Thanks Graeme, the bike has never been that smooth, or economical, but seems better now. It only had 3000 miles on when I bought it so maybe it has been like that since the factory?
Now to find out how you balance the throttle bodies...
I picked up my new TDM 900 today. (2002 model - very dark blue) and decided to check out the CO readings.
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Cylinder 1 - 16
Cylinder 2 - 17
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They are obviously too close to each other so eventually I will have to have them adjusted but first I want to ride the thing a bit so that I can get a baseline feel of the bike before any adjustments are made. Also I want to adjust the CO readings in collaboration with an exhaust gas analyzer.Â
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Anyway, happy as Larry with the purchase so far, can't wait to take it for a decent ride to see how it goes.
Very good results following this topic with my TDM900 2004 black 30000km .. K&N filter , baffles  out of stock mufflers  .  Yamaha dealer said they could not make the mixture richer ,  to aviod surging and snatchy throttle responses at low revs . I'm not sure what they do when tuning , but  possibly the CO and Co2 levels need to  above state regulations , and they don't want to go there ?
By the way , they suggested a Power Commander at $400 and tuning, dyno @ $400  ,  should help  .
I disconnected brown lead in the  ECU  , and this did not seem to make a lot of difference  .
My CO readings were   , c1 = 17 and c2 = 17 .  I adjusted to c1 = 28 and c2 = 28  , and I now  have a new bike ... not perfect but VG , and I will probably tinker a little more with setting in the 30 range . I am not a mechanic and use the dealers for servicing ( I now wonder Why? )
What has happened  :Â
Very much improved low gear  rev smoothnessÂ
Bike feels less jerky  , and has more smooth power through the gears .
Engine was running at 4000rpm in 6th gear at 100km/hr ... now 4000rpm is 110km/hr  ..amazingÂ
Engine was running hot in city  traffic and in the red ,  with the fan on regularly , ; runs much cooler now in traffic ;
On highway runs at bottom end of of temp range .
Fuel economy does not appear to have changed very much  ... was getting 420km from tank now is about 400km  ,  with mainly  highway & a bit of  city .Â
Was considering changing bike and now don't have to .
Must say  , why could Yamaha or their  dealers  not sort this out  ,  a long time ago .
Possible  explanations for rpm changes in 6th could be ( was actually comparing with 5th gear ..unlikely?) : comparing slight incline ,  up  run,  with downhill .. going the other way on regular ride ? .. fuel standard unleaded 91 instead of 98 ? .... hot day , with tyre pressures higher  36 and 42psi  ?
Any way , bike running a lot better , ; will reply on any changes after next ride ,
Hi Guys
I have just put a deposit down on a 04 TDM 900 with 6500 miles on the clock. It has got blue pipes. I have yet to take it out for a test ride but I am now concerned about possible valve damage as it looks as if it has been running too hot. What should I ask Lings to do before I pay the balance, if anything, and is there anything I should look out for on the test ride. Do all TDM 900 have problems in the rain, after reading the threads on this site I am thinking, have I made the right choice of machine  !!!!!!
Quote:Hi Guys
I have just put a deposit down on a 04 TDM 900 with 6500 miles on the clock. It has got blue pipes. I have yet to take it out for a test ride but I am now concerned about possible valve damage as it looks as if it has been running too hot. What should I ask Lings to do before I pay the balance, if anything, and is there anything I should look out for on the test ride. Do all TDM 900 have problems in the rain, after reading the threads on this site I am thinking, have I made the right choice of machine  !!!!!!
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Thanks for your help
There aren't too many problems with the TDM, just a few niggles. It's the most reliable bike I've owned bar none. The problems that they do have are well documented here and so are the solutions. Check with the dealer to see if the TPS unit has been changed. Out of curiosity how much is this 9er going for?
Yes you are spot on Rallyist I am paying £3500. It is in great condition and I traded in my SV1000s as it is time to get comfy and a little slower.I will miss it though. Looking forward to the test ride and i think it will be on Friday if I can get away early enough. I will ask about TPS but they did say they check for outstanding recalls.
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I will let you know how it went. Where does the temp gauge normally sit on a run as am concerned about the blue down pipes after reading about hot running.
Just got home from my test ride. A totally different riding experience next to the SV Â and a very deceptive motor. It changes the way I ride and I found myself swinging into bends rather than attacking them, felt really good. Very planted and felt sure footed when pushed in to sweeping bends. No pins and needles in my right wrist after an hour of riding and the motor felt relaxed but I had to keep checking my speed as it kept creeping up.
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A great first impression but I have got  one concern. The bike was on its side stand (it has got a centre stand) and when I started it, the oil light did not go out. I started to ride it down the road  but stopped as the light was still on I went back to Lings and then it went out,  the oil level was said to fine by Lings but I have never had a bike where the light did not go almost as the motor started.Â
 Still enjoying the TDM but I have a question if anyone can help. When the clutch engages with first gear it snatches and I am stuggleing to get a smooth take off from a standing start. I have done the air box mod, and thats fine. Is it that first gear is long, or could it be the fueling and I neeed to have a look at the CO2 settings on the dash?
worth having a look at what they are set to, they are usually never the same value both sides My bike was set to +6 left and +18 right. I have the sample screws in the exhaust and setting the bike up on a gas analyzer showed it was set very rich un-equally so they ended up at -6 +11 for the book CO setting. It made the bike a bit snatchy coming off overrun so I went to -1 + 16 which runs much better.
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If you have small 6mm screws in the header pipes at the bottom you are in luck as this samples before the cat.
Later bikes don't have these. Use brass nipples and silicone sample pipes as these get very hot.
Did check mine co2 settings ( 2007 abs version), and found them to be C1 1 and C2 2, so i bump them up by 5 points each -waiting for good chance to test the new settings.
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Ok tested, runs better but i am still tempted to go 5 points up, fuel consumption not affected -still does 200 miles before reserve