I pop my scooter cherry! - 2017 Yamaha X-Max 300 Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.ย. 2017
- I pop my scooter cherry! - 2017 Yamaha X-Max 300 Review
For some reason big scooters aren't popular in the UK and hence I've never ridden one before. In this video I pop my scooter cherry and have my first ride on a 2017 XMax 300 from Yamaha. Not only do I talk about this particular bike but I also look at what the differences are between a scooter and a "normal" motorcycle. Stay tuned to find out more....
Thanks to Brian Gray's Powerbiking in High Wycombe for making this review possible.
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I've been riding for 50 years in Australia, got myself an Xmax300 this year and am totally blown away with it. On expressways, I even start laughing out loud, it's that much fun to ride!
What they're doing in Australia I'm surprised you're not in prison already with your motorcycle considering that they're going absolutely freaking crazy in Australia right now
@@Rescuearmor Same, I'm surprised he wasn't jailed or locked up for laughing while traveling on a scooter on an expressway.
You should try the Suzuki Burgman 650
The best thing about riding a scooter is there is no worrying about the lubing the chain. Rain or shine, short or long riding. Simply brilliant.
'Being cool'? I like this scooter, and therefore I feel cool on this bike. It's simple.
I’ve now had 2 XMax 250s. Both used for regular commutes between awards and London. Anyone saying these things are unsuitable for motorways has never ridden one. Superb machines on every level.
This bike is freaking amazing. Being in the Los Angeles area in this bad traffic this bike slices traffic withe ease and when the freeway opens ups you can hit 80+MPH with ease.
Thank you. That's exactly the comment I was looking for. I plan on getting an Xmax when I get back to the states (from Indonesia where I ride a Honda PCX 150cc,) and I want to know that it can handle freeways no problem, and long rides, for example, highway 80 from The Bay Area and over the pass before Reno.
I bought one last July and I can only say it is brilliant!! my other bikes have been neglected due to the fact it is fun and above all, so easy to ride. I have been riding for over 37 years and it has given me the enthusiasm back into biking.
I switched from bikes to scooters a few years ago,
Best thing I ever did,
Mine pulls better than a bike of the same cc 🙂
I've had my Honda pcx 150 for a year and now it's time to Upgrade to a bigger Scooter and I think the Yamaha Xmax 300 is the one
I've been wasting my time looking at Motorcycles...I think I am done with Motorcycles...I'm a True Scooter Man Now !!!!!!
Hi Robert, did you upgrade? It's a year later and I'm actually deciding this exact thing lol. I had a ride of a PCX before the lockdowns kicked in and was about ready to pull the trigger, however now I'm kind of thinking it might be worth paying the extra for the xmax. For me the main thing was that I have two routes to work - one is about 10 minutes on the freeway at about 100kph on a good morning, more like 40kph on the way home, so the PCX seemed fine. However I do have a second less often used route when things go wrong. That's 50 mins on two freeways where traffic can get up to 120kph if it gets a chance, and it's a pretty exposed route at the end of a long plain before the city, so cross and headwinds can be pretty strong.. I don't think I'd take the 150 on that route lol.
Just wonderinf if you upgraded, what you got if you did and how you found the difference if you don't mind?
@@jonpram1737 I traded the pcx 150 for a Kawasaki z400 motorcycle
Had it for about a year now and now I think I might want a scooter a Suzuki burgman 400
I just lost a scoot to theft here in the U.S. and I'm ready to buy this or the Burgman 400.. the whole time I rode I said I'd soon get a 'real' motorcycle but now that I'm ready to buy I may be that True Scooter Man now
@@robertsalyers1351 thought you were a scooter man..
@@kemalyesil7565 I'm a scooter man 👨
I'm working a deal on a 2020 Suzuki Burgman 400 at my local Dealer ship
People buy Harleys for the image, not for reliability or performance. That also applies to a lot of other bikes. The feeling that you have to have a big bike to be a real man is outdated. Recent scientific studies have proven that your balls are not proportional to the size of your engine. Its actually shown to be inversely proportional in most cases. Once people get over this image obsession there will be a lot more economical, fun, reliable, practical scooters running around the streets.
...I best sell my 1200cc bike pronto!
" Once people get over this image obsession " I flunked Mind Reading 101 and would never generalize on peoples' motivations wholesale. Apparently there are other social adjustment problems than size of balls.
Your opinion of course..but hey.. you do you
Funny, it has to do with size of balls, just because you’re nota Harley fan
Interesting perspective.. having sold my 2 bikes and recently acquired a 2014 Yammy Majesty 400 for *cough* practical reasons.. loved my bikes dearly, but needed to turn the page. The Scoot fits my needs much better now than my bikes do now...or the question really is, why didn't it always? What changed?
I've just bought one (before seeing this) and still running it in. It's ridiculously manoeuvrable at slow speeds, quick off the line from traffic light GP starts and hilariously chuckable through bends and roundabouts. I get to work grinning like a gurning fool, with dry feet in the rain as a bonus. 86 mpg is half the consumption of my BMW on the same route and the X-Max is quicker overall. Some people at work sneer at it. They’re the ones that take their bikes to a dealer to have the chain adjusted and will only wear this seasons Dainese gear. The guys that know what Plasitgauge is and how to use it appreciate the machine for what it is.
And it’s rather good.
Nice one Mick....I agree these are a brilliant form of transport, just don't think they work for Sunday afternoon enthusiasts...
Greetings from America ! THAT was a 2 Thumbs Up EXCELLENT review, my friend. I appreciate your honesty, coming from a "real motorcycle guy"`s first experience on a "scooter." I do believe we "heard your epiphany" while riding this FINE super-scoot ! Anyone who commutes to work in a metro area has to appreciate the low buy-in cost, it`s miserly fuel sippage, great ergonomics, wind protection, water-proof trunk area, RELIABILITY, ease of lane-splitting & easily-found, inexpensive, if not, FREE parking. An almost 100% guarantee you`d arrive at The Job ON TIME !
