Offering levels of performance, comfort and sophistication never seen before in this sector, the new TMax superscooter looks sure to make as great an impression on the powered two wheeler market as the first Yamaha YZF-R1 made in the motorcycle scene.
Powered by an advanced fully-automatic 500cc twin cylinder liquid-cooled engine that delivers almost twice the power output of the top-selling YP250 Majesty, the TMax is the first maxi scooter to achieve around 160km/h top speed.
Like its high-performance engine, this new-generation superscooter’s chassis incorporates sophisticated motorcycle technology, including a new high-rigidity diamond-type frame, high-specification front and rear disc brakes, heavy-duty front and rear suspension, large-diameter 14 inch wheels and aerodynamic bodywork that has clearly been inspired by Yamaha’s leading supersport machinery.

Motorcycle performance with scooter convenience

Manufactured to a higher specification than any other scooter, the new Yamaha XP500 TMax is significant for a number of reasons.
Firstly, this 500cc twin-cylinder scooter is the most powerful and most advanced scooter ever manufactured, and in terms of engine, frame, suspension and braking technology the TMax is undoubtedly in a class of its own.
Secondly, this is the first maxi scooter to deliver levels of sports handling and engine performance that are comparable to those of a middleweight motorcycle.
And finally, this is the first machine to combine ease of use, excellent riding comfort, convenience and practicality with advanced engine and chassis technology, sports performance and all-round versatility.
Representing a whole new concept in the powered two wheeler marketplace, the innovative and exciting Yamaha TMax is surely an unbeatable package!

Motorcycle performance with scooter convenience

40PS for class-leading top speed and acceleration

500cc liquid-cooled twin cylinder engine

Fully automatic transmission

Advanced sports chassis with motorcycle-type suspension

Large diameter 14 inch wheels with wide tyres

Large diameter front and rear disc brakes

Excellent weather protection

Generous storage space

Stable high-speed handling performance

Easy to ride and simple to operate

Cutting-edge sports styling

Highest levels of two-wheel comfort

Sports, commuter and long-distance touring capabilities

Practical, convenient, easy and fun!

 

In recent years the essential character of the powered two wheeler market in Europe has changed dramatically.
At the beginning of the 1990s the motorcycle and scooter market tended to consist of distinct, well-defined categories, and the vast majority of the models that were available from the major manufacturers fitted quite clearly into one of those classes.
From supersport bikes and tourers through to custom bikes, scooters and commuters, the various machines available back in early ‘90s usually fell neatly into one class or another.

Then something changed. Many new customers – as well as ‘re-starters’ returning to two wheels - came into the market and began to look for a new type of rider-friendly model that offered them more versatility than existing designs. Subsequently the demand for a new breed of machinery offering strong all-round performance and seven-days-a-week practicality expanded dramatically.

Yamaha has consistently been at the forefront of the development of innovative and exciting new models designed to cater for the changing face of the marketplace. And one of the most significant machines to emerge in the 1990s was the YP250 Majesty maxi scooter.
Unveiled in 1996, this stylish model took scooter design into another league with its high-specification chassis, liquid-cooled 4-stroke engine and automobile levels of comfort. Indeed, the Majesty 250 established the maxi scooter category, and this top-selling machine is still the clear market leader in this fast growing sector.
By taking a brave and radical new approach to the design of powered two wheelers, Yamaha’s engineers have succeeded in creating a whole new concept in personal mobility, and the YP250 Majesty continues to go from strength to strength.

Right from day one Yamaha has regarded innovation as its lifeblood, and few impartial industry observers would disagree that Yamaha has produced some of the most original and most significant models seen during the last six decades.
From the Company’s high-performance 2-strokes in the ‘50s and ‘60s through to the development of advanced 4-strokes in the ‘70s and ‘80s, and more recently the launch of the remarkable YZF-R series sports bikes in the 1990s, Yamaha continues to lead the way in the development of new concepts.

