Yamaha Nmax Recall: for reliability problems, 2021 new model

I am creating the Yamaha Nmax recall to emphasis key points in my two reviews of the old model and the new model.

Yamaha Nmax recall is of the new model, not the old one
I am invoking the Yamaha Nmax recall on the new model, not the old Nmax model I presently own.

Yamaha did not invoke this Yamaha Nmax recall. I did. And I did it to give you, the prospective buyer of the old model Nmax versus the new one, the information you really need. To make an intelligent decision on which model to buy. Old versus new.

I am the first to drive Rory’s new Nmax from the dealer’s. While Rory followed behind driving my old model Nmax. I was immediately impressed how smoothly the new model Nmax drove out of the dealership. Because there’s one negative issue I’ve noticed found with the old model. The bike’s engine runs roughly at parking lot speeds.

I knew right off that Yamaha had corrected any remaining negatives prospective buyers might have that would keep them from buying a Yamaha Nmax. Which I believe to be the absolute finest all around small bike one can buy for the kind of driving conditions we encounter in Thailand.

So what gives me the right to publicize my very own Yamaha Nmax recall?

I have lived in Pattaya Thailand for the past 16 years. Where I drive my two motorbikes, my Triumph Street Twin and old model Nmax 365 days a year. Rain or shine. Here a motorbike is an essential took. Just as the car is a necessity for everyday living most places in the United States. Whereas here in Pattaya a car is totally unnecessary except for those who need it to make a living. Or golfers who cannot be touting their golf clubs on a motorbike.

Although I will admit that big motorbike reviews from Cycle World and MCN are very thorough, interest and worth reading. Internet reviews of small motorbikes in the 125 to 150 c.c. class leave a lot to be desired. The good ones from countries such as Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, etc where English is not the dominant language. Which leaves the English speaking world in the dark. Whereas those reviews in English are nearly always limited to the new features being introduced in the new models.

In Thailand the most important feature of any motorbike is reliability while the second most important is safety which alerting all prospective buyers of either the new or old model Yamaha Nmax about certain reliability problems that have surfaced.

Both the old model Nmax and the new model offer the utmost in motorbike safety three thousand dollars can buy. My Yamaha Nmax recall is due the new model Nmax not living up to the old model’s reliability.

In my two reviews of the old and new model Yamaha Nmax bikes I mentioned my misgivings over the reliability of the old model. But two weeks after I completed both reviews, the need for announcing my Yamaha Nmax recall suddenly came to me.

My pal Rory is a very successful engineer who has a very practical mind. But he has put nowhere close to the mileage on motorbikes as I have. He’s a tech kind of buy who appreciates the advantages that high tech so often beings.

Rory has a keen appreciation for such features as key less ignition and automatic stopping and starting at stoplights bring to the table.

But when I announced my Yamaha Nmax recall to my closest friends Rory finally agreed with me. Telling me, You have been right all along.

A few years ago I bought my girlfriend a brand new Honda PCX 150. But it didn’t take long for the key less ignition system to go bad. We had to call the nearby Honda dealership to have someone come out to fix our problem.

After having to buy an expensive new Honda remote to get the PCX started again, I viewed keyless ignition as a liability ever since.

If your bike has a keyless ingnition system if anything happens to your remote. Even if you’ve only misplaced it. You are done.

But Rory’s been out of town for a few weeks. And when he lent his new model Yamaha Nmax to a friend of his, his friend was unable to start Rory’s six month old new model Yamaha Nmax.

The friend put a new battery into the remote. The small red light that indicates the remote is working comes on. But for some reason the remote is now unable to communicate with the rest of the keyless ignition system.

Yamaha has built into its new model Nmax a safety system that makes it difficult for anyone to steal the bike.

There’s a main switch one uses to start the bike, open the seat up or open the fuel tank. Which sounds like a great idea. Unless something malfunctions with the bike’s electronics that enable this main switch to be turned.

I’ve tried on two occasions to get the main switch to turn. While learning later on that the remote either disarms or disarms protective model for the main switch. And that a very audible click can be heard when this self protective mode is turned off.

Rory’s friend has told me that the Yamaha dealership Rory bought his bike from refuses to come out to look at his bike. Which leaves the friend with just one option. To either rent or borrow a pickup truck so that he can haul the bike into the dealer’s shop. Which is why I am publishing my very own Yamaha Nmax recall.

I am not a big fan of the idling automatic starting and restarting systems on either the new model Yamaha Nmax or Honda PCX

I know that this sounds like a great idea. Because particularly in a city such as Pattaya there’s a lot of long waits at stoplights. Which wastes a lot of gas. Or so it might seem. But in the real world of 125 to 155 c.c. motorbikes most bikes are capable of getting 120 miles to the gallon. So the small amount of gasoline wasted at stoplights is not going to make much difference in the bike owner’s pocket book.

I know if’s annoying to hear that engine idling for five minutes whenever you pull up to a red light. Which it’s so reassuring to hear that engine stop and then to be able to start up instantly by pulling back on the throttle as soon as the light changes to green.

The problem is all that automatic starting and stopping puts a very significant toll on the bike’s battery and other electrical components driving that automatic stop start system. Which makes the bike significantly less reliable over the long haul.

Am I telling you not to buy the new model Yamaha Nmax? No way because it’s still one helluva bike. But if you are thinking of trading your old model Nmax for the new model with all its bells and whistles you might just want to keep your old model.

In spite of what I’m caliing my Yamaha Nmax recall on the new model. Even if you are not too concerned about the reliability issues I’ve mentioned you might prefer buying a used mint condition old model Nmax to the new model for other reasons I’ve mentioned in both of my Yamaha Nmax reviews.

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