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Worth the wait!

Ive wanted one of these for about 8 yrs now, when yamaha first introduced them to the european market. Unfortunately, it wasnt available when i bought my last scooter- a 2003 Burgman 400. I never gave up hope that eventually theyd stop depriving us... and earlier this year i found out i was right!

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This is definitely a scooter with racing genes. ITs purpose-built to be a "Sport scooter" and it doesnt disappoint. Compared to the Burgman, it sits a bit taller, rides a bit firmer, and is a LOT more nimble. Not that the Burgman 400 is a slug, by any means. I used to ride the B400 WFO on the freeway in the carpool lane. That means a comfortable 90mph or so. the Tmax? I havent been able to use full throttle very often, or for very long.

The 2 cylinder, 500cc engine is extremely smooth and quiet compared to the 400cc 1 cylinder of the burgman 400. Gas it from a start, and it takes off VERY quickly. The big surprise is when you hit about 35mph and the engine note turns to a low growl and things in the rearview mirrors start to shrink.

Storage is adequate, but the trunk is smaller and there are only 2 cubbys, no glove box. gas mileage is probably about on par with the B400 when flogged, but it requires 91 octane. Again, these two tradeoffs are no big deal for the extra perfomance.

If you want something more sedate, but comfortable and a bit more practical, id stick with the 400 class. that extra 100cc costs about $2000. Thats not really fair to say, though- because they are apples and ... pears, maybe.

Think of the burgman and yamaha 400s as mazda miatas, and the TMax as a honda s2000. i dont regret the decision, especially after 5 wonderful years with the burgman 400. Read Full Review

I absolutely "LOVE" The Yamaha TMAX

I just want to say I LOVE LOVE LOVE THE Yamaha TMAX 500!



I am a girl that wanted an automatic motorcycle. I am just not coordinated to shift safely. My Boyfriend and I have a huge BMW bike. Sitting in the driver seat I am 8" inches to short on each leg to touch the ground. Anyway I didn't w...ant to learn to shift. I can't shift a car so I don't want to even try on a bike.

I am 5'7" tall, so I am not that short. Over the few years I have been waiting and looking for automatic motorcycles to come out. I have test driven many of them before I made up my mind.

I tested the CF-MOTO V3. It was short enough so I could flat foot the ground. But the turning was hard and would jerk my arms when trying to make slow turns, it SCARED ME and gave me a workout. Plus my boyfriend didn't like the quality of the bike. He wants me to be as safe as possible and the CF-MOTO would be scary to drive in traffic. Maybe good for parking lots. They have no suspension and the brakes arn't that good. Hard to get parts for the bike as well.

I tested the Aprilia Mana 850. I really liked it because it was a REAL motorcycle. It was easier to steer than the CF-MOTO and much better built. Better supension, brakes, well eveything was better than the CF-MOTO, Good Quality. The foot pegs and foot brake were small and was something you would have to get use to. Didn't seem that great for longer than 20 minute trips. plus you had to lean over the bike. I think my arms would get tired.

I tested a Ridley and well it's ok, but I really don't like the styles and they are way to low. It was like you are sitting on a porta potty going down the road. Sorry Ridely!

Then I read up on the YAMAHA TMAX and burgman 400 and had to go to the dealer to check them out. This dealer wouldn't allow you to test drive them. But, I really really wanted a bike. So I looked over the Burgman 400 and the TMAX 500. The Burgman seems cheaply made and didn't have as good of suspension or Brakes than the TMAX. But, it was about $3,000.00 cheaper and I could flat foot the ground sitting on it. The TMAX I can only tippy toe the ground because it's a few inches taller than the Burgman. Not being able to flat foot the ground worried me. But, I liked the Aprilia mana and I couldn't flat foot the ground on that either.

I kept going back to the TMAX I liked the looks and the quality. It looks like a motorcycle. So I said ok I want that one, the TMAX. Since I can't test drive it. I told my boyfriend he may have a new toy to play with if I can't drive it. I had cash and told them I would only pay $6,900.00 so you can talk them down a little if you try. Plus I asked for a $300.00 matching helmet to seal the deal. :o)

After purchasing the TMAX my boyfriend test drove it in the parking lot real quick to get a feel for it before I fallowed him home so I could try.

He had a smile on his face and kept riding by me saying your going to LOVE IT.

We got it home and I couldn't wait to ride it. He said he loved riding it home and that it was no scooter, but a motorcycle. He told me it's a 500cc motorcylce. He is 200 lbs and 6ft tall and had no problem losing me in the car. I couldn't keep up with him. He said it was quick and fast.