Right now Yamaha are about to move the goal posts yet again with the creation of a revolutionary new model that takes the scooter concept deep into territory that was formerly monopolised by the middleweight motorcycle.
More radical, more daring, more powerful and more exciting than any other large capacity scooter, this truly innovative machine looks set attract a whole new generation of customers in the first decade of the 21st century.

Introducing the all-new Yamaha XP500 TMax.

Undoubtedly one of the most significant trends to emerge in the European powered two wheeler marketplace during the 1990s has been the strong growth in the sales of large-capacity scooters of 125cc and above.
Factors that have led to the massive expansion in this sector include increasing urban congestion, as well as the availability of a new generation of attractively-styled high-specification models like the YP250 Majesty whose rider-friendly design and general ease of use appeal to a wide spread of new and existing riders.
125cc-plus scooter sales in Europe are the fastest growing sector of the powered two wheeler marketplace, and in 1999 Yamaha’s YP250 Majesty accounted for almost one third of maxi scooter sales. Clearly there is a strong demand for large-capacity scooters within Europe, and it is Yamaha’s belief that the runaway success of models like the YP250 Majesty has inevitably led to a growing demand for more powerful and even higher specification models as the market matures.

Enter new XP500 TMax!

Target TMax Customers

As we have already seen, the demand for scooters of 125cc and above is growing rapidly throughout Europe, and the new XP500 TMax is aimed at three groups of customers: existing scooter riders; owners of middleweight motorcycles; and new customers and re-starters.

Existing scooter riders

Firstly, this new superscooter has been designed to attract existing large-capacity scooter riders who are looking for more performance than is offered by current models. The maxi scooter market is the fastest-growing sector in the powered two wheeler marketplace in Europe, and the TMax is set to attract many more riders into the category in 2001 and beyond.

In the past, any existing scooter rider looking for higher levels of engine and chassis performance has had to move over to a motorcycle. Now, with the arrival of the TMax, today’s scooter rider is able to move on up to a model that offers them the increased performance they demand, without having to compromise their desire for riding luxury, day-to-day practicality and ‘twist and go’ convenience.

The second group that the TMax is aimed at are those owners of middleweight street, commuter and sports tourer motorcycles, many of whom are sure to be surprised and impressed by the higher levels of comfort and weather protection offered by the TMax.

Until now the movement of riders between scooters and motorcycles was generally in one direction only. With the arrival of the first ever superscooter that looks set to change!

Finally, the third group which the TMax is targeting are new riders, car drivers and re-starters who demand the luxury of a car combined with the simplicity of a scooter.
There is undoubtedly a massive demand amongst non-riders for a new type of scooter that offers style, convenience and performance – as has been clearly demonstrated by the outstanding success of the YP250 Majesty during the last five years.
With its class-leading specification, the new Yamaha TMax is ready to tap into the potentially massive interest from existing car drivers and re-starters who, until now, haven’t been turned on by what the scooter market has had to offer.
Capable of attaining 0-100 km/h acceleration times that will easily outpace all but the most powerful sports cars, the TMax delivers the highest levels of performance, comfort and sophistication that the discerning newcomer demands.

125cc+ scooter riders

Middleweight motorcycle riders

New riders, car drivers and re-starters

 

 

In developing the new TMax, Yamaha set out to elevate the scooter concept onto a whole new level. In every aspect, from its impressive engine and chassis performance through to its unrivalled levels of comfort and sophisticated sports styling, this new superscooter is undeniably in a class all of its own.

Displacing 500cc, the TMax’s highly-advanced fully-automatic twin-cylinder DOHC liquid-cooled 4-stroke 8-valve engine is the most powerful design available on any scooter today.

A key feature of its configuration is that unlike most traditional scooter engines which pivot as one unit with the rear suspension, this engine is fixed rigidly into the TMax’s strong tubular diamond-type frame in order to achieve higher levels of chassis rigidity for enhanced handling performance. The swinging arm is mounted to a pivot point at the rear of the engine, thereby keeping unsprung weight low for more responsive rear suspension action.
The engine’s cylinder block and heads lay almost horizontally in front of the crankcase/transmission assembly - a layout which allows for optimum under-seat storage space, and also helps centralise the machine’s mass for lighter steering characteristics and effortless directional changes.

