Not really. Most reviews have been pretty positive about it. The mocking is mostly found in the comments section by people who either cannot afford one or can't understand that this scooter isn't an R1... yes, you can buy a second hand sports bike that's faster (doh!) but if I wanted to race I would've just kept my Ducati. So, I'm extremely happy with mine because it does all that I want it to do... it performs well for a 2 cylinder 530cc bike, handles like a sports bike, it's very comfortable to ride (after 30 years of judo and BJJ, I can't ride sports bikes for long distances any more) and offers good weather protection. True, it wasn't cheap, but it's my money and if I think that the price difference between a Yamaha and a Kymco justifies my choice, so be it. But most "commentators" just love to point out that the Kymco 550 is a few milliseconds faster than the new Tmax. Ok, it has a larger engine and higher gearing, so what do they expect? I prefered Yamaha's level of finish. But really, anyone who buys a scooter with a CVT to use as a drag-racer isn't thinking straight.
More than enough power! I've currently got a PCX150, am thinking of adding the TMax for longer motorway trips where the little PCX150 struggles a bit. At 2.45l/100km the PCX150 fuel consumption is incredible.
Yea but , when Yamaha decides to update a flagship scooter they got my attention . I could trade in my Goldwing on something like that . Thanks for the demo
As Guys we have our masculinity is tied to our rides. I came from a 200hp Kawasaki Ninja ZX14R and bought a Burgman 650. I must say that I am in love with that thing, is silky smooth and ultra comfortable. I think I will stick the scooter and sell the bike.
Absolutely fantastic review, man. Excellent detail and a very friendly presentation style. Thanks so much for posting. I want one desperately! Sadly I don't know if they're coming to the US. Cheers, Brother.
Hey Harvey, can you explain what are those 2 buttons that are on the right & left of the central Yamaha badge on the handlebar ? Very nice review as usual :-)
ROB NAVAEI I want these awesome maxi scoots that Europe has been getting in the US so bad! The TMX DX, the XMAX, the Honda X-ADV... I think these would sell better in the States than they give us credit for. The current crop of maxi scooters we have are weedy and out of date. I think the dearth of choice pushes more people into small motorcycles and then they decide that scooters don't sell in the US!
Nice review. I have a 2008 Tmax with Yoshimura r77 exhaust on it sounds great and good for letting London's tourists know your coming, love it. Did you buy this Tmax ? Spain on a 125cc well done ! Honda ADV 750CC scooter might float your boat I'm thinking of getting one instead of my Tmax as miss my Drz400...
I don't own a T Max but I do have a Kawasaki Voyager 1700 with cruise control and it is a dream for highway riding. I am confused as to why the cruise control button is on the left handle bar when of course the throttle is on the right. Just seems odd.
What's the gear set-up on this? I notice it is an external belt drive over a fixed size sprocket, so this is clearly not a CVT. Does it have something like a DCT (dual clutch) set-up? If so (or even if not), what kind of MPG / KPL can we expect? That's a question few bike reviews talk about. For example, my 2012 650 V Twin V-Strom (a so called adventure bike, but merely a comfy and fairly quick road bike in my opinion) will give me 30 KPL at about 100 KPH with my lady on the back and with a top box full of stuff. That's about 84 milers per UK gallon at about 63 miles per hour (the motorway speed here in Japan is 80-100 KPH depending on the vehicle and lane). Good review otherwise, so thanks. EDIT I forgot to say that I am asking as I am considering swapping my V-Strom for one of these - perhaps not the DX, though.
I have the mk1 carb'd model. OK, not as many gadgets but i prefer the bigger storage and budget wont allow a more modern version. BUT i have modified/restored mine.
I'd love to have one of these! I struggled to have both feet comfortably on the ground on the xmax 125 because of the width of the seat :/ so I went for a suzuki Burgman 125 because the seat slopes more and the rear wheel is smaller than the front. Much better for my 5ft 6 (and a half!) stature. Anyway, I'll have to do my direct access now!
Seran Antares tbh I'm not a fan of the look of cruisers. Although I've never sat on one. I had a go on a suzuki gladius 650 that had had the seat lowered. It was lovely!
