Yamaha TMAX Tech Max Road Ride in Benidorm

In the world of powered two-wheelers, Yamaha’s TMAX should need no introduction. Originally launched in 2001 as a 500, it was the first maxi-scooter to truly blend the performance and handling of a motorcycle, courtesy of a bespoke, 500cc twin cylinder engine capable of over 100mph plus a chassis that borrowed from motorcycling with ‘proper’ forks, brakes and aluminium frame with separate swing-arm (most scooters use the engine as the swing-arm), with step-thru’ scooter comfort and convenience.

A big hit, particularly in scooter-mad Italy, France and Spain, the TMAX has gone through repeated updates and improvements ever since, growing to 562cc (which put its performance bang-on the A2-licence 47bhp limit) in 2020 and gaining a big 7in TFT dash in 2022 on top of an already impressive list of premium features. Along the way it’s cemented its position as the definitive sports ‘maxi-scooter’; become the catalyst for a whole family of Yamaha ‘MAX’ premium sports scooters, including the NMAX 125 and XMAX 300 and become arguably the most desirable scooter of all.

Now, for 2025, with over 330,000 sold in Europe alone, the TMAX enters its ninth generation with a further refresh, Euro5+ compliance and an array of updated or improved features.

We flew out to Benidorm in southern Spain for its global press launch and spent the most of day riding the newcomer across an array of roads, ranging from city streets to mountain switchbacks and even a flat-out motorway section to explore its abilities, but first let’s look into exactly what is new.

2025 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max

Yamaha themselves admit that this update of the TMAX wasn’t about wholesale change. Thanks to its regular, repeated improvements the TMAX was still the class leader. Instead, with revisions necessary anyway to comply with the new Euro5+ regulations that came into force in January,  the intention was, in the words of Yamaha Motor Europe Product Planner Vincent Van Der Voort, to “refine the riding experience, make the ‘look’ more sophisticated and enhance the ride.” Or, to put it another way, to “Make the best… slightly better.”

Not that Yamaha has been at all complacent. With the 562cc twin already on the 47bhp A2-licence threshold there was no need to improve performance. Instead, there’s merely a new exhaust and settings changes to comply with the new regulations. But they haven’t stopped there, either. Clutch settings revisions are intended to give a smoother operation, especially at low-speed acceleration; the connection between the exhaust port and pipe is now TiG welded, which is smoother, to give a more linear response and even the TMAX’s engine sound has been improved by new intake funnels which have been designed to give a cleaner, less muffled sound when accelerating.

Elsewhere the ride is refined further by tweaks to the TMAX’s two riding modes intended to distinguish the differences between ‘T’ (Touring) and ‘S’ (Sport); while braking is also claimed to be improved via the adoption of a new system Yamaha calls ‘Brake Control’ (the first, apparently, on a scooter) and which is a similar but more rudimentary version of cornering ABS.

And that’s just the start. The whole machine has also been completely restyled to give is, Yamaha claim, a ‘more sophisticated look’. So, out goes the notably ‘pointy’ nose of the previous incarnation, in its place comes a softer, smoother style which is still very much a TMAX but has a more rounded nose, updated twin LED lights, new front mudguard with extended sides a revised side profile to match but which still retains the TMAX’s ‘double wedge’ motif; while its 15in ‘spin forged’ (for lightness) wheels, now also get more premium machined rims.

While, finally, there are a raft of refinements elsewhere design to ‘enhance the ride’. Although the already classy, 7in TFT dash is retained, it’s updated with one extra selectable graphics ‘theme’; the existing cruise control has more refined settings; a Garmin Motorize satnav app is now free to download to integrate with the dash (plus, usefully, it can now also be freely retro-fitted to previous models); there’s a new ‘emergency stop signalling’ system, which flashes the indicators under extreme braking; a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is now fitted as standard, the already standard heated grips and seats get subtle setting revisions and there are two new colours – Ceramic grey and Dark magma.

