PDA

View Full Version : Trx850?


awa355
20th January 2015, 15:16
The Yamaha TRX 850, What are the good and bad points about them? I am changing my mind every day about what I want for my next bike. The TRX is todays craze.
Bender
20th January 2015, 16:40
Yamaha's attempt to build a Ducati, complete with trellis frame. Great engine. Suspension would be well behind a modern bike and would need attention and at least $1500 spent on it t bring it up to speed.

lots of bike for the price (there's one on tardme now.)
george formby
20th January 2015, 21:57
Yamaha's attempt to build a Ducati, complete with trellis frame. Great engine. Suspension would be well behind a modern bike and would need attention and at least $1500 spent on it t bring it up to speed.

lots of bike for the price (there's one on tardme now.)

Concur.
Sound awesome with decent pipes, loads of aftermarket stuff available, all niggles well & truly known. Can be made to cover the ground exceedingly quickly with a bit of time & money, a bit, not a lot.
Same motor but different spec to my TDM which just gets it oil changed & basic maintenance. Very owner friendly. Exceedingly sturdy & well detailed bikes from that era. Yamaha really tried to make a statement.
Have a google at some of the forums and "developed" TRX's.
MCN's take. http://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/yamaha/trx850/1996/ Check out the owner comments at the bottom.
Berries
20th January 2015, 22:46
I stumbled across this website one night - http://trx850caferacer.com/gallery/. Then I found this forum which is worth having a look around - http://www.trx850.com/phpBB_forum/ucp.php?mode=login.

I was following a local TRX on TM a few months ago but it never met the reserve which appears to have been a bit high. A few around in dealers but it didn't make sense to pay more than what I would get for my SV for a bike that is ten years older.


And a little boy waits......
James Deuce
21st January 2015, 07:47
Loved mine. Two points.

1. Dry sump motor. Only check the oil level when it is properly warm. A good one can use up to 100mls of oil per 1000kms.
2. Despite being carbed it has Throttle Position Sensors. Adjust all the slack out of the dual throttle cables or be prepared for a very choppy ride. The adjusters are located behind the instrument cluster.

The front suspension is very soft in stock format and the "fake" rear Ohlins is massively better than the front end which just highlights the front end's inadequacy. The Brembo Goldline calipers are strong and have good feel IF they are cleaned regularly. The later models got 2 piston Yamaha items which are shit, though many have been converted to Yamaha's Blue Star calipers which bolt on and are as good as the Brembos. The rims are susceptible to dents from potholes and large rocks.

Service every 6000kms. Valve adjustment every 12000km. If you can't get receipts that say that, don't buy it. Just don't.

Bear in mind that it's a Ducati 900SS competitor, not a 916 beater.
awa355
21st January 2015, 14:40
There are 6 listed on tdme, and 1 at Hondahamilton that caught my eye. As most of you have said the service history is important.
James Deuce
21st January 2015, 14:49
There's a huge lunch box under the rear seat.
SPman
21st January 2015, 20:19
They can make interesting Cafe Racers as well.....hopes photos aren't too big......

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa36/JonL_photo/Bikes/IMAG0077_zps3e2e5326.jpg (http://s198.photobucket.com/user/JonL_photo/media/Bikes/IMAG0077_zps3e2e5326.jpg.html)

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa36/JonL_photo/Bikes/IMAG0089_zps85b34f4b.jpg (http://s198.photobucket.com/user/JonL_photo/media/Bikes/IMAG0089_zps85b34f4b.jpg.html)

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa36/JonL_photo/Bikes/IMAG0090_zpsee840790.jpg (http://s198.photobucket.com/user/JonL_photo/media/Bikes/IMAG0090_zpsee840790.jpg.html)
James Deuce
21st January 2015, 20:32
That's a nice one. I've seen some utter abominations.
merv
21st January 2015, 21:03
James Deuce remember this ride http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/4218-Wellington-KBer-s-ride-Sat-31-July/page2

Crikey that is more than 10 years ago now but your TRX featured well in my photos at the time.
James Deuce
21st January 2015, 21:06
Sure do Merv. There were many memorable rides on that bike.
pritch
21st January 2015, 21:57
There was a local guy had one, he seemed to spend most of his time on the back wheel.
schrodingers cat
22nd January 2015, 09:10
I nearly bought one a few years ago until the seller messed around too much.
Still think I'd like one. Only wish they had a better (modern) front end
James Deuce
22nd January 2015, 09:24
I nearly bought one a few years ago until the seller messed around too much.
Still think I'd like one. Only wish they had a better (modern) front end

Easy to fix. 98-01 R1 bolts in. Depends how much you want to spend too.

My dream was a pair of Ohlins RWU forks for $2.5k.
Bender
22nd January 2015, 11:42
Only wish they had a better (modern) front end

I had a TDM850 (which shares the engine). The front end was rubbish - it was also worn out which didn't help. I got KSS to rebuild it with modern internals and it transformed the bike - great over bumps and steered like it was on rails. A grand well spent.

The 270 degree engine had so much torque I never bothered revving it - rarely had to go beyond 5000rpm to get what I wanted. On a throttle roll-on contest with my mates on V-stroms, the TDM would walk away from them.

Wonderful thing, torque.
SPman
22nd January 2015, 13:52
James Deuce remember this ride http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/4218-Wellington-KBer-s-ride-Sat-31-July/page2

Crikey that is more than 10 years ago now but your TRX featured well in my photos at the time.

Bloody hell, that brought back a lot of memories of days past.......Are Doug and Viv in Tasmania or somewhere silly now, and Velox, Stonechucker, LB and the others - what happened to them? I know Stonechucker had the accident........:(