Greetings from London... i totally agree !
@@MsRavens13 Hello there !
The reality is that “older bikers” that still enjoy riding without lugging huge weighty bikes will appreciate bikes of this size, after a few months with a 300 Forza, I found it more enjoyable than my Versys, which I also enjoyed, the simple practicality will soon make one wonder why they would continue lugging a larger bike when in reality these sized bikes are or could be more enjoyable, perhaps the ego would stop one. I highly recommend at least trying one, the first person that told me this is more enjoyable and more comfortable was a Harley owner, I’ve also had several Harley’s, none as comfortable as the Forza. Living in Phuket, Thailand and riding to Bangkok was far more comfortable, enough so that I sold my Versys, never looked back. I’m 67 and these bikes are pure pleasure.
Brian Wells I love my Forza 250
Hi Brian. I totally agree with you. Many years ago I bought a Burgman 650. Fantastic touring bike. Gradually over the years, the pains in my knees became too much for moving heavy bikes round car parks, backing up, etc. I bought a Honda Forza 300 a year ago, it's light, nippy and brilliant round town and will do touring too. Recently had a road test on the new Forza and loved it. I get one in October. Ride safe always.
I also live part time in Thailand (Mahasarakham).
300cc is about perfect, and feels like a rocket,, a great handling rocket compared to a Honda 110 Wave, the most popular scooter,, or vehicle in Thailand.
I have a SYM MAXSYM 400i and I love it, comfortable, practical, a big storage space under the seat, that I can throw two full face helmets, and can lovely ride at a cruise speed of 130, 140km/h.
I'm completely sold to these kind of bikes.
How tall are u ?' i just sell my 2007 versys.. And smashing my brain which scooter to buy..
Hullo, Mr Flyer. I've watched this review 3 or 4 times and it finally dawned on me what it was that was most interesting - the bike is great, *scooters* are great, but it's your enthusiasm for this new experience that entertained me. You were so animated and it made the review all the more enjoyable. About 10 years ago, when I was living in Cincinnati, my wife bought a new Suzuki Burgman 400. Scooter bigotry in full flow, after 10 minutes I was flabbergasted! It was everything you noted in the video and more. Having ridden for the better part of 50 years (including 6 years in East Anglia), I can honestly say I've never been more impressed by any other motorcycle. heh! Welcome to the Most Honourable Scooter Converts Society.
Cheers Jeff!
Years ago Bike magazine did a race from London to southern Spain. A big scooter,Piaggio I think, against a R1. The tortoise and the hare. The scooter was obviously slower but didn't stop for fuel as often. The R1 ended up lagging behind so had to faster, so used more fuel, so stopped even more often. The scooter won. 😊
Great stuff!
The scooter was a Gilera 500 Nexus. I remember reading the article.
Cruising at 80/90 is overrated as it's so mentally tiring you find excuses to keep stopping. I drive or ride to Dover from Cardiff several times a year and at 80/90 I always stop at Heston but at 60/70 carry on and get there quicker.
I ride an ST1300 and had a Suzuki Burgman 650 pull up next to me at a traffic light. The guy had a go at me and let me tell you those freaking scooters are pretty darn fast. While I did obviously take him I never thought I'd have to hammer the throttle as hard as I did. Honestly I was beyond impressed with its performance.
Love my ch250 for same reasons. It jumps of the line, stops and turns on a dime. When I take off from a light I am about a block away before the rest of traffic crosses the intersection. Lane splitting here in CA super easy and safe. Invisable to cops. Ets.ets. Most fun I ever had buying groceries, take long way to store and home.
650 Executive owner here - yep, the 650 has both a Power mode (keeps the revs higher) AND a manual shift option - it’s a bit of a sleeper ;-) PLUS there is an aftermarket fuel-injection mapping module available for it. If he was running Premium gas as well - never underestimate them! The Burgman applies smoooooth power like a Jetski on 2 wheels (IMHO)
humm the Suzuki Burgman 650 has a CVT adjustable transmission it has a Power Mode, I wonder if he had it in "Power mode" or Economy Mode" as the 650 is Fast even in Economy Mode.
And he had a nice wege left in the Bank!
These type of scooters are much better to ride in bad weather than most motorcycles. Your legs and feet rarely get dirty, and the screens keep the worst of the weather off. Plus, no cleaning and lubing the chain every 5 minutes. I've used scooters for years as a winter workhorse (which has kept my other bike clean) and you can't beat them. If we weren't so conservative they'd sell like hotcakes as they do on the continent. Ride safe always.
Cheers Marcin...
For British roads and weather.
Upgrade the tyres to
Heidenau K66 s.
They make any commute on a scooter in any weather much more fun.
Great video.
I rode a 300cc Vespa through the Catalan hills last week, it was a lot of fun and totally changed my opinion of scooters. If I ever lose a leg above the knee or knacker my hips and can't swing myself over a motorbike I'd definitely get one
Lmao that doesnt really sound like you liked it if it woud take amputation to get one!
I went from a Daytona 675 to a pcx 125 for my daily commute and haven't looked back, great machines. There's a real lack of quality content on TH-cam regarding these bikes so thanks for taking the time to review.
Thank you Mike, very kind of you to say so (I'm taking the implied compliment!).....
Here in Holland you probably see more scooters. Yes I own a Xmax 300 and ride it whenever I can. Practical, but most of al its fun. The LED lights, speed, comfort and safety features are great. Motorcycle riders even put their hands up for you, so I guess we scooter riders are an excepted group here. For the record, the Xmax 300 goes from 0-100 km/h in 7.5 second and has a top of 140km. More then enough and overtaking a truck of something that goes slower isn't a problem. Thank you for your review.
