If you’ve ever been amused by those old Arabian Nights tales and wondered what it would indeed be like to ride a fabled magic carpet, wonder no more, because Yamaha have the perfect compromise and it’s called the TMAX. What’s it like? Well kneel down on your favourite rug and read on…
Ali Baba was a cool dude for sure. He was a mythical chap (perhaps!), who enjoyed many adventures in and around Arabia but, more specifically, Baghdad. His tales were read to starry-eyed, snotty-nosed kids for many years, including myself. Admittedly I produced quite a lot of that obnoxious runny nose material in those days but at least it lacquered my teeth saving on dentistry bills, or so my mother said. But, mucus mayhem, aside Ali Baba is a folk tale legend and more importantly so was his transport. Ali and his pet sheep Baa Baa (sorry made that up but it is slightly amusing?), and his forty thieves (or Pikeys), plundered their way through what is now called Iraq, poaching jewels, blatantly sexually harassing harems at leisure and generally being a nuisance to all dignitaries. Sounds like fun to me but they did have an advantage; the perfect ‘get-away’ transport in the form of a magic carpet and we’ve all wanted one of those at one time or another, haven’t we?
Now these famous interesting tales are all well and good but what could Ali Baba possibly use to escape or plunder if he were around today? Well he would need something as easy to operate as a large Persian rug with very little input from the rider/pilot and it would have to have some sort of ‘floating’ sensation. I would, therefore, thoroughly recommend a new Yamaha TMAX to the flamboyant Arab with the only downside being the lack of tassels and that delectable niff of a new carpet, otherwise he’d love it.
Even Ali would be interested to hear about the amazing success story of the Yamaha TMAX since its introduction back in 2001. Yamaha called the TMAX a maxi-scooter back then, which to us means a big f*****! Since the conception of this monster automatic scooter Yamaha have sold… guess? Well, I’ll tell you, it’s an amazing 180,000 units! Now that’s not too far behind BMW’s GS range for Aladdin’s sake. No wonder they’ve chosen to update their flagship auto with this new 530cc version that is now the fourth generation of the TMAX theme and by far Yamaha’s best ever version. It’s a good job too because Yamaha currently enjoy a whopping 65% of the European giant scooter market but with BMW and Aprilia recently announcing their new models, aimed to take some of the Euro pie from Yamaha, it jolly well has to be good.
So what have Yamaha been up to to improve on an already superb machine? Quite a lot is the answer, so let’s get into it. Firstly, they’ve left the sturdy aluminium frame alone, which isn’t a bad thing because the TMAX was always respectfully known for its impressive handling attributes. Instead Yamaha have chosen to focus more on updating the engine, specifically the drive train and, of course, the styling.
The engine has obviously had an increase in capacity due to the 2mm wider new forged pistons, which are lighter than the 500cc ones they replace. The engine layout is still basically the same though, being a liquid-cooled, parallel twin with an 8-valve cylinder head, the combustion chambers are reshaped and a new higher performance camshaft has been added. The inlet valves have also been tweaked by increasing the diameter by a mere 1mm to improve intake flow. Interestingly (or not), the intake manifold is now made from a plastic type of resin and not metal alloy, for some reason only known to Yamaha but I’m sure there’s a benefit somewhere? The fuel-injection system has been updated too with new 12-hole injectors, the same as used on their R6. All this mechanical effort has increased the torque by 10% throughout the rev-range and 3hp more has magically appeared. So now the TMAX is claimed to churn out 47bhp @ 6,750rpm and 53Nm @ 5,250rpm, nice.
What all this gibberish equates to is a far more responsive and powerful tug to the Yamaha rug. The previous 500 version was always a bit ‘fluffy’ off the line but that trait has now gone. The 530 pulls harder, much harder, especially in the important 50 – 90 km/h zone, making overtaking a simple pleasure. 120km/h is effortless to say the least and even though the new polygon (not derived from a dead parrot), shaped clocks only go as far as 180km/h the new 530 will easily sweep past that on its way to perhaps 200km/h, faster than anything Ali has ever swooped about on for sure.
So the engine is now superb and sooooo effortlessly smooth and creamy, which has to be partly due to the new final belt drive as well, like the ones found on Yamaha’s big cruiser range. The CVT system normally associated with scooters is still there but compacted into the back of the engine and then a fancy belt drive finishes the job to the wide 160/60-15 rear tyre (front also 15-inch). Apparently this centralises mass and puts more weight over the front wheel improving handling and stability in the process. Either way the fully automatic drive train is still present and correct thank you. That mentioned mass is now 217kg (wet), 4kg lighter than the last version and 1kg heavier than the first version. But this seemingly high weight factor does make it stable and reassuring at any speed helped by a lengthy 1,580mm wheelbase. However, the impressively powerful R1 derived brakes are more than capable of bringing the TMA to screeching halt, so no worries there Ali.
To complement all this new engineering Yamaha have changed the styling slightly, for the better, but it’s still a TMAX in anyone’s eyes and why drastically change it if you’ve sold thousands, eh? But it does look far more ‘stealth bomber’ like especially with its new projector beam headlights and in this curious Sonic Grey colour, also in Competition White I’ve been told, which would be my choice. The rear light is from a 2007 R1 as well, which will surely bore people to death when you tell them over a beer? It’s also a tall machine with a lofty 800mm seat height and a wide seat. This means infidels with little leggies might just prefer the flying carpet their ancestors left behind, just a thought?
The rider and pillion comfort levels are luxurious and as good as it gets on two wheels and I adore that foot forward riding position, a bit like you’re trying to put the brakes on when your missus is driving the car with you at their side, if you know what I mean? But after all the time Yamaha has put into their new TMAX why is the screen not electric, instead you have to fiddle with screws and stuff to move it up and down? An oversight in my opinion. The TMAX should also come standard with heated grips too and not an optional extra, don’t you agree?
To wrap it all up the new TMAX is brilliant even though it costs a lot at R99,000, but remember this is an automatic ‘step-through’ motorbike you’re buying and not necessarily a big scooter as the looks would first suggest. If you want to commute and then tear around at the weekend in opulence then you just have to find a way to own a 530. Or you could fly to Baghdad and hope to find a magic carpet. Personally I’d opt for a TMAX, much safer too.
