Yamaha TMAX
First service undertaken and now ready to roll on
The first service has Roger pondering about the running costs of the scooter.
Due to my local dealer, Webbs of Lincoln, along with many others, not being open to give the TMAX its first service due to the dreaded Covid-19, I had to hold back for a couple of weeks to not exceed the 600-mile figure required to drop the oil and filter and give the bike a check over.
An everyday watchful eye on Webbs’ website soon saw their magic opening date along with a dedicated telephone number to arrange my service.
A call to Tina in workshop reception and a suitable date for the service was obtained. Naughty, we had pushed the mileage to 640, but Tina refused to give me a slap – ah well, cannot get everything right!
Due to social distancing I could not hang around the dealership for the two hours required to undertake the service, so off I went with the better half to do some shopping in Lincoln – urgh, urgh!
Tina very kindly took some workshop pictures with Aaron, workshop technician, doing what he does to our machines. Job done, motorcycle kit donned and away we go.
THROUGH RAIN AND SHINE
Recently we have enjoyed great weather in Lincolnshire, as indeed across most of the country. On the day of the
TMAX service, heavy localised showers were forecast. The 25-mile ride to Lincoln was nice and dry. But going home was my first ride on the TMAX in heavy – and I mean ‘heavy’ – rain, and it showed just how good the plot handled in this crazy weather. Many cars had slowed down to some 40mph, but the TMAX just cut its way through the water as if on rails. Two miles from home and down came the hail, roads white over, and still the TMAX felt assured. It is on occasions like this when the credability of any machine hopefully shows through.
Thanks Yamaha, you put this one together very nicely to cope with such conditions.
MOUNTING COSTS
Servicing costs are pretty average on the TMAX. That is, until the 12,000-mile one that includes drive belt and rollers. You can part with around £550 for this one depending on your dealer’s hourly rate.
If you keep the scooter long enough and to 24,000 miles, expect to pay the thick end of £700 for that service.
As an old-fashioned ‘do-ityourself ’ motorcyclist when it comes to servicing (obviously
when out of warranty), the figures quoted are a bit of a cringe. Over the years I have changed many a drive chain and sprockets, so my hourly rate does not come into the equation of costs to take on the job.
How difficult can it be to do drivebelt and rollers? Would need a bit of looking into before I tackled the job if I owned a TMAX.
Back on the bike, on a dry day after the service, and the TMAX proved that it can go a bit when asked! So far, no regrets on my long-termer choice.