TRX850, give me your unfounded opinions!

**xwhatsit** · 11th October 2007, 22:15

CB250RS, GB500, SRV250, XT400...

And now for something completely different.

My old man lives in Brisbane (along with half of New Zealand), and he pootles aboot on a lardy-arsed Yamaha V-Star 1100, which was an interesting experience to have a go riding.

When I go and visit him, to get around, I borrowed one of his friend's 250s, a Suzuki V-twin Intruder. He wants to get something more permanent, though -- so I can keep up a bit better, for one thing.

A Ducati thou was on the cards -- very cheap, as it was in a million bits, but that deal fell through. Now he's spied a TRX850.

I'm not at all familiar with such a thing. I've had the opportunity twice now to punt a GSXR600 around the block, which was comfortable, if slightly bland. How would you describe this? It's a parallel twin -- should I expect British twin thumping power delivery, or GSX-style whiny-ness?

What sort of roads does this bike suit?

Mechanical resilience, common problems? Potential for home servicing, or is it nasty complicated send-it-to-the-shop?

Your responses and opinions awaited.

**R6_kid:Me** · 11th October 2007, 22:21

from what i know the TRX has pretty decent brakes and around 60-70hp, its not a 'fast' bike by any means but it should be enjoyabe for you. What did you find bland about a GSXR600? Did you take it over 8k rpm at all?

**yod** · 11th October 2007, 22:27

TRX is a pretty damn quick bike

around 85 hp, defintely a big thumper, torquey as anything, sound GREAT!
quite light and skinny (about 175kg i think?), easy to chuck around and damn good in the twisties for a bike thats almost a thou

never underestimate the power and performance of a TRX, fun bike and will knock 200 on the head with a fair bit to spare, roger_doger has one (he's selling it actually) and mate, if I could keep up with him I'd be a happy man

edit: R6 kid is right too, they do have pretty impressive brakes

**98tls** · 11th October 2007, 22:31

The TRX was voted two wheels bike of the year in 97.Sweet bike,not over endowed with omphh but like most sports bikes it all comes down to whos riding it.A real nice looker and a sweet handling bike to boot.From speaking to a few guys over the years i gather that there pretty bullitproof as well.

**James Deuce** · 11th October 2007, 23:25

I used to have one. Tell him to buy it. I'd still have it if I hadn't killed it.

The front end needs decent springs and Gold Valve emulators. The stock setup is woefully under sprung.

The brakes are superb. Old school Brembo Goldlines that will have the stock forks on the bump stops in an instant. Very frustrating when dicing with stinkwheel 250cc GP replicas on the Rimutakas. Get new springs and Gold Valve emulators, or bolt a YZF750 front end on.

The engine has a 270 degree firing order and is typically Ducatiesque in it's power delivery. It is impossible to ride under 3500rpm it is that lumpy. However above that it is smooth and very willing, often finding the rev limiter without ever feeling stressed.

The rear shock is a Yamaha made Ohlins copy and is very good indeed. I've been known to ride around the outside of R1s on the right sort of road, though the 180km.hr speed limiter can make things interesting.

The only way to see 85HP from a TRX is to weld another bike with a 20HP engine to it. Claimed peak is 74bhp. rear wheel HP is typically 65-68HP. The engine is a parallel twin with a dry sump (you have to check the oil level when the engine is warm), 5 valve per cylinder head and a terminal piston speed that is very close to the limits of what 90s metallurgy can cope with. Valve clearance checks are 24,000kms apart and it is vital that they are done and done correctly.

Keep the suspension linkages clean and lubed. Lube the swing arm pivot/bushes every 10000km.

A TRX is all day comfy to ride, the underseat storage will cope with wet weather gear and enough odds and sods to make a tank bag redundant, and take heed, a TRX should never be seen (heard) in public with the stock pipes, unless the end caps have been taken off and the last baffle has been sawn off at the weld. The neutered chuffing that Yamaha endowed the TRX with as stock is an affront to all standards of good taste.

If he buys it I have an electronic copy of the workshop manual. Much better bike than its spec would have you believe and a lot more versatile/characterful than a modern 600cc supersports. It's a real shame that Yamaha keep updating the TDM (engine for the TRX came from the original TDM850 which was a 180 degree firing order, later changed to 270 degrees just like the TRX) and dropped the TRX. The TRX is probably the perfect Japanese sportsbike for NZ roads. It just doesn't have 100 billion HP so Kiwis won't buy it. It was more popular in Australia which I believe speaks volumes about our respective societies.

**xwhatsit** · 12th October 2007, 01:42

Thanks guys, much appreciated. Will forward this to Dad.

@R6_kid, I meant handling wise it seemed a little dull (the engine was laugh-in-helmet material). Probably very fast around corners, but felt kind of lifeless to me. Perhaps that's just modern sportsbikes?

