By now, if you're at all interested in maxi scooters, you probably already know that the Yamaha TMAX has a certain reputation for being an extremely capable machine. Boasting a claimed 35kW (about 47 horsepower) with 55 newton-meters (about 40.5 lb-ft) of torque, as well as a nice, approachable seat height of 800mm, it's clearly aimed at attracting a decent cross-section of riders.
But if you're a rider who's been on the fence about throwing a leg over a TMAX because the planets weren't all in alignment or something, then you should probably see the 25th Anniversary Edition. Why? Because it's quite simply a beautiful thing to behold.
There's the expected blingy jewelry, of course. We're talking flashy red chrome TMAX badging, because after all, this is a Special Edition and Yamaha doesn't want you to forget. But what I particularly love is the combination of a beautiful, dark red, double-stitched saddle and how it complements the special Dark Grey Metallic finish of the bodywork.
Even more than that, there are clearly a ton of little accents all over that you'll probably be finding with your eyes and admiring for weeks. Also, I'm well aware that if your color is called "Dark Grey Metallic," then chances are excellent that you and I and everyone else probably aren't even seeing the full picture by looking at the studio photography. A colorway of that description is probably best experienced in bright, beautiful sunlight, as well as in person. Ditto the machined wheels, which probably aren't done complete justice, even with a really great photographer doing their thing. The human eye is just going to see things differently in person, and there's nothing anyone can do about it.
The TMAX 25th Anniversary Edition gets Yamaha's standard 560cc powerplant with Euro5+ compliance, as well as a host of the premium rider aids you'd expect. ABS and traction control come standard, as well as two D-Modes (Drive Modes), which are aimed for balancing this scoot's pursuits between block-to-block urban riding life and sporty character out on all your highway rides. Because yes, if you didn't already guess from the previous descriptors of this engine, it's very much up for your highway rides as and when needed. This is not, after all, a little 50cc urban runabout; it's something much bigger and badder.
What about the display? There's a full 7-inch TFT that takes pride of place up front, and if you download the free Garmin Motorize app on your smartphone, you can get full access to Garmin navigation free of charge on your TMAX. There's just one catch, and that's that it's only available in participating countries, so you'll need to check your geography if you're interested in using this feature.
Pricing and availability information have yet to be announced, but it's a pretty nice looking bit of kit if you were thinking of something in the TMAX (or competitor) class. Sadly, it's not available in the US, but if you're in Europe, you might want to visit the Yamaha website and register your interest if you want to keep up to date with the pricing and availability details as they arise.