Greetings from America ! Hard to beat that picture perfect day in the English countryside onboard a Yamaha T-MAX...Excellent review. Your enthusiasm is truly palpable ! Ride On !
Who lent you the bike? I've heard it's near enough impossible to get a test ride on one? I'm not dropping 11k on a new bike (any new bike) without being able to try it first!
Used to have a 250 Piaggio X9 to sit beside my FJR1300. I always hankered after a T-Max but £11k???? I just bought a Tracer 900 and kitted it out fully with a Shad top case and luggage, taller screen, crash mushrooms etc.etc. All in I spent less than £10.5k. Yamaha are having a laugh. That price is ludicrous.
I test-rode it yesterday. I have one BIG question.... and some comments. ++QUESTION** To me, all scooters have a fairly similar engine/CVT sound, but some are a little louder than others. I was very surprised (as was my wife riding pillion) by the engine noise. It's a scooter sound plus a little rattle and buzz, almost as though some component needs tightening. It increases with engine speed, not road speed. It was the dealer manager's personal bike, and he said he had not made modifications. I noticed similar sounds in this video, but your helmet mic does not pick them up as well as ears do (if you get what I mean). I don't know whether it will be a deal killer or not, especially as my use for a big scooter will be long distance days out, not commuting. Who else has noticed this? ++COMMENTS++ As mentioned, my test ride was with a pillion, and we are about 140 kilos together. My usual two-up bike is a Suzuki V-Strom 650. Plus points: Comfort up to 80KPH/50MPH (low speed limits in Japan, no motorway access on the test-ride) Very good, vibration-free, pulling away from zero (unusual for CVT) The bike almost balances itself despite being a tall bike (I am only 5 feet 6 inches) - this is true at all speeds and when stopped. Very, very easy indeed to turn in a small circle at very low speed. Suspension feels equal to my V-Strom on country roads (back roads). Feels very sure footed and is easy to turn/position. Negative points: Engine noise (a lot of it at all RPMs expect at idle which is very quiet) Very little power in either Touring Mode or Sports Mode. In fact it seemed to me that upto about 60 KPH/40MPH my PCX150 would match acceleration with normal throttle. Now: A generous deal on offer from the dealer but... I need to ride another 530 DX to make sure the dealer had not modified his bike with some sort of hidden speed limiter to be used when customers test ride on his personal bike.
You're right there David, however Yamaha have stepped up their security for this model by having the lockable centre stand and tracker as standard which should hopefully deter future theft (fingers crossed)
Bought one brand new back in September 2018. Have hated it since. In fact it gets ridden so little the battery has died after 3.5 years. So if anyone knows of a good forum where I can read about / watch a video about getting the plastic off to get the battery off, please let me know. I have the digital PDF manual, but it seems not to show how to remove those panels. Thanks.
@@VegitoBlackityBlack 1. The noise. It sounds like a cheap 2-stroke being sexually molested by a poorly maintained washing machine. 2. My 2013 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom gave me 25 kilometres / litre round town, and this gives only 20 if ridden very, very gently indeed. Other than those two points, which to me are beyond forgiveness, it has some very good points, to be fair, and among those is its very smooth performance and the incredible ease with which one can ride it even in traffic.
Yamaha has taken quite a few ideas from BMW for this bike. Take a look at the BMW C650 (which I have) you get more bike, power and tech for the same money!
BMW lacks cruise control which is surprising given how many of their other bikes have it. That's a biggie for me and to the best of my knowledge the T-Max (DX) is the only big scoot that has it...
johnnyfanta The T-max has no heated set for the passenger which for my girl is a big deal. Being able to store two full size helmets under the seat when we go out and having much more power (650cc) is wayyy more important to me than cruise control where by fare the most of my riding time is spent in the city of London.
MFizzle777 good points re the lack of heating for pillion seat and less storage space; I tested a Burgman 650 last year which was also better in these regards although bigger and heavier. Beemer looks good (like a baby RT to me!) and if they see fit to add cruise to it then that could sway it for me as unlike you a lot of my riding is long distance and I suffer from numb hand when throttle cranked open for a long time. Horses for courses!
