1991 was the one and only time i bought a brand new bike, i have no desire to ever own a new one again.
spyball alarm/immob, bluespot brake calipers and Stainless hoses, Fournales air adjustable shock with Remote Resevoir,
forks raised 10mm thru yokes, racetech linear fork springs in 15 wt oil, Kappa wingrack/luggage, heated grips, Kedo handguards, dual heat controller to power heated jacket liner and or pants!!, Stebel 136DB horn, K&N air filter, colour matched Baglux tank cover (magnetic tank bag modified to fit cover), osram +50% headloight bulbs, headlight protector," NitramSpecial" parking loight, tail light indicators all running on LED's & incorporate "Lite Buddies", MK7 Scottoiler fitted, taller screen, 2-2 stainless steel
CCC's, Devil stainless down pipes. MKI Renntec engine crash bars & sump guard.
engine changed july 20
07 on a dyno run it made
79.1BHP / Torque 59.9Had a brief flirtation with a 1999 MKIIa but it blew an exaust valve on the M5 so was sold on to be repaired.
The only bike on my radar is a T7. I kinda view it as the dirty version of a TDM I wanted to create until I realised that the bike would get heavier, not lighter.
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Similar engine characteristics, it's a Yamaha, less fear and more fun on our gravel roads and high country passes. Probably still quite agile in the tarmac twisties, too.
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Powerful bikes are an exercise in frustration where I live, most of the B roads are like west coast Scottish peninsula roads and have gravel "shortcuts" to connect them.
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A Ducati scrambler catches my eye, love the look of it. But it's a Ducati.
TDM 850 Loud and unusual. CRM 250r Woo hoo! DT 230 Lanza Fiddled with.... Bloody hell, is that legal? GG Randonee AKA "I didn't think that was possible".
I have had one. Loved it but the cost of insurance, repayments 3 rears in the first year and warranty required dealer servicing meant it was sold within a year.
Quote:I have had one. Loved it but the cost of insurance, repayments 3 rears in the first year and warranty required dealer servicing meant it was sold within a year.
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Thinking about it the servicing costs are my major bugbear and probably the deciding factor why I won't buy a new one, after price itself.
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One of my other hobbies has always been photography, I might not use a camera for a year or two but then I get back into it for a while, you know how these things go. Camera tech keeps advancing in many ways and directions, but not usually very far each iteration. There's a photographer in my Youtube watch list who makes great images using older cameras and encourages others to do the same by promoting the idea that it is sometimes better to take the money you would have spent on a new camera and save it, for day trips out, maybe a flight to somewhere you haven't been before, to reignite your creative imagination with new subjects.
I feel the same about bikes now - rather than spend yet more money on another bike, I might buy a ferry ticket to an island, or book into a B&B somewhere, finding it really easy to justify the costs after taking into account the savings I've made by riding an 'old faithful' to new places. (Breakdown cover for peace of mind, of course !)
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"Do you fancy coming away with us for the weekend, a stopover at a decent hotel ?"Â
"I'ld love to mate but I can't afford it, I've just bought a new bike"Â !
All true and I keep telling myself once Ive bought all these spares for the TDM Im sorted for 3 years or so. Ill only need to worry about grease linkages and oil changes!
Had a MkIIÂ 850 for about 90,000 kms, fine bike and toured top to bottom, side to side of Aotearoa on it.Â
Sold it and bought a DR650; again, toured the length and breadth, etc, etc, and was waiting for the T7 to turn up when the DR650 ate third gear, destroying the motor.
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Commuting requirements and so forth then found me in possession of a 2018 650 V-Strom. Verrry similar in application and style to the TDM, but with the advantage of a 19" front wheel, and a substantial dealer network for a bike that isn't an orphan (in NZ terms, anyway).
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The 650 doesn't have quite the outright power and torque of the TDM, but is (after some (OK, a lot) fettling for ergonomics) comfortable for touring the length...well, you get the picture. Handy (with the right tyres) on gravel, pretty nice in twistier stuff, great for the longer hauls and the commute.
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If more power is required, get the 1000.
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So: not a T7, but a bike very well suited for my riding requirements.
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On another note - you guys have yeast? Over the last 7 weeks of lockdown, I've missed my focaccia, pizza base...
When I replaced my Mk1 850 a few years back the only bike I could think of to replace it was a 900 Â Better long distance bikes but not as good on really twisty backroads.
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I really don't know what I'd go for if I was buying now. The Multistrada 950(?) looks nice, and I like the look of a few KTMs but they're not going to match the TDM's reliability or ease of maintenance. Tiger 800, F800GS, Tracer, Africa Twin... I think I'd have to a lot of test rides.
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As for yeast, yes but it took a 30km cycle ride on Friday to get it. Just pulled a fresh loaf out of the oven. :badgerrock:
1992 Mk1, 76k miles, Hagon springs, MTC exhaust, 4½ gears Gone now
I have had my TDM since 2005, it's been stone reliable. It's only got 36K on clock I won't ever need a new bike. For mile munching fast and furious it's ideal. For smiles per mile on a sunny day on country lanes, I got a Royal Enfield 500 classic. The RE has one serious issue, it's difficult to get away from cafes due to any number of old blokes wanting to chat about it.
Quote:I have had my TDM since 2005, it's been stone reliable. It's only got 36K on clock I won't ever need a new bike. For mile munching fast and furious it's ideal. For smiles per mile on a sunny day on country lanes, I got a Royal Enfield 500 classic. The RE has one serious issue, it's difficult to get away from cafes due to any number of old blokes wanting to chat about it.
I don't want to state the obvious, Lee, but aren't you an old bloke too (just like me)?
2004 900 - Blue with lots of goodies
2012 900 - Still adding shiny bits. Was black, changed to white and now back to black again.
KTM SMT or a 950/990 Adventure, but theyâre all pre 2010 designs. I guess, post 2010, an Africa Twin 1000 or 1100 - but it ainât going to happen. More likely an RE Himalayan or possibly an Interceptor?
Doin valve clearances? Use dappers valve shim exchange program and the job will be carroty - Free (other than you postin me yer shims) for sporting members.
I would have a TDM now if it had not become too (top) heavy for me. Instead, after a temporary move to an MT-03 single, I have the perfect bike for me: MT-07.
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 Better long distance bikes but not as good on really twisty backroads.
![[Image: post-1-1152402501.jpg]](http://www.carpe-tdm.net/ipb/uploads/post-1-1152402501.jpg)
