TDM 850 anyone?

**motordude** · #1 21 Mar 2008

Hello,
I fancy a TDM, got my eye on a couple, one is a 91 the other a 93. Any known problems? Any opinions on this bike regarding reliability etc. What kind of milage to expect before major trouble?

**dathaifrench** · #2 21 Mar 2008

All depends on what you want to do with it.

Mine was fine, 50,000 miles including a two-up 3 week blast to Morocco
and a few thousand-mile days. (Stockholm to Stuttgart).
Still going well apart from a tendency to drain batteries.
Engine is reliable, handling is great, bike is comfortable
and all quite economic.

The 96 or later models are a lot nicer. (Mine was 1997)

DF

**Walkabout** · #3 21 Mar 2008

............. There's some information in this thread about the TDM850 and the TDM900:-
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...50-900-a-29374

**Warthog** · #4 21 Mar 2008

I had a 1996 180 degree crank model. A great bike.

The only complaints I had were a pants gearbox: smotth changes, especially after the silky TL1000S 'box, were a distant memory, but you learn to live with it, and very bouncy suspension: I ended up changing the fork oil and getting firmer springs...

Recommend it though....

**mollydog** · #5 21 Mar 2008

If you must have one, save your pence and get the new version,

**Flyingdoctor** · #6 21 Mar 2008

I had my 91 850 with the 360 deg crank for 14 years and miss it. I replaced it with a 270 deg 900 and hated the power delivery. Gutless below 4k where my 850 was grunty. Voltage regulators fail on early ones fit one off an R1 or other good replacement. All the info you could need on carpetdm.com

Ok on gravel but like any road bike when it gets soft you have to gas it to get the front end light. You quickly run out of revs and skill! The gearbox is agricultural but strong. It's nice to have the valve clearance check at 24,000 mile intervals though. Also finding 18" front tyres can be a pain. People have fitted rears in reverse to get around this though.

If you find the right bike go for it.

**samson** · #7 21 Mar 2008

we use a 92 in the bikeshop as replacementbike to give with the people when there bike is in the shop , so the bike is not wel treated every time an outher would be pilot. but the bike has no problems it has 60000 km .the only thing is it uses a lot of oil test it a longe time and then diside