Yeah but the tmax is so well selling compared to the bmw because of the licence, in europe you need an A2 licence for the tmax, but an A licence for the BMW (which takes more Time, more money and two years of practice to get)...
lmao i've seen this same BMW guy on EVERY SINGLE tmax review vid. He desperately tries to convince people the BMW is better.... is he just trying to convince himself? Go take a look at any tmax review, you will see this same user xD
great bikes .i am getting one in two days time.always fancied one,have had many,many bikes in my lifetime ,now 71 years old,but still am really exited to be getting it
I hired a 500cc scooter last january on the same roads you used in gran canaria. It was absolutely terrifying, no engine braking, awful handling, slow accelerating and boring. I used to own a honda pcx until it was stolen (great bike) so it may be due to that particular scooter. £10,000 for a 500cc scooter is a big no, no, for me. Perfect for london or paris/rome, but not where I live.
Hey I am scooter person too, I wanted you to know that is I mean it that is a nice bike take good care of it , too much of nice to fuck up so I wanted you that nice bike be safe good luck with that nice bike 😎
Cogitationes caecae whatever you like it mate, you could find someone who’s got something to say against your Harley. Just chill bro and let someone pay this money if someone likes it and doesn’t bother about price as much as you. Regards
This is the first review of this scooter I've seen that actually talks about it and reviews it. Thanks.
think this is the only scooter review on UA-cam that isn't mocking it
Not really. Most reviews have been pretty positive about it. The mocking is mostly found in the comments section by people who either cannot afford one or can't understand that this scooter isn't an R1... yes, you can buy a second hand sports bike that's faster (doh!) but if I wanted to race I would've just kept my Ducati. So, I'm extremely happy with mine because it does all that I want it to do... it performs well for a 2 cylinder 530cc bike, handles like a sports bike, it's very comfortable to ride (after 30 years of judo and BJJ, I can't ride sports bikes for long distances any more) and offers good weather protection. True, it wasn't cheap, but it's my money and if I think that the price difference between a Yamaha and a Kymco justifies my choice, so be it. But most "commentators" just love to point out that the Kymco 550 is a few milliseconds faster than the new Tmax. Ok, it has a larger engine and higher gearing, so what do they expect? I prefered Yamaha's level of finish. But really, anyone who buys a scooter with a CVT to use as a drag-racer isn't thinking straight.
@@gwynnus exactly! get's you to point A and B. others will say that ain't a bike, it's a scooter! my God! it has two wheels!
One of the more useful TMax reviews on UA-cam.
coming to a bike thief near you soon
Hahaha!
TheGolden Hour that can be broken in a minute with a grinder. No bike is safe
More than enough power! I've currently got a PCX150, am thinking of adding the TMax for longer motorway trips where the little PCX150 struggles a bit. At 2.45l/100km the PCX150 fuel consumption is incredible.
Damn this thing is so sick. $10k is pricey but with all these neat features it almost makes it feel worth it.
nice bike nice presentation without any bla bla for nothing, no noisy music, have a fun thank you 👌👌
Good review and appraisal from a motorcyclist who recognises the values of a sports maxi scoot. And this is Yamaha’s best selling motorbike I think!
Pretty sure one of those dual calipers on the back is for the parking brake
Leon Christiaan yep. It's the parking break! Was about to comment my self when I saw your comment!
Yea but , when Yamaha decides to update a flagship scooter they got my attention . I could trade in my Goldwing on something like that . Thanks for the demo
I agree with you. Looking to downsize some weight without giving up power and comfort. This could do it.
Riding in just a T-shirt, obviously never come off a bike,ride safe man
Finally, a sensible review of the Tmax
It's a TMAX 530, not 500. Thanks for sharing!
One of the best 2 wheelers I have ever tired.
Would definitely recommend it.
As Guys we have our masculinity is tied to our rides. I came from a 200hp Kawasaki Ninja ZX14R and bought a Burgman 650. I must say that I am in love with that thing, is silky smooth and ultra comfortable. I think I will stick the scooter and sell the bike.
Absolutely fantastic review, man. Excellent detail and a very friendly presentation style. Thanks so much for posting. I want one desperately! Sadly I don't know if they're coming to the US. Cheers, Brother.
