The point is that Yamaha haven’t built the Tricity 300 for us riders who already love bikes and scooters. Instead, it’s here to tempt folk out of their cars and off public transport, offering a quick, easy and convenient commuting alternative that doesn’t require going through the cost and hassle of today’s baffling bike licence maze. And all with a greater sense of safety than a standard two-wheeler.
In technical terms, it’s an Xmax 300 fitted with a modified version of the tilting, tandem-fork front end from the Tricity 125. Yes, it leans when it goes round corners. No, there’s no clutch or gears. Yes, it feels fairly similar to a normal scooter once you’re on the move, other than having more front-end confidence.