Yamaha TMax 560 TechMax maxi-scooter test

Menus

• Standard vs TechMax: which model to choose ?
• Twin cylinder of 562 cm3, 47.6 hp and 55.7 Nm, 218 kg, from 11,990 euros
• Discovery
• In the saddle
• In the city
• Highway
• Departmental
• Cycle part
• Braking
• Comfort
• Convenient
• Consumption
• Maintenance
• The video test of the Tmax 560
• Conclusion
• Test equipment

Standard vs TechMax: which model to choose ?

Twin cylinder of 562 cm3, 47.6 hp and 55.7 Nm, 218 kg, from 11,990 euros

7th generation! Yes the Yamaha TMax 560 signs the 7th generation of TMax. And we are talking about TMax, not even a Yamaha. Because in nearly 20 years (since 2001), the TMax has become the very symbol of the maxi sports scooter, copied, never equaled, as the Burgman embodies the maxi-scooter GT. And yet the competition has grown from the Aprilia SRV 850 (more powerful) to the BMW C650 through the Kymco AK 550 to the latest Sym MaxsymTL500. It is hardly the MP3 500 that has succeeded, but in a completely different register, that of three-wheeled maxi-scooters; a register on which Yamaha arrives with the Tricity 300 and Niken. And this success is reflected in the figures with more than 330,000 models sold, including 275,000 in Europe. This new generation of TMax signs a new engine, more powerful, but above all Euro5, without equaling in power the AK or the C650, while being more expensive. Because yes, the TMax had already undergone a hell of a price hike with the DX and SX. But then why? Why pay so much for what’s left of a biker scooter? A scooter, just a scooter? Trial in Portugal…

Yamaha TMax 560 in its Icon Gray colorway

Discovery

The first thing that stands out with the TMax is its ability to have evolved in eighteen years, while being immediately recognizable. And when we say recognizable, it is also by the noise, by the melody I should say of the exhaust which signs its identity as much as the line. But what is certain is that the TMax continues to climb in range, like the XMax 300 and 400 (especially in their IronMax versions) also explaining the successive price increases, to satisfy a biker with a good wallet. completed. The proof of this well-filled wallet? Well when there were 3 models of TMax with the standard, the SX and the DX (the most expensive), the DX was sold in 56% of cases against 9% of sales only for the cheapest model! The buyer of a TMax does not just want a TMax, he wants the most complete, the most accessorized, the best finished, the most techno! Suddenly, beyond the successive increases in displacement, the technology is enriched a little more with each vintage with the SmartKey keyless start since 2015 (which also unlocks the saddle and the central stand), driving modes and traction. control since the SX in 2017, connectivity with a mobile application on the DX in 2017, cruise control, an electric bubble, heated grips and saddle (DX), LED lights, a TFT screen (which remains more smaller than the competition), not to mention ingenious systems such as this central stand which is automatically locked when the steering is locked, as an additional anti-theft device (unfortunately never sufficient). But there are no longer three models, just two. No more DX then, but a standard model and a Tech Max model, which offers substantially the same performance as the DX with cruise control, heated grips and saddle, electric bubble, connectivity with the MyTMAX connect application as well as now adjustable suspensions , in preload and stress.

The Yamaha TMax 560 TechMax and standard

Under this set, we still find a twin-cylinder in-line now Euro5, 560 cm3, delivering 35 kW or 47.6 horsepower at 7,500 rpm and 55.7 Nm at 5,250 rpm, a significant increase compared to 33 kW / 46 horses and 53 Nm of torque of the TMax 530 which had seen its weight decrease by nine kilos, while the 2012 model had already lost 4 kilos. The gain is minimal compared to the 30cm3 difference, but it should be remembered that each new Euro standard has a negative impact on performance. At equal displacement, the TMax would have lost power and torque, which is impossible for such an iconic model. Hence the increase in displacement to compensate and even go so far as to improve. Yamaha announces that it then worked on the engine, including new forged aluminum pistons, new connecting rods and a 2mm rebore..