Great review. Rode one today was seriously impressed. Thanks👍🏻
For people wondering whether it is CVT. It is.
It has two belts. External instead of a chain.
And the usual internal CVT v belt.
That was a great bike review. I enjoy all your posts but this TMAX test has to be one of the best. Keep up the excellent work.
Thanks Simon!
nice review mate... you have some points that even professional reviewers didnt cover 👌
cheers man!
Hey Harvey, can you explain what are those 2 buttons that are on the right & left of the central Yamaha badge on the handlebar ? Very nice review as usual :-)
Any plans to do a Tour Ride with this Scooter and post more updates on Long run comfort and an open review ?
What a great bike, I hope it will come to the U.S.
ROB NAVAEI I want these awesome maxi scoots that Europe has been getting in the US so bad! The TMX DX, the XMAX, the Honda X-ADV... I think these would sell better in the States than they give us credit for. The current crop of maxi scooters we have are weedy and out of date. I think the dearth of choice pushes more people into small motorcycles and then they decide that scooters don't sell in the US!
Nice review. I have a 2008 Tmax with Yoshimura r77 exhaust on it sounds great and good for letting London's tourists know your coming, love it. Did you buy this Tmax ? Spain on a 125cc well done ! Honda ADV 750CC scooter might float your boat I'm thinking of getting one instead of my Tmax as miss my Drz400...
Great vid mate, love that windscreen effectiveness! Does the heated seat extend to the pillion as well? Cheers!
I don't own a T Max but I do have a Kawasaki Voyager 1700 with cruise control and it is a dream for highway riding. I am confused as to why the cruise control button is on the left handle bar when of course the throttle is on the right. Just seems odd.
9:05 Why do people say we only get a couple if days like this a year? It's been swelteringly hot for months.
Not Brembos and one of rear calipers is hand brake but good review cheers. 😊
Great review buddy - looks like a lot of fun but wow, a very hefty price tag - I thought the Burgie 650 was expensive and the TMax as 2k more!!!
What's the gear set-up on this?
I notice it is an external belt drive over a fixed size sprocket, so this is clearly not a CVT.
Does it have something like a DCT (dual clutch) set-up?
If so (or even if not), what kind of MPG / KPL can we expect? That's a question few bike reviews talk about.
For example, my 2012 650 V Twin V-Strom (a so called adventure bike, but merely a comfy and fairly quick road bike in my opinion) will give me 30 KPL at about 100 KPH with my lady on the back and with a top box full of stuff.
That's about 84 milers per UK gallon at about 63 miles per hour (the motorway speed here in Japan is 80-100 KPH depending on the vehicle and lane).
Good review otherwise, so thanks.
EDIT
I forgot to say that I am asking as I am considering swapping my V-Strom for one of these - perhaps not the DX, though.
I ride a Burgman 400 and I like this maxi-scooter! Sweet ride :)
Good style. Well presented review. England in the country on a summers day Magic.
I have the mk1 carb'd model.
OK, not as many gadgets but i prefer the bigger storage and budget wont allow a more modern version.
BUT i have modified/restored mine.
John Oleary how is it holding up? Planning to get a gen 1 version as well, but thinking about maintenance costs.
Harvey do a camping trip on it
Great idea!
This bike is so popular here in Tunisia.
Great review thanks a lot that's what a review should be
I'd love to have one of these!
I struggled to have both feet comfortably on the ground on the xmax 125 because of the width of the seat :/ so I went for a suzuki Burgman 125 because the seat slopes more and the rear wheel is smaller than the front. Much better for my 5ft 6 (and a half!) stature.
Anyway, I'll have to do my direct access now!
Seran Antares tbh I'm not a fan of the look of cruisers. Although I've never sat on one. I had a go on a suzuki gladius 650 that had had the seat lowered. It was lovely!
Seran Antares yes, I just struggled with the manual handling bit though. I'm female, and that bike has some weight to it! Fingers crossed though!
Let me get this straight - 90 'kph' down a country lane wearing a t-shirt and shorts? Yep, real clever.
