V-Max 1200

1996 Yamaha V-Max 1200 Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

At the heart of the 1996 Yamaha V-Max 1200 custom - cruiser motorcycle, Yamaha pairs a 1198 cc (73.1 cu in) liquid-cooled v4, four-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 140 HP (102.2 kW) at 7,500 rpm while maximum torque reaches 118 Nm (87 lb-ft) at 7,500 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-speed gearbox and shaft drive (cardan) final drive. With a specific output of 116.9 HP per liter, the engine character is reflecting a performance-oriented street tune that balances strong mid-range pull with an energetic top-end rush.

On the scales, the V-Max 1200 measures 262 kg (578 lbs) dry, translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.53 HP/kg (1.87 kg per horsepower). Rider ergonomics and chassis geometry center around a 765 mm (30.1 in) seat height — giving shorter riders and urban commuters confident flat-foot reach at traffic stops, combined with a 1,590 mm (62.6 in) wheelbase engineered for planted straight-line stability.

Within MotoLibrary's Yamaha archive, this model family spans 4 indexed model years from 1996 to 2001, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.