The 562cc twin of the new Yamaha TMax

Note also a larger radiator of 6% which allows to come into action at 82 ° C instead of 71 ° C previously. All this allows a gain in power of 3.5% and torque of 6% while consumption has been reduced, officially from 5.3 to 4.8 liters per hundred. CO2 emissions have also been reduced from 122 g to 112 g; which is better for everyone’s health and for the wallet of some, since some countries impose taxes based on CO2 emissions. Changes are also found in the front fork, exhaust and new secondary drive belt, including modified secondary drive ratios providing better mid-range pickup. Finally, we always find at the heart of the chassis, a cast aluminum frame with double spar. In the end, the weight significantly increased to 218 kilos / 220 kilos all full depending on the two models, in particular because of the new catalyst, even if a change of materials made it possible to reduce the thickness of the walls of the exhaust. and reduced the weight, but only on this part.

The silencer of the Yamaha TMax 560

After the general line remains unchanged even if the stylistic improvements relate to each element from the front LED headlight to the rear light also in LED but with a T-signature (close to the Tesla logo), not to mention the turn signals now also in LED and integrated into the fairing. Those most used to the lines of the TMax will note a work on the boomerang shape of the rear part going up to the level of the front part.

The rear lights of the Yamaha TMax 560

But after a more sanitized 2017 version, the 2020 vintage is undeniably returning to a more sporty look, reinforced by these small aluminum parts in particular to rest the feet in the front (which can be supplemented by an aluminum part for the pilot, but also for the passenger). Yes, even the TechMax version offers the possibility of even more accessories with all these small improvements, not to mention the three accessory packs in the catalog: Sport, Urban and Winter.

The front headlights of the Yamaha TMax 560

In the saddle

But why make scooters so high, an additional height reinforced by a wide saddle even if Yamaha claims to have significantly refined the sides? At 800mm, almost the size of a small trail, the 1m70 rider barely puts his feet to the ground, which in comparison makes the XMax 300 and XMax 400 easier to access thanks to the lighter weights. , especially since there is not really the possibility of moving forward on the saddle like on other scooters (or else, we have the cojones on the plastic and it is not really pleasant).

The saddle of the Yamaha TMax 560

In front of us, we find the traditional double speedometer and tachometer framing a tiny monochrome LCD screen facing the large TFT screens that we are starting to see on motorcycles, but also scooters like the C400. In the meantime, the information is there with fuel gauge, average and instantaneous consumption, air and oil temperature, partial double trip and totalizer, plus indications of the heating levels of the handles and the saddle (3 levels). Everything is controlled from the left stalk via the menu button and the up and down knobs, which takes a bit of getting used to. But you feel at home, because the plastics are of high quality, the space on board is important and what you have in front of you is rewarding.

Yamaha TMax 560 instrumentation

And there is a single storage compartment on the left, equipped with a cigarette lighter socket to power your smartphone or GPS (there is a Yamaha accessory to facilitate the installation of a GPS on the handlebars, centrally).

The Tech Max also offers connectivity with a dedicated MyRide mobile application (available for free on Android and iOS) which allows you to retrieve information on your scooter on your smartphone () up to your GPS position. And since the TechMax also integrates the Vodafone tracking part, the app is also able to locate the scooter or warn you in case of displacement. The whole thing replaces the Tracker installation from a few years ago. Provided originally, there is however a subscription to pay at the end of the first year of approximately 100 euros.

The Yamaha TMax 560 TechMax

Contact, we find the sound so characteristic of the exhaust, even if it is now attenuated compared to previous vintages, Euro5 and noise standards oblige. It is not the neighbors who will complain, nor the residents, the sound of a TMax being recognizable from afar, even from very far. He is still recognizable, but mainly for his pilot.

