You’ve seen bikes vs cars, bikes vs bikes smackdowns videos, so how about a scooter vs scooter for a change?

The venue is Varano de’Melegari circuit in Italy, take two Malossi Trophy Cup national scooter champions like Davide Zenari, the reigning national speed champion riding a Piaggio Zip SP 70 prepared by Motauto Racing, and a Yamaha TMax 560 Open prepared and ridden by Louis “Superpann” Pannone, winner of the 2011 TMax Cup and pit them against each other and you get this type of footage.

Which is faster? Just check out the video to find out.

Last Saturday MotoGP rider and cycling enthusiast Ben Spies (who owns Elbowz Racing) took part in penultimate stage of the iconic Giro d’Italia to try to break the Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of Yamaha TMAX riders in the World. The event was organized by the official Yamaha Motor Italia TMAX Club, as Yamaha is one of the official suppliers of the Giro d’Italia.

Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate very much and the number of riders partecipating in the attempt fell short by just ten riders, thus leaving the previous record of 206 partecipants intact. However Spies did lead the 196 rider strong group through the mountains to reach the summit of the Passo dello Stelvio located 2.758 metres above sea level.

To see more photos of the event, just click on one of the thumbnails.

Source | moto.it

In a presentation that took place at the Yamaha Factory Racing head-quartes in Gerno di Lesmo, Italy, Ben Spies and cyclist Enrico Battaglin introduced a special version of the Yamaha TMAX 530 that will be part of the crew at the 95th ‘Giro d’Italia’, the famous Italian long distance road bicycle race. The Yamaha TMAX 530 ‘2012 Giro d’Italia’ Edition will come with a special black/white/pink livery specifically designed by Yamaha for this race, but apart from that it is identical to the standard model.

The partnership between Yamaha and Gazzetta dello Sport (the Italian newspaper that organizes the event) is entering its 4th year, but for the TMAX 530 this is going to be the maiden year at the race. The Yamaha TMAX 530 ‘2012 Giro d’Italia’ edition is the official motorcycle of the event, meaning that 30 units will follow the race in all of its 21 stages. The Giro d’Italia will start with a time trial in the Danish town of Herning, on May the 5th, and will end in Milan on the 27th, with another time trial.

However, the TMAX 530 will come on duty a little earlier, on the 26th of April: on that day, a special ‘Giro d’Italia’ organized by the local ASD TMAX Club - an official club patronized by Yamaha Motor Italia that gathers many TMAX enthusiasts from the whole country - will leave from Gerno di Lesmo and cover almost the same route of the race, marking the first official ‘public appearance’ for the model.

Yamaha’s brand new Super Tenere Worldcrosser “Competition White” is not the only novelty brought to the 2012 Motor Bike Expo by the Iwata-based manufacturer. Making its first appearance at the event in Verona is also the new ‘Sport’ version of the T-Max 530, featuring a more aggressive-looking windscreen, complete backrest for the passenger, a pair of aluminum footpegs and a sporty plate holder. Here is a bunch of picture taken live by our mates from Motoblog.it at the Yamaha’s stand in Verona.

Vierw the full Yamaha TMax Sport 2012 photo gallery

In the wake of its recent unveiling at the 2011 EICMA, Yamaha releases a massive photo gallery of the new T-Max, one of the undisputed stars at the recent Italian event. The model firstly debuted in 2001 and is now at its third generation, sporting its most aggressive look to date.

Making it lighter was probably what Yamaha engineers had in mind since the word go. The new T-Max is powered by a 530 cc liquid-cooled 4-stroke, 4-valve engine built with many light components and delivering 45.8 hp (34.2 kW) at 6,750 rpm and 52.3 Nm of peak torque at 5,250 rpm. Its die-cast aluminum frame is also significantly lighter than the current one, and is connected to a motorcycle-style telescopic fork on the front and to a strong rear shock at the back.

It is easy to tell that a lot of work has been put into the new aesthetics, which give the T-Max its most aggressive look ever as well as a bodywork offering great weather protection. The model retains its signature double head light (although slightly revised) and sports new LED technology on its tail, while the instrument panel with its two distinctive polygon-shaped analogue counters is also new. Click on the ‘Continue reading’ link below the thumbnails to see the 2012 T-Max full technical specs.