Greetings from America ! Hard to beat that picture perfect day in the English countryside onboard a Yamaha T-MAX...Excellent review. Your enthusiasm is truly palpable ! Ride On !
Does it have Yamaha tmax Anti-theft centre stand locking system?
Who lent you the bike? I've heard it's near enough impossible to get a test ride on one? I'm not dropping 11k on a new bike (any new bike) without being able to try it first!
Used to have a 250 Piaggio X9 to sit beside my FJR1300. I always hankered after a T-Max but £11k???? I just bought a Tracer 900 and kitted it out fully with a Shad top case and luggage, taller screen, crash mushrooms etc.etc. All in I spent less than £10.5k. Yamaha are having a laugh. That price is ludicrous.
I would buy Kymco AK550 now
send location, the boys are coming for a better inspection
It's a motorcycle. A really easy to ride , fun, useful motorcycle. Myself I prefer high performance bikes.
does the screen in fully elevated position not act like a sail in crosswinds
Are you using a mic because that phone mic sounds really good lol
I test-rode it yesterday.
I have one BIG question.... and some comments.
++QUESTION**
To me, all scooters have a fairly similar engine/CVT sound, but some are a little louder than others. I was very surprised (as was my wife riding pillion) by the engine noise. It's a scooter sound plus a little rattle and buzz, almost as though some component needs tightening. It increases with engine speed, not road speed. It was the dealer manager's personal bike, and he said he had not made modifications. I noticed similar sounds in this video, but your helmet mic does not pick them up as well as ears do (if you get what I mean). I don't know whether it will be a deal killer or not, especially as my use for a big scooter will be long distance days out, not commuting. Who else has noticed this?
++COMMENTS++
As mentioned, my test ride was with a pillion, and we are about 140 kilos together.
My usual two-up bike is a Suzuki V-Strom 650.
Plus points:
Comfort up to 80KPH/50MPH (low speed limits in Japan, no motorway access on the test-ride)
Very good, vibration-free, pulling away from zero (unusual for CVT)
The bike almost balances itself despite being a tall bike (I am only 5 feet 6 inches) - this is true at all speeds and when stopped.
Very, very easy indeed to turn in a small circle at very low speed.
Suspension feels equal to my V-Strom on country roads (back roads).
Feels very sure footed and is easy to turn/position.
Negative points:
Engine noise (a lot of it at all RPMs expect at idle which is very quiet)
Very little power in either Touring Mode or Sports Mode. In fact it seemed to me that upto about 60 KPH/40MPH my PCX150 would match acceleration with normal throttle.
Now:
A generous deal on offer from the dealer but...
I need to ride another 530 DX to make sure the dealer had not modified his bike with some sort of hidden speed limiter to be used when customers test ride on his personal bike.
The old path...nice bike..God bless.
I would love to own one in the future but no point in London, it would get nicked QUICK.
You're right there David, however Yamaha have stepped up their security for this model by having the lockable centre stand and tracker as standard which should hopefully deter future theft (fingers crossed)
nice job Harvey regards Ivor.
Cheers Ivor! :)
Please how can I get a used one to buy, I can’t buy a brand new. Please...
Bought one brand new back in September 2018.
Have hated it since.
In fact it gets ridden so little the battery has died after 3.5 years.
So if anyone knows of a good forum where I can read about / watch a video about getting the plastic off to get the battery off, please let me know.
I have the digital PDF manual, but it seems not to show how to remove those panels.
Thanks.
Why u hate it?
@@VegitoBlackityBlack
1. The noise.
It sounds like a cheap 2-stroke being sexually molested by a poorly maintained washing machine.
2. My 2013 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom gave me 25 kilometres / litre round town, and this gives only 20 if ridden very, very gently indeed.
Other than those two points, which to me are beyond forgiveness, it has some very good points, to be fair, and among those is its very smooth performance and the incredible ease with which one can ride it even in traffic.
Hi man! How tall are you? Great video!
Yamaha has taken quite a few ideas from BMW for this bike. Take a look at the BMW C650 (which I have) you get more bike, power and tech for the same money!
