I'm going to join this since I had a PCX125 and have ridden the SMax.
Of the several bikes and scooters I have had, the PCX is one of my favorites. My first scooter was a Majesty 400 so Yamaha is familiar. The build quality on both brands is excellent. A test ride on the SMax reveals the Yamaha standard although there were a couple of small paint blemishes noted on the demo bike.
Twenty minutes and five or six miles on a bike is by no means an exhaustive test. Also, I had been on a larger bike (People S250) for the 50 mile ride down to Palatka. That can skew your opinion since you have been tuned in to a different kind of ride. The SMax left a positive impression with good acceleration and fairly nimble handling. We were not going to rag out a bike that will belong to someone else one day but were able to get a feel for what it will give and it seemed willing. Brakes were quite good. The suspension was OK but not what would be considered plush. Coming back on the lot over a concrete transition was jarring. The scoot did feel well planted on the road. The windscreen worked very well for me. Very little buffeting around my helmet. SMax is a very nice bike, but...I don't feel like I fit it well. I stand 5'10 with a 30" inseam and felt a bit cramped while riding it. The bar ends were too close to my knees when turned. That could be remedied by rolling the bars up and forward, though. There are what looked like perfect places to set your feet forward when desired, but it just did not work for me. Again, I just did not feel like I fit the bike that well.
Fast forward a couple of weeks. I was in a shop that had a new 2015 PCX. When I sat on it, my body's memory said "Yes". I could tell a difference in the seat design compared to what I remembered on the 2011 and the overall ergonomics felt right to me. In fact, I hopped on a Forza sitting next to the PCX to compare and concluded I liked the feel of the PCX more.
The fellow with me when trying the SMax had much the same feelings about the scooter. "A very nice machine with many positives, but just not sure about the fit". He has three scoots and was on his SYM RV200 that day. We traded bikes on the way to lunch after the test ride. When on that bike, that light "IT FITS" went off. Ergonomics were all good for me. The Yamaha may have wooed me with more time I'm sure, but I think I will let the "scooter slush fund " build and wait to see if any new 2015 PCX's begin to appear on the used market Or... there is a nice NOS SYM close by.
Sheesh, there goes my Multiple Bike Disorder again.
Mel, We are planning a "Scooter Swap'orama Ride Test" at Two Wheels Suches as soon as the weather warms. If you can join us, a test ride on a PCX150, Kymco People S250, Kymco Gti 300, Sym HD200, Aprilia SportCity 250 and maybe even a Buddy125 could be on the dance card. Stay tuned.
Cheers!