(Image is of a 2008, but it’ll probably look just like this)
Dudel still loves us! So much so that he dropped a jewel on us tonight! I don’t think I want to reveal his sources just yet, but lets just say it is VERY reliable. That’s right! (Sorry for the spoiler Yamaha) Sometime later in the year (maybe September) you can expect to hear the official channels bringing you news on her eminent arrival.
This announcement is GIGANTIC for the US market. It shows that Yamaha still has some love to give (grumble HONDA). Believe me, I’m as surprised to hear about the T-Max today as I was when the news broke about the Morphous coming to town in 2006.
“Now, what’s so special about the T-Max?” you may ask. Damn near everything. This little 500cc monster is a highway eating machine. Even if you aren’t in love with the look, you will be head-over-heels with it’s performance. I really love how Australia’s Two Wheels Scooter Magazine starts off their story on the new T-Max:
The young punk on the R6 keeps checking his rear vision mirror, wondering what’s going on. You know the type.Riding in shorts, sneakers, no gloves and a singlet. He can’t seem to grasp the fact that there’s an annoying but urprisingly large scooter following him round every bend and not disappearing into his rear vision mirror every time he gets on the gas. In fact, the big Yamaha actually seems to be gaining on him.
You can click on the title link to read their whole, drool drenched story. They make it sound very exciting. Below is a 360 view of the 2008 edition of the T-Max. Again, I have a feeling our version will be very similar.
***UPDATE 5.14.08***
Illnoise over at 2SB has been throwing some numbers together to approximate the eventual MSRP for the US Market. I’d put the numbers here, but to leave him some room for recalculation I’ll just post a link. It will have the latest updates down in the comments. (Don’t let Bryan’s artistic sensibilities fool you, he’s a real math whiz, or at least he appears to be when compared to myself.)
Story linked on the NYTimes Wheels Blog.
13. May 2008 at 1:02 pm
At what point does something stop being a scooter and become a motorcycle? I’ve always thought of scooters as typically 50cc, but up to around 150cc. A 500cc “scooter” makes no sense to me. I like the styling of scooters a lot, but part of that is the small form factor. Yes, the T-Max looks like a cool scooter, but to me it isn’t a scooter, it’s a motorcycle. And as a motorcycle, I don’t care for the styling at all.
13. May 2008 at 1:24 pm
When you can no longer step through, it becomes a motorcycle. (See the HFT DN-01, not a scooter but an automatic motorcycle) What I hope by bringing the TMax to the US, others start bringing in a lot of the other scooters including smaller displacements that are only available outside the States.
I own a small scooter as well as a 650 Burgman. The big bike allows me to do touring without all the BS of shifting yet powerful enough to go anywhere with great comfort.
The Tmax and my bike will never appeal to the lifestyle scooterist. But the times are a changing (see the new Vespa 300cc) and I think it is good for all (displacements).
13. May 2008 at 2:29 pm
Maggie’s right, Wolf. The biggest factor in a motorbike being a scooter versus a motorcycle is the step through (rear mounted engine). After that it get’s sorta blurry. Some will say “leg shields” are a requirement, but what about the Yamaha C3? Some say small displacement, but scooters and motorcycles cross paths at the 200cc mark…sometimes at the 125cc mark. We can’t say “if it’s automatic it’s a scooter”. Some say “if the rider is wearing a MA-1 bomber jacket adorned with RAF and rally patches then it’s a scooter”… annnnd that might be true.
13. May 2008 at 2:54 pm
Yeah, I guess I should have been more clear. I know a scooter is defined mostly by the fact you can step through (as well as other factors depending on your audience). But, I was trying to understand the mentality of purchasing and riding a 500cc scooter, versus a motorcycle (which Maggie got at). I ride both, and love my scooter, but I opt for my scooter over my bike because of the small size and the fact that the 50cc displacement lets me get away with more due to the differing laws. At 500cc though, the size difference is negligible, if at all, so personally I would go with a bike. To each their own I guess.
13. May 2008 at 3:16 pm
Yamaha is definitely doing a great job of bringing us their new scoots to US markets fairly quickly. Hopefully the new Majesty will make a surprise appearance as well.
13. May 2008 at 3:28 pm
I gotcha Wolf. The “why a big scooter instead of a regular (some will say ‘real’) motorcycle?” question.
Sometimes it’s that scooters are perceived as being easier to ride. They might have a lower seat height… they are all automatic. That’s why the largest “consumer” of maxi-scooters are over the age of 50 here in the USA. Many times it’s the motorcyclist who’s retired their job and retired their motorcycle. What’s even stranger is that most will say they love their scooter way more than their old motorcycles. Why is that? Do they actually feel better? I’m not sure, I don’t ride a motorcycle.
The other side of “why a scooter instead of motorcycle?” is purely social. Some first timers will evaluate how they fit into the perceptions assigned to different motorcycles. “Am I a young, punky, crotch rocket rider?”, “Am I a born-to-be-wild Hell’s Angel Hog rider?”, etc… OR, they think “scooter people seem pretty friendly”, there’s not really a negative stigma attached to scooters in the USA, so they go with that.
To me the hardest part of convincing Americans to ride scooters is the macho factor. Most still want to ride something that is “bad ass”. It needs to be big and scary or fast and wicked… it can’t be cute and fun, or wimpy or tiny. Attitudes are changing though. The social effects of the “rise of the geek” is a wonder to witness. Anthropologists are eating it up. I’m sure the “jock revival” will change the game up again granting The Singularity doesn’t mess everything up for everybody.
13. May 2008 at 5:42 pm
Greetings from Earth, T-Max. I can tell from your suit that you are a spaceman. Puullleeeze!! When will this bigger is better and more futuristic is cooler trend in scooters come to an end?
Let’s see what we have here: 450lbs, 55 inches high, 500 cc engine, as high a center of gravity as most motorcycles, step way over design, and triple digit high speed. This, then, must be the motor scooter of tomorrow today, right? Wrong, motorcycle breath!
Let’s not even attempt to bring in the evolution argument here. By any historically correct definition this beast is NOT a motor scooter. I may not know exactly how to define a motor scooter but I know one when I see one and this ain’t it!!
Hey, man, want to take a relaxing little scoot tour on I-95 at 90 MPH? Yeah, right!!
13. May 2008 at 5:47 pm
I like just about anything on 2 wheels and my prefs have evolved from experience…After a chain break @ 60mph, no more chains.
For the freeway, nothing less than 500cc. Lots of stop-n-go, let’s lose the gears. If I don’t have to mount it like a Sumo wrestler warming up and they call that a scooter, I’ll take the insurance break.
I could ask the same about motorcycles too> In the case of the Goldwing,with a reverse gear and an airbag, when does it stop being a motorcycle and start being a 2 wheeled car? And at $19K, words like Smart, Aveo, Fit and Yaris start getting into focus.
13. May 2008 at 7:21 pm
I like the idea that Yamaha will bring the T-Max over, competing in the middle of the Burgman 400 and 650 for customers. 55 inch wheelbase is small compare to the Burgman extra long wheelbase. I like the bike, only time will tell if its a good fit in the U.S. market and I bet it is.
13. May 2008 at 8:19 pm
The American scooter offerings seem to be running in two directions at once. There’s one group of 50cc machines that have been legislatively pigeonholed into a displacement that’s useless for traveling any great distance. Then there’s another group of maxi-scooters that just keep growing larger and larger and more and more powerful every year.
I’m glad there still are some practical 125-250cc scooters out there for those of us who want just enough to get around anywhere without being a hood ornament. Certain manufacturers *cough* Honda */cough* don’t seem to mind having a big gap in their lineup right where practical, minimal fun transportation (a.k.a. the scooter ideal) would be.
13. May 2008 at 9:27 pm
Exactly, GenWaylaid! There are so many great bikes out in Euro in that catagory that are not available here. Like he Honda SH, that is a killer looking scoot and available in difefring ccs. Even the Suzuki Burgman in a 125 or 250 would be nice, tons of cargo space and a small displacement scooter.
..and why are scooter makers not flooding the market with ads and commercials given the market’s attention is on saving $$ with rising fuel costs.
14. May 2008 at 2:07 am
Now, if we could just get them to bring in the X-Max and the X-City models in 250 and 125 models, all thier bases would be covered. I actually prefer their 250 models to the T-Max, which is probably going to be priced in Silver Wing territory.
14. May 2008 at 1:21 pm
I just don’t understand why people get so worked up over another two-wheel option. There are plenty of small displacement scooters around and it’s nice to see some more choices in the bigger bikes. I personally don’t care how you define the TMax, how about a sport touring scooter?
The more options we have the happier we will all be.
I predict/hope Honda will be back with a more interesting line-up. Just flushing out old inventory this year is my guess.
- wisart
14. May 2008 at 5:55 pm
I like the idea of the extra HP for an extra kick at highway speeds, but the storage area looks much smaller than the Majesty 400. I bought my Majesty over the Burgman for the additonal storage as well as the price and reputed reliability. I’d like to see Yamaha take the form of the Majesty 400 and upgrade it to a direct competitor for the Burgman 650 Executive with 550 to 650cc twin, larger wheels, ABS Integrated brakes, a really good seat a la Corbin and set up for 50+ HWY mpg with 300 lbs of person and baggage on board.
15. May 2008 at 10:38 pm
Nice looking bike. I prefer my scoots with interchangable tires and one cylinder, though. Otherwise it’s a sportsbike pretending to be a scooter (which most insurance companies will pick up on in a heartbeat, especially with the tell tale displacement). Any scooterist that rides one of these shouldn’t talk trash about crotch rockets!
15. May 2008 at 10:41 pm
And for the I’ve seen plenty of Lambretta’s and vintage vespas with spare tires and/or dummy tanks in the place of the “step through” zone this can also include the Tomos Streetmate and the Streetmate R. Yet, no one is quick to label these as motorcycles.
15. May 2008 at 10:42 pm
somehow I left the word “record” out. Sorry
16. May 2008 at 3:37 am
T-Max will have its followings here; but I will get the first Honda SH300i coming to America. There, I called it, OK?!
American Honda just ain’t serious enough about their scooter business at all :( Just look at their current and past line-ups. American Honda lacks vision and guts; or worse, withholds the goods from us Americans because we are just too dumb to appreciate them (and you know they’re wrong).
My rear-end will grow wings and fly before Honda wakes up and smell the coffee.
–Lorenzo
24. May 2008 at 5:15 pm
Wolf said…
“At what point does something stop being a scooter and become a motorcycle?”
Anything over 50cc is a motorcycle. Below that it’s a moped (even without pedals). A scooter is just a motorcycle with a particular styling – usually with space in front of your legs (no fuel tank there) and an automatic transmission.
9. June 2008 at 1:37 am
THE T-MAX IS COMING TO THE US!!!!
That’s great news because I was looking at them while in Europe and its the bomb!
Yamaha is finally making its models available worldwide and this one will sell big time.
With the gas prices going where they are going,you can expect to see this bike everywhere on the road!
Thierry
(I currently ride a 400c Majesty)
10. June 2008 at 8:25 am
Here in the US the 50cc scooter is a bad idea. I know it can go 40 mph but that is still not enough speed for local street where speed limit is 40mph. Try merging left when cars are moving at 40 to 45 mph. That’s why I think a 125cc ought to be a minimum.
I’m excited to hear the Tmax is coming.
Go Scooters.
11. June 2008 at 7:23 pm
Wolf said…
“At what point does something stop being a scooter and become a motorcycle? I’ve always thought of scooters as typically 50cc, but up to around 150cc. A 500cc “scooter” makes no sense to me.”
As someone who owns an Aprilia 500 scooter, allow me to explain. When you’re commuting to work in stop-and-go traffic and you have to carry a laptop, your lunch, shoes to wear at work (when the riding boots come off), and other “stuff,” the big scooter makes a lot of sense. Because of the automatic transmission, you don’t get arm pump from the clutch. The built-in storage area on a large scooter swallows everything without the need to resort to add-on tank bags, tail bags, and saddlebags. The protection from the leg shield and large windshield means that you don’t get hypothermia if you have to work late and the weather turns cold. If you do go through a puddle, you don’t find your pants covered with water from the knees down.
“And as a motorcycle, I don’t care for the styling at all.”
I ride for enjoyment, not to make a fashion statement, so I buy what works best. Others are just the opposite. To each his own.
7. July 2008 at 11:09 am
who cares whether you call the t max a scooter or not? these machines are fantastic, ride one for a while and you will be smitten, mine is definately a scooter, i have ridden scooters for 29 years, lambrettas, vepas and the extra grin factor i get from the t max equals both with the added bonus of not having to worry about breaking down.
1. August 2008 at 5:22 am
I have my fifth YAMAHA TMAX (my new one is a midnight black 2008 ABS) and in France and Italy the TMAX is the most fashionable bike for simplicity of use and performances.