Nice one Romano - thanks for the feedback and interesting to hear that a country with a similarly grim climate as the UK can make use of more scooters!
As an owner of an Xmax 400 I'm delighted to see you've enjoyed your first ride on this great scooter. As you say, the level of practicality is out of this world and in terms of driving mechanics its brainless. It never fails to surprise me how few people actually consider these machines for the modern day commute. Over my 9 years riding I've saved thousands of hours on the road. Yamaha are top of the scooter game in my opinion; the Tmax tends to be the favourite of thieves unfortunately. The lack of gears and consistent acceleration makes this bike super easy and super safe when all you have to do is keep your eyes on the road! My question is what are us scooter users missing out on when we don't consider a fully fledged motorbike for our commutes/journeys? (My 400 goes on motorways and everything else!)...Great video as always.
Yes great question Ian and one I've been pondering in reverse (what do you miss on a scooter) - I can only put it down to a couple of things you are missing out on (1) you don't look as cool (2) you don't have the option of interstellar speeds....and both of those are quite big attractions of conventional motorcycles. On the other side of the coin with a scooter you get much better practicality/economy - neither of which are very exciting sadly. I reckon that's what it boils down to anyway.
The looking cool thing is only in our own heads anyway! I think you miss out on the pleasure of operating a motorcycle - the noise, the speed, shifting etc.
TheMissendenFlyer had my Fz6 motorbike up to 140mph and my Tmax scooter up to 115mph both fun and as speed limit is 70mph..... And Tmax is set up the same as a motorbike with the engine up front and not on the swing arm so handles like a bike.
And you don't need to to dress up so much in the wet /cold.
You can get the noise with aftermarket exaust, and some scooters are faster then some motorcycles.
Got a Yamaha Smax last year; 155cc. Gets me where I want to go and freeway legal here in CA. Also, filtering lanes during rush hour saves tons of time. Top speed on the Smax is only about 70mph, but its a dream from 0-50mph. Averaging about 85MPG too. For urban envronments, this thing is amazing. However, in retrospect, I'd have gotten the 300cc for the amount of freeway travel here in So Cal. PS.....Im a big guy too; 6'2" and I weigh 250lbs. The Smax is fine for my size!
I absolutely LOVE scooters! They're so practical and fuel efficient. I have a Triumph Bobber but I live so close to work it isn't worth warming up the big bike so I got a 50cc Honda Ruckus 110 mpg! I live a mile from work. Paid for itself in no time
Nice one Joseph!
I call a big B.S. at 110mpg and 2 miles a day it would take around 6 gallons a year ($3 or less in the states} so around $18 a year. The triumph should get at least 1/4 of 110mpg, so at the most it should only cost $72 a year. So you would save around $54 a year, so the Ruckus would pay for itself in around 40 years, not to mention that you will be replacing the tires twice as often on the Ruckus. The only way a two wheel vehicle ever save anyboby money is when it is their only means of transportation.
Great review as always.I have been riding motorcycles for 45 years and for 3 months i owned a Honda Forza 300.I put more miles on it in those three months than any of the motorcycles i have had over the same period of time. I took it on a tour,commuted on it,even had some fun beating a BMW car away from a set of lights well up to 85mph and then he managed to pass me.
It certainly made me chuckle because i don’t think he expected a scooter to be so quick.
I have got a Suzuki Bandit now but i am thinking of getting another Forza as a daily commuter because they are so much fun to ride
I’ve got an R1200GS and a Harley Sport Glide, I wouldn’t part with my Sym Cruisym 300 for the daily commute and general bad weather use. I’ve had a scooter to supplement my bikes for the last 4 years, they are awesome.
I bought a 2018 1200GS Rallye in November. Crying getting salt and crap all over it in Scottish winter (yeh I've ACF50'd it) but it feels like a losing battle. Think a 300cc Scoot may be a good winter solution for city rides. Keep my GS nice and clean for better weather in March/April. Cheers
@@GS-xg4nz go for a Honda Forza 300, late model, you will wonder why you left it so long.
@@pa6793 yeh they look good. Looking for used bargains, not a lot around - they (xmax, burgman, forza) seem to really retain their value.
@@GS-xg4nz agree, that’s why my steer is towards the Honda and not the Sym. My Sym was untouchable in second hand market.
The xmax 300 is one of my greatest buy of a bike. The compartment is huge and great can hold full face helmet and can hold lots of stuff and can be used for long travel. Fuel economy is great. The way it handle is just right i can lane filter with it just fine and still fun to ride in twisty road.
Have been riding large scooters for years now and they really are fantastic in so many ways. A nice relaxed ride and plenty of storage. People don't feel threatened by by them. Thanks for posting an English review. I hope us Brits soon see what the rest of Europe already know scooters make ideal commuter tools. Let's stop using our weather as an excuse.
Will be swapping in my Tiger 1050 for one of these...the UK bikers have the wrong attitude to scooters. No chain aggro, no storage problems, cheaper tyres and servicing, uses virtually no fuel, easy to clean, comfortable, great weather protection, amazing handling, low emissions, what's not to like?. You said the UK biker bias yourself here Missenden.... You'd want one with a bigger engine. Bikers need to stroke their ego and have pub bragging rights; the sooner we wake up and adopt the European relationship with these awesome scoots the better.
Yes I really don't get why they aren't more popular - if I had the additional space and money I'd have one for sure...not an enthusiasts machine but a solid form of practical transport....
