Yamaha TMAX 2017 test - road test

16 years after its debut, His Majesty the scooter reaches its sixth generation: a fully mature generation. Sedan trim class, reference performance….

Some scooter in the history of motorsport, they have achieved such fame that they can be counted on one hand: Vespa, Lambretta, Honda Super Cub and SH, as well as the protagonist of our road test, model Yamaha TMAX.

When it appeared back in 2001, it was a breakthrough product meant to discuss fuel bars, but above all to give life to the “motor scooter” segment, vehicles capable of combining the practicality of a two-wheeled utility vehicle with the practicality of a motorcycle. dynamism a mid-size motorcycle with sophisticated technical solutions.

A real insult to "real motorcycles", an unacceptable arrogance for some, an inimitable solution for many. The Yamaha TMAX was not only the founder of this niche, but to this day remains the leader with record sales, especially in Italy and France.

This is due to the fact that over the years it has responded to the attacks of competitors and over time with a continuous evolution that today reaches its sixth generation, which dedicates it to the king of scooters and underlines the maturity of its design.

But let's take a closer look how the Yamaha TMAX has changed and how it performed in road tests.

How has the new TMAX 2017 changed?

The fate of TMAX is written in this name, which condemns it to a constant and leapfrogging search for the best. Designed for self-improvement to always offer its fans the latest. it was so in previous generations, it is in new version 2017.

You look at it and you immediately understand what it is TMAXbut also understand that this is not the TMAX that you knew until today. The style, which has always been based on the latest automotive trends, has become softer, less angular, more delicate and bourgeois, the look lingers on the abundant front volumes, on the sophisticated design of LED headlights, and then quickly escapes the pointed tail. It does not inspire fear, but demands reverence, it does not surprise, but confirms that this is a link that others will be inspired to. 

It's not just the design that changes: aluminum frame (which retains the recognizable boomerang profile) is new, like the pendulum, also made of aluminum and longer than the previous one. The exhaust system is also new, it is lighter and, thanks to the final shot into the sky, makes the design more rigid.

In general, Yamaha engineers managed to obtain weight saving 9 kg (Only 213 kg) compared to the previous TMAX, without giving up anything, really adding. Find a coupe saddle more spacious, traction control TCS, sophisticated instruments with a TFT-screen built into the dashboard, reminiscent of a car, "Smart Key" ignition and YCC-T (Yamaha Chip Controlled Throttle) throttle.

News also for inverted fork suspension and progressive levers at the rear, and for the transmission with a carbon fiber belt and lighter pulleys, for the new B-pillar unit and for the aluminum side-pillar. The list of major innovations is completed by the 12V socket and the expected Euro 4 homologation.

Three versions: TMAX, SX and DX

Can “that's it” end? Of course not. For the first time, Yamaha decided to offer the TMAX in three different versions: TMAX, SX and DX. If the former is aimed at those looking for “nothing but the maximum,” as correctly stated in the advertising statement, the latter is a staging installation equipped with a package more athleticwhile the DX points to the premium version with travel ambitions, enriched with everything you could wish for in terms of comfort and technology.

In fact, on the DX we find a comfortable electrically adjustable windshield (135mm travel), heated handles and saddle, cruise control and an adjustable rear suspension. Features that add to the already rich bouquet offered by the TMAX SX, starting with Yamaha D MODE, an electronic control system that allows you to customize the display of the control unit in two modes: T-Mode for smoother delivery, suitable for jittery city traffic or on low-grip roads, and S-Mode for sportier driving.

What's more, on both SX and DX, technology enthusiasts will find satisfaction using My system. TMAX Connect which, thanks to the GPS system built into the scooter and the corresponding application, allows you to receive an extensive set of data on your smartphone, such as location (valuable in case of theft), and can remotely control the sound signal and arrows, and monitor the battery. status and record your trips. This is not an easy pleasure, because this system can also allow you to save on insurance policy in some companies.

Also different color: Midnight Black for TMAX, Liquid Darkness and Matt Silver with blue edges for SX, Liquid Darkness and Phantom Blue for DX.

How are you doing with the new TMAX 2017?

Glory TMAX this is more than justified by the always amazing driving prowess. When the owners—or, as motorcyclists call them, “timax riders”—sneer that the TMAX rides no better than a motorcycle, this is not blind bragging.

Even the new TMAX is no exception, on the contrary, it offers one from the very first meters. sense of securitythanks to a solid suspension and a powerful and well-tuned braking system. In city traffic, despite its large size, it is easy to move, especially due to the inclusion of "T-Mode", which makes the flow more gentle, almost muffled.

When the traffic lights go out and the road opens up, it's time to stroke Mode button on the steering wheel and tell TMAX to reveal its true character: the "S-Mode" display makes it sharper and more aggressive, and you go fast. The only contraindication: once we get carried away with this modality, our restless soul is unlikely to suggest that we return to a more urban one.

Run like this between curves detecting stability at a speed that has little to do with the term scooter. The tilt angles are significant and it takes a lot of effort to find the physical tilt limit on the road, both for good tire performance (Bridgestone Battlax SC on TMAX and SX, Dunlop Roadsmart III on DX). chassis, and it never fails, even with forced fixes or deliberate bumps.

La suspension calibration it's a bit harsh, a factor that comes into play especially at the rear in case of bumpy rides, but overall ride comfort is comparable to a good touring bike with almost no vibrations and excellent aerodynamic protection.

An adjustable windshield with a simple button on the left block (on the DX version) will be one of the most popular plus points, making even a section of the motorway a walk.

New geometry framewith an even more central engine layout, they included a slightly different driver position than the previous TMAX, less stress on the wrists and little loss of legroom.

In any case, it seemed to me comfortable and suitable for any height. If anything, babies will find it harder to place their feet on the ground due to the width of the seat and the seat tip controls for opening the refueling flap and the saddle itself.

La session it is comfortable and well finished, the plastic is perfectly assembled, and nothing is left to chance, not even tactile pleasure. The surface finishes and dashboard give the driver the feeling of being in a German sedan: a large clock for the speedometer and tachometer, a pleasant and easy-to-read TFT display and a certain technological redundancy accentuated by a large number of buttons.

Upstairs, of course, too price: € 11.490 for TMAX, 12.290 € 13.390 for the left and XNUMX XNUMX for the right (all former dealers). The new TMAX is not cheap, it has never been cheap. On the other hand, if you expect the best from a scooter, you cannot think that we are not being asked for some kind of sacrifice. 

PRO

Constructive quality

Driving skills

VS

High price

Button Reservation

clothes

Helmet: X-Lite X-551 GT

Jacket: Alpinestars Gunner WP

Gloves: Alpinestars Corozal Drystar

Pants: Pando Moto Karl

Shoes: TCX Street-Ace