I wanted my turn now. So he jumped on the BMW and I on the TMAX and headed down the neighborhood. I made about a 4 mile trip through the neighborhood to get use to the TMAX. Then told him lets go out on the big roads to get something to eat. He didn't want me to go out on big roads yet, but I had confidence with the TMAX and told him I could do it. So we road to dinner. I LOVED IT! I picked up very easily where the signals were the horn, headlights, etc. I can even start this bike on my own. LOL :o) I loved the positions I could put my feet. So much better than those little pegs.

To sum this up if you can afford one and don't want a motorcycle you have to shift get the TMAX. If your a girl like me and need the easiest thing to ride get the TMAX. If you didn't really want a scooter, but wanted a motorcycle like me. Then get the TMAX because it's not a scooter! It's a motorcycle! I am so glad I got one!

LOVE LOVE LOVE the Yamaha TMAX 500!

LOVE LOVE LOVE the Yamaha TMAX 500!

Below is a picture of my boyfriend getting ready to ride it off the lot on the way to it's new home. Read Full Review

Awesome

I have had my TMAX for 1 week. I took it on a round trip of only 127 miles. I felt myself holding back so as not to exceed the speed limit of 70 miles per hour. When I wanted to accelerate even while going 80 MPH the power was there and I easily passed a car in front of me. That's motorcycle power w...ith downshifting. Acceleration from a stand still is no joke either. I got respect from a Honda Shadow 750. This clearly is the future. This is truely a hybrid the comfort of a scooter with the performance of a sports bike. It is worth the price tag trust me. Just wait for accessory that will follow. They race this thing in Europe. Read Full Review

T-Maximus

I have only ridden dirt bikes for years, and then decided to go street when gas hit $4++ last year. I purchased a Piaggio MP3 400- which was a great scoot. I may write a review on it too-



The TMax is basically an automatic 499cc sport bike. It is in the scooter family because of the step throu...gh design, I suppose.

The good: Fairing cuts wind buffering at speeds up to 50 MPH. The styling is sporty, and not as bulbous as most "touring scooters." If there was ever a need for a better name. When I hear the word scooter, I think less than 150 cc's, and small wheels. The name scooter doesn't do this or the MP3 jstice. They deserve a name of their own, and it is not "touring scooter", IMHO. Okay, back to the good. The bike is light and agile compared to others of the same class, and it is thinner in design. The storage under the seat is adequate for rain gear and a half helmet, and the no lock dash storage compartments are adequate for gloves and glasses on one side, and maybe maps, gps, or other necessities in the other. The exhaust sounds better than the sewing machine sounds of others, but not the whiny baby sound of sport bikes or rumble of a cruiser. It is fairly quiet in comparison to the competitors. The foot rests have two positions, flat and toe up for cruising. The 4 gal gas tank size allows for decent range at 47 mpg. The throttle response is solid, and allows for confidence when the need to move quickly arises. The brakes are not as strong as the MP3, but more than adequate. The guages are nicely done, and they illuminate to red in the evening- very nice touch. All signal buttons are easy to locate. The mirrors are outstanding for those with wider shoulders or torso, and much better than others I have seen. Warranty coverage for FIVE years was only 400 bucks, which is great in my opinion.

The not as good: Higher speeds over 50-60 MPH cause the screen to flex down slightly, and the wind does make it over, and causes a little more wind and noise for those over 5'10". Not bad, but noticable. I only have the MP3 to compare windscreens, and it is much better than the MP3, which is a stubby one that loks cool but doesn't offer much protection. One light is on under normal headlights, but you can switch to bright mode and have both on. I don't like one light on and one off. If you have two light sockets, they should both be on. If it is a problem because it makes drivers think you are a more distant car, then quit making the two socket bikes with one light on. It looks like you have a light out, and side visibility is reduced on the side with no light. The color choices are blue or yellow. Strange, as black and red are almost a standard. The signal lights are not as easy to see as I would like them to be, but most bikes have them in hard to see places, so perhaps that is normal. I would like a plug in for the battery charger and a socket to charge other items, like the MP3.

The ride is great, and the styling is much better than any other two wheeler I have seen. Is there a 750 coming soon? That would be something... Read Full Review

Best of the Best

The new Yamaha T-Max has exceeded my expectations on every level. The looks are outstanding, fit and finish with attention to detail is superb. Storage is adequate as long as you don't plan on long touring trips although top case can be added. Seat is comfortable but a tad high for some riders. On...ce you crank it up the twin cylinder is smooth and powerful. Performance is amazing and handling is spot-on. Simply a BLAST to ride! Sure the new T-Max is pricey but you get what you pay for. I couldn't be happier with mine! Read Full Review