'09 TMax vs '18 GT observations.

pneuby

Member
Member Delray has given me the nerve to post this. I just read how he kept his Burger in deference to the GT.
I would have posted this last night, but about halfway through, I must've hit something that shut-down my computer.
I composed this in e-mail draft to save what I have, LOL.

I now have a comparable 500 miles on each bike, with both having a new set of tires. The Tmax rubber is scrubbed-in fully,
but just got the GT done yesterday. Already I can feel it making a large difference, as I doubt the OEM tires were properly kept-up
with. Still, I can't get too aggressive yet.

SEATING-comfort
I am 6' with a 32" inseam, and packing far too many pounds at about 325. I took the backrest off of each. I needed to with the Max, and I didn't with the Beemer. I have just three foot positions on the Yam. Directly flat, atop the curve in the boards, or on the forward flats only. I'd say five or maybe even six with the GT, but with the most room to go from under the butt to forward past a right-angle knee bend on the flats. I have since put the backrest back onto the GT, as I was experiencing some irritation in the small of the back. I'd rate the Max's saddle as the more comfortable, and I've traveled the longest ride of about 130miles on it. However, the GT has not caused me any irritation. I have a couple seat pads coming to put on each.

I am just shy of a full heel plant on the Yam, or one flat and one ball-of-foot. I can get both flat on the GT. I would say you sit ON the Max, vs. INTO the GT. I have to glance more downward to the instruments on the Max, whereas more forward on the GT. Mirrors are about a wash, but probably a few more square inches of view with the BMW. Clearly, the wind protection and psychological feel of what you can 'see' around you inspires more confidence on the freeway with the GT.

START-UP.
The Max is INSTANTANEOUS when you hit the starter. Settling into that smooth, japanese twin purr that probably most of us here have experienced on a prior bike, or two. There is no apparent warm-up needed, just ease onto the throttle and away she goes. Hot, or cold
The GT seems to take up-to 2secs, and several audible 'cranks' before firing, much more so when cold. It's still cool in our mornings here in Phoenix, LOL. If I don't take the time to let it warm-up, putting on my lid, and gloves, maybe up to a minute, GOODNESS. She sounds like a box-o'-rocks swinging down there, and I can FEEL it up through the floorboards. I don't dare chancing a pull-out if there's any approaching vehicles, for fear I might stall her out. Seems to take around that first minute under rolling load to smooth out.
My tech said that's because the belt is cold, and it doesn't immediately want to properly behave by stretching and supplying grab. It's characteristic of the bike. He said that I will notice less of this tendency when it's already HOT here shortly after dawn in the summer, LOL.

RUNNING
The Max has that 'tuned' higher-rpm whine going up or down with throttle input. Smooth, with no drama, and very low vibration. As with the GT, it will snap by torso rearward if I crack throttle hard. However, there's no question the GT has more snap-and-go.
It feels VERY much like my R1150 Boxer Oilhead. That off-kilter rumble, with the vibe you can more readily feel as you accelerate. NOT obnoxious, just notable, if that makes sense. Certainly more notable vibe in the mirrors at idle than on the Yamaha.
With larger displacement it seems to rev at about 500rpm less than the Max, given the same indicated speed. The tiny digital tach on each is about next-to-useless LOL. Dangerous to try and focus on it, rather than the road.

TURNS
The Max reminds me more of FireFox, the old Eastwood film where he is an American of Russian immigration tasked
with stealing their latest fighter jet. The jet operates through mental telepathy in his native Russian language, LOL. I touch the bar-end, and really don't even have to press a foot, and vroom, she's tracking.
The GT is too soon to tell, with the new tires However, I have NOT felt as confident with it as the Max.

BRAKES
Make no mistake, I understand, and am a believer in ABS, which only the GT brings to the fight. It's possible it's already engaged for me on one occasion; but, if it did, I didnt feel any 'feedback', or pulsing of any kind. However, in normal braking..the GT requires a firmer squeeze, and the levers compress closer to the grips to bring the beast to a halt. I can stop the Yam right-now and HOW with just a forefinger's effort, and damn....it's truly confidence-inspiring. Yes, the GT had it's bulletin update done a few weeks back. My tech said that's also a normal characteristic of the GT.

STORAGE:
Yeah, the GT is king under the seat, as you know. I'd say the Max is about 2/3 of that. However, you crank the key CCW to pop
the Max, and it opens from the forward edge, hinged at the rear. I find that more user-friendly. Plus, when you turn CW to open the GT, you're inevitably turning on all the circuits and wasting battery however minor that may be. Both front glove boxes have about the same size mouth. However, whereas the RH on the GT is restricted in capacity, the Yam's are matching. I can put a good-sized water bottle in each one to chug down at stops.

GAUGES
No question that GT's data display is the cat's meow. Still, I'd prefer an excellent analog fuel gauge like that on the Max. However, there's no low-fuel lamp on it, as with
the GT. Everything else is BMW. I also love the forward-facing High-Beam switch on the GT. Let's me wag-it at those waiting in their
LH turn lanes so as to better alert them as to my presence and closing speed. GT also provides a hazard lamp switch absent on the Max.

ODDS
In parking lots, I give the edge to the Yam, as again, you feel more atop of it, than in it. Backing it out of a parking spot is far easier,
because my calves slap up against the rear quarter panels on the GT.
I LOVE the parking break lever on the Max under the LH grip. Swing it 180 outward to the left, and she's not moving. Works
with either sidestand or centerstand. Switching it off is easily done with the quick tap to the rear with my fingertips. If I am stuck at a stop with any slope, I can activate it to release my grip. You have to keep a squeeze constantly on the GT. While the kickstand parking brake is novel on the GT, I'd LOVE one done like the Max. Speaking of slope, there's something with the Max that prevents it rolling rearward on a shallow upward slope. Whereas, the GT seems free to move if you're not on a brake lever.



At this point I am getting pooped. I would LOVE to here your input, and ceratinly entertain any other questions you may have.
 

Delray

Well-known member
Interesting write up, thanks. Never been on a TMax or Smax but I imagine those who have ridden one + the BMW will really enjoy this.

Are you going to keep both bikes? I love the diversity. My garage is currently home to a 2016 Burgman 650 and 2008 Honda Silver Wing 600. The Burgman is a big, plush touring ride with all the bells and whistles; the Honda is the simple, reliable work bike, fun for errands. It's great to have a choice.
 

SF-23

New member
I just bought a C650 Sport and also own a Tmax 530 so I will add to this when I ride them back to back when the warmer weather returns on Long Island!
 

fluufy

New member
I traded a 2015 Tmax 530 for a 2017 GT. I concur with most of the above. I find the GT more accomodating of my 6’1 frame.

Tmax is smoother, but with 25,000km on the GT now it is running quite smoothly. When warm that is, cold it still runs like an angry tractor! The GT has very uneven throttle response when cold, even on a hot day. This is cured by letting it idle while I put on jacket, helmet, gloves. Very old school, and none of that behaviour from Tmax, but for all this I’ll still take the extra power of the GT. Also uses same amount of fuel as Tmax.

Handling wise, the Tmax is sharper and more engaging. GT feels more cumbersome, and it is. Although the lean angles are theoretically the same, I find I drag the centrestand more on the GT so maybe I am going faster than I think - GT is ultimately faster than Tmax, it just doesn’t feel like it.
 
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