I'm considering a TDM.

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

My beloved TDM is a bit long in the tooth now, she has over 80,000 miles and most of them hard miles stop start through London. The engine feels like it needs some serious work.

The chassis is is very good nick for it's age. It recently had rear linkage bearings pads and tires are recent. The Shock and forks are uprated too.

Everything works well, it just the engine that feels down on power and it seems to occasionally fall out of 2nd and 4th although I don't know how much of that is in my head.

I had been considering my options, first being rebuild my engine and possibly get it tuned slightly. I don't mind spending ~£2000, i.e. more than the bike is worth because I know the rest of it is good and I'm happy to keep the bike. I could buy a SH engine but the cheapest is £800 and I don;t know that it is any better than mine.

Next option was buy a new bike, the Yamaha Tracer looks Ace and I think would make a worthy successor, however no real S/H market for them means new which mean ££££. I can deal with the cost of the new bike but by the time it is spec'd to my TDM it is silly money.

Full hard luggage (old side boxes aren't compatible)
Exhaust
Suspension upgrade
Alarm
comfy seat
Chain oiler
Heated grips
handguard
The list is LONG and expensive

Maybe in a few years then.

I stumbled across this yesterday...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321855210445?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Less than 1000 miles! Obviously it's fucked but there is lots of usable stuff there. I'm gonna put a decent bid in for it and make a hybrid.

The part I'm struggling with is whether to rebuild the fucked bike with parts from mine or use it as a donor.

Obviously I'll be checking the frame out as best I can for damage which could make the decision for me, the seller says he can't see anything obviously wrong with it other than a chip by the engine mount.

What do you all think?

Pros
Newer reg 2012 vs 2002 (added benefit because I believe London are banning vehicles made before 05 in a few years)
All parts remaining will have less wear/ be cleaner
Black frame is more aesthetically pleasing.
Immobilizer as standard (possible con?)

Cons
It's had a fucking big hit- alignment/damage issues I can't see.
Admin - Changing the colour on the log book and moving my insurance over
Old bike has an Alarm that won't be practical to move over
Sentimentality to 'Trudy' my Current bike Embarassed

It's written off too however the seller is unsure of the category, does this sound like Cat C?

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

That does sound like Cat C.
However, of course for a bike you don't need A VIC check and the category doesn't mean anything as far as the law is concerned.

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Shhhhhhhh....

HPI check shows no write off

Don't tell Laughing

____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

If it's not banana-splitted and you can get it for a good price and the insurance cartel has forgotten to record it then why not?

My only concerntroll would be that he's been sitting on it for 3 years because the frame is damaged, he knows it's damaged, but he will be astonished - astonished, I tells ya - if it's noticed and pointed out.

Oh, I might question the accuracy of the HPI check though. Are they guaranteeing anything if you take it for its first MOT and hear "Computer says Cat B, mate, that's well illegal[*], that is."?

[*] We know otherwise, Mikey MOT or Imogen Insurer might not.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

Papa Lazarou · Nova Slayer Joined: 28 Aug 2015 Karma :

Me, I'd avoid it. No idea how much is wrong. Could be a money pit.

Loads more good ones out there.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2047675.m570.l2632.R2.TR11.TRC1.A0.H0.XTDM.TRS0&_nkw=tdm&_sacat=422
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Current bike: Honda Blackbird 1100 and a little 250.

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Worst case scenario I take the good bits off on lob them on my bike. I don't NEED to reframe mine. It's just an option to replace the 0 on the number plate with a 1 and swap the gold/worn through to primer colour of my frame to a sexy black.

As for others why would I spend 4k to get a cleaner bike with lower miles but probably no better than mine in the consumables front when I could spend 1/2 that on rebuilding/tuning the existing engine.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

By the sound of it you're happy with your bike but the engine needs a bit of looking at. The sensible thing would be work out which bits are worn out and just replace them, but it sounds like you'd rather do a full engine rebuild. To be honest, so would I.

I would probably get some decent ignition coils if I was throwing money at a slightly tired bike too.

I don't see the appeal of the crashed 900, unless you can fit the engine to yours. You have a sorted chassis that you trust, that 900 has a potentially bent chassis that you wouldn't trust.

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

I'd do it, but then I've had 4 supermoto pitbikes sitting around not doing much on that basis!

(Saying that, it was useful the other day that I could test a £190 shock and set of foot pegs from one bike on another without spending anything extra.)

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

Keep yours and tune the bastard out of the engine.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

STONEY! · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Karma :

Im the current bidder on that, if you want it I will withdraw my bid as with 70+ other bikes I don't really need that one too!

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

STONEY! · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Karma :

No worries will sort it, only bid 666 on it to keep an eye on it! Yeah had a few run ins with dvla lol

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

I won it, £1020! I'm pretty chuffed with that. Project incoming when I pick it up in a week or so!
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

Polarbear · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

For a 3 year old bike with under 1000 miles on it? Buy a lottery ticket!
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

Even the cheapest bare engines are £750 on eBay so yeah I think I've got a steal! Im hoping to build to the new frame and depending on unseen fairing/paint work damage keep the blue colour too. I'm going to take the frame to Motoliner to get the geometry checked out as one of the first things. It's well under budget so I don't mind getting it checked out properly.
____________________
Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

Has the seller actually agreed that price? It's so low that I'd be a bit concerntrolled that they try to ~~jew~~ ~~gyp~~ Scotch you.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

There's a very nice TDM in this months Practical sportsbikes magazine. It's only a 750cc engine, though I reckon I could just about cope with that! Laughing

If OP's bike is clean nice, and tidy, I'd just keep hunting for a secondhand decent TDM900 engine to throw in, especially if it's a non std bike that your not going to de-value by modifying.

The TDM900 motor could be made to work with a set of carbs and possibly the ignition from the TDM850 if that reduces the complication of the swap?

Major Doss · Traffic Copper Joined: 09 Jan 2014 Karma :

If it (I don't know the spec of anything!) doesn't have an oil pressure switch (TDM owners know Wink

), I'll send my brand spanking newly machined easily installed with a bit of wire and a bulb a la Carpe Diem specced one to you, if you use it. It seems a waste to bung it in a Divvy. Crying or Very sad

Blah blah · Scooby Slapper Joined: 05 Mar 2015 Karma :

There's a runner in good condition for £1000 on the internal website at work... If you want I'll get you the details next week (you'll have to wait until Thursday though)

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :