Super Scooter

When high gas prices hit town last summer so did the scooters, as everyone from coeds to professionals to retirees suddenly perked up to a simple, enjoyable mode of transportation that Europeans have embraced for years. With two small wheels, friendly styling, lightweight and small-displacement engines, scooters are perfect for urban errand-running and commuting. But that’s about where the fun stops, because the same easy-to-live-with features that make scooters heroic in town also ensure they’ll rarely stray past the city limits.

Scooteris Maximus

Until recently, that is. Various Japanese motorcycle builders have experimented with large-displacement scooters that blend motorcycle size and performance while retaining a non-threatening countenance. The latest—and by some accounts best—of these offerings is Yamaha’s new 2009 TMAX. Described as part scooter and part sport bike, the TMAX is precisely that. Your first tip-off that the TMAX is something special is its 499cc fuel-injected twin-cylinder engine, compared to the 50cc to 250cc singles that are found on many scooters. Capable of pushing the TMAX over an indicated 100 mph, the engine is a sweetheart; quiet and torquey, it powers the rear wheel through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that requires absolutely no input from the rider. Just flip up the side stand or rock the TMAX off its handy center stand, turn the key and hit the pushbutton starter, twist the throttle and go. The engine quickly accelerates into the fat part of its power band (about 4000 to 4500 rpm) and then stays there most of the time, thanks to the carefully calibrated CVT. While brisk, the acceleration is not exactly superbike quality—but the TMAX is plenty quick enough to sprint away from car and truck traffic at stoplights. An internal engine counter-balancer ensures that the operation is very smooth, and liquid cooling reduces mechanical noise and ensures a longer engine life than simpler air-cooling.

Riding Impression

While many scooters roll on diminutive 12-inch tires, the TMAX steps out with fat 15-inch sport radials that are only two inches smaller in diameter than real sport-bike tires, and their carefully designed profiles are a big part of the TMAX’s sweet handling formula. Along with highly stylized bodywork and dual headlights, the TMAX also shares its powerful four-piston front brake-caliper design with its sport-bike brethren. While not tuned to provide racetrack-quality braking performance, the double discs do a good job of slowing the TMAX from highway speed, and the reasonable effort required to operate the right handlebar lever means riders won’t be caught off-guard by the sudden braking effect that some sport bikes have. A secondary rear disc brake is controlled separately via the left handlebar lever. Which brings up a useful point: Apart from balancing at a standstill, unlike a motorcycle the TMAX requires no interaction of the rider’s feet at all, thanks to the automatic CVT power delivery and the location of the aforementioned rear brake lever.


When we tested the Yamaha on a 550-mile trip through California’s coastal valleys, we found it unnerving at first to have no gas tank to grip with our knees, as on a motorcycle, but after several hours the “tankless” scooter architecture began to seem natural enough. The TMAX can carry two people and the deep dual seat, which tops a sizable lockable and weatherproof storage area, remained comfortable throughout our weekend tour. It was nice to have a choice of two foot-placement options—either flat on the floorboards or up against the forward part of the boards, cruiser style. The standard windscreen and bodywork reasonably protect the rider from wind and rain, but we discovered a taller windshield was necessary to eliminate wind buffeting around the helmet. Fortunately, Yamaha offers one as an accessory. We also observed 46-mpg fuel-economy average for our trip—similar to a Toyota Prius but a whole lot more fun to ride. That’s why, for a list price of $7,999, the new Yamaha TMAX looks pretty good for the summer driving season when gasoline prices typically skyrocket. Add in the long days and great riding weather, and it just might be perfect.