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I have owned quite a few motorcycles,
the YAMAHA TDM850 is by far my favorite.
The TDM850 was only
available in the US
in the 1992 and 1993 model
years.
A shame as many missed out on a great bike.
(The last TDM850's have been sold, it's now the TDM900)
In an 11 bike comparison called 'Super Standards'
in the May 1993 issue of
Cycle World the editors
finished the article on
the Yamaha TDM850 with
a paragraph that would
turn out to be all to true.
"Unfortunately, because it's looks are a bit off-putting, the TDM
may be destined for nothing greater than cult status. That's
too bad. It deserves better than that.
So does
Yamaha for having the nerve to produce it."
Well, if this is
cult status I'm perfectly happy with it,
and I'm not alone... it just seems
that way.
Original
carpe-tdm ( read only ).
Link to the new carpe-tdm
Cycle World had a
few other comments ...
"... an
extremely competent motorcycle that is an absolute blast to
ride."
"...
several of our test riders picked the TDM as the best of this
bunch of 11 bikes."
"The
overall excellence of the bike's suspension, and the
outstanding torque of its engine, make the
bike
wonderful on winding back roads, where its nimbleness and
ability to leap out of corners
combine to make a well-ridden
TDM a tiger
that's capable of embarrassing full-on sport bikes."
The competition:
BMW K75,
BMW 100R,
Harley Davidson Dyna Low-rider,
Harley Davidson Sportster 883,
Honda CB750,
Honda CB1000,
Kawasaki ZR1100,
Suzuki 1100G,
Suzuki VX800,
Yamaha TDM850,
Yamaha V-Max
* In 1993 they wondered if the TDM850
was only destined for 'Cult Status'...
By the time the TDM900 superseded the
TDM850 over 85,000 had been sold.
Not too shabby for a 'niche' bike. The
TDM900 is carrying on the tradition.
YAMAHA DESIGN CAFE
Registered user's only.
And this is it,
but still
not available in the US market.
Do you ride a
motorcycle?
Are you thinking of
getting one?
Check into the
Motorcycle Safety Foundation first,
you can never know
too much and there's a MSF course near you...
(click the logo)
It could be free where you
live, and they even provide the bikes.
Consider this your
invitation...
They know a lot more about bikes that that guy down the
street.
(I don't care how
many tattoos he has!)
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