Really loving this super in detail and chopped up series for reviewing two scooters I'm eyeing up at the moment and find it tough to decide. These videos will definitely clear things up. Best series out there. The highlight is your sense of humour Warro, you've had me in stitches and I'm only on part 2 😂 thank you!!!
Glad you like them! my only thoughts after completing the series was the return for all the effort and outright bike purchase expenses resulted with a very poor view experiece per clip. so on my side a pretty expensive dsappointment there. all the best and hope you enjoy the balance of testing
After market kit please I have the Yamaha and purchased sports screen, comfort seat, Akro exhaust, passenger seat back rest, foot plates. Not sure what the Honda offers?!
Thanks for the review Warro. Honda have also done a top job with their LED lights for the night time riders amongst us - they are great both to see with and also to be seen by other road users.
i hae an airhawk seat myself some-where. i used it a few years back on some of the other crap ive been on. next time out i will try it on this and see how it fits plus i might try it on a ride too. first off i have to find it...lol
It makes sense that the Honda would pull harder than the Yamaha due to its larger displacement engine producing more mid-range torque. With the automatic transmission I think torque would be more important than maximum power, which would take a manual transmission to get full benefit from high rpms. To my eye the Honda seems more developed than the Yamaha, although the Yamaha certainly has its advantages also. I will be looking forward to your future side-by-side riding review of the two scooters.
Is there any diffrence in height of the seats, esspecialy in normal seating position. Could you measure it more precicly please, im 5.6 tall, and every inch matters. I know if i sit a bit front i could reach the ground, but i was wondering measure for normal driving position, is there any diffrence in height?
my advice would be go for the new 2023 model xmax 300 which has a much slimmer seat and more friendly riding style. im 5.9 and still find the bikes a fair stretch . much better on the new 2023 model
My Forza came with two key fobs plus two plastic strips which allow you to key in a number, giving you access to beneath the seat, where you´ll find an electrical device which turns on the ignition. Since my handbook is in Spanish, there may be errors in translation ... I´ve just attached a small bulldog clip to the screw at the base of the mirror stalk, and it holds the wire "handbrake" handy for the rear brake lever. So far, I´m still thinking I made the right choice.
either scooter only has one really major fault and thats the side stands. these bikes have the worst sidestands i've ever used on any new bike i've been on. thats enought to fill abike showroom too...lol never had a bike fall over in my life untill i had this honda scooter and it toppled. then i parked the xmax and it fell over too....lol 100^ success rate 2 scoots both down. i'm sure it just need a better stronger spring on either but tht would be my main issue on either bike
@@ridewithwarro I agree about the side stand, it doesn´t poke forwards enough to resist going over centre. I´ve just been out with the angle grinder and file and enabled it to go half an inch further forward, but that´s all I can get without dismantling it. It has made a slight improvement though, and worth the five minutes it took. Definitely a handbrake should be seen as essential, but all you need is a wire coat hangar and a bit of thin plastic tube ....
Great points. I love Yammy but honda wins there with indicators, screen and key...fancy Yammy not having a 2nd key! I just would have assumed! Literally making notes here, great review.... Part 3!
found the screen no good on either bike. honda one is just a power opperated gimmick and xmax equals it on high setting. neither bikes screen is any good -not even the xmax 2023 model but for $28 on ebay a cheap wind deflector works great
I love how you use the Bluetooth Warro..lol..& you'd think Xmax indicators are shockingly low down if you ended up with that one get some high mount l.e.d indicators.
its a close call either way. both good scooters and the only way to win is to dig deeper and pick the guts out of them that will happen in the next clip
I got some fosh & chops in Ausie 28yrs ago & the battered fish still had the skin on it yuk after that I only went to Kiwi fish & chip shops & plenty of them around & very popular too in Ausie.Don't know if Ausie prefer fish that way or not but us kiwis definitely don't.lol🇳🇿
good review ... nice and clear and good an Aussie is doing it , hard to understand the rest ....... I'm looking at either model but leaning to the XMAX 2023 -2024 over in thailand ........ gotta luv the bag carrier !!
