'900 newspaper review

[OwenMc]

There's a review of the TDM 900 in todays (Wed 29/Nov) Irish Times Motoring supplement.

<i>Rebirth of parallel twin gathers speed</i>
<b>BikeTest/Yamaha TDM 900</b>: The Japanese redefined how engines were designed but an industry pioneer remains, writes John Wheeler
...

Generally positive review, albeit more historical than meaty.

I'd cut'n'post it, but what's the legal/copyright stance on that ?

[beeble-tdm9]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE<!--quotec-->I'd cut'n'post it, but what's the legal/copyright stance on that ?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Plead ignorance...

[dapleb]

<!--quoteo(post=23201:date=Wed 29th Nov 2006, 11:20 AM:name=OwenMc)-->QUOTE(OwenMc @ Wed 29th Nov 2006, 11:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->writes John Wheeler<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Met him on the ferret goin over to Stu's once. An odd bod but quite entertaining, a real BMW man from what I remember.

I'm sure we will be fine if you state the source and give credit to the writer. If there is any objection we will remove it.

Cheers
dapleb

[robelst]

<i>"<b>Rebirth </b> of parallel twin gathers speed"</i>


Yamaha's been building this engine for 18 years, and before that produced the XS650 parallel twin for another odd decade or so. That's no rebirth, that's historic preservation

[iand1947]

<!--quoteo(post=23201:date=Wed 29th Nov 2006, 11:20 AM:name=OwenMc)-->QUOTE(OwenMc @ Wed 29th Nov 2006, 11:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->to get the publicity
There's a review of the TDM 900 in todays (Wed 29/Nov) Irish Times Motoring supplement.

<i>Rebirth of parallel twin gathers speed</i>
<b>BikeTest/Yamaha TDM 900</b>: The Japanese redefined how engines were designed but an industry pioneer remains, writes John Wheeler
...

Generally positive review, albeit more historical than meaty.

I'd cut'n'post it, but what's the legal/copyright stance on that ?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Should check with the paper (maybe in a couple of days) - flatter them that we appreciate their article etc. and say that their name, author and date will be posted as the source. They'll probably be happy to get the publicity and not worried about copyright - newspapers are "here today and gone tomorrow" things, not like books or even mags (who sell back-numbers). If you're a bit shy, send me a copy and I'll do it.

The message sounds a good (and topical, and true) one.

[OwenMc]

<!--quoteo(post=23206:date=Wed 29th Nov 2006, 11:46 AM:name=dapleb)-->QUOTE(dapleb @ Wed 29th Nov 2006, 11:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Met him on the ferret goin over to Stu's once. An odd bod but quite entertaining, a real BMW man from what I remember.

I'm sure we will be fine if you state the source and give credit to the writer. If there is any objection we will remove it.

Cheers
dapleb<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


Met him myself on a couple of the Irish Iron Butt runs - nice enough guy, with a few
stories to tell :-) He was doing one of 'em on a Harley with a sheepskin saddle-cover
as I recall.

I'm more worried about the I.Times and how they might address it!

I think it's in a subscription page - here's the link:
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/motors/20...4693654561.html

... and here's the article, in it's entirety:

From <i>The Irish Times</i>, Motors section, of Wed 29/Nov/2006.

<i><b><!--sizeo:2--><!--/sizeo-->Rebirth of parallel twin gathers speed<!--sizec--><!--/sizec--></b></i>

BikeTest/Yamaha TDM 900: The Japanese redefined how engines were designed but an industry pioneer remains, writes <b>John Wheeler</b>


Last week we saw that parallel twins have been Triumph's signature product since the late 1930s. This design inspired virtually all the major British manufacturers to follow suit. In the 1960s, until the Japanese invasion gained momentum, this engine layout was the industry standard, at least for plus-500cc machines.

Then the wider availability of high-revving Japanese four- and even six-cylinder machines, as well as their quality, largely contributed to the death knell of the British motorcycle industry and, with it, the virtual disappearance of the parallel twin.

For a time Triumph was the only manufacturer using this layout for middle to heavyweight machines.

That situation continued until 1991 when Yamaha began to produce the parallel twin powered TDM 850. Along with several Triumph variants, and from 1999 when Kawasaki introduced their W650 retro copy of a British twin, these were the best known examples.

Then, in late 2005, we saw the introduction of Kawasaki's ER-6n and BMW's launch of their F800S and ST twins.

It seems the parallel twin has been reinvented.

The TDM 850, progenitor of today's TDM 900, had a new parallel twin engine in a Deltabox frame. In 1996 it was given a new-style 270° engine. Then, in 2002, the engine was bored out to 897cc, making it the TDM 900. It was given a new frame, gearbox and fuel injection.

Today the TDM 900 is an excellent example of a modern, conventional all-rounder. It is a machine that can do most everything asked of it, and do it well.

