TDM In town

[prasi00]

Hi, There
I am a new a member and I am considering buying a TDM 900 soon. I am a courier in London and domainly town riding and a couple of long distance trips in thw week.

In your opinion how good is the 900 in town? is it heavy, does it overheat, what's the mpg like in town, and how well does it fare with the endless potholes?

Cheers
Nick

[twinrider]

<!--quoteo(post=23552:date=Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 02:22 AM:name=prasi00)-->QUOTE(prasi00 @ Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 02:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Hi, There
I am a new a member and I am considering buying a TDM 900 soon. I am a courier in London and domainly town riding and a couple of long distance trips in thw week.

In your opinion how good is the 900 in town? is it heavy, does it overheat, what's the mpg like in town, and how well does it fare with the endless potholes?

Cheers
Nick<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


I just picked up a 900 this past week and have commuted through Tokyo. Light, slender and nimble makes it very easy to filter through traffic. My suspension isn't stock (F&R Ohlins, set up firm) so I can't comment on the stock suspension but I'd imagine the long travel suspension will soak up bumps better than most street bikes.

[tdm850rider]

<!--quoteo(post=23552:date=Sat 2nd Dec 2006, 09:22 PM:name=prasi00)-->QUOTE(prasi00 @ Sat 2nd Dec 2006, 09:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Hi, There
I am a new a member and I am considering buying a TDM 900 soon. I am a courier in London and domainly town riding and a couple of long distance trips in thw week.

In your opinion how good is the 900 in town? is it heavy, does it overheat, what's the mpg like in town, and how well does it fare with the endless potholes?

Cheers
Nick<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I have been riding a TDM for 15 years and it is a wonderful 'town' bike. The suspension is great on potholed streets once you adjust it to the riders weight and the visibility from it's upright riding position is superb.

Excellent acceleration to get going and a set of brakes that will get you back to zero even faster.

Expect in the neighborhood of 45 MPG (US, 1 gal = 3.8L) in city driving and near 60 on long hauls.

'Heavy' is a relative term that varies with what you compare it with, I'm small and 'not young' and I can pick it up.
The fan does the job, I have been stuck in traffic on sweltering days and it gets close but never seems to go INTO the red.
What can I say? It's 15 years old and still running strong.

This post was last modified: 03-12-2006, 05:34 AM by tdm850rider.

[King OFF the Road]

Welcome to Carpe prasi00.
Go on do it you will not regret it.
When you get your 900 make sure you do the airbox mod (if it has not been done already) makes a big difference at low revs.

[iand1947]

<!--quoteo(post=23552:date=Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 01:22 AM:name=prasi00)-->QUOTE(prasi00 @ Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 01:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Hi, There
I am a new a member and I am considering buying a TDM 900 soon. I am a courier in London and domainly town riding and a couple of long distance trips in thw week.

In your opinion how good is the 900 in town? is it heavy, does it overheat, what's the mpg like in town, and how well does it fare with the endless potholes?

Cheers
Nick<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Welcome Nick. The 900 is great in town - well-balanced and quite narrow and agile, with good visibility, and the high torque makes it very relaxing - low revs and gear errors are well tolerated. Good economy, and suspension (with adjustment front and rear to suit you) absorbs poor surfaces well. It does heat up a bit in standing traffic in the summer, which is initially scary, but as others have said the fan seems to cope, and nothing has blown up so far! The only change recommended (as Andy has already said) is to "tweak" the airbox arrangement, or some may recommend fitting a Power Commander which would allow you to tune to your own style.

[LIAW]

my TDM 900 copes very well with heat in constant traffic situations, the standard suspension is not the best I've had in terms of abssorbing potholes, the steering is good, fuel consumption is fantastic, now if it were me in your situation I would NOT buy a TDM for mainly town use, UNLESS you are able to ride at speeds of 10mph upwards most of the time, I spend over half an hour in our town centre trying to get past queues of almost stationary traffic and an abnormal amount of traffic lights, which means I am averaging a speed of aprox 7mph, at this speed the clutch is needed constantly to keep the bike riding smooth, the clutch does get grabby when it's hot, this makes for a very tiring journey which starts to frustrate me very badly indeed, this is the one reason that will make me sell my bike, I want a 650cc trail style bike for town work or maybe a KAWASAKI KLE500, if you are able to keep moving at 10mph or above you will LOVE the TDM.