@@TheMissendenFlyer It’s all about proper marketing, bruv ;-) Put a few 400cc and up scooters in a major movie or TV series and ramp up the commercials
I've been thinking about getting one of these for a couple of months. I recently went into my local bike dealership - they sell all sorts including scooters - and mentioned what I'm considering. The response I got was incredible. So damn negative and quite rude about scooters as a choice. Let's say I won't be buying it from them.
Hi there, I accidentally stumbled upon this video and I have to say this is quite excellent! Love your commentary, politeness in both talking and riding around town, and a ton of good information about the bike (scooter) in question. You've more than earned yourself a new sub!
Fantastic! Thanks for your kind words and welcome along!
Good review. The newer maxi-scooters are an excellent way to get around. My 125 Honda Forza can still keep up with motorway traffic, and gives me 131 mpg! I love it.
I grew up as a surfer in Sydney and had about as much coolness as I can stomach .... Therefore I've happily uncooly owned several scooters including an MP3 .....I love the comfort on the maxi scooters , I still love bikes but hey if it's got wheels and you ride it that's cool enough for me ...
Like your style William! Actually I couldn't really give a hoot about being cool or not (I like to think)...so why don't I have one....I'm confused!!!!
TheMissendenFlyer and that's the real cool !
Haha I will never understand why a Postie bike you bought at the end of it's service life for too much money is cool, but a scooter is not. Did we all really want to be posties?
I have had one for a few months now,my previous was a 2015 Kawasaki Versus 1000 mk2., obviously the Kwak was a continent crusher,This little baby recently took me on a 365 mile journey in total comfort and used 4 gallons of petrol.The 15 inch front wheel shimmy on overbanding.But everything else is very good.Thanks for posting this is the best online road test of this scoot worldwide
Wow, quite a claim!! I hope you're right....
TheMissendenFlyer
Before I bought I searched youtube for online roadtests.Lots of euro non English reviews until now.I find around town in the country on motorways it is well up to the job.I know it isnt as fast as my previous but my license is alot safer
Stevie Burrows you're right
I'm really happy to hear that you love the scooter so much! I am planning to get my very first bike come this month after I take my motorcycle classes this week. The X-Max was a little too much bike for me so I ended up going with the Honda PCX 150. Just hearing you mention the comfort, ease of riding, practicality and enjoyment really helps cement my choice for getting a scooter for my first bike. Maybe in the future I will get an actual motorcycle, but it is really hard to justify looks and cool factor over practicality for me. Best wishes to you and safe riding!
How much did you guys get the silverwing?
Great video. I bought a little Honda Vision 110cc scooter for my wife last month, and we both enjoy it so much that I am seriously considering selling my Street Triple 765 RS and buying myself one of these 3-400cc machines. So much easier and usable than the Triumph Monster.
Thank you for your brilliant work mate. I hope you make a fortune doing your reviews as you well deserve it!
Because of your thorough review I bought one here in Sydney. All the best!
Great stuff Mauricio - I don't think there's a fortune to be made but thanks for the kind words and hope you enjoy the Scooter as much as I did!
Great review. Also my first scoot, great all rounder. I've done West Wales to the Midlands & to North Norfolk coast without stopping. Great for carriageways or twisty back roads. Ideal for work, shopping AND trips to the beach. After service 96mpg settling down later to 84mpg (for me at least). Which is quite good. These things could redefine the term "cafe racer" but then I've gone non-stop cross country, in comfort, so maybe not! Can't wait for the longer days.
+Lee 303 Nice one Lee!
I’ve ridden motorcycles for almost 50 years and still love to ride but I must admit that I find myself taking my Vespa GT more and more. Carrying a gallon of milk is much safer than on the Bonneville. The Vespa will exceed 70 mph, so keeping up with traffic is not a problem. People still look down on scooters here in the colonies, but they’re fun and extremely practical.
I've been on the Xmax 125 for a year now. Fantastic daily commute. Mix of city and main ring road commuting. Use a top case and it's incredible the amount of kit you can carry. All weather gear plus helmet under the seat. Bag in the top case. Doing my A2 soon. Not sure whether to go bike or maxi-scooter......
I loved riding my 50cc scooter for a few years. I love the practicality and economy of a scooter. Barely any cost of fuel and it's really fun to just cruise along. I want to get a 125cc one to have during my time at university but I have to get a license for it.
I love my Scooter.... but...
When I’m at the lights on my Harley, other Harley riders say hi.
When I’m at the lights on my scooter, Harley riders look away.... Lol
Riding a scooter puts an end to all the anoying nodding to other bikers that you don't even know it's much better 😁
That tells you a lot about Harley riders,you’re better than that, scoot on dude.
Who gives a fuck about that?
happened to me today on my Zuma 125, its the 2019 and its red, so from a distance it almost looks like a sport bike from the front so i get waves sometimes but never from harley guys. Im gonna get a sport bike soon so i can gap them when they think they are too cool haha
Your coolness radiates so much they have no choice but to look away
Really enjoyed this, I took one out on a demo and brought one the same day, I've been very impressed with handling , balance and power. I did try Wycombe power biking but they didn't have any so I brought one from Ruislip Yamaha.
Thank you. Keep up the good work.
Nice one!
Just bought the 400 version of this. Looking forward to putting some miles on the clock as soon as the weather gets better.
I watch and lurk many Moto Vlog / bike videos, you're the first channel I instantly wanted to subscribe to. Good job man
Thank you Nick!
Thanks very much for this review. It's one of the best reviews of the XMAX-300 on You Tube in my opinion. I'm seriously considering buying one of these here in the States and the info you provided is very helpful. Thanks again, mate!
You're welcome!
Really glad you did this review. They weren’t on my radar at all.
My pleasure...
I love your review. I was looking at one of these in Phuket, Thailand. It fits the sweet spot between a typical 150cc scooter and a motorcycle...still can filter through traffic but also go longer distances...not to mention dust everyone at the traffic lights. Plus the storage is really handy since having a car is like having an elephant - can't get anywhere fast but it can hold a lot. Anyway, thanks for the review.
