2007 TMax versus 2008 Gilera GP800
Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 7:21 pm
Disclaimer ……. I know comparing a 2007 Yamaha loan bike with 20,000 miles to a one owner privately owned 4,000 mile GP800 is not entirely fair!!! I thought I would share my views anyway after riding the TMax for a few days while my bike has been in the garage for replacement exhaust gaskets to cure random cutting out in traffic.
The TMax is intuitively easy to ride unlike the GP800 which is heavy. The TMax swoops through corners and feels light and nimble and inspires rider confidence. I use the word nimble rather than fast and had I now known it was a 500cc I would have said it was a 300cc. The engine revs smoothly but it lacks the grunt and characterful exhaust note of the GP800 and I found it buzzy at speed hence my comment about the smaller engine capacity. While the TMax takes off smoothly the GP800 takes off from the lights like a scalded cat.
The TMax is painless to ride and would be my bike of choice as a short distance urban cruiser. It is easy to put up on the stand and push into bike bays and to get off the stand. The GP800 is painfully heavy to put on the stand and get it off and you feel every kilo and commands to be respected (or you will drop it and not be able to pick it up!). You certainly do not want to push the GP800 anywhere even into a bay is hard work. The weight of the GP800 counts against it as a daily commuter because it is heavy to put on its centre stand and feels insecure on the side stand.
In terms of quality the GP800 feels more solid and premium than the TMax. The GP800 riding position is perfect for my six foot frame and although the bike is heavy it is a perfect cruiser for the longer distance. The engine is a little snatchy around town where the bike power needs to be reigned in. The GP800 feels solid although you are always aware of the weight. It rides well over poor surfaces and insulates you from lumps and bumps in the road although it does not have the nimble feel of the TMax in traffic. The mirrors on the TMax are also vastly superior although not as pretty as the decorative but ineffective GP800 mirrors.
I suspect the latest TMax would have been a more interesting comparison, hence my disclaimer. Although I do not regret my GP800 purchase and love its power and cruising capabilities if I was looking for an urban runabout the TMax certainly makes a more compelling case. For a longer cruise and sense of occasion the GP800 makes me smile from ear to ear every time I give the throttle a firm twist and launch it towards the horizon leaving car drivers far behind. If I wanted safe and sensible I would not ride any bike so on balance I would still pick the GP800 although full respect to the TMax which should be on every shopping list.
I did reflect on whether the TMax is a Maxi Scooter and the GP800 is actually in a category all on its own given its weight and engine capacity.
The TMax is intuitively easy to ride unlike the GP800 which is heavy. The TMax swoops through corners and feels light and nimble and inspires rider confidence. I use the word nimble rather than fast and had I now known it was a 500cc I would have said it was a 300cc. The engine revs smoothly but it lacks the grunt and characterful exhaust note of the GP800 and I found it buzzy at speed hence my comment about the smaller engine capacity. While the TMax takes off smoothly the GP800 takes off from the lights like a scalded cat.
The TMax is painless to ride and would be my bike of choice as a short distance urban cruiser. It is easy to put up on the stand and push into bike bays and to get off the stand. The GP800 is painfully heavy to put on the stand and get it off and you feel every kilo and commands to be respected (or you will drop it and not be able to pick it up!). You certainly do not want to push the GP800 anywhere even into a bay is hard work. The weight of the GP800 counts against it as a daily commuter because it is heavy to put on its centre stand and feels insecure on the side stand.
In terms of quality the GP800 feels more solid and premium than the TMax. The GP800 riding position is perfect for my six foot frame and although the bike is heavy it is a perfect cruiser for the longer distance. The engine is a little snatchy around town where the bike power needs to be reigned in. The GP800 feels solid although you are always aware of the weight. It rides well over poor surfaces and insulates you from lumps and bumps in the road although it does not have the nimble feel of the TMax in traffic. The mirrors on the TMax are also vastly superior although not as pretty as the decorative but ineffective GP800 mirrors.
I suspect the latest TMax would have been a more interesting comparison, hence my disclaimer. Although I do not regret my GP800 purchase and love its power and cruising capabilities if I was looking for an urban runabout the TMax certainly makes a more compelling case. For a longer cruise and sense of occasion the GP800 makes me smile from ear to ear every time I give the throttle a firm twist and launch it towards the horizon leaving car drivers far behind. If I wanted safe and sensible I would not ride any bike so on balance I would still pick the GP800 although full respect to the TMax which should be on every shopping list.
I did reflect on whether the TMax is a Maxi Scooter and the GP800 is actually in a category all on its own given its weight and engine capacity.
