Best Yamaha Motor Scooters
Yamaha Tricity
Perfect – The handling and cornering of this bike is better than any bike I have ever had over many years. Very predictable and smooth. I wish I could afford the 300 for highway riding with pillion The 155 is perfect for commute and town and local roads Show details
Yamaha TMAX 530
Excellent after some tuning – I pulled the lucky card and got the IronMax model, the one that’s way better and aggressive styling than the new techy stuff. Advantages of the… Read more
limited edition included Akrapovitch exhaust which was super low-sounding. I had to sell Akra as if was not to my taste. Got sc-project instead which sound right as i like it. It also improved roll-on, surprisingly after Akra... Other upgardes included full-metal footplates, as it was a shame to see rubbers down below; only the forward plates were metal in the Ironmax. They should have come full metal off the factory for the limited edition. I love the color scheme, liquid darkness. This is the only bile I copped many compliments from passers-by in the months before lockdowns. Also had to move the mirrors onto the steering bar as i hated the ant whisker look of the stock ones. Shall also mention i did some simple upgrades in the variator and the thing flies properly now. I tried the chip tuning but it has got a proprietary connector and the local specialist could not do it. This is the last bastion that i must somehow resolve, the dyno tuning. Overall very impressed, will never sell. Highly recommended, if you can source one and not shy of some extra spend on reasonable tuning.
Yamaha XMAX
- Starting Price $10,049 to $10,249
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$1,300+ to service the bike – I paid $9,500 for my brand new 2023 model (in 2024) and I like the bike but Yamaha City (in Lorimer St) are charging me over $1,300 for a V-belt… Read more
service which is to be done every 20,000km. That's roughly every second month for me, working as a motorcycle courier, with the interim service costing over $700. So over $1,000 a month to keep the bike running is simply not viable for me so I'll go back to using a Honda again and I'll never buy Yamaha again.
Yamaha TMAX 560
An actual alternative to owning a car – It’s Yamaha’s top-spec commuter scooter that blurs the line between a conventional scooter and a touring motorcycle. There’s an extensive feature… Read more
list for this bike, but there’s also a higher-than-your-average scooter asking price.
At $20,649 as a ride-away price, this is one of the most expensive learner approved scooters you can buy.
You’re looking at buying this bike because you’re commuting farther than your average scooter. You want the most comfortable ride, and one of the most capable scooters when it comes to handling and power.
If those reasons don’t sound like your requirements, you’re better off checking out something like a Vespa, which is a cheaper and more simple alternative that’s ideal for shorter trips.
The warranty is 24 months, unlimited parts and labour. Servicing costs are set by the individual dealers, but service intervals are every 10,000km.
It’s a heavy bike, but thanks to an upgraded twin-disc brake up front and a sizable rear brake, you can smoothly operate the T-MAX to a stop. In addition, you get a dedicated parking brake to avoid any awkward roll-aways when stationary.
The T-MAX produces 35kW (46.94hp) at 7500 rpm and 55.7Nm at 5250 rpm. It’s a rapid scooter. There’s no doubt you’ll be able to swiftly ride up to the speed limit and have no problem overtaking at highway speeds.
You also have two ride modes: ‘Touring' and 'Sport'. Touring simply limits the amount of power delivered for a more relaxed riding experience, while Sport ups the ante to complement the mode.
Not to mention the fact you have an electronically controlled windshield which you can adjust to block wind or rain while riding, and this scooter has cruise control too.
You’re operating the T-MAX via a single-speed CVT transmission. It’s not an engaging gearbox, but it does make for a very simple and easy ride.
I rode the T-MAX immediately after returning the XSR700 I had on loan, and all I can say is that this felt like a sofa on wheels in comparison. It’s a plush ride when commuting out on the highway; you’re disconnected from the road in all the right ways.
There’s no shortage of storage on board the T-MAX. There’s a convenient box to place your phone and keys just to the right of the start button. That’s right, a start button, since this bike has keyless start/stop and lock. Underneath the seat, you’ll struggle to fit anything more if you’re carrying a spare helmet in there.
That large, soft heated seat helps you get comfortable with plenty of lower back support, too. I really appreciated the two feet position, allowing me to recline and activate cruise control for those long stretches of highway riding.
If the thought of owning a car makes you sick with disgust as you imagine having to sit in traffic and find parking spaces in overcrowded urban areas, then it might be for you.
*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.