It's still gone

[MrNice]

Hi folks, found my way here at last Thanks to Guiness for all his hard work.

You might remember my beautiful TDM was nicked a couple of weeks ago, well if you don't, it was and I was very upset, still am. Chain yer bike to something solid boys and girls, I'm sure they just picked it up and shoved it in a van.

But the silver lining to this particular cloud is that I am now the proud owner of an 03 KTM 950 adventure which is an absolute beast of a thing with astonishing suspension and I'm very very pleased. Sorry if I'm dribbling, I've only had it 2 days. It's alarmed, disclocked and parked behind a locked gate (the TDM used to sit on the drive) while I count the pennies for a big chain and a ground anchor.

Weird to have the forum change just at the same time as I changed bikes though.

I'm not deserting, I like it here, look I even bothered to register! I'll just be spending more time at ADVrider and KTMtalk.

[wicklamulla]

darea lovely bike Mr. Nice, hope you enjoy it to the full and have many miles of good weather with the sun on yer face and the wind on yer back !!!

[cwaltmil]

<!--quoteo(post=38:date=Mar 16 2006, 08:33 PM:name=wicklamulla)-->QUOTE(wicklamulla @ Mar 16 2006, 08:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->darea lovely bike Mr. Nice, hope you enjoy it to the full and have many miles of good weather with the sun on yer face and the wind on yer back !!!<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
yep, I agree the KTM is a nice bike if a bit strange looking to my eye. Funny thing, you can drive an ugly car and you don't have to look at it but ride an ugly bike...
BTW, I HATE bike thieves!!!

[Guest]

Nice bike that is - definitely one I would consider if I were changing my TDM for ...something else ..... oooh look this smiley looks like a BMW ->

[wicklamulla]

<!--quoteo(post=92:date=Mar 17 2006, 06:30 PM:name=John Paul)-->QUOTE(John Paul @ Mar 17 2006, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Nice bike that is - definitely one I would consider if I were changing my TDM for ...something else ..... oooh look this smiley looks like a BMW -> <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->



pmsl very good JP, so it does. the only thing i'd be concerned about is the cost of maintaining a KTM as even the dealers say services take up alot in labour time, plus the cost of a rebuild if the rear cylinder melts down and the thang is out of warranty a real beauty of a bike all the same, just look at the vfm they are say compared to that beemer 1200 gs or the HP2 version.

This post was last modified: 17-03-2006, 06:39 PM by wicklamulla.

[Guest]

I'd love a new bike, any one want to buy two TDMs for an enormous amount of money, I'll consider a part exchange for a 1200gs(with some money going my way of course)

[MrNice]

<!--quoteo(post=93:date=Fri 17th Mar 2006, 06:37 PM:name=wicklamulla)-->QUOTE(wicklamulla @ Fri 17th Mar 2006, 06:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->the only thing i'd be concerned about is the cost of maintaining a KTM<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yep that's a bit of a worry to me too. It needs a major service every 9000 which was roughly my annual mileage on the TDM, they reckon £275 for that. I can do the minor services once it's out of warranty, the main prob seems to be taking all the plastic and the petrol tanks off to get at the filter and plugs, but I haven't looked closely yet. I don't suppose it eats tyres and brakes any faster than anything else of similar weight and performance. I've heard reports of early water pump failure, and there have been several 'Technical Bulletins' put out by the factory which involve minor mods, but it's had all those done. Just hope it's reliable!

It has it's drawbacks - the engine vibrates more than the TDM, it has a raw sort of feel to it. The high mounted exhausts get very hot and they're quite close to the pillion grabrails and they would make it very wide with panniers. The cable routing above the bars makes it awkward to get the ignition key in. Plus it'd be a bit intimidating for the short of leg (I'm 6'-4" )

I went over to see a friend in the next village this evening and took a couple of single-track roads that I'd be quite cautious on normally and it just floats over potholes, bumps and gravel and suddenly I can go as quick as I dare, in this case about 60 where I'd probably do 30-40 on the TDM due to the state of the road. It is just SO confidence inspiring. I mean I'm impressed by all of it, but the suspension is just amazing to me. Clearly I'm never going to trouble it's limits! I've been riding over crap road surfaces on purpose and nothing seems to worry it.

Sorry I'm dribbling again.

[daveinthailand]

All this talk of other bikes...

Actually, I'm planning to buy a Tiger in a few weeks when I come home to UK. Keeping the TDM in Thailand, though. After all, I've just 'modified' it; detauls in another post.

[Guest]

The tiger's a bit long legged for me, they're supposed to have a new one out soon, 1050 motor et al, that's only according to MCN, who never let the truth get in the way of a good story
If it's true though, you might get a good deal on a second hander.

[wicklamulla]

Mr. Noice does it have the stock zorst system fitted???? and i wonder if it has catholic converters shoved doon the cans ala TDM 900 which would probably cause heat build up ???? maybe a change of end cans would cool it doon abit and make pannier fitting a bit easier. u gonna show us a few pics then or leave us with these woodies ???

[Guest]

You say the KTM would be wide with panniers, but the TDM with genuine Yamaha panniers is very wide too! I try to avoid using them as much as poss - pain for filtering!!!

I wonder how widths compare, against TDM's with other manufacturers panniers, the KTM and my Yamaha jobbies? Anyone care to get their tape measures out?

