Yamaha TMAX Tech Max (2025) – Review

Maxi scooters more than have their place in motorcycling. If you’ve ridden one, you’ll know this. If you haven’t ridden one, go and try one. But read this first.

When the original TMAX was launched back in 2001, Yamaha redefined the class and at the same time claimed to have invented the ‘sports scooter’ segment. But is over fourteen grand too much to pay for something that many would consider isn’t actually a motorcycle? Well, yes and no…

In just shy of 500 miles testing the 2025 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max (terrible name), I went from loving it to hating it to liking it. Motorcycling is full of niches and, in terms of ‘big scooters’, there’s an audience for the big Yamaha pull back and go. And with over 360,000 sales of them in 24 years of production and most of those in Europe, it seems so. But in the UK, we’re not as enthused about this bike in terms of sales.

Pros & Cons

2025 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max - Price & PCP Deals

Having this bike on test for a couple of weeks for a variety of trips, I got to talk about the TMAX a lot with folk. The peak of this was when it was parked behind the Bennetts stand at the recent Snetterton British Superbikes round. Nobody could get over the price: “Almost fourteen and a half grand for a scooter?!? That’s ridiculous!” was the common response.

And it is a lot of money. But money buys quality, a well-developed platform, a nationwide dealer network, and a lot of features. But it’s far from perfect (more on that later), and given its rivals (also more of that later), it could and should be better.

But I imagine that TMAX owners really want a TMAX or are replacing the one they’ve already had for the past 10 years to do the same commute, week in, week out and all through the year, comforted by its comfort and reliability. Or they’ve ridden Yamahas all their life, love the brand, and are looking for something easier to ride. But is it worth double the cost of a Suzuki Burgman 400? No.

Yamaha offers Personal Contract Plans (PCP) or Purchasing Plans for the Tech Max. Different dealers may offer different deals as well, but at the time of publishing a representative PCP offer on a 4000 miles per year and 36 months term was for a £3,600 deposit and 36 payments of £200.16 and an optional final payment of £5,950.

2025 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max - Engine & Performance

The TMAX rips. The 562cc parallel twin just surges like it's an electric motor (in a good way). It does have 47hp and 40.6lb-ft of torque, which is handy when you consider it weighs as much as a Triumph Tiger 800 XC…
There are two modes to choose from; either ‘T’ for Touring or ‘S’ for Sport. As a pillion, my youngest son preferred Sport mode because it’s just silly. But for the majority of the time, the gentler throttle response of ‘T’ is what you’ll want to live in. 

Licence losing speeds are easily achievable, it will beat most cars off the line and also surprise other motorcyclists (I did this more than once. Really gets people riled up, for some reason…). I know this isn’t what it’s all about, but the TMAX does put the sport in sport scooter. And it makes you laugh as it does it, especially in ‘S’.

I have to say the transmission has a big part in the sensation of performance - there are no lags in pick-up, the TMAX just takes off whatever the revs and speed; it’s really quite impressive. There’s a rev counter to keep an eye on, but there’s also not a lot you can do about it as you can’t shift gears.

2025 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max- Handling & Suspension (inc. Weight)

While the TMAX does feel low, heavy and long (only 5mm longer on a Royal Enfield Himalayan) it is (surprisingly) agile on the move.

With such a relaxed riding position, that long wheelbase and rear bias weight balance, the front end will feel vague if you’re coming from a conventional motorcycle to the TMAX. It tips in nice but longer, faster corners I simply put my faith into the awesome Bridgestone tyres, quality looking forks, and the belief in the cornering ABS system. A normal motorcycle this is not.

On the flip side, if you’re used to big scooters the riding position feels more like a normal motorcycle. Weird. It’s mainly down to the fact you can’t ‘step through’ the bike and there’s quite a bulk of mass between your legs (stop it!), which I actually didn’t like. I don’t want to cock my short leg over a scooter, and hitting my knee on the grab rail is less than pleasant. 

And while the front end, with its twin brake disc set up, is very very good at dealing with bumps and emergency braking, the rear end is the opposite of nice. If you ride with your feet furthest forward (i.e. not flat on the boards) you have all your weight on the seat. The rear shock’s lack of finesse or sag in standard trim will knock the air out of your lungs with each bump. I’m not joking. On less than smooth roads, you’ll need your speed right down and your feet back as far as possible to get your legs working as part of the suspension system.

2025 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max - Comfort & Economy

Referring back to the previous chapter about suspension, the rear end is a fly in the ointment of the TMAX’s comfort; I absolutely hated riding it on bumpy roads. But when I rode some long, fast A road and motorway missions, it lapped them up with ease; I actually had spare brain capacity because there’s a lot less going on to concentrate on.