For ease of use the TMax features a fully-automatic transmission, making it remarkably simple to ride. Final drive to the rear wheel is via a maintenance-free two-stage ‘silent’ chain running in an oilbath inside the high-rigidity swinging arm unit.
And to emphasise its sporty character the TMax runs with a quiet-running superbike-style upswept muffler exiting the machine’s right side.

Equipped with efficient 4-valve cylinder heads and featuring a horizontally-opposed reciprocating balancer for super-smooth running, this high-performance unit delivers 40PS/29.4 kW at 7000 rpm, a figure that is almost double the output of Yamaha’s top-selling YP250 Majesty. And with maximum torque produced at only 5500rpm, the TMax develops plenty of strong pulling power for effortless roll-on acceleration when overtaking.

With a gutsy 40PS available, the TMax is able to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 7.8 seconds and will achieve in the region of 160km/h where permitted by the prevailing road conditions and legislation.

Such performance is more than enough to make this superscooter suitable for everything from daily commuting through to long distance touring with a passenger - and yet at the same time this high-performance machine is still as simple and easy to operate as any other scooter – the only controls that the rider needs to master are the throttle and brakes!

Liquid-cooled DOHC 499cc parallel twin cylinder engine

40PS/29.4kW @ 7000rpm

Most powerful maxi scooter ever

Fully-automatic transmission

4-valve cylinder heads

Twin BS30 carburettors with automatic choke

Balancer shaft for smooth running

Engine fixed rigidly to frame for enhanced handling

Low-maintenance fully-enclosed ‘silent’ drive chain

Around 160 km/h top speed

0-100 km/h in 7.8 seconds

Low-noise superbike-style muffler

 

 

Like the all-new 500cc engine, the TMax’s advanced high-rigidity chassis has been developed using some of the latest motorcycle technology in its frame, suspension and braking designs.
Unlike many conventional scooters which utilise a ‘U’ frame, the TMax is equipped with a diamond-type tubular frame layout which offers the much higher levels of chassis rigidity required for a machine capable of almost 160km/h..

Suspension is also built to handle the machine’s high levels of performance, and the sturdy long-stroke front forks ensure precision steering and give a generous 120mm of front wheel movement for a smooth ride.
Like a motorcycle, these heavy-duty front forks feature both upper and lower triple clamps, which together with the use of large-diameter 38mm fork tubes adds up to an extremely strong front end that soaks up uneven surfaces with ease, and contributes significantly towards the TMax’s high chassis rigidity.
Monocross rear suspension is an all-new system which incorporates a single ‘pull-type’ horizontal shock absorber located underneath the engine – a design which keeps centre of gravity low and also frees up the area beneath the seat, allowing for increased storage space.
The front of the shock absorber is mounted to the engine cases, while the rear is mounted directly to the extremely strong double-sided cast aluminium swinging arm. As already mentioned, the TMax’s engine is mounted rigidly to the frame, and the swinging arm pivots independently of the powerplant.
This motorcycle-type swinging arm design has a number of benefits over conventional scooter suspension systems. Firstly, the TMax rear suspension has a much lower unsprung weight than other maxi scooters, which makes for much more responsive action from the shock absorber. And secondly, this layout significantly increases overall chassis rigidity to give the TMax superior handling performance, particularly at higher speeds.
Giving a generous 120mm of rear wheel movement, this sophisticated space-saving system is set up to give a firm yet comfortable ride - solo and with a passenger.

As well as its advanced front and rear suspension systems, another significant and crucial difference between the TMax and traditional maxi scooters is its high ground clearance of 140mm.
Together with its large-diameter 14 inch wheels and slimline sports bodywork, the machine’s higher than average ground clearance allows for a potential banking angle of 50 degrees where conditions permit! This figure far exceeds that of any other maxi scooter, and when examined in association with this maxi scooter’s high power output and advanced chassis specification, the class-leading 50 degree banking angle further underlines the TMax’s unrivalled sporting credentials.
Weight distribution also plays a major part in shaping any machine’s handling characteristics, and Yamaha’s engineers have paid close attention to the machine’s front/rear ratio. The use of a ‘flat’ engine layout fixed rigidly in the diamond-type short-wheelbase frame, - together with the horizontal rear shock and low-level radiator - have enabled the design team to achieve the optimal distribution for a sports model. With its 47%/53% front/rear weight split, the TMax delivers precision handling that perfectly complements its high performance engine and sophisticated chassis.