[MrNice]

<!--quoteo(post=213:date=Sat 18th Mar 2006, 07:54 PM:name=wicklamulla)-->QUOTE(wicklamulla @ Sat 18th Mar 2006, 07:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Mr. Noice does it have the stock zorst system fitted???? and i wonder if it has catholic converters shoved doon the cans ala TDM 900 which would probably cause heat build up ???? maybe a change of end cans would cool it doon abit and make pannier fitting a bit easier. u gonna show us a few pics then or leave us with these woodies ???<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It does indeed have der catholic converters (love your (ab)use of language ) and that is probably why it gets so hot, I hadn't thought of that. Akrapovics are available, but strangely I'm feeling a bit skint all of a sudden... will try and work out how wide it actually would be with panniers, but anything wider than the bars makes me nervous.

Haven't taken any piccies yet, will do tomorrow, got to take some of the Fazer too an get it in the Autotrader quick, get some money back in de bank.

[daveinthailand]

<!--quoteo(post=223:date=Sat 18th Mar 2006, 08:33 PM:name=John Paul)-->QUOTE(John Paul @ Sat 18th Mar 2006, 08:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->You say the KTM would be wide with panniers, but the TDM with genuine Yamaha panniers is very wide too! I try to avoid using them as much as poss - pain for filtering!!!<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

It's unlikely to be as wide as these jobbies

I've ordered the system but don't actually own a Tiger yet. Planning to get to the UK, buy a s/h Tiger, fit the panniers and get a boat to Spain. All within a week. I think the UK may still be a bit cold for me.

[Guest]

I just got a pair of 41 litre Givi panniers and they come out to almost exactly handle bar length, I won't be using them for day to day use, they're just too big. I'll put in a pic later.

What make are those panniers dave? I was looking for something like that from metal-mule, but they had no rack for a tdm.

This post was last modified: 19-03-2006, 10:52 AM by Emmett.

[wicklamulla]

i would only consider them panniers if i was goin overland, which i suppose Dave is, as they are supposed to be mega strong and fairly resistant to crashing and theft via C4 xplosive. Emmett im sure if ya had plenty of money they would fabricate a rack for yer TDM.

[Guest]

<!--quoteo(post=265:date=Sun 19th Mar 2006, 10:45 AM:name=wicklamulla)-->QUOTE(wicklamulla @ Sun 19th Mar 2006, 10:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->i would only consider them panniers if i was goin overland, which i suppose Dave is, as they are supposed to be mega strong and fairly resistant to crashing and theft via C4 xplosive. Emmett im sure if ya had plenty of money they would fabricate a rack for yer TDM.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Well they said the'd send me the plate and I could build a suitable rack around it, but to be honest if I had plenty of money I dunno if I'd be ridin an old 850, maybe such an adventure type pannier would look daft on a tdm, it's a bit too sporty lookin for 'em.

[wicklamulla]

<!--quoteo(post=268:date=Sun 19th Mar 2006, 10:51 AM:name=Emmett)-->QUOTE(Emmett @ Sun 19th Mar 2006, 10:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Well they said the'd send me the plate and I could build a suitable rack around it, but to be honest if I had plenty of money I dunno if I'd be ridin an old 850, maybe such an adventure type pannier would look daft on a tdm, it's a bit too sporty lookin for 'em. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


ott more like, imo.

[MrNice]

Well here's a pic of the orange beastie (assuming this works - never done it before) With apologies for intruding it into the TDM forum, well someone did ask.

*$%6&8) splutter! It doesn't work for me must be doing something wrong

Look here instead.

[daveinthailand]

<!--quoteo(post=459:date=Tue 21st Mar 2006, 12:20 AM:name=MrNice)-->QUOTE(MrNice @ Tue 21st Mar 2006, 12:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Well here's a pic of the orange beastie (assuming this works - never done it before) With apologies for intruding it into the TDM forum, well someone did ask.

*$%6&8) splutter! It doesn't work for me must be doing something wrong

Look here instead.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Cool bike. How fast does it go, Mistah?

Have a quick look over that hedge to make sure no one's waiting for you to turn your back....

[daveinthailand]

<!--quoteo(post=262:date=Sun 19th Mar 2006, 10:34 AM:name=Emmett)-->QUOTE(Emmett @ Sun 19th Mar 2006, 10:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->What make are those panniers dave? I was looking for something like that from metal-mule, but they had no rack for a tdm.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
These are Touratech
http://www.touratech.de/shop_uk/enter.html
from Germany. They don't do a fitting for the TDM.

I wanted the British Metal Mule alternative but they cost another UKP113 and they need 21-28 days to deliver. The Teutons, typically, can get them to you mere moments after you place the order. Pretty much all the overlanders we have met had the Touratechs and nobody had the Metal Mules.

The boxes are well OTT but we're camping across Europe and into Morocco then back and into Russia. I want the camera, KAIPOD, etc, in a locked metal box bolted to the bike. To be honest, the image of the Tiger could do with a lift as even drug-influenced colours can't stop it being a bit BOF. I think the big pan ears will at least give it an adventure look.

I'm planning to bring the big box back to Thailand, with a mounting hoop, and get it fixed to the TDM. I had a rack made from stainless steel for UKP40 and the same guy will be able to mount the box/hoop to the TDM and, hopefully, make a 'short' box to go on the right, over the exhaust. I can only get the big box on because my TDM has a 2-1 exhaust. My TDM is black and silver so big ally boxes might not look too bad.