@@geofferyrobertson6608 my channel has probably 60 plus new bikes ive bought over the past 10 years. some good some not so...lol so overall i get to try quite a few. thats why i think the vespa gts 300 supersports is the best scooter ive been on to day. not cheap but extremely well mad. here in oz they are aud$13500 not sure your way but great scoot.
@@geofferyrobertson6608you should try a vespa 300 -2023 supersports. may be expensive for a scooter but i had 3 new xmax 300 21/22/23 i thought they were the best till i tried this vespa good power runs along at 100 kph no issues at all. pulls hills no issues runs rough roads with new upgrade suspension on 12" wheels way better than a forza or xmax no big underseat storage and its hot under there but nothing a rear rack and topbox wont fix. dealer told me he could do that for just $1200...lol
Nice balanced reporting Warro. Still enjoying my Forze haha. With rising fuel prices here in the west (up to $1.85 round figures) my car has a rest more often. Shopping is more fun nowadays. BTW .. got my Honda for $9400 ride a way. Cheers. Merv. Perth
Being 286cc I'd imagine the Yamaha would be fair bit cheaper in rego fees? With the Yamaha I'd be asking the dealer how much for a 2nd key fob and a top box from the get go. Also a top box for the Honda. For my money, I'd go for the Honda for the electronic adjustable screen and the second key fob. I can't believe in this day and age, Yamaha think they can get away with giving you one! Peugeot did that with our 307 wagon. 2019 I got two with my Subaru. From a safety viewpoint the Honda's mainly white the Yamaha black which makes a lot of difference in winter with car drivers and their reaction times. Honda Wins by a fair margin especially if you live a bit out of town. Just seen a review on the Yamaha TMAX 560. I'd have a chat with that Yamaha chap about trading both your current scooters on the TMAX - that's a ripper cruise control, heated grips /seat,park brake with centre stand, 3 disc brakes. Add a 56 litre Givi top box. Also has adj 3 posie on the go adj screen, smooth engine, great pick up - might check one out myself if available in Australia.
ive no idea on rego costs as if i want something i just buy it regardless. i sppose its something to think about if one has a budget in mind yeah its pretty weak getting one key fob and owner buys the other...lol plus ive heard quite a bit of drama getting that spare too. dont know what the big deal is there. why not call it $9k neat ride away and throw in the etra key. good points too on the colour scheme. both bike are nice to ride so from my point -its a hard call but when i run them back to back or jump from one scoot to the other i'll get a better idea on which i like the most. in ways they are pretty well matched and a potential buyer would be very happy with either. im not really a scooter person just a tester or some-one curious or silly enough to buy two units just to check em out...lol
i will have to find my owners book and check out for myself and maybe try and get it working so we all know what it does...lol and probably run a clip on it if i score...lol
handy to know. it would be interesting to see how the quality control is that way. im happy how the Indonesian handled the task and i think it helped keep the price below the forza
Off topic a bit Warro, but have you seen the new 2022 CB500X? With USD forks, twin front discs I think it looks really good & with only a small price increase it seems well priced. Available here in Oz in a month or so.
@@brettwicks2615 not sure if i'd jump on one of those beasts. earlier on i thought about the ak550 and actually inquired about one at a dealer..quoted $13K i think while buying the yamaha i asked on the tmax and it was roughly $18500 my problem is not buying them its the loss when selling if i dont like the crap. still think about that $5500 i lost on that new triumph scrambler and only rode it 200 klm...lol that bike i thought would bring a lot of interest too the channel but it generated near nothing. if i look back over pasdt 9 years and add up $$$ losses on bikes bought to ths channel just for entertainment value i'd say i could go in and buy the very best harley here which is roughly $60K and have change to buy another couple of new bikes. thats my estimating on $$ loses buying bikes for the channel so my thoughts -this channel is a total disaster and i'm running at a very heavy loss. pretty close to the party over for me and its mainly due to very little support and not too many guests...lol
i know a guy who is 6.3 and he rides the xmax 300 and says no issues with his height and weight. plus another who said the honda was a bit cramped. im 5.9 so can ride either with no issues. in your case i'd go yamaha
Who cares about indicators especially in the southern usa. People so ignorant here IF they use the turn indicators its seconds after they havebapplied the brakes. So i dont even bother using them anymore screw em cagers
handy to know. probably would be dearer to freight them to Aust and raise the price a bit. either way the one assembled in Indonesia was pretty well put together quality wise. impressed me there especially plastics fit and road noise etc
Really loving this super in detail and chopped up series for reviewing two scooters I'm eyeing up at the moment and find it tough to decide. These videos will definitely clear things up. Best series out there. The highlight is your sense of humour Warro, you've had me in stitches and I'm only on part 2 😂 thank you!!!
