More than just a practical commuter, the stylish TMax scooter has been Yamaha’s darling ever since it was launched in 2001. Although it was a bit long in the tooth here, it’s a whole different story across the pond. The scooter was at the top of the ranking charts in Europe for 17 years, and Yamaha has no signs of retiring it from there anytime soon.
While we are still only able to reach our hands on the 2015 model, Yamaha Europe has given the already sporty TMax SX a new upgrade for 2018 that ticks at being the sportiest and sexiest scooter there ever is. Called the ‘TMax SX Sport’ edition, the scooter gets packed with some fancy equipment, confusing a whole lot of new-bees with their decision-making abilities.
That is because of the trick Akrapovic exhaust, and a fender eliminator kit that might entice the young guns into splurging on a scooter rather than a motorcycle. The new TMax Sport also gets a sporty new windscreen that tussles the wind away from the rider for a fatigue-free ride and gets a posh aluminum number plate holder. Yamaha also gold colored the front forks and the caliper bolts to give it an edge over every other scooter available in its class.
Featuring like the dual slanted LED headlights and dynamic bodywork continue to give the TMax the voguish appeal it always gathered. The TFT instrumentation, ‘Smart Key’, Centre stand locking system, Phone/accessory charging socket and storage space for two large helmets keep this scooter as practical and accessible as ever.
Driven by a high torque, 530cc twin engine, the same liquid-cooled dual overs producing 45 hp makes the scene on the ‘Sport’ edition. Yamaha has left the internals untouched but might have tweaked a bit in the name of refinement. The same V-Belt Auto does the transmission here, and a brand new Akrapovic pipe comes in as standard, with carbon heat shield.
The 2018 SX Sport retains all the electronic gimmicks from the 2017’s including the traction-control, electronically regulated throttle, dual-mode throttle mapping, keyless ignition, 12-volt charging socket, and Yamaha's proprietary My TMAX Connect that allows smartphone pairing for GPS, navigation and phone notifications.
The specially designed die-cast aluminum chassis utilizes an advanced motorcycle-type layout with optimum engine mounting points that ensure agile handling and dynamic performance. This makes the TMax SX Sport an interesting and exhilarating scooter to drive. With the link-type rear suspension and the upside-down front forks, a lot matches the motorcycle technology.
The new 'Yamaha TMax SX Sport' Edition is available in two versions: light gray with blue or dark gray circles with black rims. Unfortunately, Yamaha USA will not be getting this sports scooter to the States anytime soon. We don’t even have the ‘SX’ or the flagship ‘DX’ model on our shores. What we have is just the 2015 iteration of the TMax, which I have rarely seen one around anyways.
