After reading about a few members buying new bikes lately, I decided the time was overdue to add a new one to my shed. Went to Sydney two weeks ago, to buy a new car for my wife. Our old Commodore (20 years old) was getting a bit unreliable in recent times, so it was time to replace it. Found a late model for not much money so we bought it.
As we were in Sydney, I suggested to head into the city centre and have a look at a bike that I had been looking at on a popular bike sales web site. The bike was in great condition. To my huge surprise, my wife suggested that she buy it for me. After a short negotiation we settled on a price and signed on the dotted line. 2009 Yamaha TDM 900 20,000klm's on the dial. It will eventually become my Adventure bike for some off-road use. When finances permit, dual-sport tyres, engine guards and sump and exhaust protection will be added. In the mean time, it's a great handling , surprisingly fast fun bike to ride on the roads around here. Yes, the FJ is still in my shed. Pete.
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/8/536_03_05_15_1_16_05.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/8/536_03_05_15_1_43_27.jpeg)
Looks good Pete, I am partial to 650 v stroms and can see one in my future. They really are a good compromise for Aust conditions. Just have to talk the wife into buying me one. How did you manage that ??
Quote from: stua1959 on May 10, 2015, 05:50:12 AM
Looks good Pete, I am partial to 650 v stroms and can see one in my future. They really are a good compromise for Aust conditions. Just have to talk the wife into buying me one. How did you manage that ??
G'day Stu, I also thought long and hard about the 650 V Strom but after riding one, I wanted something with a bit more power. The FJ kind of spoils you in that regard, so I opted for the bigger displacement. A Triumph Tiger was also on my list but are a lot more dollars than the TDM.
It was a big surprise to me when the wife suggested that she buy it. I guess she thinks the more bikes I have the less she has to see of me? Just joking. She's a great wife and I wouldn't swap her for anything.
Don't leave it too long to buy a V Strom. There's some awesome scenery and experiences out in the bush.
Regards, Pete.
Pete,
Congrats on your new wheels.
Use it in good health, and don't forget to exercise the FJ occasionally :-)
Nice one Pete. A set of big block knobbys will do the dual sport thing. Better plan a trip down to Adventure with you.
:good2:
Quote from: Arnie on May 10, 2015, 10:05:30 AM
Pete,
Congrats on your new wheels.
Use it in good health, and don't forget to exercise the FJ occasionally :-)
Thanks Arnie, the FJ certainly will not be neglected. It's still the bike I ride when I feel the need for speed.
Richard, you're welcome down here any time mate. Not going overboard with full-on knobs just yet. The front wheel is an odd-ball size being 18". The common fix for this is to run a rear tyre (correct size) on the front, in reverse rotation direction. From all reports that I've read, this does not cause any problems.
No shortage of Adventure riders down here. Seems to be the trendy thing to be doing these days. Not saying that I'm trendy but it's a great way to pass time. Not too many cops in your rear vision mirrors either, which is another attraction for me to be heading bush.
Regards, Pete. :good2:
Nice one Pete! I'm sure you'll get much fun from it. I'll be down in a couple of weeks for a look-see.
Excellent Pete. Always wanted a TDM, they do get rave reviews from owners. It's not a KTM 900, but they will do an admiral job on dirt roads/tracks with the mods you have planned, :good2:
Quote from: Troyskie on May 11, 2015, 04:24:02 AM
Nice one Pete! I'm sure you'll get much fun from it. I'll be down in a couple of weeks for a look-see.
G'day Troy, keen to hear how the dyno day goes. I'd love to get mine dyno'd one day, just to see how the jetting is and make changes if necessary. Be good to catch-up for a ride and a coffee chat.
Cheers, Pete. :drinks:
Quote from: X-Ray on May 11, 2015, 04:43:36 AM
Excellent Pete. Always wanted a TDM, they do get rave reviews from owners. It's not a KTM 900, but they will do an admiral job on dirt roads/tracks with the mods you have planned, :good2:
G'day Ray, yep, it's a great bike. Easy to see why the reviews are so good. With the right mods they make a great adventure bike. Mine came fitted with a full Leo Vince exhaust system. This, combined with the 270 degree crank, makes it sound very much like a Ducati. Puts a smile on my face every time I start it, which gets even bigger when I ride it. Looking forward to getting it set-up for some dirt riding. Can't wait!
Regards, Pete. :good2:
Congrats Pete. Looks like a great find. Give us a report after some saddle time.
Kurt
Quote from: yamaha fj rider on May 12, 2015, 08:06:11 AM
Congrats Pete. Looks like a great find. Give us a report after some saddle time.
Kurt
Thanks Kurt. Not sure if the TDM 900 was sold into the US, I think the earlier 850's were. The TDM is basically the predecessor to your new bike, the FJ09. I would have preferred to buy the FJ09 but unfortunately my budget wouldn't stretch that far. Having said that, I'm more than happy with my purchase. Ordered a set of dual-sport tyres for it today, can't wait to fit them and go bush. Will do a report on how it goes at a later date. Regards, Pete. :yahoo:
The TDM850 was imported in the US for only two years, '92 & '93 - It was weird looking and expensive so didn't sell well here. In my case I was putting on too miles on the FJ just commuting to work and didn't want to wear it out, so I was looking for a bike to compliment it. This '92 TDM came up on Craigslist for $750 but was a basket case. Little paint and some TLC and it's been a great bike for me (50 mpg +), hope you enjoy yours!
(http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb37/campsimonette/abike_zpslbgqciee.jpg) (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/campsimonette/media/abike_zpslbgqciee.jpg.html)