1996 TDM850

[Richzrx12]

Alright so it's not actually a Super Ténéré but the engine is the same so I thought I'd put it up here for anyone who's interested. Just bought this from my local KTM dealer - 41,000km, Marving pipes, recut seat, great condition. Original indicators, bottle-green paint scheme and plate reflector thingy suggest mature owners. Marving pipes suggest mature owners with either a midlife crisis or a need to warn pedestrians without resorting to the horn. Needs new tyres and chain and sprockets but that helped me beat them down on the price a bit so I'm happy to get that done. Here she is once I got her home:



And here she is with the Givi top box fitted. Just bolted the mounting plate to the pillion grabrail, easily done.



I wanted a bike for the road, so that I can keep the XT for the dirt roads. I also plan a couple of longer trips soon, including motorways, and don't want to thrash the XT on those. I started looking at Super Ténérés but they're too big for me to be honest - it's not so much the height as the width and overall size. I walked past a TDM one day in town and thought it looked bang on, so had a look around and found this one. What a great engine - this is the 4TX model which replaced the first 3VD model. The Marvings are road-legal but sound great, and the bike fits me really well. Best riding position I've ever had. Don't know why I didn't buy one of these years ago. Roll on summer...

[Mezo]

That is very tidy indeed, how much?

Don`t be silly on it.

Mezo.

[Richzrx12]

I paid 2000 Euros. Dealer wanted more but as I said the tyres, chain and sprockets need doing and his ad foolishly said that nothing needed replacing. But he was good to deal with so no worries. Haven't had the chance to ride much yet (currently away working) but will rectify that at some point. To ride, the TDM feels like a big Super Motard - easy to steer, manoevre, sit up and see all around you riding position. A mate has one and he warned me they're heavy bikes, but I don't think so. Not after the Mk1 Speed Triple I owned a few years ago, or the sorely-missed but bloody heavy ZRX. It will be handy for popping into town, as well as for the motorway.

Some people take these off-road, there's an Aussie on the TDM forum (Carpe-TDM) who has put knobblies on his Mk1 and takes it to all sorts of places. Won't be doing that with mine but that's not to say I'm not tempted...