2025 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max Ride in Benidorm

On sale and available at dealers now (April 2025), the new Yamaha TMAX Tech Max is priced at £14,400 on the road. That’s a slight rise of £389 on the previous model’s price of £14,011.

For those who opt for a monthly deal, sourced from Yamaha UK you’re looking at £158.95/month over 36 months with a deposit of £4320, 4.84% APR and £6,705 final payment.

No, it’s not cheap – but then the market-leading, premium TMAX never has been. But then, considering its levels of spec and performance, 23 years of sales success and the fact that it’s aimed at discerning, high-end 35–55-year-old male commuters, who are often repeat buyers, there is no real reason why it should be. It’s also worth noting here that there is an impressive and varied range of official Yamaha accessories available. Fourteen new items increases the range of available items to 47, ranging from cosmetic to practical and performance items and all offered individually of in a choice of six different ‘packs’. There’s even a specific TMAX clothing line as well…

Close Up of TMAX Tech Max Digital display

With no fundamental difference in performance there’s much that’s familiar with the 2025 TMAX – and that’s no bad thing. It’s power delivery, being a twin, is impressively smooth and glitch-free; its take-up from standstill may be marginally improved due to the clutch tweaks, but without a side-by-side comparison it’s hard to tell and the same is true of the acoustic update.

None of which is a concern. Performance is brisk rather than startling but still impressive (its 47bhp not 147bhp after all). Acceleration is sufficient to pass pretty much anything up to 70mph. And as we exit Benidorm before beginning to climb the sinewy roads into the mountains it’s already clear the latest TMAX not only delivers more than sufficient performance but more refinement and easy class than ever.

I prod, then throttle off to activate it, into Sport mode and its response and willingness is sharper still. These roads are a biking hot-spot at weekends (it’s Saturday) and we catch up and more often than not pass, full bore adventure bikes with relative ease– not your usual scootering scenario.

After descending the mountains we hit a 10-mile stretch of motorway, ‘pin it’ and are eventually rewarded with the TMAX ‘maxing out’ with 180kph on the speedo. That translates to 112.5mph, with the electric screen fully extended leaving me in a cossetted cocoon and the Yamaha feeling completely planted and secure. This isn’t normal scooter territory.

Close up of TMAX Tech Max Rear Wheel

In the pretty, historic town of Alcoy we cruise among the commuters and tourists. ‘S’ mode is a little jagged now but it’s easily fixed by prodding back to ‘T’. Even more impressive is its briskness and ease, the two combining to make one-handed traffic carving a doddle.

The TMAX’s tank size is unchanged at 15 litres and Yamaha claims 58.6mpg – that’s more middleweight motorcycle consumption than traditional scooter economy – and, added to that, we’ve been riding hard, but by day’s end we’ve still blitzed over 90 miles with a quarter left in the tank. Considering its performance advantage I can live with that.

2025 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max Road Ride in Benidorm

But it’s not its performance which impresses most about the TMAX – it’s its cultured, controlled handling. From the moment you climb on board you’re made aware this is not a typical commuter scoot. Due to its aluminium die-cast frame, there’s isn’t much of a ‘step-thru’ middle section, meaning you swing your leg over to get on board more like a bike. Although substantial and with a wide, plush seat the TMAX manages the neat trick of feeling large… but not cumbersome, while your view ahead to that big, impressive dash, potentially tall electric screen and slick, sophisticated switchgear reminds more of premium class touring BMs than any small-wheeled commuter.

On the move it’s more impressive still. Not heavy, nor cumbersome and with its weight carried low, my first few metres were a potentially hazardous sharp right turn uphill and out of a car park – but it was no bother, such was its response and balance.

Round Benidorm’s roundabouts, once I’d begun to trust the specially developed Bridgestone Battlax tyres on the shiny road surface, things became relaxing and easy. And once fully tuned into this low-slung, feet-forward executive express, mountain hairpins and chasing sportsbikes, all without a hint of wallow or waywardness, became the pattern for the day.

