Yamaha XP530 TMax (2012–2017, RUB 330,000–890,000)
Until recently, the T-Max (or by its modern name TMax) single-handedly ruled the maxi-scooter segment with a claim to sportiness. With the arrival of new players, the relevance of the Japanese legend has not faded, not least due to frequent modernizations.
Engine
The scooter is powered by a 530cc inline four-stroke eight-valve twin with electronic fuel injection and liquid cooling. The power plant as a whole is very reliable; long runs without major repairs are common. There are no cases of death through no fault of the owner. The engine is not without vibrations, but their level does not reduce comfort on long journeys and when driving around the city.
The Timaks reaches real speeds of 140 km/h easily and naturally. Adequate top speed is 165 km/h. The dynamics are a bit like those of a motorcycle with a displacement of 400 cm3.
Transmission
In early generations, the Yamaha T-Max transmission was built according to a standard scooter design with a V-belt variator located along the rear swingarm. In 2012, engineers radically changed the concept. The massive “leg” has shrunk to a small cover on the motor in which the drive pulley sits. A centrifugal clutch is located behind the pulley. The force is transmitted to the driven pulley via an open timing belt. The entire CVT part is located on the right side of the engine. The hardware is brilliant in its own way. By reducing unsprung masses, losses in torque transmission are reduced, resulting in improved dynamics and throttle response. The transmission has only one problem - it is difficult and expensive to maintain.
Frame and body kit
As with the transmission, the start was almost classic - a steel space frame. However, the continuation was unexpected. In 2008, the TMax was updated with a frame design close to that of a motorcycle. The aluminum duplex reliably holds the motor and suspension elements, giving the scooter sharp handling unusual for self-propelled sofas. By 2012, the frame was lightened and strengthened.
The Timaks body kit is very ornate. Plastic elements are attached to a large number of fragile latches and pistons. A couple of operations of assembling and disassembling plastic are guaranteed to lead to a subsequent trip to the store for fasteners.
Brakes
The evolution of the T-Max braking system is a transition from simple two-piston front calipers, first to calipers from the YZF - R 1 of the first generation, and then to powerful monoblocks from the latest Yamaha sportbikes and road bikes. Since 2012, ABS is standard.
Pendants
In terms of suspension, modern Timaks promote a motorcycle approach. A fairly strong ordinary telescope, and after 2015, the “shifter” sits firmly in the fleshy traverses and does not allow the scooter to deviate from the intended trajectory. At the rear, under the engine, almost parallel to the road surface, a monoshock absorber is installed in a protective casing. It communicates with the aluminum swingarm through a complex Monocross progression linkage system.
Comfort
The level of wind protection should be considered average. The standard windshield is in need of replacement. Ergonomics imposes restrictions on the height of the driver. Pilots taller than 185 cm will have to dangerously round their lower back in an attempt to sit comfortably. Passengers often complain about the excessive width of the rear seat.
Modifications
Everything related to the 499 cc T-Max era is gradually consigned to the shelves of history. Launched in 2012, the T-Max XP 530, on the contrary, is more relevant than ever. In addition to humane pricing, the asset includes an aluminum frame, a 530 cc engine with 46.5 liters. With. at its peak, advanced suspension, good brakes, and belt drive to the rear wheel.
In 2015, instead of the usual “telescope,” a “shifter” with a feather diameter of 41 mm appeared. Tangentially mounted front calipers have been replaced by radial four-piston calipers. The on-board electronics have been supplemented with a keyless entry system.
For the 2021 model year, engineers carefully redesigned the equipment. The updated scooter has noticeably changed (the corners have been smoothed, the nose has moved forward, more stylish optics and a new muffler design have appeared), and has also acquired an impressive amount of electronics. Electronic throttle control, switchable ignition maps appeared, and traction control, cruise control, heated steering wheel and seat joined the pleasant options. The optics became LED, the instrument panel was updated, and the seat capacity increased in size. The frame has become lighter and stiffer, the rear swingarm has increased in length by 40 mm, and the drive belt and pulleys have become more compact. The 2021 model is available in three trim levels – a basic one with a minimum set of options (traction, LED optics, ABS), a sports SX (its own set of electronics, some styling and its own ignition maps) and the maximum DX.
BMW C600 Sport
Yesterday I attended a test drive of BMW motorcycles.
