Yamaha TMAX 560 Buyer's Guide

The Machine's Character

The TMAX 560 is what happens when Yamaha builds a scooter with a motorcycle's backbone. A 562 cc liquid-cooled parallel twin makes 48 hp and 41 lb-ft. It sends that to the rear wheel through a twist-and-go automatic and a belt, so there's no clutch to work and no chain to maintain. Under the bodywork sit an aluminum twin-spar frame and an upside-down fork, and that's why it feels planted where most scooters feel vague. ABS, traction control, ride modes, keyless start and a center stand all come standard. Among maxi-scooters, this is the one with the sporty identity.

Day to day, it's about as easy as powered two-wheel transport gets. You get generous underseat storage, strong weather protection and an automatic that makes stop-and-go traffic a non-event. Reliability is a strong suit, and running costs stay sensible, with a 4.0 gal (15 L) tank and around 49 mpg. It suits the commuter who still wants to take the long way home and enjoy it. The caveats are real, though. At 485 lb (220 kg) wet it's heavy for a scooter, neither the fork nor the shock offers any adjustment, and you get no TFT display, USB port or tire pressure monitoring.

Hard Numbers

Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.

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Key specifications
Power	48 hp (35 kW) @ 7,500 rpm
Torque	41 lb-ft (56 Nm) @ 5,250 rpm
Displacement	562 cc
Engine	Parallel twin
Cooling	Liquid-cooled
Final drive	Belt
Fork	Upside-down (USD)
Front brake	267 mm
Front tire	120/70-15
Rear tire	160/60-15
Seat height	31.5 in (800 mm)
Wet weight	485 lb (220 kg)
Fuel capacity	4.0 gal (15 L)
Fuel economy	49 mpg (US)

Equipment check

Comfort

Heated Grips Optional
Luggage System Optional

Connectivity

Smartphone Connectivity Optional
Keyless System Standard

Drivetrain

Automatic Shift (DCT / ASA / AMT) Standard

Safety

ABS Standard
Traction Control Standard

The Truth on the Street

I've been listening to what TMAX 560 owners say for years: in the paddock, at club nights, in long chats with owners, and in the emails and messages riders send me. The pattern holds steady. The praise is about how it pulls, corners and carries you over distance. The one complaint that keeps coming back is about getting your feet down at a stop.

Quick off the line, calm over distance

Riders keep coming back to how hard it pulls away from a light. Owners say it often gets the jump on manual motorcycles in a city sprint. On twisty roads, they say it corners with a precision and stability they don't expect from a maxi-scooter, and spirited riding feels natural. Comfort gets the same steady praise. The wide, well-padded seat and roomy footboards keep long highway stints free of fatigue, and the suspension soaks up most bad pavement. Several owners also say the power delivery feels linear and free of vibration, with none of the sluggishness they associate with scooters.

Too wide at a standstill

The recurring gripe comes from the same seat riders praise on the highway. Owners say its width puts shorter riders on tiptoes at a stop, and it spreads the legs awkwardly when you put your feet down.

Known issues

Reflective dashboard reduces readability

electrics occasional

The shiny covers on the analogue dials can reflect sunlight or the rider's chest, making the speedometer and tachometer hard to read in certain lighting conditions.
Annoying beep when side stand deployed

electrics common

A persistent beeping sound activates when the side stand is down and the rider dismounts; it continues until the stand is retracted, irritating some owners.

The Expert Benchmark

Where this Yamaha TMAX 560 pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.

What kind of bike this is — character vs. the class

Urban Utility Score

Weatherproof Commute Comfort

Storage Without Thinking

Twist-and-Go Simplicity

Low-Cost Daily Mobility

Night-and-Rain Confidence

This bike Class average

Head-to-head: Yamaha TMAX 560 vs. its rivals

Power

48 hp This bike 59 hp Honda X-ADV 51 hp Kymco AK 550i ABS PREMIUM 60 hp BMW C 650 GT 76 hp Aprilia SRV 850 i.e. ABS/ATC

Torque

41 lb-ft This bike 51 lb-ft Honda X-ADV 38 lb-ft Kymco AK 550i ABS PREMIUM 49 lb-ft BMW C 650 GT 56 lb-ft Aprilia SRV 850 i.e. ABS/ATC

Displacement

562 cc This bike 745 cc Honda X-ADV 550 cc Kymco AK 550i ABS PREMIUM 647 cc BMW C 650 GT 839 cc Aprilia SRV 850 i.e. ABS/ATC

Wet weight

485 lb This bike 520 lb Honda X-ADV 518 lb Kymco AK 550i ABS PREMIUM 575 lb BMW C 650 GT 549 lb Aprilia SRV 850 i.e. ABS/ATC

Seat height

31.5 in This bike 32.3 in Honda X-ADV 30.9 in Kymco AK 550i ABS PREMIUM 30.7 in BMW C 650 GT 30.7 in Aprilia SRV 850 i.e. ABS/ATC

The 'Should I Buy It?' Score

Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the TMAX 560 is actually built for.

Aerial photograph of downtown Austin, Texas, showing modern high-rise buildings against a clear blue sky. Urban infrastructure, highways, and parking structures visible in the foreground. — Thomas Balabaud / Pexels

Best motorcycle for Bay Area?

Commuting across the city all week, then riding Skyline on Sunday? This scooter really does both, with a real frame and twin engine for the ridge roads and room under the seat for your commute gear.

Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant

Best scooter for NYC?

For daily miles in dense traffic, it nails the basics: automatic, storage, weather protection. At 485 lb it's heavier to park than a small scooter, so it makes most sense if your commute includes freeway.

Made for Austin · Los Angeles · Miami Beach / Miami