Yamaha seems to be on a roll with their new bike releases this week. Hot on the heels of the new 2008 V-Max are a couple of new scooters; a new maxi-scoot (and fellow Max) the T-Max and a big brother to Canada’s best selling 50cc scooter, the BWs 125.
NEW T-MAX 500
Although the T-Max has been available in Europe for the last 8 years, it received an extensive redesign for 2008 (less weight, new styling and more sporty upgrades), and is the model that we’ll be getting in North America.
Powered by an inline, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 499 cc four-stroke twin, with a claimed maximum of 42 hp (@7,500 rpm) and a max torque of 34.2 ft-lbs (@6,500 rpm), the T-Max should be capable of highway speeds without strain.
The motor uses a balancer shaft for smooth operation, closed loop fuel injection (with auto choke) and a cat in the pipe for reduced emissions. Transmission is the scooter standard CVT "twist and go" (no clutch and gear changer).
Interestingly, Yamaha have erred away from another common scooter design and not incorporated the motor into the swingarm assembly, in order to reduce the amount of unsprung weight at the rear and so ensuing a more compliant suspension action. The shock is also ‘pulled’ instead of pushed/compressed.
Up front, conventional motorcycle style 43 mm hydraulic forks sport a pair of ‘R6 inspired’ four piston calipers, which clamp onto 267 mm discs and should kick ass in the world of so-so scooter brakes.
Wheels are 15 inch in diameter with 120/70R15 front and 160/60R15 rear tires.
The seat includes a three height lumbar support for the rider, and can hold a full-face helmet beneath it.
Wet weight is a claimed 222 kg and seat height is as lofty 800 mm (although the ‘step-through’ design of the scoot should make that usable my gods and midgets alike.
MSRP is CS$9,999.00, and it’ll be in dealers at the beginning of July. Colours are dark metallic blue or reddish yellow. There’s also an ‘SE’ version which will be available in July although all we know about it is that it’ll be yellow and cost an additional $150 …
NEW BWs 125
BWs fans will be pleased to know that unlike Honda’s attempt to string a lineage from the funky Ruckus 50 to the distinctly unfunky Ruckus 250, Yamaha have kept the 50’s ‘rally’ styling on the new 125 – complete with bug-eyed lights and bulbous tires.
The motor is a 124 cc, air-cooled (with fan assist like Vespas), SOHC, four-stroke single. Sounds a bit basic? Well there are four valves in there and digital closed-loop fuel injection to give it an edge of technology. Transmission is the standard CVT.
The frame is steel tube type (and exposed to boot), with 27 mm hydraulic forks and a single shock rear suspension. Braking is by a single disc and piston caliper up front and a drum at the rear (not quite T-Max stuff).
Wheels are aluminum 5-spoke 12 inchers with a bulbous 120/70 tire up front and 130/70 at the rear. The seat covers 20 litres of storage space and claimed dry weight is 113kg.
The BWs 125 will be available in August for an MSRP of $3,999.00. Colours are blue, yellow or metallic black.