View the full Yamaha TMAX 500 ABS MY 2012 photo gallery
View the full Yamaha T-Max m.y. 2012 at the 2011 EICMA photo gallery

Continue reading: Yamaha releases massive photo gallery of the new T-Max/ABS

Maxi-scooters seem to be the real stars at the 2011 EICMA, and obviously the most successful of them all couldn’t miss the chance to reaffirm its supremacy. The T-Max for the year 2012 shows several differences in comparison to the current model, and it’s not just aesthetic changes.

The design of its signature R1-inspired double headlights has been slightly modified and is now coupled with sharper indicators and a new position light right in the middle. Aerodynamics and instrument panel have been enhanced as well, while the transmission is no longer using the double chain. The engine is a new 530 cc DOHC in-line 2-cylinder fuel-injected unit. Compared to its predecessor, this new engine delivers extremely strong torque in the low to mid-speed range, achieving a significant increase in torque output.

The new T-Max is also 4 kg lighter thanks to the new transmission and the new die cast aluminum swing arm, with separate right and left halves. The brakes have been upgraded too with a larger 282 mm disc on the rear and two 267 mm discs on the front. Check out the pictures of the new T-Max taken live at the EICMA.

View the full Yamaha T-Max m.y. 2012 at the 2011 EICMA photo gallery

The 69th edition of the EICMA show looks like it will be all about maxi-scooters, with BMW, Honda and Aprilia who are going to debut concepts and models, with the addition of Yamaha.

The Iwata manufacturer will be revealing the 2012 TMax, which according to some rumors will getting a bigger displacement engine from 500cc to 800cc and that could be what the teaser video hints at (after the jump) with the line “The TMAX becomes more TMAX than ever before.”

The maxi scooter which is a best seller in Italy, also gets some sort of makeover as you can tell from the headlights. Full details will be revealed November 7th.

Continue reading: Yamaha 2012 TMax teaser video

Giannelli just expanded its range of scooters-dedicated exhaust systems with the addition of the aptly named “T-Max Dark” kit, aimed at Yamaha T-Max 500. The most notable features of Giannelli latest output are the black anodized silencer, the rear endcap with special surface finish and the laser-etched logo.

The new T-Max Dark kit is just the latest addition to Giannelli’s range of products for the succesful T-Max series. It is street legal (ch.9) and fits all models built after 2008. More infos about the whole Giannelli’s range can be found at the Giannelli website.

Yamaha revealed the other day the special paint job that all their MotoGP team will be using for the Assen and Laguna Seca rounds to celebrate their 50th anniversary of GP racing.

Not stopping at that, the manufacturer has also launched this special limited edition Yamaha T-Max 500cc WGP replica, but before anyone starts saying gimme, gimme, it will will available only in Japan.

The number of units available haven’t been disclosed nor how much it will cost to have this historic red and white racing livery, but we do know that a set of sponsor stickers (Petronas, Yamalube, ecc) will come with the maxi scooter if owners really want to get into that Grand Prix M1 racing feeling.

The Red and White T- Max will be available starting July.

The Yamaha T-Max is turning ten and Yamaha has created a T-Max 500 White for 2010 to honour the occasion. The maxi-scooter was a revolution for touring scooters in the two-wheel world, combining a mix of technology and comfort that seemed to be just the right balance in the market.

While large and comfortable, it also has enough agility and manoeuvrability to be classified as a scooter, appealing to the European scootering public in particular. The T-Max 500 White Max 2010 includes the following features:

* TMAX WHITE MAX, 10th anniversary edition
* Great midrange, 4-stroke, 2-cylinder 499cc engine
* Light, easy-handling die-cast aluminium chassis
* Large 15inch wheels for great stability
* Double front disc brakes with 4-piston callipers
* Luxurious finishes for extra comfort and style
* Sporty yet comfortable suspension

Yamaha T-Max 500 White Max 2010

Continue reading: 2010 Yamaha T-Max in white