Bike Files: Yamaha TMAX

Mega scooter is an iconic machine, even if it’s a rare sight here in the UK…

Iconic? You’re having a laugh…

Ok, so Yamaha’s TMAX scooter might be a bit of an oddity over here but, much like eating late, sleeping in the afternoon and driving on the right, over in mainland Europe it is hugely popular.

Yamaha have sold over 300,000 TMAXes in Europe alone, in nearly a quarter of a century, and that longevity itself tells just how important a model it is for the manufacturer. It set a trend which has seen scooters go more upmarket, bringing levels of luxury and performance never before seen on a twist and go.

So why don’t we ‘get’ the TMAX over here?

Good question, and I am sure the guys at Yamaha would love to know the answer.

It’s probably a case of culture, as much as anything. Riders from countries like France, Spain and Italy ride scooters from a very young age and the idea of an upmarket scoot is hugely appealing.

Here, the culture isn’t quite the same. Scoots are often seen as cheap forms of transport, with the term ‘moped’ often used (incorrectly) to describe any step-thru style of motorcycle. It just seems like the British psyche doesn’t seem to be able to embrace a scooter costing as much as a small car (or a high-performance motorcycle).

So it is expensive?

Everyone’s got their own idea of expensive but at the time of writing (summer 2025) the TMAX Tech MAX (the only spec level available in the UK) is listed at £14,403 and, although it’s very highly specified, is a smidge more expensive than the all-singing, all-dancing, Tracer 9 GT+ sports tourer.

It’s also a few pounds more than a brand new Dacia Sandero, Britain’s cheapest car. 

Enough of the price! What does the Yamaha TMAX ride like?

It might be pricy, but you can’t say the TMAX isn’t good!

It’s a real grand tourer that brings a lot of motorcycle technology to the world of scootering.

The 560cc parallel-twin engine has been tuned to make exactly 47bhp, which is right on the limit allowed under A2 motorcycle licence laws, giving it a theoretical 110mph top speed.

The fully automatic twist and go transmission makes it a doddle to ride, although the physical size (it weighs 221kg and has a 1575mm wheelbase) means it’s not quite as agile around town as a smaller scoot.

It rides lovely though. The frame and suspension are as much ‘motorcycle’ as they are ‘scooter’ although the small wheels (15” front and 14” rear) and feet forward riding position do influence the handling and remind you that it is a big scoot you’re riding.

It’s a lot of fun though, and very competent. Experienced motorcycle riders should still enjoy the TMAX experience, and will be smiling from ear to ear as they embarrass more than a few riders of high powered motorcycles. 

And they’ve been around for quite some time?

With its twin-cylinder 500cc engine, some people credit the TMAX with being the first ‘maxi’ scooter (although Suzuki’s Burgman 400 had been around for a few years previously) when it arrived in the summer of 2000.

It was an instant hit, especially in Italy, and delivered a unique blend of performance, quality and practicality. It spawned a series of competitors from rival manufacturers, not least the Honda Silver Wing 600 and the Suzuki Burgman 650.

While others have fallen by the wayside, the TMAX has gone from strength to strength. It is currently on its ninth-generation and is more sophisticated than ever.

Like?

The official name of the model on sale in the UK is Yamaha TMAX Tech MAX and there’s no doubt in our minds that it does have max tech these days.

The big 7” dashboard looks top notch and includes Garmin navigation. It also controls the plethora of rider aids, which includes traction control, cruise control, ride modes and a brake control system which allows riders to modify the feeling of the TMAX.

You get an electrically controlled windscreen, heated grips, a heated seat and a cavernous underseat storage area which reinforces the TMAX’s capability as both a commuter and a tourer.

Who’s going to buy a Yamaha TMAX?

That’s a tough one to answer here in the UK. 

Where the European buyer is quite young and trendy, here’s it’s a niche model. The power of the parallel twin engine makes it a very effective machine upon which to clock up big miles, making it a very competent tourer or a bike for the bigger commute – especially for riders who don’t want to give up riding, but who no longer want a big manual motorcycle.

The hefty price tag does put many people off but, for those who can afford it, the TMAX is a real executive express.