Glad you liked it!
I've had over 20 bikes in my time. I started off on conventional motorbikes, sports bikes, tourers, bikes that do 0-60 in 3.2 seconds, but my last 4 bikes have all been scooters and my last 3 have all been Burgmans. I test drove a BMW F800R because I loved the look of it, and I couldn't get back on my Burgman quick enough. I'm never going back thanks.
Me neither. Pretty much the same thing - all manner of sports, classic, adventure. After trying out a maxi scooter to commute on I now wouldn’t bother with anything else
Recently got one these - love it. Great review.
Do you agree with my conclusions?
The 300cc is actually made for being a highway bike. A scooter that you can ride around the city, but also get on the highway to get around big cities or to the next city over. Not a touring bike, but definitely a short trip rider. So I wish you had used more of that 300cc.
I can only afford one motorcycle right now and honestly lazy to deal with shifting, so I prefer scooters and I use my smax 155cc for road trips, which is fine on the flats, but I am going to get the xmax now that its brought to the USA because its more practical as an all around scooter at a good price. The Smax doesnt really cut it on anything off the flats.
I love seeing more about the xmax and excited to get it next month.
Enjoy!
Great video, you should do a follow up with the new Honda forza 300, a direct competitor of the x max
Hey Missenden Flyer! Your video was one of the things that helped me decide to buy the XMAX 300! I've bought a 2018 one and started my own channel! Thank you for putting out quality videos every time :)
My pleasure!
Great review.. It's good to see a scooter getting a review! Me and the missus rented a 125 kymko Agility in Greece, was unbelievable on petrol and kept up with the traffic even two up.
...it's not just me who under estimated these then.....
Having owned a big scooter of one type or other since 2000 I can tell you they are the ONLY way to commute to work. Bumper to bumper traffic sucks in a motorcycle. The scooter is twist and go. And with the smaller diameter tires it is way more flickable than a motorcycle. There is no concern about over-powering there rear tire so you can go from a stop to full on power in an instant. No worries about gear selection. After you learn how to ride them quickly (sit well to the front of the seat with your feet back, on the passenger pegs if possible, to get weight on the front tire) you can embarrass a sportbike in the city. I've done it many times, LOL. A sportbike has to work very hard to keep up with all that up shifting and down shifting and clutch work. The scooter is throttle or brakes and it matters not how hard. I also have powerful sport bikes and I don't even think about commuting into the city on one. My favorite is the Honda Helix 250. Has a separate trunk too. Plus over here in the US, no self respecting cop is going to ticket a scooter. Even while riding like a motoGP racer in traffic. Remember, get your weight forward to prevent the front tire from washing out. A scooter is rear weight biased.
Great info and feedback - thanks for stopping by....TMF
Subscribed.
They may well be the most logical 2 wheeled commuting option (unless within cycling distance), but motorcycling isn't logical!
blipco5 There isn't a scooter sold on the UK as far as I'm aware that can do do sub 5 seconds 0-60. What scooter have you got that it can out accelerate a sports bike? XD Even an old gpz 500 will do 3.8 so an old sports tourer should destroy every production scooter sold on the UK.
You can tune to a scooter to accelerate quick/ wheelie etc but you loose the benefit of fuel economy / top end speed.
Basically I think when your embarrassing people they probably aren't racing you XD
I pull away faster on my f650 GS then a lot of sport bike riders as well, the sports bikes are all capable of destroying my bike it's just most people don't do race starts in traffic .
The Honda X-ADV "is" an NC750 DCT in a scooter 'body' .....
Pleasantly surprised to see this review done in Wycombe and the bike from Powerbiking. I bought my Yamaha Tricity from them a few months ago. Now that’s a scooter you really MUST review.
Would love too - I'll have a word with Sam....
TheMissendenFlyer the Tricity is an amazing ride. With brakes that piss on the xmax 👍
Wonderfull - I love the dirversity of your rewievs. The scooter takes me back to the old days.
Thanks Brian, I like to vary my content as much as poss....
great video again tmf, something different, not for me, but great insight too the big scooters, why there is not more in the citys ? is beyond me, thanks again.
Exactly John, if you ever get the chance to have a go on one I encourage you to do so, I was really surprised - just shows how fashion works against us sometimes, because other than that intangible stigma thing, there is no reason not to have one of these rather than a conventional motorcycle if you're after a means of transport (rather than a thrill machine....which this isn't)....
Great review, always liked scooters. I've got the Honda NC 750X, not a scooter, but it too does more than 80 UK mpg. I'd really love to hear your thoughts about it. Keep up the great work!
Agree....I've got one as well....manual....dct option also....mines has never returned less than 80mpg....great bit of kit.
Hmmm - My Goldwing gets about 38 mpg. About the same as a small car. Maybe I need a scooter for a backup. If I ever decide to move to the Philippines I think this would be perfect, or the Tmax which would be allowed on the main highway. They have a 400 cc minimum requirement on the bigger highways.
Agreed with every word you said. Bought my first twist and go last year, a Honda 300 Forza, and its great a fantastic way to get around on two wheels. I'll always have a motorbike but I wont be without my scooter! Thanks for the review and spreading the word(its been a well kept secret for too long)
I am tempted I must admit - space (and money) is the issue as ever....
Absolutely excellent video and glad I found it as I'm off to try an Xmax 400 tomorrow!
Enjoy!
Thanks missenden flyer for good reviews, you're best on TH-cam. Collect mine Wednesday. Px my pcx in for a fantastic deal at dmc yamaha in Dudley, West mids. Way better deal than other yamaha dealers in area. Love pcx but need more poke. Not many dealers do demos so your video helped
Don't normally buy without test ride but hope it's worth it. Keep up reviews. Going to use this as commuter and maybe more.
