Drove: Yamaha TMax
Therefore, it is not surprising that the Japanese really expect a lot from this sixth version. The statistics are in their favor: up to 40 percent of customers are expected to replace older TMax models with new ones. The target audience is mature men who have money, who want to ride during the week and go on a trip with their soulmate on the weekends. It's definitely possible with TMax, as it's a practical, powerful yet comfortable two-wheeler that takes you to work during a week in the metropolis, without any hassle of tiring parking, and on weekends, for two or alone, you'll love it. Yes, in fact, this scooter is not really a real scooter, it is a kind of mixture of a motorcycle and a scooter. The Japanese offer a novelty in three versions: basic, sports SX and prestigious DX. They differ in a set of equipment, as well as color combinations; in the SX and DX versions, the two D-Mode operating programs are of particular note. You can choose between the T program, which is designed for urban driving, and the S program, the performance of the unit is sharper, sportier. In the basic version, there is no TMAX Connect system, with which the owner of the smartphone can control certain parameters, and at the same time he is informed of the location of the scooter in case of theft. The most prestigious version is also equipped with cruise control, heated levers and seat, as well as a power front windshield, and all three versions of the model have a common anti-skid system for the rear wheel and a smart key to start the unit.
The scooter has been redesigned, even the youngest member of the family is based, as before, on the boomerang design line, which connects the front to the rear in an arc, and between a slightly modified place there was a double. cylinder engine. The appearance of the front and rear lights is also new, and the driver sits in a completely changed working environment where he can control the operation of the two-wheeler on a TFT armature - it glows in blue and white and offers information about the current status. flow and outside temperature. With the new chassis, the new TMax is even nine kilograms lighter than its predecessor.
South of the world
We had the opportunity to test the new TMax at Yamaha's official presentation in South Africa. Cape Town and its surroundings were a wonderful place. Despite the first thought and skepticism that this is the case in Africa (oh, wilderness, jungle and beasts), it is not. Cape Town is a global metropolis, like Amsterdam or London, and very European. In city riding, especially in the center where we tested the TMax, the 530cc scooter proved to be nimble, accelerating and with excellent brakes (with ABS). Compared to the previous model, the new and enlarged space under the seat is especially pleasing, which can even accommodate two (jet) helmets. I also marveled at the beauty of the southern Black Continent while driving on the excellent back roads and while riding the coastal trails where I simply set the speed on the cruise control and enjoyed the ride through some very interesting terrain.
That being said, I'm thinking about what it would be like to wear a Dainese D-Air designer jacket that simply connects to the scooter and thus increases passive safety. This option is also offered by a scooter.
text: Primozh Yurman · photo: Yamaha
