Top Motorcycle

In Europe, the bike has enjoyed continual success and the motor from the TDM 850 even found its way into other models. This has raised the TDM 850 to cult status with many of its owners stateside, who refuse to part with them. There are TDM 850 clubs and a couple of web sites including the TDM 850 List at www.interlog.com. This makes finding one for yourself rather difficult, but a few are on the market if you look hard enough. So ride the street, ride the dirt, ride what you like.

TDM 850

TDM 850

TDM 850

The engine is shared with TDM 850 model (which is aimed squarely at the owner market) and the new engine sounds exactly like an Italian V-twin. Its an addictive sound. Get the engine spinning at 4000 rpm, grab a handful of throttle and listen to that beautifully uneven twin cylinder roar from 5000 to 7000 rpm.

TDM 850

TDM 850 s latest version of its five-year-old "Adventure Sports" model, the TDM 850, has undergone a transformation as subtle as a Mike Tyson proposition. The yellow and silver colour scheme adopted for this year makes the TDM 850 one of the most striking motorcycles TDM 850 has ever produced.

TDM 850

TDM 850  has taken a page out of the book of the Euro design houses that have resulted in such design "masterpieces" as the Bimota Mantra and Aprilia Moto 6.5. TDM 850 has produced a bike whose looks match the image it is trying to project and raise the expectations of prospective owners. Perhaps these expectations have been raised a touch too high, as the TDM 850, whilst a blast to ride, still suffers from a few of the nagging problems that compromised its success in the past.

TDM 850

                                                                                                                                                                 As TDM 850 evolves the TDM 850, it has been concentrating on updating the chassis. This year the front fork tube diameter has gone up 2 mm to 43 mm, and the previous rubber mounting of the handlebars has been jettisoned. There is some disagreement about the effectiveness of the Michelin Macadam radials that come standard on the bike, but we found them to be well-suited to the TDM 850, which felt planted on all road surfaces. The brakes are excellent, with good linear feel and enough power to stand the bike on its head.

TDM 850

The TDM 850 grew out of Yamahas earlier big bore dual-sport, the TDM 850 Super Tenere (pronounced "ten-ray"). The Tenere, which was a "Europe only" bike, was developed for the Dakar rally and was aimed at competing with top selling TDM 850.

TDM 850

It was a real move into the future for TDM 850with its forward angled twin, which was water-cooled and had five valves per cylinder. The motor was essentially half a sport bike four in a beefy off-road chassis complete with a half fairing and a bash guard under the motor. TDM 850The bike was well received in Europe. Although, it wasnt officially exported to the U.S., some stateside rally enthusiasts lusted after it.

TDM 850

When I first saw the TDM 850 I was immediately taken with its height. It is not that its overly massive; its just that the TDM 850 s long legs give it commanding stature, belying its dirt ancestry. The seat is approximately 33 inches off the tarmac, meaning riders much under 58 will have trouble balancing at a stop.

TDM 850

When you come around to the front of the machine the two bug eye head lamps jutting out from the bottom of the minimalist fairing jump out and say This look is borrowed from the rally bikes and gives the TDM 850 a very European flair.

TDM 850

The motor TDM 850 hangs below it as a stressed member of the chassis. This gives the bike a very firm feel, and when combined with a nice suspension setup, it keeps the bike planted on all but the worst roads.

TDM 850