Glad you like them! my only thoughts after completing the series was the return for all the effort and outright bike purchase expenses resulted with a very poor view experiece per clip.
so on my side a pretty expensive dsappointment there.
all the best and hope you enjoy the balance of testing
excellant video....ive had a mix of scooters for yrs along with my other bikes,, love to both,,, best wishes Warro
thanks. quite a few more lips to come on these pair so should be interesting
Excellent review. I'm starting to feel the Honda more and more. Cannot beat the top notch carry out holder either 😄👍
yeas that was a factory option supplied by me...lol
The XMAX 300 engine is 292 cc. Good start for you review series. Looking forward to seeing the rest of the series.
yeah i knew it was some-where around the 290 mark. could say i missed it by 6...lol
After market kit please
I have the Yamaha and purchased sports screen, comfort seat, Akro exhaust, passenger seat back rest, foot plates. Not sure what the Honda offers?!
sounds like you got the works. all the best!
Thanks for the review Warro.
Honda have also done a top job with their LED lights for the night time riders amongst us - they are great both to see with and also to be seen by other road users.
yeah they look pretty good on both. when this spell of bad weather ends i plan to do a night lap and see how they perform myself and run a clip
Have you tried a Kymco yet? The Downtown 350 would seem to be similar?
none around this way so it was either yamaha or the honda
Good review Warro. Cheers and thank s mate.
happy to help out. next clip up should be a bit of an eye opener...lol
Thanks for your honesty
No worries! ithink its a pretty fair call on either bike
Hi Warro! Would you please inform the dimensions of the seat? I intend to buy the Air Hawk cushion but I didn't buy Forza yet. Thanks a lot!!
i hae an airhawk seat myself some-where. i used it a few years back on some of the other crap ive been on. next time out i will try it on this and see how it fits plus i might try it on a ride too.
first off i have to find it...lol
It makes sense that the Honda would pull harder than the Yamaha due to its larger displacement engine producing more mid-range torque. With the automatic transmission I think torque would be more important than maximum power, which would take a manual transmission to get full benefit from high rpms. To my eye the Honda seems more developed than the Yamaha, although the Yamaha certainly has its advantages also. I will be looking forward to your future side-by-side riding review of the two scooters.
plenty of testing to come so it should be interesting
Is there any diffrence in height of the seats, esspecialy in normal seating position. Could you measure it more precicly please, im 5.6 tall, and every inch matters.
I know if i sit a bit front i could reach the ground, but i was wondering measure for normal driving position, is there any diffrence in height?
my advice would be go for the new 2023 model xmax 300 which has a much slimmer seat and more friendly riding style. im 5.9 and still find the bikes a fair stretch .
much better on the new 2023 model
Thanks mate! I am torn between Xmax 300 and ADV350! I have a question for you, which of these has the *longest* underseat compartment?
pretty close really so i think not much difference. xmax does have a light inside
My Forza came with two key fobs plus two plastic strips which allow you to key in a number, giving you access to beneath the seat, where you´ll find an electrical device which turns on the ignition.
Since my handbook is in Spanish, there may be errors in translation ...
I´ve just attached a small bulldog clip to the screw at the base of the mirror stalk, and it holds the wire "handbrake" handy for the rear brake lever.
