Hi to all the TDM (both 850 & 900) owners out there. I am new on this Forum, and so far have found it extremely informative, especially concerning the 900âs. I have just purchased a 900 on the 7th June. My wife currently rides the 850, and this is what convinced me to buy the 900. I did a sort of âdowngradeâ from an R6 to enable us to be able to ride together again and put the fun of motorcycling back into play again as this was missing due to the R6 being a totally different type of package.
I can honestly tell you Iâm not sorry about selling the R6, as the TDM is a truly under-rated machine. Iâm still running in at the moment and have achieved 400kms on a tank-full (before hitting reserve). The current mileage is 1400kms. The handling is absolutely superb, and the brakes are more than adequate. The riding position is much more relaxed now, and all my different body parts donât go to sleep anymore.[My wife and I did a 398km trip with no side effects] Oh yes and the mirrors actually work!!
By the way I am currently residing in South Africa, am an ex-Rhodesian, with British parents. (quite a combination hey?) I paid R79995 for the TDM which is about £5700 and itâs Lava Red in colour, with a black front mudguard, and black tail-end.
Iâm going to have a very reputable local performance race pipe fitted, and will keep you guys posted on the performance and acoustic improvements. [Fortunately the noise laws are not such an issue here as they are in Europe or the UK]. Iâm normally biased toward Michelin rubber, but my 900 is running on Dunlop D220ST Sportmax. For some obscure reason the different colour bikes in South Africa are fitted with different rubber, strange but true⦠but, I can tell you that the Dunlopâs havenât disappointed me yet. I have been able to take corners much faster and with more confidence than I was ever able to do with the R6 if thatâs believable, and the TDM doesnât seem to get unsettled when going through pot-holes, even hitting potholes through corners has not been much of a problem. [Potholes are one of the hidden realities of travelling on South African roads] fortunately weâve been scouting and know all the relatively safe pothole free roads. Now that our bikes are equally matched we will also begin scouting gravel roads with touring in mind.
I am considering starting up a bike touring company here in South Africa. The weather is absolutely perfect. Of course it would necessitate the purchase of a few more TDMâs. Anyone interested????
Cheers and safe Biking
I can honestly tell you Iâm not sorry about selling the R6, as the TDM is a truly under-rated machine. Iâm still running in at the moment and have achieved 400kms on a tank-full (before hitting reserve). The current mileage is 1400kms. The handling is absolutely superb, and the brakes are more than adequate. The riding position is much more relaxed now, and all my different body parts donât go to sleep anymore.[My wife and I did a 398km trip with no side effects] Oh yes and the mirrors actually work!!
By the way I am currently residing in South Africa, am an ex-Rhodesian, with British parents. (quite a combination hey?) I paid R79995 for the TDM which is about £5700 and itâs Lava Red in colour, with a black front mudguard, and black tail-end.
Iâm going to have a very reputable local performance race pipe fitted, and will keep you guys posted on the performance and acoustic improvements. [Fortunately the noise laws are not such an issue here as they are in Europe or the UK]. Iâm normally biased toward Michelin rubber, but my 900 is running on Dunlop D220ST Sportmax. For some obscure reason the different colour bikes in South Africa are fitted with different rubber, strange but true⦠but, I can tell you that the Dunlopâs havenât disappointed me yet. I have been able to take corners much faster and with more confidence than I was ever able to do with the R6 if thatâs believable, and the TDM doesnât seem to get unsettled when going through pot-holes, even hitting potholes through corners has not been much of a problem. [Potholes are one of the hidden realities of travelling on South African roads] fortunately weâve been scouting and know all the relatively safe pothole free roads. Now that our bikes are equally matched we will also begin scouting gravel roads with touring in mind.
I am considering starting up a bike touring company here in South Africa. The weather is absolutely perfect. Of course it would necessitate the purchase of a few more TDMâs. Anyone interested????
Cheers and safe Biking