Of the entire chic assortment, I was interested in only one copy. C600 Sport. After completing the paperwork and proper instructions, we arrived at the parking lot with the equipment and were given the keys. I immediately noticed my horse. You come up to him and admire... The Bavarian is beautiful, laconic and technologically advanced. He sat down and couldn’t touch the ground with his feet. Tmax is high - higher than all maxiscooters in terms of seat. And BMW is even higher. It is designed for tall people. My height is 173. I also didn’t reach my butt a few centimeters from the back of the driver. I reached for the steering wheel and my back bent. My arms are so short, as BMW representatives explained to me. But it seemed to me that the steering wheel was far and low. I turned the key, poked the starter... but the buttons were all different. They are not like everywhere else. But they are cool, short-stroke, with rockers. You have to get used to them. Started it up. The engine is noisy and rattles. But you don’t feel it while driving. Let's go: We set off to pick up the instructor, and I instantly get used to him. It's friendly and picks up speed quickly but evenly. Acceleration 10-30-50-70-100-130-160 is absolutely the same. The rest is a little slower, but it goes well too. You will have good time with motorcycles on the track, with its turns and overtaking! Maneuverability is excellent. At any speed, you can handle any hole with one movement of your butt and finger. It is very easy to operate. This is not a cruiser moped like Majesta, Skywave or Silver. This is a moped moped! Like Aprilia SR. Only much more powerful, and just as technologically advanced and ideal in handling. It also lays well. Moving along a narrow, winding 160+ road, it is enough to slow down a little before the turn in order to give the gas when entering the turn and return to the reduced speed at the exit. He does it easily. but he doesn’t like braking when turning. It will immediately take you into the bump stop or oncoming traffic. As the pilot of the BMW MotoGGad team explained to me, I dosed the braking forces incorrectly. It's possible. After all, I’m not yet used to its brakes, and I don’t know what they are capable of. At critical angles of inclination at high speed, as soon as you change the gas position or touch the brake, the moped begins to wobble. It's as if the frame is playing. BMW representatives replied that in order to remove this, they would need to reconfigure the rear shock absorber to accommodate my weight. By the way, about shock absorbers. They are very good. Tough, sporty, but at the same time absorb all the vibration of the road and small bumps and holes. The middle ones already give you a feeling, but without causing discomfort and without knocking you off the trajectory. Of the entire huge and super advanced dashboard of this scooter, only the speed is readable on the go. Because the speedometer is made large and pointer (with a designer arrow), and everything else is scattered across the screen in small print and is not readable on the go. I took care of the tachometer in advance, before leaving I looked where it was, tried to remember the position of the numbers indicating the revolutions near the growing scale... but on the move I still didn’t understand a thing. There was no time to lean over the dashboard and peer. Maybe my eyesight is bad. I never got used to the landing during the entire trip. I kept thinking that this is a steep, sporty landing position that allows for better maneuvering in the city, but I wouldn’t go on a long drive like that. My back and arms were tired within 15 minutes. All the time I wanted the steering wheel to be higher to straighten my back. It's simply made for tall people. This way your knees will not rest against the steering wheel. Let me summarize: There are only 6 hyperscooters in the world. These are maxi scooters with an engine in the frame and two cylinders. This is the highest level of scooter evolution. Scooter outside, motorcycle inside. T-max is considered the best in the world. The rest mostly live in their own niches. It's not the most powerful, it's not the most luxurious, but it's the most balanced, the most reliable, and at the same time it remains the closest to a scooter. BMW immediately entered this segment, with a claim to leadership. They knew what to start from, copying the consumer qualities of T-Max. And it turned out pretty good. The size is not large, there is a lot of power, maneuverability and controllability are excellent. They only left even less comfort. Leaving there on Tmax, I went through these turns in exactly the same way. But at the same time, I found that I was much more comfortable, I was relaxed, and also, it was so stable, even when tilted, that I could even scratch my butt at that moment. and it will just keep turning. It is not moved from its trajectory by external factors. Driver only. On the BMW it seemed to me that this was a little different. But we must give credit to the C600 as a whole, it feels much lighter. One thing is certain: I rode it very fast. I wouldn’t be able to ride like that on Silver, Burg, ZhP800, and probably Kimko Myroad too. Before that, among scooters this was only possible on Tmax. Now BMW can be no worse. This is a huge achievement.
BMW C600/650 Sport (2012–2017, RUR 400,000–750,000)
Nobody expected that the Bavarian giant BMW would suddenly turn its attention to the maxi-scooter. There have been attempts for a relatively long time, but they were not crowned with success. The BMW C 600/650 Sport clearly stands out among its peers due to its dynamics and a touch of premiumness that is unusual for some maxi-scooters.
