2022 Yamaha TMAX Tech Max Scooter Review

Gleaming in the early morning Spanish sunlight on the Valencia coast, the eighth-generation TMAX Tech Max is in its perfect natural environment. The bike-mad Spanish love the TMAX—most European nations do—and it looks like they are going to adore the new 2022 model too. Visually it’s slimmed down a little, looks more compact and sportier. But the draw for many potential customers will be the impressive color 7-inch TFT dash, complete with connectivity and new switchgear, which is now backlit and operated by a convenient joystick.

Other manufacturers could learn a thing or two from Yamaha—the TMAX’s technology is easy and intuitive to access and use. Without any directions, I immediately felt at home with both the new switch gear and the operative joystick on the left bar. Joystick to navigate, home button to scroll back… My 7-year-old son could navigate the informative and attractive dash without indecision.

The new fully electric screen, heated grips and seat, trips reset, and access to the menu of options and settings all done from that same joystick on the left bar, which has also reduced the number of switches needed. There are even three different dash displays to choose from plus an anti-glare coating and sun visor. Furthermore, with Bluetooth connectivity and the correct app (Yamaha’s MyRide), you can make calls, listen to music, or link to Garmin and transform the dash into an interactive sat nav. There is a neat little cubbyhole on the right side with a phone charging connection—the only shortcoming is that it’s not lockable.

The raft of useful tech doesn’t end there: one-touch locking, a lockable centerstand, a keyless fuel cap, and, as before, two riding modes plus traction control and ABS (not lean sensitive) are all present and correct.

Leaving the seafront behind, I instantly hit the early morning commute—perfect territory for the TMAX Tech Max. In this car-choked environment the new scoot does all the good things of the older bike. It’s slightly sportier than before, with lighter wheels, but the suspension is by no means unforgiving. The TMAX dispatches the Spanish traffic with cool efficiency, while the simplicity of that dash and new switch gear means I’m not distracted, allowing me to remain 100 percent focused on the crazy drivers instead of fumbling around trying to reduce the heat of the grips. (On that point, the heated grips do get reasonably warm, whereas the seat becomes roasting hot, almost too much, on the maximum setting.) The only slight downside to the new TMAX is when smaller riders like me find themselves on tiptoes at a standstill. Despite its more compact dimensions, the seat is still reasonably wide, and at 487 pounds the TMAX is no featherweight even though it carries its weight low in the chassis.

Leaving the congestion behind, we head onto the freeway. Don’t be fooled by the “scooter” image; the TMAX will happily sit at an indicated 70–80 mph and 100 mph is achievable with ease—even an indicated 115 mph if you’re brutal.

Cruise control comes as standard too. Set your speed, sit back and relax, and if you’re connected, make some important calls or listen to music. Yamaha has redesigned the electric screen to reduce wind noise, and although it’s hard to directly compare to the old model without both bikes ridden at the same time, it’s certainly effective. With the screen vertical, the top edge is in my eyeline, so taller riders may want to opt for the larger screen option. Wind protection is good enough for visor-up touring at speed, or to make calls with minimum disturbance.

The novel seat is heated and features an adjustable lower-back support—remove the seat and move the small pad backward and forward to suit—which should increase comfort over long distances. New bars are in a slightly sportier position and the footboards are longer while the pillion gets lower pegs. Yamaha offers official touring accessories, including a huge top box large enough for two full-face helmets, though underseat storage is only large enough for one full-face or two open-face lids. We covered close to 120 miles in a day on this test and there were no comfort issues; in fact, I’d take on some big miles on the TMAX without a second thought.

Yamaha has made the TMAX sportier, via revised suspensions and lighter wheels, generating 10 percent less inertia at the front and 8 percent on the rear. The 15-inch wheels now come wrapped in the up-to-date SC2 Bridgestone rubber and it’s fair to say we had a determined ride in the hills. It’s surprising what the TMAX is capable of (until center-and-sidestand ground clearance becomes the limit when you really start to have fun). In Sports mode especially, the TMAX Tech Max will shock a few potential owners and other riders, especially those who haven’t ridden this type of bike before.

The two 267mm discs with radial calipers remain untouched for 2022, as does the ABS which is still not lean sensitive. During a spirited ride, the brakes are just about up to the task of stopping this maxi scoot plus rider, and go unnoticed while riding normally. But add more luggage or a pillion, braking from a relatively high speed requires all four fingers on the levers instead of just two. The back brake on the left bar comes into use.

Back into the stunning city of Valencia it’s easy to see why the TMAX is so prevalent in Europe; it seems almost everyone is on two wheels. In the city traffic, the TMAX attracts plenty of admiring glances and nods of endorsement. It is a good-looking maxi-scooter and the TMAX brand and image are very strong in Europe.

But is the price too much? The top spec Tech Max as tested is 12,500 pounds (US pricing TBD). BMW’s new electric CE 04 starts at $11,795 and can easily be spec’d up to over $12,500. So maybe the price isn’t so stiff in the context of premium scoots. But some will see it as a hefty price for a scooter.

Yamaha has enhanced the already excellent and well-proven TMAX, which is beyond question. The improved tech that is easy to use and intuitive, plus sportier looks and handling add up to another positive update. The big improvement is a brilliant new dash that will get TMAX fans stampeding to Yamaha dealerships for a look.

Yes, 12,500 pounds is expensive for a maxi-scooter. And, yes, some will be saying, “You could buy a proper bike for that money,” but they would be slightly missing the point. This is a seven-days-a-week bike that’s probably destined to be used all year round. Commute during the week, ride for fun at the weekend, visit friends, pop out for a drink, or tour two-up—it can do it all. It is genuinely an alternative to a small car; it’s that useful and versatile, which is why it’s so popular in the congestion of Europe.

There are inexpensive alternatives, but I don’t think any can match the high-end, premium feel of the TMAX Tech Max. Yamaha has made the TMAX more tempting than ever, but for a price.