2025 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max

Those twin four-pot radial bike-style brake calipers are, as you’d expect, more than powerful enough. Without a clutch or choice of gears, steadying the TMAX into and mid-corner becomes something done with a dab of rear (left handlebar mounted) brake and, as the corners become tighter and the riding more vigorous (and fun) you slowly get your head around what the TMAX is truly capable of.

It's not perfect – it’s still a small-wheeled scooter at the end of the day, albeit an excellent one– its low, long gait, relatively short-travel suspension and the fact that all of your weight’s on your bum, means that speed bumps and potholes can jar painfully, unless planned for in advance. But you get used to that, too. Overall, I’ve never commuted so efficiently yet also, 10 minutes later, carved corners and consumed miles so fast, on any one machine ever before.

Close up of TMAX Tech Max Front Wheel

The other thing that truly impresses about the TMAX – and more than ever with this latest, improved and refined version – is how classy and well-equipped the whole thing is. Often scooters, and especially smaller, most budget ones, are not only a little feeble, they’re basic and plasticky, too. Not here. Riding the TMAX is as premium as powered two-wheelers get. On board you feel almost regal and superior; its slick dash and switchgear are not just effective, but comprehensive and classy. Almost anything you can think of – heating, weather protection, connectivity, cruise control, keyless, cubby holes with a phone charging point, the list goes on – is taken care of. I’m starting to understand not only how the TMAX justifies its price, but why owners and afficonadoes love them so much.

Again, it’s not perfect. The underseat luggage storage space (operated neatly with a touch of a button) isn’t particularly big and certainly won’t take two helmets. But I could live with that and, besides, another of the Yamaha’s plusses are its substantial accessory options, including top cases and more. Its fit and finish, meanwhile, is second to none.

2025 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max Under Seat Storage

There’s a slight conundrum that’s always been at the heart of the TMAX and that’s no less true of this latest and greatest version: it’s a commuter scooter that also has ambitions to be a 47bhp sports machine. Surely it can’t be both?

It can. As a commuter, especially in light of its excellent equipment including the likes of heated grips and seats, satnav, electric screen, cruise control and more, the TMAX is not just an excellent commuter, more capable than most of blitzing, effortlessly, say, a 50-mile drag into work, it’s actually SO good it’s more like some kind of futuristic magic carpet ride.

But it IS entertaining and effective as a corner carver, too. That chassis is so controlled, its suspension and brakes are so sufficient and its 47bhp performance is so tempting that you will believe a scooter can ‘scratch’. Whether you actually will do – it IS, after all an odd sensation to be riding a scooter with sports bike intent – is up to you. No, you won’t be sticking your knee out or shifting around on the large seat, but if you like the idea of being a fast scooter rider, you won’t be disappointed.

2025 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max Handlebar Controls

• Unparalleled scooter handling
• Full 'A2' performance 
• Premium class and refinement that's now even better

• £14K for a scooter is still hard to swallow
• Suspension still sometimes jars
• Storage space not the biggest

The TMAX was a true game-changer when it was launched back in 2021. Its steadfast 100mph performance and handling and a fun factory that was taken seriously took scooters into a new dimension. After years of continual refinement and improvement that’s more true than ever with this ninth-generation version.

Although no longer quite unique – Suzuki’s big Burgman and Honda’s NC750X-powered Forza 750 see to that – Yamaha’s scooter flagship remains a class above, not only in handling but in equipment and class.

Yes, that £14K price tag is a steep one. But having ridden it and seen it up close it’s hard to argue that it’s not justified. Scooters as big and premium as this have also traditionally struggled to sell in the UK, which hasn’t the scooter culture or sympathetic climate to match those of Italy, France and Spain. But if you want a fast commuter with class-leading equipment, handling and refinement, the TMAX is still head and shoulders above the rest.

Thanks to Yamaha for having us on the European launch, check the full specs and information on the Yamaha UK website.

2025 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max on road