Engine
The device is driven by a four-stroke, two-cylinder, eight-valve, 647 cc in-line engine with electronic fuel injection, liquid cooling and a dry sump lubrication system. The confusing "600" in the name is used to further differentiate the sports and touring versions (C 600 Sport and C 650 GT, respectively). It should be noted that, despite all the tricks (for example, shifting the crankpins by 90°), the engine of the C 600/650 series scooters vibrates quite strongly and produces a whole symphony of extraneous loud sounds. The peak performance characteristics and resulting ratios of the Sport (60 hp at 750 rpm and 66 Nm at 6000 rpm) are among the most outstanding in the class. In terms of scooters, it's really fast. With some patience, you can see an honest 180 km/h on the GPS.
It is worth following recall campaigns from the manufacturer. Thus, the C 600/C 650 scooters produced in 2012–2014 were recalled due to improper operation of the timing chain tensioning mechanism and problems with the unscrewing side stand.
Transmission
The most common V-belt variator (CVT) is used as an intermediate transmission element. From there, torque is transmitted to the wheel via a maintenance-free chain in an oil bath (secondary drive). The node is reliable, but heavily loaded. The use of classic V-belt variators on powerful cubic scooters has only one significant drawback - sooner or later, wear of the variator parts leads to expensive repairs.
Frame and body kit
The prefix “Sport” in the name characterizes the amount of plastic and some ergonomic features. In this case, the owner receives a scooter, more tailored for moving around the city. The plastic itself is quite thick. In most cases, body kit parts are secured using strong bolts and insert nuts. However, the factory clearances move apart quite quickly. There is a common problem with BMW motorcycles manufactured before 2014 inclusive, with the control button for heated grips and the starter control button. Scooters released in 2013 were recalled due to problems with the fastening of the side fairings.
The frame is made according to a hybrid design in a motorcycle style. The steel pipes welded together in the area where the rear swingarm is mounted are reinforced with cast aluminum spacers. The tubular steel rear subframe is removable.
Brakes
A pair of 270 mm diameter discs and a pair of two-piston floating calipers are responsible for deceleration on the front wheel. The rear wheel has one disc with a diameter of 270 mm and one two-piston caliper. A BS and traction control are part of the standard equipment.
In early production models, insufficient feedback on the front brake lever was noticed. The C600 Sport and C650GT, manufactured between 2013 and 2015, had a factory recall to replace the brake lines.
Suspension
The suspension of the BMW C 600 Sport is a combination of an inverted telescopic fork with a 40 mm diameter of stays and an asymmetrically located (on the left side) adjustable monoshock absorber. The monoshock absorber, in turn, communicates with the rear wheel through a cantilever pendulum combined with a drive mechanism.
Comfort
Maximum comfort is achieved in city conditions; for tourism you will have to buy a higher windshield. The adjustments do not cover the entire range of possible conditions. A carrying case wouldn't hurt either. The convenient “accordion”, which expands the luggage capacity of the scooter dynamically, cannot be used statically. All tourist belongings will not fit into the “hold”.
Due to the narrowed steering wheel (compared to the C 650 GT), the driver of the C 600 Sport feels relaxed in the tightest traffic jams. Traditionally for BMW, a richly equipped instrument panel keeps the driver up to date with the latest events and allows you to control some additional options (heating, tire pressure monitoring, etc.).
Modifications
In addition to all sorts of image special versions, the BMW C 600/C 650 scooter model line has undergone one major restyling, combined with a comprehensive treatment of childhood illnesses. In 2021, the sports model index changed to a more logical one - C 650 Sport. At the same time, the appearance was seriously refreshed. The designers managed to highlight the optics with more contrast (including making the running lights brighter), work with the sides, dashboard and tail of the scooter, and also add sportiness to the muffler “can”, which is now unified with the C 650 GT. In technical terms, the engineers managed to add feedback to the front brake circuit, improve the performance of the rear suspension by installing a new shock absorber, and also, through the use of new springs in the clutch, new pulleys and weights, minimize failure at medium engine speeds.
