Yamaha Balances Scooter Yin and V-Max Yang
Tuesday June 17, 2008
The outrageous V4-powered V-Max might draw plenty of gawkers into Yamaha showrooms, but chances are the left sides of buyer's brains will be appeased by two new scooters: the 500cc twin-cylinder TMAX that produces 47 mpg, and the Zuma 125 single-cylinder which yields 89 miles for every gallon of expensive gas.
We'll post a buyer's guide of the 2009 Yamahas when the entire lineup is officially announced, but in the meantime check out our V-Max photo gallery, click on these photos to get a closer look of the new scooters, and comment on whether you'd rather go all out with the 197 horsepower power cruiser or save your dough with one of these fuel sipping scooters.
Photos © Yamaha
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Comments
Er…Yin is the feminine principle, Yang is the masculine principle. Surely you meant the V-Max was yang?
CP
The 47 mpg 500 cc scooter does not seem significantly better that my 2005 Kawasaki Concours (997 cc) that gets 48.3 mpg at 4,000 rpm about 62 mph. Now I must admit at 90 mph the gas milage drops to 36 mpg. And between you and me I would not want to ride ANY scooter at 90 mph . . .
Chuck,
You’re right.
One online source identifies Yin as having the following qualities: soft, slowness, substantial, water, cold, conserving, tranquil, gentle (sounds like a scooter). The same source describes Yang as possessing hot, fire, restless, hard, dry, excitement, non-substantial, rapidity (V-Max like, no?)
Thanks for catching that!
Jonathan,
It’s possible that EPA testing methodologies have changed since your ‘05 Concours was rated; I know they’ve gotten more stringent on the automotive side (which has yielded relatively lower numbers.) And I partially agree about not wanting to ride scooters at 90 mph… though the bigger scooters (like the TMAX, Silver Wing, etc) tend to have larger wheels that are more stable at higher speeds.
Basem
My Goldwing gets 46MPG @ 800+ pounds.