The real Yamaha motorcycle that inspired Final Fantasy 7's signature bike

Square Enix

The “Final Fantasy” video game franchise is nothing short of a dynasty. The series has been around since 1987 and has quickly become a favorite in role-playing games. Now firmly in the 21st century, it remains one of the most well-known and beloved sagas in the video game world, with several legendary pieces of iconography. One of the most notable is the Hardy-Daytona motorcycle, which plays a central role in 1997’s “Final Fantasy 7” and its 2020 remake as Cloud Strife’s (Steve Burton, Cody Christian) favorite ride.

While it may seem like the Hardy-Daytona could be among the coolest bikes in all of science fiction, it has a much more real-world connection. The January 1998 issue of Computer and Video Games magazine states that the bike is inspired by the Yamaha V-Max. Launched in 1985, the V-Max of the era was a solid bike. Featuring a 1,198cc engine and a five-speed manual transmission, it produced 140 horsepower and 84.63 pound-feet of torque, and could reach a top speed of over 150 mph. Later iterations rank among the fastest bikes Yamaha ever built, though the V-Max was discontinued in 2020.

Rumors that the Hardy-Daytona was influenced by the V-Max haven’t lasted over the years. However, that hasn’t stopped some “Final Fantasy VII” fans from embracing it wholeheartedly.

Fan Tries to Turn V-Max into Hardy-Daytona

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Comparing the Hardy-Daytona to the Yamaha V-Max, there are obvious aesthetic similarities, including the big exhausts, the black and silver color scheme, and the overall proportions. But since little is known about the connection between the two beyond the 1998 article, these visual overlaps could be just coincidences. However, it turns out that it was enough for some “Final Fantasy VII” fans to embark on a fascinating project with the claim at its heart.

On YouTube, a channel called Cashman’s Garage has uploaded two videos of their efforts to convert a V-Max into a Hardy-Daytona. A 1988 V-Max was used as the basis, with the first video simply explaining what’s planned, and the second explaining that electrical and mechanical issues have slowed the project down, but steady progress is still being made. Other fans have applauded the project, but with no updates posted online since 2020, we don’t know if it was a resounding success or if it was abandoned. Either way, this ambitious undertaking shows just how committed “Final Fantasy” fans are to the series and its universe.

Overall, the Yamaha V-Max is an exceptional bike. It stands out in the brand’s catalog, it’s one of the most successful Yamaha bikes in history, it could be the basis for a classic “Final Fantasy” vehicle, and it bridged the gap between gamers and motorcycle enthusiasts. It doesn’t get much more impressive than that.