Yamaha TDM 900 63кВ

Say hello to my little friend: my TDM900. I’m selling this bike because, even though it is a brilliant bike, my back just won’t play nicely and since I can’t replace my back, I’m going to try to replace the bike. So on to the good, the bad, the ugly, and the sublime.

The good is the overall package: the engine is very nice, it has a good riding position for normal people to either have fun, get to work, or cross Europe. The bike gives decent fuel economy managing between 4.5 and 5.5l/100 as confirmed by a search on fuelly.com. The bike was bought used from Bikepoint. It came straight off the truck and into the showroom I think, although they did put in a new battery. It came with a full Givi wingrack system that I used for traveling.

The bike pulls like a train and has a lovely power delivery. As such it pulls like a V-twin, and revs like an in-line 4. I fitted a scottoiler system fitted, a weatherproof USB charger, and two-tone horns that will blow the feathers off a sleepy pigeon at 30 meters—and wake up a sleepy driver who is on their phone.

ThePirelli Angel GT front tyre is in good shape, and the rear of the pair should be good for another 2000km. The chain was replaced about 4000 km ago and the scottoiler keeps it very nice. The rear linkage was cleaned and regreased about 2500 km ago, and the brake fluid was replaced at the same time as the chain. The oil was last changed about 500 km ago, along with the filter.

The bad is actually part of the good, because you don’t have to worry about it. I had to spend quite a bit of money on it at the beginning. It was one of the TDMs that had a cam chain tensioner issue where it could cause chain-slap, and so I had the cam chain and the tensioner replaced by Renard Motorcyles as a precaution: I like my peace of mind and I had a trip planned.

While they were in there, I got them to do the valve clearances too, and replace the spark plugs, so even though it cost me a fair bit, the bike came out in great shape with that known fault sorted. The bike also makes a squeaking noise if you pull away fast: this is a known issue in the TDM community. It’s not a fault or a problem, it’s just annoying. No idea why Yamaha decided to just let their TDMs squeal when you gas it off the lights. Maybe to encourage responsible riding?

The ugly is that one of the side panels had been repaired in the past. I didn’t know this until it flew off in two pieces while I was enjoying a spirited ride in Laanemaa. I still have the, and someone who knows plastics could repair it, but I can’t and so, I’m accepting that this cosmetic disappointment will cost me in resale value. Hence the low price.

Now for the sublime: before I realised that my back was not going to adapt, and my girlfriend actually didn’t like motorcycle touring after all, I spent a lot of money on a custom seat from Top Sellerie in France. It is very comfortable, but I have the original too. I also spent about €1400 with Vugtec Suspension Engineering, in Harku, who fitted a brand new, fully rebuildable, top of the line Ohlins rear shock and performance Andreani full-adjustment fork cartridges for the front, including new fork tubes. The bike now handles like it's on rails.

So there you go: for a very reasonable price, you could get a bike with racing suspension, fitted by pros, a custom seat, all the necessaries replaced and renewed, and a hassle free chain lubing system leaving you with only the annual oil change to worry about. The only downside is one panel is damaged. Even if you buy from Yamaha, you’d still be getting a bargain on a great beast. Come on over to have a look. A hassle-free sale at the asking price gets you the two panniers, too.