Introduction

The Majesty has always been a little bit of a mystery to me. Partly because I don't spend a great deal of time on the Yamaha brand, and partly because it never really floated my boat. Large and even larger from behind, the Majesty didn't quite get the juices pumping when sitting stationary.

Now with a fresh curvy look, like a kid with a new haircut, the Majesty looks somewhat purposeful. So have I been missing out? We for the very first time take a deeper look at the Yamaha Majesty 400.

 

Specifications

First of all the styling, which was last updated by Yamaha for 2010. Probably the biggest single improvement over the previous model. I know this could be seen as being shallow, but for most of us style normally plays some role in the purchasing decision. The Majesty has been given a touch of European flair, not only from the front, but the rear as well. The tail has been given the LED treatment and looks modern, up-to-date. The front end uses the shape of the lights and surrounding plastics to become a major feature.

Sure you need a fair bit of plastic to cover the Majesty's body and whilst seated you do see a vast expanse of black, though this is quickly forgotten. The shapes and curves on the Majesty do a neat job in taking away that bulk look, from the front anyway.

The Majesty 400 shares a few fittings with the sportier T-Max, and it shows. The gauges are dominated by two large analogue dials, one for speed, the other for revs. A digital readout takes centre stage and gives all the necessities like fuel, temp, ODO and time. Even external air temperature if required.......

The handlebars are adorned with a nice set of switches. And on the left hand bar we even have a handbrake which activates the rear disc, a nice touch if you find yourself on a steep incline. Whilst still up front we should mention the large screen and take note of the bodywork that acts like a wrap-around snuggy. The mirrors are also a big positive, nice and wide and vibe free, located on the bars and not the body.

Twin disc brakes adorn the front end, both 267 mm in size. The rear is a single disc also measuring in at 267 mm and what about those adjustable levers, tasty... The Majesty 400 uses an all aluminium, liquid cooled, 4 valve engine. Pumping out a pretty respectable 25 Kw and a nicely rounded 36 Nm of torque.

Storage is just sensational and one of the key reasons you would choose a scooter in this format. Expansive from the rear all the way to the front and ultra convenient. The seat opens by turning the ignition key to the left, held in-place by a gas strut, a light is a nice touch. If you like your storage large and usable, give the Majesty a huge tick. All this storage talk and I forgot to mention the lockable glove compartment up front and a 2nd smaller compartment just to the right.

Whilst on the seat, the padding makes for a comfortable position, especially when you take the lumbar support into account. The passenger also gets a nice wide platform to take up residence, no lumbar, yet comfortable all the same.

Fuel is found low between your feet and totals a respectable 14 Litres capacity . It's also very easy to access with a flip open cover exposing a key operated cap. Wheels are 14 inch on the front and 13 inch on the rear, the rear being 150 wide.

Dual rear adjustable shocks take up suspension duties, whilst the front has the the normal telescopic arrangement. A side stand with cut-out is helped along by a centre stand if required. Found myself using the side stand most of the time, the long wheelbase means it's quite stable when parked.

On The Road

Whilst the Majesty still might look a little large when parked, on the move opinions change quickly, all for the positive.

The seating position whilst comfy is very commuter friendly. In this I mean you ride committed, the bars are pointing a little more inwards and rather clip-on like. It makes for a very sporty feel and one of the the first things I noticed when jumping off a scooter like the Scarabeo and immediately onto the Majesty.

The front end protection is just exceptional and whilst screens may or may not suit dependent on your height, the surrounding bodywork guards the rider from the external extremities. Caught in a rain shower doesn't mean a change of pants. When it comes to front end protection the Majesty is one of the best examples going round.

The size of the wheelbase makes for a comfortable experience on local choppy roads. Sure you have a little crashing over larger bumps, though the Majesty plays its part in the urban environment. Actually, I reckon the Majesty is that nimble around town, I could use it on a regular everyday basis. Good sharp handling, committed riding position, massive amounts of storage and great all-weather protection. Sound like good commuting qualities? You bet....

We are yet to mention the power situation. Ample again, and once the revs build, more than sufficient for this kind of application. The Majesty likes a few revs so things can be a little slow off the mark, but once going the engine is smooth, refined and powerful. You do get a few vibes on idle, expected from a big single, once moving the all-alloy engine is linear. Top speed would be in the vicinity of the 100 mph mark, more than enough for open road applications.

And amazingly most of my riding on the Majesty was taking place around the city. On the open road things were exactly as you'd expect from a top class tourer. Planted and predictable, the Majesty would be a joy to load up and cruise out of town for the weekend. The surprising part of the equation is the scratching ability of the Majesty. Through a set of corners the Majesty feels somewhat tuned for a little fun, the ability to tip right in or flip from side to side is commendable.

I had no need to play with the rear springs or change anything for my weight, the Majesty was just fine straight out of the crate.

 

 

Summary

The "Scooterman" Says, I had already made up my mind that I wasn’t going to like this scooter. The chudder chudder chudder of the single 400 felt almost agricultural at rest.   Well I was totally wrong. This is a ripper maxi. Although not fast out of the blocks it has plenty of power when it gets moving. 120 km/h at 6000rpm, 140 km/h at 7000rpm, redline at 8200rpm. Figure it out but this scoot would easily reach 160 km/h. Very comfortable on urban roads, a little buffeted by slipstream at freeway speeds but not a problem. Where the Majesty really shines is through the tight twisties. With its low centre of gravity you can really put it hard through the corners and it hangs in beautifully. Very similar to its big brother the awesome T-Max. The more I rode this maxi the better it got and by the end of two days I was totally impressed. The Majesty is a great all rounder and good bang for buck in my opinion.

This was a real surprise package for me. I remember saying to my colleague "Scooterman", I could easily live with the Majesty on a day to day basis.

You can clearly feel an extensive European influence across most parts of the package. The handling, style and weather protection are all very European. Whilst the motor and the mechanical part of the equation is all very Japanese. It's very much the best of both worlds.

The Majesty was often the first choice when running around town, again quite a surprise given the specified weight. The Majesty is just so easy to steer around, even a learner rider would have this licked in no time at all.

If you only get approval for one scooter from the finance department (Mrs), a scooter like the Majesty can fill many voids. The Majesty plays the role of commuter/tourer all wrapped up in one sleek package, with a Japanese build quality that's reassuring.

The Majesty for me was a winner, all up a fantastic dual purpose machine. The Yamaha Majesty YP 400, the jack-of-all trades.

The Yamaha Majesty is currently $8990 Ride Away nationwide. Find a dealer @ http://www.yamaha-motor.com.au/dealers/all

 

     

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