Intercepter in the speed catagory but you will get a lot of argument on that issue. The Intercepter has a much higher value than a Vmax right now because of it's rarity and reputation for speed but I would rather ride the Vmax.
The Vmax 540 was actually a very reliable sled if properly maintained and the owner paid attention to the fuel he was running. I have seen many with well over 6000 miles on them and still running strong. They needed premium fuel and clean, properly jetted carbs for temps/altitude and they would run for a long time without issues.
83 was the first year for the Vmax and after the 81 SRX issues Yamaha was playing it safe when they set up the 83 Vmax from the factory. They were jetted fat and had milder porting than the following years. There were many Vmax's that did burn down but most of that can be attributed to improperly done mods, bad fuel or dirty, improperly adjusted carbs.
The carbs had slightly different jetting from right to left and it is not uncommon to see them switched around by someone that doesn't know. That can cause a lean condition on one side under certian conditions. The dealer we have hear has been selling Yamaha since 1973 and he said that most of the burn downs he saw in the Vmax 540 was during the first ride of the season. Guys that would run cheap fuel, fire it up with last years gas and peg the throttle across the lake spent a lot of money in uneeded repairs at his shop.
This is just my opinion but I hope it helps.
Good Luck, Phil (opsled)
YAMMIEGOD3:16
Active member
GUY I RACE WITH HERE IN NY WAS A HUGE SNO-JET, THAN KAWI DEALER RIGHT UP TO THE END. HE ORDERED 10 INTERCEPTORS IN 1982 AND GOT ONE. HE THAN CALLED THE FACTORY AND THE REP TOLD HIM HE LUCKY YOU GOT THE ONE. I BELIEVE 611 WERE MADE. I RACED MANY WITH MY SRX,s. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, HE STILL HAS MANY NOS KAWI PARTS LEFT AND YES, 550 KITS FOR WHATEVER THEY FIT ON lol. 3:16 (yammie tony)
Brad_69
New member
As far as reliable, they were compared to the Kawasaki engines. If these engine sit around for any length of time the chrome plating flakes off the cylinders. But the Kawasaki Interceptor was no slouch for its time. I have Snow Goer Mag. that it was a little slower that the 82 9500 Blizzard. Brad
800
New member
Well
Then maybe you should pay a little more attention, 550 parts only fit 81-2's. The 1980 4/6 LTD was all by itself, based on the Invader engine. As well, I guess you didn't call your dealer friend and find out what the noticable diff was between the motors, besides the writng on the head, a 440 has 6 head bolts per cylinder, and the 550 has 8.
There were 601 Interceptors made, #1 was sold in Nebraska, never went to get it, but I did locate the owner, and 601 was sold in Lake Villa IL. Back in the day we had an "in" at Kawi, and we had the list of warranty registrations and tracked them down. We were collecting the even numered sleds.
Your dealer over there must be huge, the largest dealer in the midwest at the time, Nielsens, only got 4, I had to wait for a trade in to come in before I got my first one.
You vintage guys may have read about the "motherload" of Kawi's just sold, 40 sleds, a semi load of NOS parts, that would have been me.
Zach,
Too bad You didn't say something earlier, we had a 1980 4/6 with 116mi. on it that went with the bunch, and it may be available, I know the buyer is selling some of them off, I could ask him what he is selling if you really want one.
YAMMIEGOD3:16 said:
Then maybe you should pay a little more attention, 550 parts only fit 81-2's. The 1980 4/6 LTD was all by itself, based on the Invader engine. As well, I guess you didn't call your dealer friend and find out what the noticable diff was between the motors, besides the writng on the head, a 440 has 6 head bolts per cylinder, and the 550 has 8.
There were 601 Interceptors made, #1 was sold in Nebraska, never went to get it, but I did locate the owner, and 601 was sold in Lake Villa IL. Back in the day we had an "in" at Kawi, and we had the list of warranty registrations and tracked them down. We were collecting the even numered sleds.
Your dealer over there must be huge, the largest dealer in the midwest at the time, Nielsens, only got 4, I had to wait for a trade in to come in before I got my first one.
You vintage guys may have read about the "motherload" of Kawi's just sold, 40 sleds, a semi load of NOS parts, that would have been me.
Zach,
Too bad You didn't say something earlier, we had a 1980 4/6 with 116mi. on it that went with the bunch, and it may be available, I know the buyer is selling some of them off, I could ask him what he is selling if you really want one.
YAMMIEGOD3:16
Active member
HEY 800, ACTUAL HE WAS BIGGEST DEALER IN NY NO I DID,NT CALL HIM BECAUSE I DON,T CARE. THEY WERE DOGS, PEROID. WANT HIS NUMBER YOU CAN CALL HIM. NOW SECOND TIME ON THIS. I REMEMBER THOSE LTD,S WERE CONVERTED TO 550 KITS. SORRY I NEVER PAID ATTENTION TOO KAWI 4/6 BECAUSE THEY WERE BEHIND ME GETTING THEIR *** KICKED BY MY 440 SRX,s. rotflmao. 3:16 (yammie tony)
Gorkon
New member
"I have Snow Goer Mag. that it was a little slower that the 82 9500 Blizzard"
There you have it, the Blizzard was a MUTT! It's not a question of bias, just the facts.
I can't speak to the reliability issue, because honestly, I never owned one and never really paid attention. At the time, there was no reason to pay attention, cause like Tony, there was no tailights in front of me. G.
There you have it, the Blizzard was a MUTT! It's not a question of bias, just the facts.
I can't speak to the reliability issue, because honestly, I never owned one and never really paid attention. At the time, there was no reason to pay attention, cause like Tony, there was no tailights in front of me. G.