BMW lacks cruise control which is surprising given how many of their other bikes have it. That's a biggie for me and to the best of my knowledge the T-Max (DX) is the only big scoot that has it...
johnnyfanta The T-max has no heated set for the passenger which for my girl is a big deal. Being able to store two full size helmets under the seat when we go out and having much more power (650cc) is wayyy more important to me than cruise control where by fare the most of my riding time is spent in the city of London.
MFizzle777 good points re the lack of heating for pillion seat and less storage space; I tested a Burgman 650 last year which was also better in these regards although bigger and heavier. Beemer looks good (like a baby RT to me!) and if they see fit to add cruise to it then that could sway it for me as unlike you a lot of my riding is long distance and I suffer from numb hand when throttle cranked open for a long time. Horses for courses!
Yeah but the tmax is so well selling compared to the bmw because of the licence, in europe you need an A2 licence for the tmax, but an A licence for the BMW (which takes more Time, more money and two years of practice to get)...
lmao i've seen this same BMW guy on EVERY SINGLE tmax review vid. He desperately tries to convince people the BMW is better.... is he just trying to convince himself? Go take a look at any tmax review, you will see this same user xD
twoweeview? Haha what happened to Two Wheel Review
Chav chariots of London!
best chicken chaser ive seen nice review
They aren't brembo's, just Yamaha's in house stuff. But 11 sodding grand!? I don't think we'll see that thing on the road anytime soon.
Is it ok to ride the tmax if a person is 6"1?
Do you know if these scooters are sold in the US?
Ryne Prince not this one. Only the XMAX 300 and only in white.
Where do you put your phone mount?
AMAZING MY DREAM BIKE😍😍😍😍😍😍
GREAT REVIEW ENJOY AND WELL DONE
Absolutely nice scooter
can u get it with an a2 licence?
*hadnt got to 11:00 yet cheers lol
1 of these past me on the motorway i was like wtf ???
Good review. Thanks mate
Good review mate
One bad thing he's not available in Canada
Here is my first scooter I'll be getting when I get my license
great bikes .i am getting one in two days time.always fancied one,have had many,many bikes in my lifetime ,now 71 years old,but still am really exited to be getting it
I hired a 500cc scooter last january on the same roads you used in gran canaria. It was absolutely terrifying, no engine braking, awful handling, slow accelerating and boring. I used to own a honda pcx until it was stolen (great bike) so it may be due to that particular scooter. £10,000 for a 500cc scooter is a big no, no, for me. Perfect for london or paris/rome, but not where I live.
I thought they are 530cc 😐
Rick Sanchez hi Rick. You are right but the first thing he says it's that it's a " Yamaha 500 " 😆
Good review, I enjoyed that...great scoot 🤔
nice bike mate!😃👍🏼
Great video but wow, this scooter is just way too expensive in comparison with other bikes for the same price tag.
Can I ride this bike on a A2 licence?
Yes you can
@@DudePlays247 Thanks I have now the Tmax tech 360cc
Gorgeous motorped.
I like it.
Those are R1 front brakes.
Hey I am scooter person too, I wanted you to know that is I mean it that is a nice bike take good care of it , too much of nice to fuck up so I wanted you that nice bike be safe good luck with that nice bike 😎
Great Tmax good Video👍
that laugh though!
Some spaceship
bro is 530 not 500
So you put gloves on but you're wearing a t-shirt. What's the point? If you come off your arms and elbows will be like cylinders of spam.
the exhaust sound music DDRONE is the worst =((((.....and the performance ones are even WORSE
title 500dx are u sure
It’s 530 thx
530 dx !!!
This is tmax 530 and not 500
530 dx
Niti su naprid Brembo niti nazad dvi čeljusti...??!!
ohhh i like it 🔥❤❤😍
Zakaria Tahir man jerad are every where
Can you drive this on an ordinary car licence. ?
good review, bad camera job...maybe switch to decaf....hahahah
11k u say? try 5k
Nic scotter
Jolie
£11000.... stupid and crazy. You could get Harley Davidson Fat Boy for this money, or a decent BMW X5. £11000 :DDDD
Cogitationes caecae whatever you like it mate, you could find someone who’s got something to say against your Harley. Just chill bro and let someone pay this money if someone likes it and doesn’t bother about price as much as you.
Regards