I went from riding a 2016 Ducati monster 821 to riding A 2014 Suzuki burgman 400 The only thing I miss about the ducati is the incredible acceleration and super high speed but other than that I think that my burgman 400 is a better bike as a daily commuter or even just a weekend fun Ride around and it gets great gas mileage as well as of the utility of it I also find it much funner to ride because it's fun or to ride a slow bike fast than a fast break slow and that is definitely the truth Plus the burgman 400 is an easier bite to live with Because it is also more utilitarian just like the X Max featured in this video I can fit 2 full face helmet stay in the under seat trunk which also means I can actually go out and do grocery shopping and stuff on this thing Even when I just had a 50 CC scooter I still found that thing very fun to ride and I used to write that thing all over Scooters are very good bikes and with The utilitarianism of them they are much easier to live with then most motorcycles at to mention they are easier to ride because you don't have to worry about shifting up or down in gears when excel orating up to the speed limit or when coming to a stop Most people who ride motorcycles if they would just give a scooter a few days chance and writing one of those they would find that because of the ability it gives you with that under seat storage that it is a more useful bike and it is more fun to ride unless you also enjoy shifting through the gears as well but even at that and many of the bigger 300 CC and bigger CC scooters are capable of doing cruising speeds of 70 plus miles an hour Which makes them quite useful in general.
As my XV950 was tired and old from 4 years doing a 90 mile round trip into London and back. I nearly bought and MT-07, but decided after watching this to get the latest Xmax Tech Max 300... an adjustment going back to the ol' twist 'n go. But you proved to me for everyday, urban commuter use, it just makes too much sense.
Just gotta get use to passing riders not nodding at me anymore.. keep that neck still. ;-) :-D
Great review. I'm an expat in Thailand where scooters are popular. They've introduced the Yamaha xmax here. I'm aiming to get one. Very informative and interesting.
traction control? Even some 800 cc bikes still don't have that.
Exactly!
Please note the assertion that the transmission is maintenance free is not true.
CVT does not require cleaning and lubrication in the same was a chain does, but it is wise to open up the CVT at least once every 15,000 kilometres or 10,000 miles. It is essential to replace the wear-parts around 30,000 k / 20,000 m.
As someone riding a scooter for the first time, it's an easy mistake to make.
For people thinking of getting a scooter, if you are not mechanically minded, you'll want to have it looked at at those distances, but these scooters are not difficult to service.
I am in the same boat just bought a xmax 300 for my first scooter. Years of riding motorcycles this thing is a blast.
They are a hoot aren't they!
Great review as usual. Clear concise informative honest. Thanks
Thanks for watching...
I´m going to university soon and I will be there for 5 years at least and I really would love to have a scooter as my daily driver. To get to school, grocery shopping and just going around town. 250cc feels like a sweet spot for just daily commute but I need a license and the price of the scooter probably makes it way too expensive for me. I never see used scooters of this class on the market near where I live so I guess its time to start saving up.
EDIT: Oh gosh the 300c starts at 5200 pounds! Found a 125cc and it starts at 3600 pounds. I´ll keep looking.
Had a Burgman 650 exec., as a first two wheeler, nice bike but not good if you are over 6 feet tall. That is the biggest problem with scooters, the leg room for guys or gals over 6 feet causes you to have your knees either touching the dashboard or nearly touching the dashboard. But I did like the Burgman, it was really nice ( seat was awful on it after 50 miles), Suzuki needs to soften the seat or bolster the tailbone area. Glad you liked the Yamaha I think scooters are fun.
Thanks for watching!
6 ft tall and have the same Burgman - removed the backrest entirely and bungee’d an $80 gel pad on the stock seat. MUCH better. I stop fairly frequently but think I could prolly do ~120 miles before the burn sets in now
Switched from a Honda NC700x to a Xmax 300 a year a go. Since 95 % of my driving i commuting, this a perfect bike. Fantastic in the rain. No more wet and dirty feet when I arrive at work, and the economy is very good.
Scooters also have an image problem here in Mexico. They are seen as ¨girls bikes¨ or ¨not real motorbikes¨. The funny thing is that about 70% of the motorbikes on the road here are 300cc or 125cc used as commuters. Yet most stay away from scooters.
It's odd isn't it...so it's obviously not a weather thing then (as I thought it might be here, given it's usually cold and grey).....
If it was a weather thing then people in the UK would stay away from Motorbikes in general, not just scooters I think. And from what I have seen on TH-cam from you and other UK motovloggers, motorbikes are quite popular over there. Just to let you know, it isn´t always sunny here in Mexico. Summer is the rainy season here, Yesterday and today have been the first sunny days we´ve had after two weeks of constant rain. And it won´t get any better until October when the rainy season ends.
Hector Gomez I see lots of Mexicans and most of foreign residents riding scooters in Mexico. I also ride a scooter in Mexico and nobody will mess with me because I ride a scooter.
The same in the USA. The rest of the bikers treat you like your a "puss" if you ride one. I love my ch250, fk them. Bunch of fkn stupid sheep, dont know what there missing. 250 and larger scooters are the ultimate urban warriors. Way quicker than 99% of cars with very little effort. Lane splitting (legal in CA) no prob. Stops on a dime. Leaps off the line. Turns on a dime with out a drop of sweat or any fatigued or sore muscles afterwords.
It's a Macho thing, to me it really doesn't matter I think these scooters are so practical and great commuter and short journey bikes. I live in the U.S. I owned the Majesty 400 some years ago, its bodywork was a little porky but It preformed quite well.
Note! Not only is it a sensible every day 'bike but it has proper instruments with numbers that needles point at!