Sounds very suitable, from what you guys are saying. 70-odd horses is about right, certainly no more is necessary. Light, chuckable and torquey is all my cup of tea -- pity it's to be used on Queensland roads, you have to look long and hard to find a decent run of twisties. I'm sure Dad will still find a use for it -- he's an old sportsbiker, nearly bought a Triumph Sprint when he got back into biking but somehow ended up with the V-Star cruiser. Had an R6 as a loaner while his bike was getting fixed, he wouldn't stop talking about it for days

It is very Ducati-esque, dad mentioned something about it sounding Italian (so clearly the chuffing has been fixed), and that exposed ladder frame...

Sounds good. Just hope this particular instance of the class checks out OK.

**Dooly** · 12th October 2007, 10:44

I've ridden one quite a bit.
Loved it.
As someone said, very Ducati-ish.
Did about 220 tapped.
Nimble, and fun.

**NZsarge** · 12th October 2007, 10:51

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

CB250RS, GB500, SRV250, XT400...

And now for something completely different.

My old man lives in Brisbane (along with half of New Zealand), and he pootles aboot on a lardy-arsed Yamaha V-Star 1100, which was an interesting experience to have a go riding.

When I go and visit him, to get around, I borrowed one of his friend's 250s, a Suzuki V-twin Intruder. He wants to get something more permanent, though -- so I can keep up a bit better, for one thing.

A Ducati thou was on the cards -- very cheap, as it was in a million bits, but that deal fell through. Now he's spied a TRX850.

I'm not at all familiar with such a thing. I've had the opportunity twice now to punt a GSXR600 around the block, which was comfortable, if slightly bland. How would you describe this? It's a parallel twin -- should I expect British twin thumping power delivery, or GSX-style whiny-ness?

What sort of roads does this bike suit?

Mechanical resilience, common problems? Potential for home servicing, or is it nasty complicated send-it-to-the-shop?

Your responses and opinions awaited.

I wonder.... my bro just traded his TRiXie a couple of weeks ago on an Aprilia Tuono. His one was an absolute minta, he loved it and had no issues with that he told me of anyway. He recently resprayed the wheels and put a belly pan on it and it look really sharp. If you want I can foward you some pics of it to see if it's the same bike.

**yod** · 12th October 2007, 10:57

FYI: I've also heard the pillion position aint too great

**NZsarge** · 12th October 2007, 11:00

Originally Posted by yod

TRX is a pretty damn quick bike

around 85 hp, defintely a big thumper, torquey as anything, sound GREAT!
quite light and skinny (about 175kg i think?), easy to chuck around and damn good in the twisties for a bike thats almost a thou

never underestimate the power and performance of a TRX, fun bike and will knock 200 on the head with a fair bit to spare, roger_doger has one (he's selling it actually) and mate, if I could keep up with him I'd be a happy man

edit: R6 kid is right too, they do have pretty impressive brakes

You should have swapped him your VFR for his TRiXie

**xwhatsit** · 12th October 2007, 12:45

Originally Posted by NZsarge

I wonder.... my bro just traded his TRiXie a couple of weeks ago on an Aprilia Tuono. His one was an absolute minta, he loved it and had no issues with that he told me of anyway. He recently resprayed the wheels and put a belly pan on it and it look really sharp. If you want I can foward you some pics of it to see if it's the same bike.

Really! He said it was a 1998. Would be funny if it was

This is in Brisbane?

Pillion seating isn't too much of a factor with a large cruiser parked next to it.

Dad says he's been talking to some other guy who owns one; mentioned the same slightly limp front end. He said that an R1 front end is a solution too, although he just fitted heavier springs, as the R1 front end was heavier apparently.

**James Deuce** · 12th October 2007, 12:55

R1 front end isn't a straight bolt in like the YZF750 one. Mucho expensive and frame recertification probably required.

**xwhatsit** · 12th October 2007, 13:01

Ah ok. Heavier springs ought to do it, and it's not like you're always diving through hilly twisties like the back part of the Coro loop; more sweepers over there anyway.

Prices over there seem quite high, $4500-$5500. Here they go for under $NZ4000, at least from a brief perusal of listings.

**James Deuce** · 12th October 2007, 13:03

The Aussie vehicle market is more regulated than ours.

**NZsarge** · 12th October 2007, 18:20

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

Really! He said it was a 1998. Would be funny if it was

This is in Brisbane?

Pillion seating isn't too much of a factor with a large cruiser parked next to it.

Dad says he's been talking to some other guy who owns one; mentioned the same slightly limp front end. He said that an R1 front end is a solution too, although he just fitted heavier springs, as the R1 front end was heavier apparently.

Yeah my bro is in Brisy, not sure what year it is but.