Krusty's new ride

I've bitten the bullet and turned blue, traded the faithful ZZR250 for a Yamaha TDM900, I couldn't wait for the GTR to be released and was feeling sorry for the zzr reving at 8000rpm when I did 110km/h (9000rpm before I changed sprockets). I did a ride to Adelaide on the zzr and didn't want to do it again.
I would have kept the ZZR for the girlfriend but her feet can't touch the ground, we're investigating how she will go on a 500cc cruiser a collegue has.

I rode a 2001 850 last year and liked it. After looking at what was available in the tourer type bikes I settled on the tdm, living 300km from the nearest mechanic I was attracted to the service schedule - 10000km minors and valves at 40000km. I looked at some older tourers but decided something fresh would be nice.

Another bonus is now I'm 25, the insurance on the TDM is $250 cheaper that what I was paying on the zzr.

The exhaust is very quiet (86dB @ 50% vs 89dB on the zzr), which is a shame as the 270 degree crank gives the parallel twin a v-twin sound, but is good for killing km. Might get some pipes once finances allow.

The ride down to Pt Augusta on the ZZR the day before pick up will be memorable, its a 280km trip and it rained for 220km. I had booked to stay overnight at a motor-inn where they are regrading the access road and had a muddy bog hole to ride the zzr through, I'm lucky I didn't get bogged, the zzr was covered in mud. I picked up the TDM the next morning but luckly it only rained between the bike shop and the petrol station.

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Access to the motor-inn

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thats one cool bike mate

hmmm, a little birdy told me that these bikes run a 18" front wheel ? And the tyre fitted to said rim has some sporting pretensions ????

Whats the go ? Is it 18" If it is, I would be interested to know what the exact size of the rim is, and what size tyre is, one or 2 of my old dungers have 18" front rims, and finding good tyres for a 18" front end is like finding a tight arse on Oxford St.........

Enjoy champ looks like you have all the dirt you could ever want for it .

The front is a 120/70 R18 (18xMT 3.50 rim) and rear is 160/60 R17 (17xMT 5.00), tyres are Metzeler Z4, although the Europeans find the Z6's or Bridgestone BT020 better for grip, not really suitable for dirt. Brakes are good (similar to y2k R1) but the 6' fork travel will never bring out their full potential. In europe ABS (but not switchable ) is an option but they don't do it here.

Fitting enduro tyres (apart from being a pain for for sizing, especially the front) greatly sacrifices on road performance.

The older 850 ran 18xMT 3 rims with 110/80 R18 rubber, tyre options are here http://jbx9.free.fr/TDM/index.php?show=text&page=TYRES

thanks Krusty, much appreciated. Will check out that link. It may have been the older 850 that I was told about, for similiar size 18" rims to the rims I have.....

cheers

well i dont think kwaka make one of those style mosters...so i guess we can forgive ya...

why didnt u let me kno u were in adelaide??

u still working roxby??

congrats..

Kawasaki have the Versys in Europe http://www.kawasaki.co.uk/Versys/?Id=3400A8FB008 its basically a detuned ER6 that has been TDMified (bigger fuel tank and longer suspension travel). It would be good it they sold it here and prehaps give it some more cc's, would place it amoung the TDM, Aprilia Capnord, Cagiva Navigator, BMW F800, Suzuki DL1000 and Ducati Multistrada. According to reviews TDM is the most comfy and I believe them. Its not all bad, I still have my gpz250 in Sydney which I'll finish when I move back.

I'm still up in Roxby. When I get my unit here I might make an offer on a 750 turbo that is in our carpark in much need of tlc.

I had the ZZR in Adelaide on the Australia Day weekend, I've been back since but only in the car.
I didn't get it in Adelaide, but from a dealer in Pt Augusta.

I tired to talk the deal over the phone but I think they were getting too many sales to give me a deal worth me traveling 6 hours. Pt Augusta is only 3 hours away so I didn't need to waste a weekend to go there and I was happy with their offer, plus I got customer service (always found the regional shops better and you don't have to worry about slipping on the glazed floor tiles)

Yamaha world's price was insulting (but they did call be back), Bills was ok but took a week to call back and I never heard back from Pitmans.

well even if ur in ade in the car...the beer is cold and the food can be hot....

let us kno and we can meet up for a beer or sumthin with a few of the boys...

I'll probably be in Adelaide in May, I'll let you know if I'll have time to catch up, I stay at the gf's parents place near Campbelltown

I'll probably be in Adelaide in May, I'll let you know if I'll have time to catch up, I stay at the gf's parents place near Campbelltown

thats only 10min from the city.... surely u can find a nite for a beer and a feed with the crew??..let us kno..