Yes that instrument panel is lovely!
I ended up choosing this scooter based on this review. Test ride it. It was very comfortable and very practical. Got up to motorway speeds with zero fuss. Thanks for your help. I couldn't find any other proper, English speaking review on it, (on TH-cam).
Great stuff, thanks for telling me! I hope you mentioned my name to the dealer??
Another brilliant review! I am a fairly tenured motorcycle rider/commuter and currently use a Versys 650 for a 12 mile commute each way. I have owned many motorcycles over the past decade - I can say hands down that easiest and most enjoyable commuting machine I have ever owned was a large (ish) maxi scooter. It was a Gilera Nexus 250cc and in honesty, I wish I still owned it. In this review I think you have pretty much nailed why these large scooters are great yet as you mention, strangely haven’t really caught on in this country. All of my motorcycle riding friends scoff when I mention how good these things are, but my next commuting machine will most likely be an Xmax 300. Having owned everything from a CBR600RR to a Bonneville, if I take my ego out of the equation it’s probably the big old scooter which has served me best. Keep up the great reviews! Cheers, Tom.
+tom bruce-hay Cheers Tom and I agree, the XMax is brill...
Please review the Kymco xciting s 400. Thanks and more power to you sir.
buying my vespa was a great decision, i use it everyday and do not regret it one bit
Scooters rock!
Another excellent video The Missenden Flyer, scooters are the new black!
This is the best Xmax 300 review I have found. Thank you!
Wow - thank you!
If I was thrown the keys to that scooter, I wouldn't mind one bit. Compared to small 300cc bikes it's easier to use, less fuss, alot more comfy, better storage, etc. I'd even do some big miles if the power is there. Good weather protection, twinned with the economy aspect would make me happy to take it almost anywhere.
Cheers TMF.
By the way ask M13 (the guy who invented the motovlog) if scooters are a good bit of kit? He runs a fleet of them over in Taiwan I think it is, and offers tours of the country on them.
Good to hear from you as ever sir! ...and yes, given this was only a 300cc machine it went really well, surprised the heck out of me as hopefully showed in the video. All the best as ever - TMF
Retired n Happy Scooter Cruiser mm
I'm always surprised how meaty some of the scooters I've heard on the continent are- TMax's especially. They are properly impressive looking. And how you see people of almost all ages riding them. I always smile when I see a 70 year old French woman on one taking prisoners up a side street, baguette under her arm, with no f*cks given..
Outstanding. Not only a great reviews on the X-Max from the point of view of an experienced motorcyclist, but also the differences between various cultures and countries on the popularity of scooters. Sadly the US isn't getting the 2017 X-Max and T-Max so I'll just have to smuggle one in! lol Thanks so much for posting.
Thanks for watching and stopping by Ben!
What is wrong with the 2018 X-Max and the soon to be released 2019 X-Max?
Hi, I' ve done the round of the island of Crete with one of this.. super .... great driving...
Did anyone else miss the white van?
Did anyone else duck as TMF rode under the barrier into the car park, or was it just me?
Excellent review as always. I believe the bigger scooters may well be the best commuter bike out there....and I thought I would never say that!
I ducked as well.
I love the look of this, looks exactly what I’m looking for but I’m only 5 feet tall, so I guess it will be too high for me 😭
Yes ,its definitely too high for you .Another reviewer at 5 ft -7 in struggled to get his feet down on one .
Nmax then
Top class review - and welcome to the scooter world! I also ride "normal" bikes (I have a BMW R nineT at present) but I've ridden scooters for rover 25 years on and off - I could (and have in the past) easily not have a bike or a car but I could not do without the scooter living as I do in a big city (Sydney) with dire traffic. I't such a shame there is soooo much snobbery (it's the same here in Australia but actually worse than what I experienced in the UK) but I would say 95% of riders that diss scooters have never ridden one and discovered how much fun they are around town. I currently ride a Honda PCX150 which is a really superb little machine but I've wanted a bigger scooter for a while now and I think the X-Max nay well be it thanks to your in-depth review. Thanks again.
Cheers Mike!
Reminds me of my old Yamaha Majesty 250 from 1998. Great scoot review, was in the market to look for a city commuter between this and the Kymco People GT 300i
Can you review the 650cc scooter of bmw sir?
I'll see what I can do - more scoot reviews coming I'm sure!
Thank you sir, because of your review on the ducati panigale, i bought one too a 1299S and it's really amazing just looking at it and park inside my garage. And the R1200 GSA waiting for delivery.
Looking forward on all your scooter review and i might buy one too hehehehe. Thanks again sir
I think he's finally been bitten by the Scooter bug lol. I shall wait with anticipation for his BMW 650 review 😁
Yes he should! C 650 GT
I really want to know whether this machine is worth the extra €4-5K over the yamaha variants. It looks the business and no one can argue with having 650cc at your disposal but for the money, is it worth it?
The Honda NC750 DCT range seems a much better prospect, if you want an auto.
Not as manoeuvrable as a scooter though. Scooters make a lot of sense for stop start city traffic and filtering.
I've had NC750s as courtesy bikes and the seats are rock hard. That is unless the very recent models have improved them. Also the manual versions tend to run out revs on overtaking and leave you stranded, forcing to to change gear just as you are parallel. I'm off to try an XMAX 400 tomorrow. My CBF1000 is a lovely comfy bike but London traffic is now so heavy that riding a hard clutch for over two hours a day is becoming unbearable.
I've been up up down the motorcycle and scooter cc range. Small scooter to big scooters and small motorcycles to big motorcycles.
Recently sold my Honda Forza 300 and moved over to the Honda NC750D Integra. Sold the Integra and now deciding between the new Yamaha XMAX or the new Honda Forza.