So far, I´m still thinking I made the right choice.
either scooter only has one really major fault and thats the side stands. these bikes have the worst sidestands i've ever used on any new bike i've been on. thats enought to fill abike showroom too...lol
never had a bike fall over in my life untill i had this honda scooter and it toppled. then i parked the xmax and it fell over too....lol 100^ success rate 2 scoots both down.
i'm sure it just need a better stronger spring on either but tht would be my main issue on either bike
@@ridewithwarro I agree about the side stand, it doesn´t poke forwards enough to resist going over centre. I´ve just been out with the angle grinder and file and enabled it to go half an inch further forward, but that´s all I can get without dismantling it. It has made a slight improvement though, and worth the five minutes it took. Definitely a handbrake should be seen as essential, but all you need is a wire coat hangar and a bit of thin plastic tube ....
@@kerryburns6041 thanks for the tip. i might check it out myself
Great points. I love Yammy but honda wins there with indicators, screen and key...fancy Yammy not having a 2nd key! I just would have assumed! Literally making notes here, great review.... Part 3!
found the screen no good on either bike. honda one is just a power opperated gimmick and xmax equals it on high setting.
neither bikes screen is any good -not even the xmax 2023 model
but for $28 on ebay a cheap wind deflector works great
I love how you use the Bluetooth Warro..lol..& you'd think Xmax indicators are shockingly low down if you ended up with that one get some high mount l.e.d indicators.
yeah i thought that blue tooth controller would come in handy...lol some-one asked earlier if it had a hook for a shopping bag. i think it has one now
Have you tried them both on the road with a passenger, and if yes, which one was more confortable for the pillion?
never tried but id say going on how rough the forza 350 suspension is the yamaha is far better there
Pretty even so far, Honda ahead on features but Yamaha cheaper and better built
its a close call either way. both good scooters and the only way to win is to dig deeper and pick the guts out of them
that will happen in the next clip
Awesome job warro keep it uo
will do mate and any news of fish being caught in the river. if its rising you'd expect to haul in some scales.
I got some fosh & chops in Ausie 28yrs ago & the battered fish still had the skin on it yuk after that I only went to Kiwi fish & chip shops & plenty of them around & very popular too in Ausie.Don't know if Ausie prefer fish that way or not but us kiwis definitely don't.lol🇳🇿
good review ... nice and clear and good an Aussie is doing it , hard to understand the rest ....... I'm looking at either model but leaning to the XMAX 2023 -2024 over in thailand ........ gotta luv the bag carrier !!
yeah ive owned the 2022/and 2023 model since this clip. just bought a vespa gts supersports-my reviews out now
@@ridewithwarro you must have more money than a bull can S... !! you don't seem to keep them all that long
@@geofferyrobertson6608 my channel has probably 60 plus new bikes ive bought over the past 10 years. some good some not so...lol
so overall i get to try quite a few.
thats why i think the vespa gts 300 supersports is the best scooter ive been on to day. not cheap but extremely well mad.
here in oz they are aud$13500 not sure your way but great scoot.
@@ridewithwarro , about the same in thailand for the Vespas , only a little cheaper for bikes and cars made in thailand
@@geofferyrobertson6608you should try a vespa 300 -2023 supersports. may be expensive for a scooter but i had 3 new xmax 300 21/22/23 i thought they were the best till i tried this vespa
good power runs along at 100 kph no issues at all. pulls hills no issues runs rough roads with new upgrade suspension on 12" wheels way better than a forza or xmax
no big underseat storage and its hot under there but nothing a rear rack and topbox wont fix.
dealer told me he could do that for just $1200...lol
Nice balanced reporting Warro. Still enjoying my Forze haha. With rising fuel prices here in the west (up to $1.85 round figures) my car has a rest more often. Shopping is more fun nowadays. BTW .. got my Honda for $9400 ride a way. Cheers. Merv. Perth
good price on the bike so you did well there. weathers been bad here so really no riding. should clear shortly or i hope so....lol
Being 286cc I'd imagine the Yamaha would be fair bit cheaper in rego fees? With the Yamaha I'd be asking the dealer how much for a 2nd key fob and a top box from the get go. Also a top box for the Honda. For my money, I'd go for the Honda for the electronic adjustable screen and the second key fob. I can't believe in this day and age, Yamaha think they can get away with giving you one! Peugeot did that with our 307 wagon. 2019 I got two with my Subaru. From a safety viewpoint the Honda's mainly white the Yamaha black which makes a lot of difference in winter with car drivers and their reaction times. Honda Wins by a fair margin especially if you live a bit out of town.