[iand1947]

<!--quoteo(post=23566:date=Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 08:10 AM:name=laughin in a windstorm)-->QUOTE(laughin in a windstorm @ Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 08:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->my TDM 900 copes very well with heat in constant traffic situations, the standard suspension is not the best I've had in terms of abssorbing potholes, the steering is good, fuel consumption is fantastic, now if it were me in your situation I would NOT buy a TDM for mainly town use, UNLESS you are able to ride at speeds of 10mph upwards most of the time, I spend over half an hour in our town centre trying to get past queues of almost stationary traffic and an abnormal amount of traffic lights, which means I am averaging a speed of aprox 7mph, at this speed the clutch is needed constantly to keep the bike riding smooth, the clutch does get grabby when it's hot, this makes for a very tiring journey which starts to frustrate me very badly indeed, this is the one reason that will make me sell my bike, I want a 650cc trail style bike for town work or maybe a KAWASAKI KLE500, if you are able to keep moving at 10mph or above you will LOVE the TDM.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fair points LIAW - I'd forgotten about the Oxford (potential London?) clutch-slipping experience. For general getting about, I recall the KLE 500 was great for bombing around rough roads and manic traffic on Crete about 18 mo. ago (despite some leg damage owing to a careless drop), so I think it would be good in the city.

[prasi00]

Thanks for the useful advice guys.
All in all it seems the TDM is a good town bike, while at the same time will cope with long distnace staff.
I think its best to go and get myself a test ride and see for mysef. Central London can quite bad for traffic so will have to test the clutch slipping issue.
I am looking to buy probably a 2001-2002 model with not too high milage for around 2500.
Thanks again
Nick

[tdm850rider]

<!--quoteo(post=23659:date=Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 12:10 PM:name=prasi00)-->QUOTE(prasi00 @ Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 12:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Thanks for the useful advice guys.
All in all it seems the TDM is a good town bike, while at the same time will cope with long distnace staff.
I think its best to go and get myself a test ride and see for mysef. Central London can quite bad for traffic so will have to test the clutch slipping issue.
I am looking to buy probably a 2001-2002 model with not too high milage for around 2500.
Thanks again
Nick<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

The TDM does everything well. You can use it for work then turn around and tour on it.
<b>Do</b> the airbox mod on the 900, everyone gushes about how it makes a huge difference in slow speed smoothness.

[iand1947]

<!--quoteo(post=23566:date=Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 08:10 AM:name=laughin in a windstorm)-->QUOTE(laughin in a windstorm @ Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 08:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I want a <!--coloro:#FF0000--><!--/coloro-->650cc trail style bike for town work or maybe a KAWASAKI KLE500<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc--><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Just pondering on that, LIAW - would a Honda Transalp 650XLV be suitable for your purpose? Well-seasoned V-twin, nimble in traffic, comfy seat for even longish distances, handguards, easy to service, cheap to run.... The only really crappy thing about the one I had before the TDM was the mild steel exhaust (S/S replacement would be in order?); oh, and I fitted a touring screen, which did help.

[AndyTDM850]

It's fine in town, but I miss my Honda Dominator. I agree with a previous post - a Honda Transalp/Africa Twin would be much better choice for in town. In fact, if you don't plan on riding much out of town, an air-cooled single like the Dominator or Kawasaki KLR would be much better. If I had the money and did not live in the States, I would get an Aprilia Supermoto or the Kawasaki 950 adventure.

By the way, the Dominator was so light for me, that with only 40hp it was difficult to keep the front tyre (tire) down on traffic signals. Doubt its only because I am 120 lbs... I may buy another when I start my new job and keep two bikes - my old one cost only $1200 (600 pounds) with low miles.

Andy

[prasi00]

<!--quoteo(post=23684:date=Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 09:15 PM:name=Andy850)-->QUOTE(Andy850 @ Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 09:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->It's fine in town, but I miss my Honda Dominator. I agree with a previous post - a Honda Transalp/Africa Twin would be much better choice for in town. In fact, if you don't plan on riding much out of town, an air-cooled single like the Dominator or Kawasaki KLR would be much better. If I had the money and did not live in the States, I would get an Aprilia Supermoto or the<!--coloro:#FF0000--><!--/coloro--> Kawasaki 950 adventure.
<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc-->
By the way, the Dominator was so light for me, that with only 40hp it was difficult to keep the front tyre (tire) down on traffic signals. Doubt its only because I am 120 lbs... I may buy another when I start my new job and keep two bikes - my old one cost only $1200 (600 pounds) with low miles.