These kinds of machines, and every manufacturer seems to have at least one in their range, might seem to be conglomerations of compromise. So too are some of the best yachts! The point is that it is ideal for commuting where the tall seating position gives a good view and the half-fairing and generous power output make for very capable motorway cruising.

It is every bit as competent and enjoyable for off-duty, weekend recreational trips. Add luggage, and the European continent knows no bounds.

As a really serious sports tourer some would regard the lack of shaft drive to be a drawback, even though this is the case with many of its competitors.

Apart from its relatively restrained and purposeful looks the first thing you would notice getting on the TDM 900 is that you could be forgiven for thinking that the layout, from a rider comfort point of view, was designed in Saville Row. It feels to be in the very best of made-to-measure traditions, as if it had been built around the rider. It is a real pleasure these days to come across a machine that fits you, instead of your having to adapt to something clearly made for someone else.

The engine is a first-rate example of the breed, it delivers its 63.4kW of power at a modest, by modern standards, 7,500rpm. It churns out a useful 88.8Nm of torque at 6,000rpm.

What came as a huge surprise was the brakes. It uses the same Sumitomos that Yamaha fit to their R1, R6 and Fazer machines, so you would expect them to be good. Even that does not prepare you for their almost incredible stopping power. The result feels every bit as good as the most high-tech, servo assisted braking system favoured by BMW.

Brakes like that give enormous confidence, perhaps for some over-confidence, which is why it is good to know that there is an ABS option for an additional €700.

The front forks, under heavy braking, struck us as being on the soft side, but they can be adjusted to suit your riding style.

It has a 6-speed gearbox, though with all that useful torque it really is not necessary to have that many gears. The sixth gear is a genuine 1.08 overdrive, ideal for laid-back cruising and relaxed progress.

We found the handlebar height to be perfect and the mirrors are ideally placed. The instruments are an analogue rev counter and an LCD Speedo which also provides the usual mass of additional information. Clutch control is cable and we found it a bit sharp in operation.

We also found, after a time, that the seat was a trifle hard for perfection; both rider's and pillion's scored just 70 per cent. Roadholding is very good indeed, the Dunlop Sportsmax tyres giving good grip in a wide variety of conditions. Acceleration is 4.95 secs 0-100km/h, perfectly adequate if not in the sports bike category, but perceptibly slower than Honda's Varadero or Suzuki's DL 1000 V-Strom.

Top speed, if you insist, is around the 218km/h mark. The 20 litre tank can give a range of more than 270km.

Priced €10,500, or €11,200 for the ABS model, it is noticeably less expensive than the Honda Varadero, Triumph's 1050 Tiger, or Suzuki DL 1000 V-Strom.

FactFile

ENGINE: Liquid-cooled, 897cc 4-stroke, 5-valve, forward inclined DOHC parallel twin. 63.4Kw @7700, Torque 88.8 Nm @ 6000 rpm. Six gears, chain drive.

CHASSIS: Aluminium diamond frame, Telescopic front forks. Front wheel 18" 120/70 dual disks 298mm dia. Rear wheel 17" 160/60 single 245mm dia disk.

DIMENSIONS: Seat height: 825mm; Dry weight: 192kg; Wheelbase: 1485mm; Fuel: 20 litres.

PRICE: €10,500 plus €700 for the ABS version (TDM 900A)



<!--quoteo(post=23216:date=Wed 29th Nov 2006, 01:13 PM:name=OwenMc)-->QUOTE(OwenMc @ Wed 29th Nov 2006, 01:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Met him myself on a couple of the Irish Iron Butt runs - nice enough guy, with a few
stories to tell :-) He was doing one of 'em on a Harley with a sheepskin saddle-cover
as I recall.
....<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

And before someone asks, he was riding the TRIP on the a Harley with a sheepskin
saddle-cover.

Having met the man, it wouldn't surprise me if he'd not done a few other things
on a Harley with a sheepskin saddle-cover, but I can't comment on that!

[iand1947]

Who's not shy then? Good move, good article (at last).

Rather than "rebirth" (as it never went away) I think they mean "cloning"?

[duibhceK]

tx Owen

pretty nice article, although I do question their 270km mileage on 1 tank. I'm not even close to reserve at 270! And I do tend to ride "a tad on the aggressive side"
But otherwise a nice picture of the TDM's all-roundness.

[steveglover]

Has the TDM ever had a bad review?
The problem for the TDM is that it just doesn't cut it in the bragging rights down the pub:

"My Fireblade weighs just 160kg" - about the same as the rider.
"My Honda Pan European can cross continents" - so how come the furthest you've been is to the cafe up the A6?
"In the right hands my R1 can lap the Isle of Mann at 130mph" - in your hands it'll be lucky to get to the chippy.

[Guest]

Hi OwenMc,

Are you an ex-pat, or do you just read all the international papers? I'm from Cork meself, but it wasn't wet enough, so I came to Scotland

[Matlock]

Good article, thanks for posting it Owenmc. 11200 euros for the ABS model sounds steep. I make that 7566 UK pounds. Are bikes a tad more expensive over the water, or is that comparable to the UK list price (which nobody ever seems to pay)?

