Yamaha TMax 560 vs SYM Maxsym TL 508: Photo Comparison

Can the Taiwanese flagship heavyweight overpower the Japanese maxi-scooter?

Sym has pulled the wraps off its flagship maxi-scooter-- the Maxsym TL 508. Yes, the flagship scooter from the Taiwanese brand has received an overhauled engine. But is that enough to woo the Yamaha TMax 560 fans especially after the launch of the Anniversary Edition? Let’s see that through some detailed images.

Both the SYM Maxsym TL 508 and Yamaha TMax 560 look handsome. Being true-blue maxi-scooters, these feature a raised central spine and long floorboards. On the styling front, the SYM’s fascia is more aggressive than the Yamaha’s, thanks to the simple lines on the latter. Both scooters are pretty heavy, with the Yamaha tipping the scales at 218kg and the SYM an extra 9kg over the Japanese.

Both maxi-scooters feature tall windscreens. However, unlike the TMax, SYM has provided the Maxsym TL 508 with a 2-position adjustable windscreen.

The 4-piece LED headlight unit on the Maxsym TL has a menacing look to it but is flanked by oddly styled indicators. Maybe, SYM should have taken some inspiration from the bodywork-integrated blinkers on the Yamaha TMax 560.

Neither gets integrated rear indicators. However, the Yamaha’s LED tail light seems more mellow compared to the radical LED optical film-equipped tail light on the Taiwanese scooter. The LED fibres on the Maxsym look much better than the traditional LED bulbs.

Who doesn’t love seeing the tacho needle rise when you are going all guns blazing on the highway! The twin-pod instrument console with a central TFT display is easy to read. But would you choose that over a sophisticated 4.3-inch TFT display with automatic brightness control paired with an LCD unit? Probably not.

The SYM maxi-scooter’s engine capacity has gone up from being a liquid-cooled parallel-twin 465cc to a Euro 5-compliant 508cc unit that delivers 45.54PS at 6,750rpm and 49.9Nm at 5,250rpm. On the other hand, Yamaha’s Euro5-compliant 560cc powerhouse puts out 47.5PS at 7,500rpm and 55.7Nm at 5,250rpm.

There are no electronics on the SYM, whereas the TMax comes with traction control and two riding modes.

The braking setup on both scooters comprises twin front discs and a single rear disc. While SYM has equipped the Maxsym with twin 275mm petal discs at both ends, Yamaha chose to arm its maxi-scooter with 267mm discs at the front and a 282mm disc at the rear. Both ride on 15-inch wheels.

Like the braking equipment, the suspension hardware is premium too. SYM and Yamaha have equipped their offerings with USD fork and link-type monoshock. However, unlike the Japanese maxi-scooter, the Maxsym comes with preload adjustability at the rear.

In typical maxi-scooter fashion, there’s ample storage on the Yamaha TMax 560 and SYM Maxsym. Both have enough underseat space to accommodate two half helmets or a full-face helmet. Additionally, there are two apron-mounted pockets on both scooters to charge your phone and store your wallet or documents.