Although it is powered by an engine that is twice the capacity of the YP250 Majesty, the new TMax’s chassis dimensions are smaller than some other maxi scooters.
At 2235mm, overall length is just 115mm more than the Majesty 250, while the minimum turning radius of 2.8 metres is only 200mm greater, allowing TMax riders to easily manoeuvre in tight spaces.
In addition to its relatively compact chassis dimensions, the flat layout of the engine together with the horizontal rear shock helps to centralise the machine’s mass, which contributes to the TMax’s lightweight handling feel.

TMax is equipped with a massive 282mm front disc slowed by a powerful 2-piston caliper and a 267mm rear disc – the largest front and rear rotors ever used on a scooter. Operated by handlebar-mounted levers, these brakes generate smooth and progressive braking action.
As well as having the largest disc brakes in the category the TMax runs with the largest diameter wheels and widest front and rear tyres in its class. Featuring a new three-spoke pattern, the 14 inch cast alloy wheels run with a 120/70-14 front tyre and extra-wide 150/70-14 rear - a combination which is designed to offer excellent handling characteristics together with high levels of traction.

As befits this ground-breaking superscooter, the TMax is dressed in aerodynamically-efficient bodywork that has clearly taken its cue from Yamaha’s supersport motorcycles. Featuring twin multi-reflector headlights, integral flashers and a large screen, the TMax’s front end ensures excellent weather protection and also gives this trend-setting machine an extremely sporty, high-profile character.
Complementing this distinctive fairing is a sleek tailpiece and large tail light with integral flashers that complement the sporty character of this new model.
The deeply padded dual seat features an adjustable rider’s backrest offering 35mm of movement, and for extra passenger comfort there’s also an aluminium grab bar. Ergonomics are first class, and the 1575mm wheelbase chassis ensures that both the rider and passenger have generous legroom.

Under the luxurious dual seat there is a 32 litre storage compartment with interior light with that is capable of taking a full face helmet, a B4 size case, U-lock or laptop computer. This compartment is also equipped with mobile phone pocket and charger which will recharge the rider’s cellphone while he or she is on the move!
There’s also another storage compartment in front of the rider is ideal for storing smaller items such as a sunglasses or a wallet.
Completing the package is an automobile-style console featuring a full range of instruments including a speedometer, fuel meter, clock and water temperature gauge which keep the rider informed with easy-to-read information at all times.

For the 2001 season the new Yamaha XP500 TMax will be available in three colour options: Impact Yellow (CMY); Laser Blue (VDBC4); and Electric Silver (SL1).

TMax owners wishing to personalise their machine will be able to choose from a wide range of accessories which will be available from authorised Yamaha dealers.

Low smoked screen

High touring screen

Wind deflectors

Luggage rack

Colour co-ordinated 48 litre top case

Top case mounted passenger backrest

Luggage rack mounted passenger backrest

Larger passenger footrests

Clear and carbon-look frame protectors

Hand protectors

Heated grips

Mobile phone charger kit

Lock

Alarm system

 

In recent years we have seen the scooter market in Europe expand massively as riders of all ages realise the fun and freedom that comes with scooter ownership.
In a relatively short period of time the demand for maxi scooters has grown dramatically, and today this is the fastest growing sector in the powered two wheel marketplace.
Offering the highest levels of comfort, sophistication and performance ever witnessed in the class, the all-new Yamaha XP500 TMax is about to create a new superscooter category, and by doing so will transform the image of the maxi scooter overnight - from two wheeled transport into object of desire!
Aimed at a wide range of customers, from existing scooter riders through to motorcyclists, new riders and people returning to two wheels, the TMax looks like being the start of something big!