2020 Yamaha

VMAX

This is the bike that took the top spot among “Power Cruisers” in 1985 and has never relinquished it. Mr. Max got a total makeover in 2009, and has remained unchanged since then. The V4 engine is massive, rare, and sounds like no other design.

Current & Future Bikes

I currently own a 2020 Yamaha VMAX. It is a great power cruiser for trips that don’t stray too far from home, or a gas station for that matter (100-mile range per tank). I would like a Honda Gold Wing Tour for taking long trips, particularly if riding two up. For something in between the VMAX and Gold Wing that would be used as a commuter bike, I have in mind the Yamaha FJR1300ES. Each of these three would offer a different riding experience, depending on the desire or need. This eclectic trio also offers vastly different power plants: V4, Flat Six, Inline Four. Time will tell how this will come to fruition.

2024 Honda

Gold Wing Tour

Since becoming a fully-dressed touring bike during the early 1980s, this has become the Gold Standard within the category. If you want to travel long distance on two wheels with the most comfort possible, there is only one way to go: Gold Wing.

2024 Yamaha

FJR1300ES

The perfect commute bike with its smooth, quiet, liquid-cooled inline four. Snappy and sporty with a sleek profile. Best of all, it has a shaft final drive.

1986 Honda

V65 Magna

I purchased this in April 1988. It was a brand new left over and was the last year of this style. In 1987, Honda redesigned the Magna to look just like a Harley, which I didn’t like. Luckily I found this “New Old Stock” in San Antonio. When this bike debuted in 1983, it was titled “The World’s Fastest Production Motorcycle”. I got accustomed to the power, sound, and comfort of a liquid-cooled V4, which steered me toward its replacement: the VMAX 1700.

1984 Honda

650 Nighthawk

I purchased this in April 1984. It was dubbed the “World’s Fastest 650”. It was considered one of the most maintenance-free motorcycles at the time. This was the perfect first street bike that spoiled me to four cylinders, hydraulic clutches, and shaft drives.

1982 Honda

XL 185S

This was my first bike. I purchased this in April 1983, just two months after being assigned to my first duty station while Active Duty Air Force. I had good recommendations from co-workers who encouraged me to start small, develop my skills, and then get something larger when ready.