Cruisers
1999Yamaha VMX 1200 V-Max
29 fields on record
The 1999 Yamaha VMX 1200 V-Max is an iconic muscle cruiser with its famous V-Boost system. Its liquid-cooled 1,198cc V4 drives a five-speed gearbox and shaft. A 765 mm seat and 15-litre tank give it a dragster stance and fierce straight-line character.
- Capacity
- 1198.0 ccm
- Engine
- V four, four-stroke
- Gearbox
- 5-speed
- Dry weight
- 262.0 kg
- Seat height
- 765 mm
- Power
- 140.0 HP (103.0 kW)
What’s new for the 1999 Yamaha VMX 1200 V-Max
vs the 1998| Spec | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 143.0 HP (106.6 kW) | 140.0 HP (103.0 kW) |
| Torque | 114.7 Nm (11.7 kgf-m or 84.6 ft.lbs) | 101.0 Nm (10.3 kgf-m or 74.5 ft.lbs) |
| Top speed | — | 230.0 km/h (142.9 mph) |
| Wet weight | — | 270.0 kg (595.2 pounds) |
| Compression | 10.5:1 | not listed |
How it rides
Editorial estimate from the spec sheet - not lab tested- Best for
- Built as a straight-line power cruiser, this bike exists to deliver brutal acceleration and a menacing V4 soundtrack rather than to carve corners or cover long distances efficiently.
- Built for
- A raw, muscle-bound icon with brutal midrange punch, shaft-drive reliability, and a cult following built on attitude over refinement.
- Not ideal for
- Not a good fit for new riders, anyone seeking nimble cornering, or those wanting a comfortable long-distance touring machine.
Scores are derived from the spec sheet using the same model across every bike, so they compare like for like.
Will it fit you?
Worked out in your browser - nothing is sent to usReliability & safety
Bike Reliability score, safety recalls and owner complaintsBike Reliability
How the score works →67
out of 100Good
The 1999 Yamaha VMX 1200 V-Max passed its annual roadworthiness test first time 85.6% of the time, 4.3 points above expected for bikes of the same age and mileage. That beats 67% of models.
All years of this model: 66 / 100 (good) from 14,206 tests.
85.6%Passed first time
8.3%Failed outright
6.1%Fixed during test
18,000Typical miles
2,549Tests
Pass rate by miles ridden
All years of this model.
Score by year first registered
61
48
53
53
65
65
67
70
61
77
83
67
'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04
Against its rivals · ranks 4 of 6
| # | Model (all years) | Score | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harley-Davidson Softail Heritage Classic | 91 Excellent | 106 |
| 2 | Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide | 84 Excellent | 705 |
| 3 | Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom | 67 Good | 1,794 |
| 4 | Yamaha VMX 1200 V-Max | 66 Good | 14,206 |
| 5 | Honda VT 1100 C2 Shadow ACE | 59 Average | 151 |
| 6 | Harley-Davidson XLH Sportster 1200 | 36 Below average | 718 |
Rivals are the most-viewed bikes on MotorcycleDB in the same category and engine size, from within three years of this model.
From British annual roadworthiness tests, 2005-2025. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (DVSA MOT test data, Great Britain). How Bike Reliability works.
Engine
- Capacity
- 1198.0 ccm
- Power
- 140.0 HP (103.0 kW)
- Torque
- 101.0 Nm (10.3 kgf-m)
- Engine type
- V four, four-stroke
- Power/weight ratio
- 0.5344 HP/kg (dry)
- Bore x stroke
- 76.0 x 66.0 mm
- Cooling system
- Liquid
- Fuel system
- Carburettor
- Starting
- Electric
- Valves per cylinder
- 4
Transmission
- Gearbox
- 5-speed
- Transmission type
- Manual
- Final drive
- Shaft
Performance
- Top speed
- 230.0 km/h (142.9 mph)
Dimensions & weight
- Wheelbase
- 1590 mm
- Seat height
- 765 mm
- Dry weight
- 262.0 kg
- Wet weight
- 270.0 kg
- Fuel capacity
- 15.00 litres
Chassis & suspension
- Front wheel travel
- 140 mm
- Rear wheel travel
- 100 mm
Brakes & wheels
- Front brakes
- Dual disc
- Front brakes diameter
- 298 mm
- Rear brakes
- Single disc
- Rear brakes diameter
- 282 mm
- Front tyre
- 110/90-V18
- Rear tyre
- 150/90-V15
Other
- Comments
- Some markets got a restricted 72 kW (98 hp) version.
Specs last verified against published sources: .
Compiled from manufacturer documentation and user contributions, corrected on an ongoing basis. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
What changed, year to year
Differences highlighted| Specification | 1994 | 1996 | 1999 | 2001 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1198 cc | 1198 cc | 1198 cc | 1198 cc | 1198 cc |
| Dry weight | 262 kg | 262 kg | 262 kg | 262 kg | 262 kg |
| Seat height | 765 mm | 765 mm | 765 mm | 785 mm | 765 mm |
| Fuel capacity | 15 L | 15 L | 15 L | 15 L | 15 L |
| Bike Reliability ⓘ | 48 Average | 53 Average | 67 Good | 61 Good | 83 Excellent |
Illustrative - generated automatically by diffing the year records already on file, not a manufacturer-published changelog.
Rider Reviews
Common questions
What is the engine size of the Yamaha VMX 1200 V-Max?
The 1999 Yamaha VMX 1200 V-Max has a Capacity of 1198.0 ccm (73.11 cubic inches).
What engine power does the Yamaha VMX 1200 V-Max have?
The 1999 Yamaha VMX 1200 V-Max has a Power of 140.0 HP (103.0 kW).
How many gears does the Yamaha VMX 1200 V-Max have?
The 1999 Yamaha VMX 1200 V-Max has a Gearbox of 5-speed.
What is the torque of the Yamaha VMX 1200 V-Max?
The 1999 Yamaha VMX 1200 V-Max has a Torque of 101.0 Nm (10.3 kgf-m or 74.5 ft.lbs).
How much does the Yamaha VMX 1200 V-Max weigh?
The 1999 Yamaha VMX 1200 V-Max has a Dry weight of 262.0 kg (577.6 pounds).
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Similar bikes
Same category, weighted similarity
1999 Yamaha VMAX
1198 cc · 262 kg · 765 mm
1998 Yamaha VMX 1200 V-Max
1198 cc · 262 kg · 765 mm
2002 Harley-Davidson XL 1200S Sportster 1200 Sport
1199 cc · 240 kg · 711 mm
2002 Honda VT 1100 C3 Shadow Aero
1099 cc · 279 kg · 724 mm
2003 Harley-Davidson XL 1200S Sportster 1200 Sport
1199 cc · 240 kg · 711 mm
2002 Honda VT 1100 C Shadow Spirit
1099 cc · 251 kg · 729 mm
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