2010 Yamaha T-Max value

[ThaiGyro]

Hey Four Tee nutz!  I have an opportunity to pick up a 2010 Yamaha T-Max here.  They were not sold in Thailand, but this was shipped from the States.  It is clean, but the owner states odometer reading of 20,000.  Here, that would mean kilometers, or under 12,500 miles. If that is MILES, like the US...it is another story. That would be 32,000 km.

The scoot is super nice by pictures, plus a few goodies...trying to figure out if worth the 2+ hour drive to see it. The guy wants 210,000 Thai Bhat, or over $6700.  (Seems super high to me!)

Please chime in on your value for the buck thoughts.

[90GTVert]

$6,700 would be too much here. Should be about $2,000 cheaper to be competitive in my local market. They're kinda expensive even here if you compare to some other big scoots and especially motorcycles. Not a lot of them around. I guess if you can't get them there, you'd have to decide how much it's worth to you.

Value kinda depends on you again. If you don't care about it being automatic or having scooter features, then a motorcycle will likely be much cheaper. If you have access to other big scoots, check those out and compare.

I think the TMAX can make a good commuter and is alright for touring. If your goal is mostly touring though, there are better suited scoots with more seat padding and probably more leg room and more underseat storage. The TMAX does handle as well as any big scoot, but if you're aggressive it will scrape the centerstand and sometimes it sorta bounces off of it which is a bit unnerving. It's a common issue with pretty much all scoots though. Some remove it, but I like having the center stand too much.

It performs well for what it is for speed and acceleration. About 100MPH tucked for me, but it's fine for me cruising as high as 80-85MPH. Acceleration annoys me a bit off the line, because the auto clutch takes too long to get the RPM up to get you going. Once it gets RPM up, it's got just under 45HP so it goes fine. It's a wet clutch, so it's not easy to just swap springs or anything like the dry clutches we're accustomed to in smaller scoots. Malossi makes a clutch kit. Not sure how it would be for day to day use if a more aggressive kit is installed. DrP sliders will speed up the acceleration, but still it will have that lag waiting on the clutch. There are engine mods like cams, head, 530cc big bore, but they are quite expensive.

The way wind moves around the TMAX annoys me a bit. I don't think it is well designed aerodynamically. I've tried the stock windshield, no windshield, Double Bubble windshield, and now a cut down Double Bubble shield. Can't say I'm thrilled with any and others seem to get a lot of buffeting as well. It's not a deal breaker, but I'd be interested to see if other big scoots have the same issue. If I cruise 50MPH on my naked scoot, I feel less wind force pushing my heat around than if I cruise 50MPH on the TMAX.

It does have a lot of panels to take off to service it. You get used to it though and it will speed up. Also, the Yamaha service manual helps a lot there. They are supposed to get a 12,000 mile service which includes a bunch of things and disassembly of a large amount of the scooter if you do it by the book. Kind of a downside if you wish to stick to the book and are buying just before that's due. You can see my experience with the 12,000 mile service in my build thread. The valve adjustment looks like a real pain on it, but that's somewhere around 26-27,000 miles.

At 6'2", I wish they didn't have that damn "back rest" on the seat. It doesn't really work as a back rest (though some mod it to raise so it does), but it does prevent you from scooting back more. If you take it off, then it's hard plastic and you'd risk tearing the covering on the seat too. Would just be nice to get that extra room. Mostly, I wish they padded the seat more but I guess that's what you get with a "sport" scoot. The aftermarket seats are expensive (~$500). Speaking of seats, the seat support shocks kinda suck. They are known for not keeping the seat all the way up. You can get replacements for as cheap as about $50 from China that some say are good. I just deal with it.

At least in the US, they are known to experience "TMAX fever". Little about that in my vid HERE and you can find more online. Basically there's a fuel pump or pump pickup issue where they can have trouble when it's very hot. Proven cure is to replace the whole in-tank assy with the newer version.

Since they aren't sold there, it may be a good idea to see how difficult it is to get parts.

Otherwise, I'm happy with mine. Just making you aware of some common stuff.


Kymco makes an xciting 500 that is pretty similar and cheaper. Maybe see if those are available where you are.

[ThaiGyro]

Wow! You provided everything I would need!

The newer T-Max models are being sold here. Since 2013 it appears. I can easily surmise that they are NOT made here. The price would dictate that via customs taxes, which raise the prices by 30% on new vehicles.

The frustrating thing about Thai life is that EVERYONE expects to re-coop their investment...including customs fees!

Trent, you stated all of the negative aspects that I don't like. I am only 5'11" and 170 pounds, but I am all arms and legs. I hate buffeting of any kind, though often fixable. Super good looking, but too much money! I do ride aggressively. I read where others here hate the center stand,(2016 review) because the scoot handles super good and stops good, but grinds. Also fixable, but again near $7000 USD? Nope!

My wife would fully enjoy a maxi-scoot versus a big bike for longer touring. BTW, we passed up a BMW C650 for similar reasons...super high price, though way fewer km's. But it rode like a Cessna 150 in a sidewind. Head was buffeted everywhere! Great clutch though.

Wish we could get a Goldwing.

[90GTVert]

Over here, people don't want maxi-scoots that much... or at least the TMAX. I noticed for a couple thousand more than my used 2011, there were some more recent models sitting in dealers brand new trying to be offloaded. Something like $3,000-4,000 under MSRP. I'm kinda jealous of Europe, where they sell well and you can get standard, luxury, and sport versions of the newer TMAX.

They really aren't a good value in many cases when you get to the bigguns, because you can compare them to motorcycles with much more power that cost similar or less money. Auto trans and built in storage are the 2 big perks for most. Step through on some, like the TMAX, is not all that easy. Easier to hop on than a traditional motorcycle, but it's not like a small scoot where you barely step up. For similar money, you could get a sport tourer with near double the power and put saddle bags/trunk on it and have nice storage space. I'm not ever sure that the seat on a TMAX would be great for a passenger touring. Better than some motorcycles, but nothing like the big touring bikes.

The value stuff, at least locally, kinda changes when you deal with smaller big scoots. Sometimes 400ccs like the Majesty or Burgman come along at good prices. I've seen a couple of 250s for $1,000-2,000 from big brands in good shape. Tough to beat those if they suit your needs. 250s aren't the best choice if you plan to be on highways all of the time. Capable of doing it, but maxed out to be near keeping up with traffic in some areas. Even on the TMAX, I get on interstates here or there and I don't have all that much headroom if I want to keep up with the faster moving traffic that tends to go 80+.