Weighing in at a claimed 485 pounds wet, the 2015 Yamaha TMax is around 100 pounds lighter than its main competitors – the Suzuki Burgman 600 and BMW C 650 GT. While it does have a smaller motor, the DOHC 530cc mill has a long stroke for serious pulling power in the midrange.
Hopping onto the freeway is a blast. With a consistently soft initial hit to keep the TMax friendly away from stops and when cruising along, the engine’s power comes on strong as the revs climb, putting you onto the freeway at competitive speeds.
On one typical uphill on-ramp, I was able to hit 80 by the time I had to merge into traffic. Rolling off the throttle is all that’s needed, as the TMax has significant engine compression braking.
Placing the TMax where you want it on the freeway is easy – just twist the throttle until you’re where you want to be. Acceleration is strong, even from 65 to 85 mph, at which point it starts to flatten out a bit. It’s all roll-on power, of course, as the fully automatic, continuously variable, belt-drive transmission does its job flawlessly.
There’s a large tachometer (pointless on a CVT machine) as well as an analog sweeping needle for velocity. I’d prefer Yamaha ditch both and give me a huge digital readout of the speed. Heck, throw in a wireless digital-data ready screen that displays Waze, and I’m all set.
When the traffic starts to congest, the light weight of the TMax comes in handy. It’s easy to work through slow traffic, thought the goose-neck mounting of the mirrors means you have to be careful when lane-splitting, as we are rightfully able to do legally in California.
Once off the freeway and in town, the TMax is much more practical than you would expect. Sure, it’s a maxi-scooter, but it handles well. Beefy inverted 41mm forks, one-finger dual-front disc brakes and sticky tires mean that the TMax will go where you point it. No, you can’t slip between cars like you can on a 50 or 150, but it doesn’t feel all that more cumbersome in tight quarters than a 300 or 400.
Keep in mind that the TMax’s 31.5-inch seat height might intimidate shorter or less experienced riders (who shouldn’t be starting on a 530cc scooter in the first place). My 32-inch inseam did not allow me to put both feel flat at stops. Part of this is due to the chassis and plastic being fairly wide below your thighs. It’s not a problem, but it is noticeable.
After a long day of fighting traffic in the city, there’s nothing like blowing off the stress with a fast ride through the canyons. Someone at Yamaha definitely was onboard for that idea, and gave the TMax a great handling chassis to match the powerful motor.
While you might consider heeling way over in a bumpy sweeper at 90 mph to be outside of the job description of a scooter, and you might be right. However, the 2015 Yamaha TMax wants to rewrite those requirements. I can’t say that you’ll be able to blast past sport bike riders, unless you’re clearly more skilled than they are, but most guys on cruisers will just watch you go flying by.
Underneath the plastic is a die-cast aluminum frame, as well as very good quality suspension – firm but compliant. Add in those Dunlop Sportmax tires and the strong midrange of the DOHC twin, and a splendid time is guaranteed for all. You can cruise effortlessly through the mountains, or you can flog the TMax without the scooter reminding you that it is, indeed, a scooter.
The 2015 Yamaha TMax does have a few interesting features of convenience. First and foremost is the Smartkey system. Using near field communication of some sort, you don’t have to actually use the bulky key. However, you do need to learn the protocol. With the key in your pocket, press the start button to turn on the system. From there, you need to make sure the kill switch is in the on position, you have a hand on the brakes, and the kickstand is up. When all of those criteria are met, push the start button again and the TMax’s motor comes to life.
If you happened to let your smartphone battery rundown, you can charge it using the AC outlet below the left handlebar. I’d be impressed if it had a USB charging dock, but I’m sure we’ll see that soon enough. The underseat storage will take a full-face helmet (though not two), while there’s a cubby below the right handlebar.
You can cruise at 80 mph indefinitely and confidently. The windshield has good protection – manually move it to the up position if you like – and the stability of the bike lets itself be known. Yamaha did a great job with the seat and you have plenty of options for your feet. I can’t image a 300-mile day on the TMax would be any problem at all.
In many ways, the 2015 Yamaha TMax scooter is a machine for a motorcyclist who doesn’t think he or she wants a scooter. All he has to do is hop on and, once he accepts that he can’t shift the bike, have a blast! For the dedicated scooter aficionado, the Yamaha TMax is at the pinnacle of the genre for anyone looking for performance and handling to go along with comfort and fun.
2015 Yamaha TMax Specs:
- Engine: DOHC forward-inclined parallel twin
- Displacement: 530cc
- Bore x stroke 68.0 x 73.0 mm
- Cooling: liquid
- Compression Ratio 10.9:1
- Fuel delivery: Electronic fuel injection
- Ignition: Digital Transistor Controlled Ignition
- Transmission: Automatic CVT
- Suspension Front: 41mm upside-down telescopic forks w/- 4.7 inches of travel
- Suspension Rear: Horizontal single shock w/ 4.6 inches of travel
- Brakes Front: 267mm dual hydraulic discs
- Brakes Rear: 282mm hydraulic disc
- Tire Front: Dunlop Sportmax 120/70-15
- Tire Rear: Dunlop Sportmax 160/60-15
- L x W x H: 86.6 x 30.5 x 55.9 to 58.1 inches
- Seat height: 31.5 inches
- Wheelbase: 62.2 inches
- Rake: 25°
- Trail: 92mm
- Fuel Capacity: 4.0 gal
- Estimated fuel economy: 46 mpg
- Wet weight: 485 pounds
- Warranty: One year (Limited Factory Warranty)
- Color: Sonic Gray
- MSRP: $10,490
I would seriously consider a TMax, but without ABS brakes, no way!
I loved the review,very spot on,I love this things no matter what brand they are,at least for city chores,to me,nothing replaces the feeling of changing the gears but,I might be too old school for the new Generation,to each its own I guess.thanks for the reviews you always deliver!.
Tmax 530 2015 comes with abs . sorry but wrong info .
I am from Namibia. Bay a Tmax 530 3 week ago 15/1/2016 with ABS. First trip was 1000 KM, Se-cont trip was Namibia (Walvis Bay) to South Africa (Cape town) and back 4000Km. three weeks 5000 Km. Love it. Will do it again.
I like the latest maxi scooters; Tmax, Piaggio MP3 500, BMW Cs. They’re all really cool rides, but very expensive. I think even the aging Burgman twins and the Sivlerwing still hold their own as well. However, it seem like there is a double standard. I don’t get how reviews of these $10K and up maxi scooters are so positive, but when Honda introduced the amazing CTX700 motorcycle with scooter-like qualities, super-smooth parallel twin, comfortable seat, with 47 hp, 44 peak foot pounds of torque with a fairing for $7,500; the reviewers weren’t so happy only because it isn’t a rocket on the top end. I think it has much to do with the hidden biases against any motorcycle that includes too much practicality. If it’s called a scooter, then it’s alright, but if it’s a motorcycle, it must be either super fast or super crude, It can’t be just really good transportation with phenomenal fuel economy with decent performance at a scooter-busting price.