If you want the best performance and handling available go with the Integra. The DCT is simply amazing! Big wheels. Not a scooter in the truest sense - this s a motorcycle.
The 2015 Forza was a pig. Not enough power, bad suspension and looked like a whale. The new Forza had changed this.
The XMAX has the Forza beat with 13% more horsepower. Similar looks. The XMAX should also have better front suspension with the addition of another triple clamp on the forks.
Love the Forza electric windshield and top box and general appearance.
Love the XMAXlook also -Forza and XMAX look similar.
I want the Forza with the XMAX engine front suspension, electric windshield and auto lick top box.
HELP! I NEED THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS TO HELP ME DECIDE.
Bottom line. Love these scooters! Convenience, storage, front protection, adequate power. After riding everything I am back to thinking that these bigger scooters are the best way to go.
Appreciate your comments and help deciding between the XMAX and Forza.
THANKS!
According to Honda UK, the new Forza should be available from August. I am in the market for 300cc Scoot, so have the xmax or the forza on my shopping list.
+Ed Arnold A scooter is a motorcycle. A motorcycle is a two wheeled vehicle with an engine a scooter is just a style of motorcycle, you dont say thats not a motorcycle thats a super sport or a supermoto ect do you? they are just different styles, it amazes me how clueless alot of motorcylists are about these things.
Just bought myself an xmax 400 to do a 70 mile a day commute. Was feeling a bit weird about it and almost walked out with an Aprilia Shiver instead. Glad I didn't, this looks like just the right tool for the job. Thanks
I could listen to you all day. You are a natural at this review malarkey. I found it hilarious as you tried to convert from motorcycle to scooter. I ride both bikes and scooters, best of both worlds really. Storage, weather protection, economy and simplicity are all plus points. I currently have a kymco xciting 400i. If you get a chance try one. An absolute hoot to ride. Take care and keep these reviews coming. I have subscribed of course.
Thanks for the kind comments - much appreciated! All the best - TMF
Still prefer the Burgman myself, but still a good medium scooter..
sneekylinux me too. Just got the 650 executive after an 8 year break from riding. Loving it so far...
I bought a Mk1 T-Max 3 months ago and the GS has sat in the garage unused ever since
Really? Interesting....why is that do you think?
Yes, really ..... I've done 1500 miles on the T-Max and zero miles on the GS. The T-Max is just more practical for everyday use. It's twist & go madness
Paul Harrison I totally agree, I bought a Tmax in 2002 brand new and whilst other bikes have come and gone the Tmax is still with me. I think it's a brilliant bike great handling, real world performance and practical as well as cheap to insure.
I've gone the other way. Loved my 2012 ex demo T Max but found it uncomfortable after 20 minutes or more as it put too much weight on my cocix and I couldn't put weight on my feet as I did with my old SH300. Bought a 5 year old GS to do the local trips (typically B road, out of town). Still miss the T Max
I go back n forth between Scoots & Motorbikes... just can’t make my mind up. I find I run the greatest distances on my Scoot as they offer good wind protection, storage and ease in the hilly twisties in good old Yorkshire here! Yet I miss bikes, the gears, speed and the fact that they are more ‘manly’. I guess I’ll just have to get over myself, by another Scoot as I’m tired of being battered by wind on naked bikes... the Honda ADV is my choice at present, best of both worlds??
Maybe!
Scooter for everyday and motorcycle for weekends and tours. Best combination!
Sounds good to me!
A touring scooter for getting places and a dirtbike/dualsport/motard for the only terrain scooters objectively suck for works better ^^
Nice review. I've ridden all sorts of bikes all my life and didn't discover the secret of a scooter in traffic until in my 50's when I borrowed one between bikes. I was so impressed I Went straight out and bought a brand new Yamaha Cygnus 125 for the bargain price of £2600! Been riding it to work every day since for the last 3 and a half years. They can't be beaten in city traffic and are definitely the quickest way around. I go to Paris often and as you say, there are thousands of them there. I disagree about being uncool, in Paris, everyone looks cool on a scooter!
Keep up the great work.
...oh yes, in Paris and Milan scooters do look cool, not so much in Slough....
TheMissendenFlyer 😄
The view of the handlebars and clock cluster looks like a face. Probably the face of Dr Robotnik or a cartoon cat wearing a clear peaked cap.
thanks. i can't unsee it now
Plenty of space to store an angle grinder too!
Sadly true.....
Flinchy Thumbs You could probably get a chain saw under the seat never mind an angle grinder lol.
Got talked into riding a 2021 model and there are improvements. It’s very comfortable with all my back issues. Very tempting. Not as popular in the states but that’s probably just attitude. Never really cared about what anyone though of what I was riding. Had a Honda Ruckus for a few years and it saw a fair amount of use. Impractical where we live now
That was a fantastic review - many thanks. Strangely, scooters haven't taken off in this country either, and we DO have the right weather for them. I think Australians like their cars, and there could be that bit of snobbery here too. Thanks again for a great review!
Yes good point - odd that isn't it - ideal urban transport in warmer climates one would think....
Yes would it be a alternative to a touring bike don't you think ? nice colour too and most importantly a better dogging site location they look more friendly there 👍🏻 😊
...I'm starting to worry about you just a little....
TheMissendenFlyer
Prob is it's the cheap scooters that a commuter everyday use want left out in all weathers etc
I love scooters , can handle better that a motorcycle 2up
TheMissendenFlyer. So am I dude 😂
TheMissendenFlyer thank you. Maybe you do not know it but you are adding a certain degree of cool factor already.
Aesthetically the Yamaha xmax 300 is the scooter I like the most can't freakin' wait to own me one.
I have the bronze (same as in this video) and think it looks great. Got myself custom plates and plate holder which matches the colour better too.