The seat is far too wide, but at the same nice and plush. This is matched to high set bars and an electrically adjusted screen make for a comfy ride and on a smooth road, choose either feet forward or conventional ‘jockey’ style.

Want to listen to a podcast or keep the rain off you? Raise the screen up. Want some cold wind blast and the feeling of speed, bring the screen down. Then there’s the amazing connectivity via the MyRide app for navigation, phone control, viewing messages, email notifications and playing music.

Worth mentioning is that the MyRide app also gives access features like the riding log, parking location, fuel consumption, routes ridden and more. If you’re a tech geek, it’s cool.

Also on the comfort side are heated grips and a heated seat. But I do think they’ve missed a trick with bodywork not sculpted to divert wind blast away from hands. I mean, my 2003 Piaggio Skipper 125 has this and that has nowhere near the speed or range capability of the TMAX.

Speaking of other gripes, while the cruise control is very handy and easy to operate and adjust, I’d have chosen a speed limiter over it as I’m sure these bikes will be ridden in a lot of urban environments.

There’s one storage compartment at the front with a USB-A charger and a removable divider to keep a smart phone in place; it swallowed up my (too) large iPhone 16 Pro Max with no problems. I’d have preferred this to be lockable, but then again I’m sure many people will put the keyless ignition key in this cubby hole and that would lead to all sorts of problems.

There’s no charging socket under the seat and I could just about get my Shoei Multitec II in there if I put it upside down. Yamaha claims it can fit two open face helmets, depending on the make of them. But I had shopping and a big lock in there with no such dramas.

We managed an average fuel economy of 54.4mpg with a best of 61.08mpg and a worst of 46.95mpg after some spirited ‘Sport’ mode riding. Our most daring tank range was 154.7 miles (at 55.12mpg), requiring 12.76 litres to fill it back up, meaning a comfortable 2.24 litres was left in return and a theoretical range of 182 miles.

2025 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max - Equipment

Keyless ignition, USB charger, electric adjusted windscreen, heated grips, heated seats, two ride modes, smartphone connectivity, Garmin-powered navigation, cruise control, a lockable centre stand, cornering ABS and traction control, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). all served up in a sesame seed bun. It’s got the toys, but it should have at this price.

Personally, I’d like a second front compartment, a charging socket under the seat, and a cup holder. But I guess this is no GT model…

2025 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max - Rivals

There are plenty of maxi scooter rivals out there, but they’re all a bit different: there are adventure scooters, 745cc giants from Honda, and a whole bunch of 400s that will more than do the job if you’re looking for something comfy and capable of motorway speeds. But nobody really does it like the 560 TMAX Tech Max (it’s a sports scooter, remember!).

Suzuki Burgman 400 | Price: £7,199

Read more

Power/Torque

29bhp / 26lb-ft

Weight

218kg

BMW C 400 GT | Price: £8,230

Read more

Power/Torque

33.5bhp / 26lb-ft

Weight

206kg

Honda Forza 750 | Price: £10,699

Read more

Power/Torque

57.8bhp / 50.9lb-ft

Weight

236kg

2025 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max - Verdict

The TMAX Tech Max is a super polished motorbike sports scooter and if you’re looking for a laid back, automatic bike with plenty of go, adequate storage, decent comfort, top level finish and quality components, then look no further. If you have a joyless commute of 20-40 miles each way, every day, then the TMAX will absolutely smash that for 10 (no doubt untroubled years). But…

…it’s expensive and it’s heavy to move around. In my opinion, a scooter should be a step-through as that adds to the ease, accessibility and convenience. The seat is so wide that my 30 inch little legs struggle to put any decent force to the ground, which with a heavy and long bike isn’t helpful. I got stuck on a gravel drive one time when the traction control just dug a hole and I couldn’t paddle backwards; I had to get off it to get out of the pickle and then smacked my knee on the grab rail (again).

With its gold spot radial calipers, upside down forks, ride modes and mounting style, the TMAX wants to be an R9 but has the running gear of a scooter. And having tested both the aforementioned bikes within weeks of each other, on one particular 65-mile Friday ‘against the clock’ ride at peak traffic and baking heat, the TMAX (at legal speeds) was the most relaxing thing I could have been riding and would be my choice every time for such a mission.

Was I sad when I handed the Yamaha’s keyless key back? Not at all. However, there’s still room in my garage and heart for a maxi scooter, but I think something a little less sports is what my little legs and I require: I don’t ride auto when I want to go loco.

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2025 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max - Technical Specification

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MCIA Secured gives motorcycles a rating out of five stars (three stars for bikes of 125cc or less), based on the following being fitted to a new bike as standard:

• A steering lock that meets the UNECE 62 standard

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The higher the star rating, the better the security, so always ask your dealer what rating your bike has and compare it to other machines on your shortlist.

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