[AL-58]

<!--quoteo(post=23237:date=Thu 30th Nov 2006, 03:38 AM:name=duibhce Kaelann)-->QUOTE(duibhce Kaelann @ Thu 30th Nov 2006, 03:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->tx Owen

pretty nice article, although I do question their 270km mileage on 1 tank. I'm not even close to reserve at 270! And I do tend to ride "a tad on the aggressive side"
But otherwise a nice picture of the TDM's all-roundness.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


I see that in just about every magazine article I've ever read. I think that journo's can't get the same fuel mileage results as we do in the real world as they are mostly testing the performance of the bike during the short period it's in their hands, more throttle means more fuel so the results are always skewed.

I can usually rely on my 900 for 400kms without worrying.

It's a good article just the same, not written by some guy that just wants to ride sportsbikes.

Those quoting the history of Yamaha twins, dont forgot the disastrous TX500(my first Yamaha and Yamahas first 4 valve per cylinder engine) and the TX750!

Al

[OwenMc]

<!--quoteo(post=23254:date=Wed 29th Nov 2006, 08:42 PM:name=Emmett)-->QUOTE(Emmett @ Wed 29th Nov 2006, 08:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Hi OwenMc,

Are you an ex-pat, or do you just read all the international papers? I'm from Cork meself, but it wasn't wet enough, so I came to Scotland <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Armagh. Over here a few years - didn't like working in Dublin. Sure you understand :-)

[wicklamulla]

<!--quoteo(post=23285:date=Thu 30th Nov 2006, 09:38 AM:name=OwenMc)-->QUOTE(OwenMc @ Thu 30th Nov 2006, 09:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Armagh. Over here a few years - didn't like working in Dublin. Sure you understand :-)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->



ya feckers them Jackeens aint they

TX 750, me mate bought a mint condition imported one of those bout 12 years back, tink she was from 1972 ?? Danfay Distributers (Yamaha Ireland) offered him alorra punts to sell it but he hung onto it ferra while afore passing it onto anudder member of the "local brudderhood"

[tdm850rider]

<!--quoteo(post=23251:date=Wed 29th Nov 2006, 03:25 PM:name=SteveGlover)-->QUOTE(SteveGlover @ Wed 29th Nov 2006, 03:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Has the TDM ever had a bad review?
The problem for the TDM is that it just doesn't cut it in the bragging rights down the pub:

"My Fireblade weighs just 160kg" - about the same as the rider.
"My Honda Pan European can cross continents" - so how come the furthest you've been is to the cafe up the A6?
"In the right hands my R1 can lap the Isle of Mann at 130mph" - in your hands it'll be lucky to get to the chippy.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

One of the first articles on the TDM850 I ever read had a line in it that hit me as spot-on then and still applies now.

<!--coloro:#CC0000--><!--/coloro-->"Yamaha built the TDM850 for the mature rider who isn't interested in impressing anyone but himself"<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc-->

Works for me.

This post was last modified: 01-12-2006, 09:43 PM by tdm850rider.

[Guest]

<!--quoteo(post=23423:date=Fri 1st Dec 2006, 09:26 PM:name=tdm850rider)-->QUOTE(tdm850rider @ Fri 1st Dec 2006, 09:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->One of the first articles on the TDM850 I ever read had a line in it that hit me as spot-on then and still applies now.

<div align="center"><!--coloro:#CC0000--><!--/coloro-->"Yamaha built the TDM850 for the mature rider who isn't interested in impressing anyone but himself"<!--colorc-->
<!--/colorc-->

Works for me. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I resent that Thomas, I'm totally immature, and everyone in the world is really impressed by me................................................right guys?

[duibhceK]

<!--quoteo(post=23530:date=Sat 2nd Dec 2006, 11:52 PM:name=Emmett)-->QUOTE(Emmett @ Sat 2nd Dec 2006, 11:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I resent that Thomas, I'm totally immature, and everyone in the world is really impressed by me................................................right guys?
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I used to have a signature that said:

"I believe it is possible to become an adult, I just haven't met anyone yet that succeeded."

[OwenMc]

<!--quoteo(post=23592:date=Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 11:16 AM:name=duibhce Kaelann)-->QUOTE(duibhce Kaelann @ Sun 3rd Dec 2006, 11:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I used to have a signature that said:

"I believe it is possible to become an adult, I just haven't met anyone yet that succeeded."
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'll stick with the "Growing older is obligatory, growing up is optional..."

Not sure where the 'growing rounder' fits into that, but I fear it's not optional any more...

[robelst]

<!--quoteo(post=23721:date=Mon 4th Dec 2006, 11:16 AM:name=OwenMc)-->QUOTE(OwenMc @ Mon 4th Dec 2006, 11:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'll stick with the "Growing older is obligatory, growing up is optional..."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Hmm, but what about "<i>everyone wants to live longer, but nobody wants to grow old</i>"?