Andy<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Hm do you mean a KTM adventure 950? I really fancy that but the prices are a bit steep. Plus i cant iamgine that being a better bike in town than the TDM? Honda transalp seems a good choice but a dont have a car and my bike has to do everything from all day courriering to shopping and touring in europe two up when the chance comes. I would also consider the Africa twin but prices seem to be artifically high - it seems to me that for arounf 2500 I can pick up much newer/better and with lower milage TDM.
So far I've owned a Hornet 600 - great fun around town but very windy out of town - plus not very good in the wet.
Then i had a fazer 400 - kind of good compromise between economy and performance but just not enough of the letter and I just finished the bike pretty quick for riding it on the limit.
Right now I have a fazer 600 00 model which again is good in town but i am looking for smt absorbing potholes better(bad back).

[iand1947]

<!--quoteo(post=23694:date=Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 10:26 PM:name=prasi00)-->QUOTE(prasi00 @ Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 10:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Hm do you mean a KTM adventure 950? I really fancy that but the prices are a bit steep. Plus i cant iamgine that being a better bike in town than the TDM? Honda transalp seems a good choice but a dont have a car and my bike has to do everything from all day courriering to shopping and touring in europe two up when the chance comes. I would also consider the Africa twin but prices seem to be artifically high - it seems to me that for arounf 2500 I can pick up much newer/better and with lower milage TDM.
So far I've owned a Hornet 600 - great fun around town but very windy out of town - plus not very good in the wet.
Then i had a fazer 400 - kind of good compromise between economy and performance but just not enough of the letter and I just finished the bike pretty quick for riding it on the limit.
Right now I have a fazer 600 00 model which again is good in town but i am looking for smt absorbing potholes better(bad back).<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The TDM will be a better all rounder than the others you've mentioned, if you include the need for pillion-friendly touring. Fazers drive me scatty in traffic - the TDM's torque makes it less neurotic; there is still the low end jerkiness/clutch control issue mentioned earlier (which is helped by doing the easy airbox adjustment) - but give one a try and see how it feels. Most of all, it's a bike that can be adapted in all sorts of ways to suit your needs.

[jht]

Seen couple TDM850's being couriered in town. I cover around 36 miles a day in (usually) rush hour traffic in London on a 96 850, TDM's the dog's for traffic carving
It does seem to get hot in the summer, may fit a manual override switch.
The only other thing I'd do may be to play round with the gearing, but the remaining 40 odd miles of M way commute means I'm more liable raise the gearing, rather than lower it

Go try one, you may be pleasantly surprised

[LIAW]

<!--quoteo(post=23666:date=Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 04:55 PM:name=Pict)-->QUOTE(Pict @ Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 04:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Just pondering on that, LIAW - would a Honda Transalp 650XLV be suitable for your purpose? Well-seasoned V-twin, nimble in traffic, comfy seat for even longish distances, handguards, easy to service, cheap to run.... The only really crappy thing about the one I had before the TDM was the mild steel exhaust (S/S replacement would be in order?); oh, and I fitted a touring screen, which did help.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

the Transalp is not to my taste in visual terms, plus it's a v-twin which means longer service times and more awkward accessibility to certain parts, also if I were to get something with a fairing then it'd have to be able to look good with the fairing removed as I don't like fairings at all, ever.

ps. by fairings I mean anything that does NOT move with the handlebars, small headlight cones/fairings/screens are acceptable in some circumstances.

[chookchaser]

TDM 900 may be a great all-rounder, but I would not use one for courier work in a big city. If (when?) you drop it or some tosser in a tintop knocks it off its side-stand, TDM plastics will be costly to fix. Also, even though it has good ground clearance, riding it over kerbs and median strips will one day ding the exhaust pipes (been there, done that). My bike of choice as a workhorse would be the XT 600 (having previously owned one) but I suppose any similar air cooled trail bike of about 600 cc would have the grunt to do courier work.

On the subject of plastics, even though I have not so far dropped my TDM I notice that bits are now cracking around the fastener holes - probably workshop monkeys getting enthusiastic when buttoning it up after a service plus the effects of riding it a lot on gravel roads. In fact the plastics are probably the only thing that might put me off getting the 2007 model in favour of something else. Must look at the new Triumph Tiger.....

[wicklamulla]

if ya buy a secondhand TDM 900 check to see if the TPS (throttle position sensor) has been replaced as it is subject to a recall. wokr in and around London i'd opt ferra single too, them MZ Baghira yokes are nice lookers and have a Yammie enjun afaik.