Yamaha TDM 850

[MonsterM636]

Any one own or have an opinion on this bike "Yamaha TDM 850"not sure of the year .
A friend of a friend up in VT just bought one and was asking/wondering about the rear tire feeling a little bit twitchy when taking corners .
my first opinion was get a wider tire with a soft compound ,after checking the basics, tire pressure ,tread-were and stiffening the rear shock/suspension .
honestly I don't know much about bike mods beside the fact that I like to ride them .all I know (think I know) it is a V-Twin Dual sport bored out to 900

opinions and comments welcome .

[stoinkythepig]

Those were cool bikes but not popular (I suppose that's what happens when you name a bike "tedium"). If the tire is more than 3 or 4 years old, it's probably just hard due to age.

I don't think the TDM is a V-twin, my recollection is it's a parallel twin.

[markbvt]

TDMs are cool bikes but very rare in the US. I think Yamaha only sold them here for two years in the early '90s. They're sort of quasi-adventure bikes, sort of halfway between a sport-touring bike and a V-Strom (they even have 18" front wheels).

I would guess that the suspension is not particularly good... and I agree that your buddy should check the tire.

--mark

[Karaya One]

Those were cool bikes but not popular (I suppose that's what happens when you name a bike "tedium"). If the tire is more than 3 or 4 years old, it's probably just hard due to age.

I don't think the TDM is a V-twin, my recollection is it's a parallel twin.

Age has nothing to do with tire condition. It's all about how they were stored and treated when used.

The TDM is a liquid cooled parallel twin. It's part of a rather large family of motors that continue now with the new Super Tenere'. A very cool bike that never took off here in the states.

[RandyO]

my understanding is that the TDMs parallel twin has a 270° crank that gives it the characteristics & sound of a v-twin

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

Sounds like he needs to check his Tire pressure

[breakdirt916]

I love dirt bikes, so enough sex talk and let's make this thread worth something with pictures





edit, on 2nd thought, they're fugly (especially with duct tape holding the upper fairing)...but sound like fun!

[Stromper]

I looked to buy one for a while and never found one.

Old bikes tires etc have problems

It was a maxim to to look at the other end ie the front tire

[tonyd]

I would make sure it has the correct size and matched rubber on it.
Then check that rear tire is alighned and he's not doing the crabwalk.
Check suspension at both ends is working properly.

Also may want to consider the chance that something on the bike is not straight. 20 years alot can happen. There was a TDM in VT area that kept coming up for sale on craiglist that had been put thru the wringer, if thats the one he's got... good luck.

[MonsterM636]

Thanks for the info guys .
I sure will find out more about the bike history and condition ,weird that it has a 18 in front never knew that .
another question looking the last Picture is this defined a a Dirt Bike or Dual Sport Bike ,if so dose it come with on/off road tires from the factory as displayed or can one get Street tires such as Metzler M3 or Pilot Power/2CT ?

[tonyd]

silver pic above is stock trim.
White one is... um... not.

[Stromper]

I have been looking into tires

There was a batch of I think Continental Road Attacks (or other continental) about 3 years ago which were recalled because they cause squirm... It was for those who complained got them replaced. ALSO a few dual sport tires are biased ply that would seem squirmy to people with radial experience. Even tires with the same NAME are produced in biased and radial carcass.

After my look see It appears that Michelin Anakee 2 wins the value performance review.

Karaya (?) says the rears are dual compound

I would also change and/or top off fork juice... maybe empty for all you know

[markbvt]

another question looking the last Picture is this defined a a Dirt Bike or Dual Sport Bike ,if so dose it come with on/off road tires from the factory as displayed or can one get Street tires such as Metzler M3 or Pilot Power/2CT ?

That last pic isn't even a TDM. Looks to me like a modified early-'90s Super Ténéré -- used the same engine as the TDM, but it was a purpose-built dual-sport along the same lines as the Honda Africa Twin or BMW R100GS/PD. The forks are not original -- no one was fitting USD forks to this type of bike back then...

The TDM is primarily a street bike that can handle some dirt roads now and then. And it'll primarily wear street rubber, as dual-sport tires in an 18" front are basically nonexistent.

--mark

[bobivey]

I bought one from Valley Motorsports nearly new (also traded it back to them). From what I remember it was kind of slow and the suspension was very soft. The weird bug eye headlights turned people off. It was an OK bike but I do not regret selling it.

Bob