In the city

We know the TMax well for having tried each evolution, in the absence of revolution. We immediately find its marks here, with that lively engine and that instant connection to the throttle, combined with that sound that literally propels you. It’s still not the most powerful considering the specs, but the feel it provides is superior to the competition. It’s a bit like the difference between a pretty woman … and the one who makes all eyes return, because she has that je ne sais quoi in addition that one cannot transcribe and which does not respond to a purely logical and Cartesian analysis. TMax is exactly that. We know it’s just a scooter, but there is no equivalent. And it’s not just about looks and style. Because it pushes to this behavior a little stupid moreover. The other scooters are fun to drive, efficient, sometimes faster or more efficient in times … the TMax is enjoyable, because of this immediate connection between grip of gas and reaction, both smooth and immediate and for its sensations. kinesthetically by the subtle motor vibrations that rumble under the buttocks. Real Good Vibes.

Test of the Yamaha TMax 560 in the city

Another feature is that the engine does not need to go up in the towers. We remember competing models that go up to 8,000 rpm without this being really effective. Here, the engine rarely rises in town above 5,000 rpm, but the potato is there and instantaneously, even at 3,000 rpm at 50 km / h. As a result, we play with lines and interfiles … especially since the mirrors far ahead pass over the mirrors of the cars. And we go into the category of users who justify groups like Raslescoot (well, do not push anyway). And we turn what is usually a practical utility beast in the city into a neural-destroying weapon. But you have to try to understand. Sensations linked to the engine, but also to its extreme maneuverability and its ability to turn in a pocket square. That’s the ease of a 300 (or less) paired with the punch of a 560. Sure, at that price, I’ll buy a bike for myself, but it’s devilishly expressive and enjoyable on a daily basis. And if you’re more of the type who gets drawn down the wrong path, definitely don’t take it, because it leads to misbehavior and to going faster than the law allows. In fact, it is as difficult to stay within the nails of legality with the TMax as it is to drive a Porsche at 80 km / h on the national road..

The Yamaha TMax 560 in town

Highway

180 km / h counter, at the switch! On German autobahn only naturally! Speed ​​is bad! Also few horses and a top speed that will make you lose your license. It seems that there is an improvement of 5 km / h compared to the previous vintage! It just goes to show that you don’t need a hundred horses to have fun. In fact, the TMax doesn’t really need more horsepower either, especially on the highway when the engine purrs at 6,000 rpm to 150 km / h. There are maxi-scoots that reach this speed, but slowly after 120 km / h. Here you can feel the pickups at 140 km / h and the 160 km / h can be swallowed up in a few seconds. And the 180 km / h is not far while the engine runs at 7,500 rpm. At this speed, the protection provided by the bubble is effective, protecting both swirls and vibrations on the helmet, as well as the shoulders, provided you are in the high position. In the low position, it is really noisy with a lot of pressure on the helmet. Here is what to encourage to take the TechMax version. The feet are also rather well protected even if you can feel the eddies on the legs. Eddies that can be felt especially since the winter temperature during the test was around 10 degrees. Then we find the quality of the chassis with this central beam which ensures unparalleled stability at these highly illegal speeds. At a time when some scooters sausage at 120 km / h (and we remember the Majesty 400 sausage at Yamaha), the TMax is a rail … at the height of that which we take in the nose and the wind we put on almost everything that rolls (except surface-to-surface missiles, better known under the name of motorcycles).

Test of the Yamaha TMax 560 on the fast track

The TechMax has a speed regulator in addition to the standard … therefore to be used at 130 km / h on French highways so as not to fall asleep.

Departmental

There is nothing easier than the city and the highway … but the departmental roads change everything, especially when you attack the mountain virolos in the Lisbon region and where the small roads succeed the noticeably degraded roads or the ‘we can really put the machine under strain and make the faults appear. The TMax once again confirms its exemplary behavior, capable of entering hard corners and maintaining healthy behavior, even when forcing. No parasitic behavior lowers the rider’s confidence, aided by efficient and precise braking.

The Yamaha TMax 560 on the road

The pickups are there, including uphill and out of bends, to allow you to cut completely when entering a bend to re-accelerate like a pig when exiting the bend..

Yamaha TMax 560 road test

Cycle part

The 2017 vintage had already gained 9 kilos on the SX, 6 kilos on the DX, but the 2020 vintage is regaining a bit of weight. The 2019/2020 vintage remains on this momentum despite the improvements in terms of the belt. And all this confirms a well-built, efficient, consistent and above all healthy machine in all circumstances. We can even manage to hit the attack … but we have to go anyway !

