Steve Butters

Sorry to hear about your dad. Sweet bike. Welcome.

thanks man...would you mind linking me to pics of your max?

ok cool...i feel way more comfortable using the clutch because thats always how i rode my dirt bike...just wanted to make sure im not going to mess up my bike

my name is tyler, im 18 and from blacklick, i found this site from columbus racing, some of you may recognize my s/n from there... im in school for criminology and work part time at ups...enough about me, on to the bike

my dad recently passed away and left his bike to me...its a 1997 v-max, custom blue paint, kerker slip-ons, stock...i have a jet kit i found in the garage, stage 1...need to isntall it, and next mod will be the vboost mod...gonna get used to riding it first...just did the furbur fix aswell

bike was bought new by my dad, and wrecked with 300 miles on it, he got t-boned by a stolen car that ran a redlight... insurance totaled it, he bought it back and fixed it, and rode it 17k more miles...never got it inspected, doh!

so i am not riding yet...i need to get it inspected still and then try to work insurance costs into my budget, being a poor college kid is no fun!

not really sure what is expected out of an intro on this site...so i guess thats all i got

the saddle bags are removed, i didnt like them...bike needs cleaned badly...also found the original rear stay in a box in the garage, so the sissy bar is coming off for awhile until im comfortable enough to let my gf on it with me...(atleast a year, if not 2)....seat is aftermarket, but its a yamaha part...i dislike the hole in the seat to fill it up, my big hand doesnt fit, so i have to remove the seat to put gas in it *just 2 screws, and i tuck the allen wrench under the zip tie on the handlebars that holds the cords*

97 vmax....no more saddle bags, and i found the old rear stay, so the sissy bar is coming off until ive been riding for awhile and feel comfortable having my gf on it with me

oh and i just realized there is a riding tip section....new to forum, sorry...mods can move this

ok so...try shifting without the clutch? or pull the clutch to shift, then just dump it instead of letting it out?

ok...i rode a street bike for the first time the other day, and WOW was it different from my dirtbike...

anyways, i was telling my buddy that while shifting gears, i could put it into the next gear and just let the clutch go and it was still smooth, almost like i dont even need the clutch after im moving...i know the clutch isnt slipping or anything, its in good condition i can tell from when im moving slow

he then told me that he was always taught after youre moving, you dont need the clutch to shift, just let out the gas, put it into the next gear, and then youre good to go...only use clutch to downshift or stop...

he says doing it that way is less wear on clutch

to me it seems like that would be hard on the trans

someone tell me how im supposed to shift on a streetbike? its my first bike and i cant afford to fix it if i break it... bike is a 97 vmax if that matters at all