We do some modification to have better performances and more style (add double xenon and MALOSSI MHR variator).
If you buy one you will never drive other bike after…
see ya !
VICE, PARIS 17 FRANCE
26. October 2008 at 8:02 am
SAME AS VICE
I am in south of France in Nice, great to ride my fifth Tmax, i don’t want any other bike !
Gerard, Nice France
30. October 2008 at 12:07 am
Following my wife’s lead, who rides a Buddy 150, a 2008 T-max resides in the garage. Its balance is impressive – I can hold at a stop without feet down for 15 seconds or more. Acceleration from 50mph is impressive. Off the line it’s faster than most cars. The locked space is useful. And it’s amazingly agile through traffic. There is grin factor. The Malossi may improve that, I hear. But when a pleasure trip arises, I tend to reach for the keys to Shere Khan, the white 1050 Triumph Tiger, which rides smoother (Hypepro rear shock), and to the fingertips feels menacing like a banned automatic weapon. It is more agile, leaps forward with just a touch.
But I digress. The T-max is impressive and fun. The Tiger will rip your heart out. And to this addled 60 year old retired guy, one is transportation the other one is pure fun.
30. October 2008 at 12:08 am
Following my wife’s lead, who rides a Buddy 150, a 2008 T-max resides in the garage. Its balance is impressive – I can hold at a stop without feet down for 15 seconds or more. Acceleration from 50mph is impressive. Off the line it’s faster than most cars. The locked space is useful. And it’s amazingly agile through traffic. There is grin factor. The Malossi may improve that, I hear. But when a pleasure trip arises, I tend to reach for the keys to Shere Khan, the white 1050 Triumph Tiger, which rides smoother (Hypepro rear shock), and to the fingertips feels menacing like a banned automatic weapon. It is more agile, leaps forward with just a touch.
But I digress. The T-max is impressive and fun. The Tiger will rip your heart out. And to this addled 60 year old retired guy, one is transportation the other one is pure fun.
30. October 2008 at 12:09 am
Following my wife’s lead, who rides a Buddy 150, a 2008 T-max resides in the garage. Its balance is impressive – I can hold at a stop without feet down for 15 seconds or more. Acceleration from 50mph is impressive. Off the line it’s faster than most cars. The locked space is useful. And it’s amazingly agile through traffic. There is grin factor. The Malossi may improve that, I hear. But when a pleasure trip arises, I tend to reach for the keys to Shere Khan, the white 1050 Triumph Tiger, which rides smoother (Hypepro rear shock), and to the fingertips feels menacing like a banned automatic weapon. It is more agile, leaps forward with just a touch.
But I digress. The T-max is impressive and fun. The Tiger will rip your heart out. And to this addled 60 year old retired guy, one is transportation the other one is pure fun.
22. January 2009 at 5:37 am
Does anyone know why Yamaha discontinued the Morphous? I own an ’07 and I thoroughly enjoy it.
22. January 2009 at 5:56 am
They still sell them in Asia. America just wasn’t ready for them. I consider them a collectors item now.
25. January 2009 at 4:30 pm
Getting back to the Morphous. I am short, only 5′ 4″, and most scooters average a seat height of 29″, which puts me on tiptoe–not an ideal stance for controlling a scooter. The Morphous, on the other hand, sits at 25″ and I am quite comfortable at that height despite the different weight. Oh, I also own a 2004 Yamaha Vino 125 which I use for shopping. But my Morphoes is sufficiently quick off the line to allow me to merge with fast moving traffic, easily cruses at 70 mph, and renders an average of 70 mpg. I think Yamaha built too much machine for the price they charged. With it’s discontinuance the gap is again open between 1225cc to 400cc.
25. January 2009 at 4:35 pm
Made several erors–meant 125cc to 400 cc, Cruises does own an i. The third mention of the name somehow got an e in place of an u. Must have allowed my fingers to do the walkin.
8. March 2012 at 11:06 pm
Consider a Suzuki one lung cruiser (Intruder, or whatever its called). A true thumping, torqeasaurus wanna-be Harley. Now consider my BV500, Italy’s precIse, elegant and smooth revvy liquid cooled gem. It runs fast & smooth, with all the torque of the aforementioned motorcycle, and none of the cobra-braggadosio. If you want to, I’ll let you call my big Piaggio an automatic motorcycle. Even though all 500cc’s are contained in one swing arm-connected cylinder on a step thru frame!