The TechMax stands out with its golden rims

Braking

Double 267 mm disc at the front and single 282 mm disc at the rear are perfectly calibrated for the inclinations of the machine offering both an excellent feeling and a contained power which allow to use it daily in a safe way. and without being afraid. Only ABS is still a little sensitive when soloing if you only use the rear, even with two fingers! But even in trapper braking, the maxi-scooter remains stable, healthy without overstepping too much..

The front brake of the Yamaha TMax 560

Traction control has also been revised from the DX by allowing more to go full throttle in wet … what is certain is that the full load start on a manhole cover in the rain should have me. send waltz and the TMax remained quite manageable.

The rear brake of the Yamaha TMax 560

Comfort

The TMax has plenty of qualities and the TechMax Max version with its adjustable suspensions clearly contributes to comfort, far from the racket hits of an XMax. It’s sporty, but not a wooden board and the road surface defects are extremely well corrected without falling into a soft, syrupy comfort. In ref, we found it rather in improvement compared to the previous version.

Convenient

The trunk capacity has grown steadily since 2012 when you could only fit a modular. Today, the illuminated trunk of the TMax can accommodate an integral and a jet. It’s better than the previous vintage, but it’s worse than an XMax 300 which can accommodate two A-Class. And Yamaha to tell us that the buyers of TMax do not ask for a large trunk, a maxi-scooter must be maxi-living.

The trunk of the Yamaha TMax 560

Connectivity is a real plus, now accessible as on the old DX, if only to geolocate your scooter and warn of an attempted theft, the TMax still leading theft of maxi-scooters. Suddenly, locking the center stand with the Neiman is a real plus, which will not prevent investing in two good approved anti-theft devices, if possible attached to a fixed point, carefully avoiding certain areas more conducive to such rapid kidnappings. than the TMax.

Consumption

The on-board computer showed us a reasonable 5.1 liters per hundred in average consumption after 230 km driven briskly. It is only on the motorway at maximum and stabilized speed that the instantaneous consumption rose to 7.2 liters per hundred. It must be said that the first stick fell only 90 km, followed by a stick every 30 km. At 230 km, there were still two left, which suggests almost 300 km of range with the 15-liter tank. We appreciate the improvement in consumption, which was more around 6 liters per cent in 2012. We must therefore see the fuel savings that can be made with the TMax.

The Yamaha TMax 560 on a curve

Maintenance

After the 1000 km overhaul, we have a service at 6,000 km and then every 5,000 km, with no change compared to the service intervals for the previous vintage..

The video test of the Tmax 560

Conclusion

How to renew a model without removing its qualities when you are always aiming for better. The TMax 560 is no exception to the rule with this evolution which despite everything costs a lot for its improvements with a price now at 11,990 euros as standard and 13,790 euros in TechMax … without the many possible accessories and in particular the Akrapovic exhaust popular by 25% of buyers! But again, a TMax is not a simple scooter: it is above all a TMax and it is not just a model or a label, it is a real experience and a real pleasure, which no one denies. from the owners of TMax, who buy each new vintage again and again with exceptional loyalty. They will not be disappointed with this new vintage which renews the genre, only for the better. And if the TMax is not enough for them, the TMax Tech Max is also available, more expensive and therefore even better, especially since it is available in an exclusive Teck Kamo color with subtle shades of metallic green embellished with golden rims of the more beautiful effect. We had to dare. Yamaha did. And for once, because of its role as an all-season utility, we will rather start the TechMax again, by the approval of the electric bubble and the heating accessories very pleasant in winter … while waiting for the next version which will do a bigger leap forward than that, but it will be more for 2021 or even 2022.

The 2020 Yamaha TMax 560 lineup

Strong points

• Motor
• Sensations
• Braking

Weak points

• Price

The technical sheet of the Yamaha TMax 560

Test equipment

• Shoei GT-Air II Helmet
• Jacket Tucano Urbano Urbis 5G
• Jean Alpinestars Oscar
• Forma Elite WP Boots

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