Just seen a review on the Yamaha TMAX 560. I'd have a chat with that Yamaha chap about trading both your current scooters on the TMAX - that's a ripper cruise control, heated grips /seat,park brake with centre stand, 3 disc brakes. Add a 56 litre Givi top box. Also has adj 3 posie on the go adj screen, smooth engine, great pick up - might check one out myself if available in Australia.
ive no idea on rego costs as if i want something i just buy it regardless. i sppose its something to think about if one has a budget in mind
yeah its pretty weak getting one key fob and owner buys the other...lol plus ive heard quite a bit of drama getting that spare too.
dont know what the big deal is there. why not call it $9k neat ride away and throw in the etra key.
good points too on the colour scheme.
both bike are nice to ride so from my point -its a hard call but when i run them back to back or jump from one scoot to the other i'll get a better idea on which i like the most.
in ways they are pretty well matched and a potential buyer would be very happy with either.
im not really a scooter person just a tester or some-one curious or silly enough to buy two units just to check em out...lol
Depends on your state, here in qld engine size is irrelevant, it's a motorcycle, Hyabusa or postie
@@brettwicks2615 lets roll the dice...lol
Tmax is 20k
Go for it
@@sugarnads I think I'll opt for a '23 Yamaha Tracer 9 GT Plus. More my kind of transport.
What is the Bluetooth actually for apart from music? , thanks for another informative video 👍
i will have to find my owners book and check out for myself and maybe try and get it working so we all know what it does...lol and probably run a clip on it if i score...lol
@@ridewithwarro 👍
Yamaha also assemble the xmax in their factory in France.
handy to know. it would be interesting to see how the quality control is that way. im happy how the Indonesian handled the task and i think it helped keep the price below the forza
Off topic a bit Warro, but have you seen the new 2022 CB500X? With USD forks, twin front discs I think it looks really good & with only a small price increase it seems well priced. Available here in Oz in a month or so.
yeah i think its pretty good value for whats on offer. i'd probably like to try one out but i have ordered something else.
@@brettwicks2615 not sure if i'd jump on one of those beasts. earlier on i thought about the ak550 and actually inquired about one at a dealer..quoted $13K i think
while buying the yamaha i asked on the tmax and it was roughly $18500
my problem is not buying them its the loss when selling if i dont like the crap.
still think about that $5500 i lost on that new triumph scrambler and only rode it 200 klm...lol
that bike i thought would bring a lot of interest too the channel but it generated near nothing.
if i look back over pasdt 9 years and add up $$$ losses on bikes bought to ths channel just for entertainment value i'd say i could go in and buy the very best harley here which is roughly $60K and have change to buy another couple of new bikes.
thats my estimating on $$ loses buying bikes for the channel
so my thoughts -this channel is a total disaster and i'm running at a very heavy loss.
pretty close to the party over for me and its mainly due to very little support and not too many guests...lol
Thank you a lot for this video .
I am 1,83m , which bike would be better for me ?.
i know a guy who is 6.3 and he rides the xmax 300 and says no issues with his height and weight. plus another who said the honda was a bit cramped.
im 5.9 so can ride either with no issues.
in your case i'd go yamaha
@@ridewithwarro Thank you for your answering.
@@adige65abzakh64 all good there. all the best!
Nice review
happy to hear you enjoyed it
ABS saved me.l.hear the yam is more responsive
yeah i wouldn't knock back a abs bike - one feels more secure with a hard hit at the brake hardware
Honda have an utterly undeserved reputation for 'quality'.
Theyre all cheap and plasticky looking. And cost more.
thats why i like the xmax
Who cares about indicators especially in the southern usa. People so ignorant here IF they use the turn indicators its seconds after they havebapplied the brakes. So i dont even bother using them anymore screw em cagers
lets say if you dont use indicators here -some-one might get excited and panel beat your face...lol so its good to avoid issues and do the right thing
Yamaha also assemble the xmax in their factory in France.
handy to know. probably would be dearer to freight them to Aust and raise the price a bit. either way the one assembled in Indonesia was pretty well put together quality wise.
impressed me there especially plastics fit and road noise etc