TDM innovative, but useful
Yamaha's innovative concept has been working for 17 years. The traditions of the famous TDM 850 have successfully continued the "nine hundred" since 2002
Combining a sports, touring and enduro motorcycle in one project seemed a breakneck task. And yet Yamaha undertook this work and entered the nineties with a motorcycle that broke all construction canons. Open frame Deltabox type, born in Grand Prix races and vividly taken over from sports machines, high suspensions comparable with classic enduro, wide fairing and comfortable sofa, typical for tourist cruisers - this has not happened yet. At least in 1990, when all the features of TDM 850 were presented.

The innovative two-wheeler could not, of course, be equal to the performance of sports cars, or defeat the wilderness as fast as the true enduro. But also no sports motorcycle was as comfortable as TDM 850, and no enduro was so fast. This specific versatility has created a new construction for many supporters. She convinced herself and young and older, less experienced and old people. Riding almost every day, and those who reach for a motorcycle from time to time. A machine for every occasion, where everyone can find something for themselves, without the need to accept far-reaching compromises.

New chapter
Yamaha could never complain about the sale of TDM 850. But even the best motorcycle requires a thorough modernization after some time. This is enforced by market realities, competition moves, technical progress, new emission standards and noise. The first major innovation was the use of the TRX 850 engine in 1996, with crankshaft arms angled 270 degrees. It is worth recalling that TRX was once Japanese "antyducati", with exposed lattice frame and in-line, two-cylinder engine working similarly to V2 90. And this engine, with a specific rhythm of work and racial sound, went to TDM 850.

For the 2002 season a new motorcycle was prepared, with a cubic capacity increased to 897 ccm. But not only because the drive unit has gained several horsepower. It also owed it to the use of fuel injection in the place of carburetors. The flue gas cleaning was entrusted to the after-combustion system and multifunctional catalyst installed in the exhaust system of high-grade steel. The gearbox has been enriched with an additional gear ratio. The chassis was successfully compared to the best "sport" class designs - aluminum frame and swingarm, extremely light, three-spoke alloy wheels, braking system borrowed from YZF-R1. The whole was 15 kg lighter than the predecessor. Here is the measure of progress that can be made during one modernization of a two-wheeler. Let us add that since 2005, the ABS anti-skid system is available in the TDM 900.

Power of strengths
One could have expected the Yamaha concept to be copied. The idea did indeed find imitators, but not so fast. The development of two-wheelers, which would equally well combine opposing features, required a lot of time. Real competitors, who could make an equal market fight, TDM was actually only when it was already ninety. It turned out then that despite the passage of years, the versatile Yamaha did not give way to others and was still an attractive proposition for all those who wanted to drive quickly and comfortably. Comparative tests have proven this. One of them, carried out at the end of 2005, TDM 900 lost only to the BMW R 1200 GS, a higher-capacity motorcycle. She defeated not only rivals - KTM 990 Superduke, Ducati 1000 S and Buella Ulysses XB 12 X. At the same time, not only the individual components were praised - the support system for stability, brakes for efficiency, engine for dynamics - but also the overall concept of the motorcycle.

TDM has demonstrated excellent performance at the level of sports motorcycles, while guaranteeing high driving comfort and very good protection against the momentum of air and precipitation. An additional advantage was the large tank, which, combined with the small demand for fuel, provided more coverage than its competitors. This is the TDM 900 also in daily use. But both tests and practical use have exposed the weaknesses of this model. Above all, the nagging reactions to changes in the engine load and the high-mounted couch, troublesome for less experienced drivers.