Life with a BMW maxiscooter
BMW C600 SPORT, C650GT “Sportuhhha”
I first became acquainted with this device in 2015. I was sitting at home, at that time I was the owner of a maxi-scooter from Kawasaki model J300. I came across two models C600Sport and C650GT on the Internet and began to study these two beauties. As a result, I came across the possibility of a test ride, which in itself was an absolutely incredible phenomenon for me... Well, with a car you can understand how a test drive is carried out. And on a motorcycle? HOW? I signed up for this event one weekend at AVILON on Volgogradsky Prospekt. Having fulfilled all the conditions, signed the contractual agreement for the test... I followed the technician to the street where the device was located. After which the cherished phrase sounded: -You have an hour and a half for the test! I went for a ride. Not very far from the salon so that in any case there is an option to quickly return. What can I tell you, this is not 299 cubes and one cylinder. So wow, 647 cubes and two cylinders. There are no vibrations at idle... It gets to 100 instantly! Plus rich equipment: Heated handles and seats, a tire pressure sensor and a full-fledged on-board computer like in cars. Also among the amenities are an adjustable windshield, a folding parking pocket for a helmet... The rest of the equipment is basically the same as that of the Kawasaki. And so it turned out that I was driving out of curiosity and in the end I came across a goal for myself. What to save! Next, 2016, 05/28 - for sale almost two months after the Kawasaki ad was posted... And the search for purchasing options begins. I looked at two used ones, one of which was from very shady owners in a terrible condition, although with low mileage, but 480 tyr for 2013 is prohibitively expensive... Plus, it also stood on the street all year round - as they told me. This was not an option at all. The second option was the GT 650, which was more interesting, heavier and stuffed. But in the end, I found a new version of the 2015 model year at a dealer in St. Petersburg at a price 50-70 thousand lower than the cost of the same one from Moscow dealers. I called the sales department... I found out everything regarding the conditions and cost. I was happy with everything and made an advance payment of half the cost of my future Maxi. It was the middle of the week May 31-June 1... We agreed on delivery on Saturday. I found excellent comrades who kept me company on my trip to St. Petersburg. On Friday late evening 3.06 we got ready and drove to St. Petersburg along the night M10 and around 8-8:10 we arrived at our destination. I had to wait a little for the dealer to open... But it turned out that the manager Katerina called ahead of the appointed time and we settled down, waiting for the opportunity to look at my future device, which I will slowly drive towards the house today. Everything went smoothly until the issue touched upon compulsory motor liability insurance... I was very confused by the fact that for some reason they only provide insurance for a year! Well, why should I insure for a year - if I use it from the end of March until October... But after fun rides around St. Petersburg and waiting in line at the insurance company, which moved up by one person in the 30 minutes that I was there... I decided to do it OSAGO for a year. When making the decision, there were thoughts in my head that I still had to go back, and not at all quickly at first, because running in is not possible! Maintain speed! But more on that later. They gave me compulsory motor insurance for a year. I waited for the manager and we went to the counter where there was already a shiny maxi. I started it, checked all the systems that you can check yourself, the heating and looked at it all again, including checking the VIN number with the title. After which he rolled it out onto the street himself, said goodbye to Katerina and began making circles around the cabin so that he could immediately set everything up for himself and understand how to control the equipment. After about 7-8 laps, I was ready to drive towards the nearest gas station because the MOTORHOME turned out to be greedy, right down to the gas in the tank. I filled the tank full at a Shell gas station and after that, my comrades and I had a long way to go home... For the first 50 km I was driving at 3000 rpm, the speed at these speeds was 45-50 km/h maximum. But after this run, the maxik began to come to life - literally, it seemed as if it became easier for him to breathe! Just to understand this you need to be in the saddle - for example, when driving for 100 kilometers, the revolutions were the same 3000 and the speed was already about 70 km/h. I arrived at the dacha... It was already really raining in the Moscow region... I spent the night... In the morning I showed this device to my grandfather, he is also a motorcyclist, it’s a pity that it was only in the distant past. He liked the device. The next day, not far from the dacha, in a motorcycle shop, I bought a very bright and beautiful cover, the color of a road worker. And I went home... In conclusion, I will only say that now I am in an excellent mood with positive emotions from owning this device. I will post the rest in a timely manner in the BZ.
Passport details
Volume From 601 to 1000 cm³ Max. power 60 hp Year of manufacture 2015 Year of purchase 2021
Tire selection
As competitors in the market, the Tmax and C600 Sport are equipped with the same tire sizes. Recommendations for choosing tires for them will be exactly the same.
Asian tire brands should be avoided, and this applies not only to products from China and Korea, but also to Japanese ones, oddly enough, too.
You need to pay attention to the “Europeans”, namely Pirelli, Metzeler and Michelin. The first two have one model each of a set of tires in the required size - these are Pirelli Diablo Scooter and Metzeler Feelfree. It makes sense to choose the first one if you have an aggressive driving style and mainly urban use, the second one if you travel quietly on the roads and have a desire for tourism - it runs longer. Michelin has two models - the softer Michelin Power 3 Scooter and the more touring Michelin Pilot Road4 Scooter. For them, recommendations for use will be completely similar. If I were choosing tires for myself, I would take Road4 - this is a fresh model with outstanding grip properties in any weather and at the same time having a long service life.
Unfortunately, the 15” rear wheel diameter has not yet become mainstream, and some interesting models of tires for scooters are not yet produced in it. At the moment, you can put forward the spring-autumn version of Metzeler Feelfree Wintec, the tourist Pirelli Angel or the very soft sports Michelin Power Pure SC. But you will have to select something else for the rear wheel.
