YAMAHA TDM900 (2002 - 2011) Review

Year: 2006

Great for long distance comfort

Version: TDM900

Year: 2005

Please MCN correct your review. It is 86hp , old 850 was 74hp. I struggle to get less than 55 to the gallon. Generally between 60 and 70mpg.

Buying experience: Traded my caponord (top heavy) to buy from dealer. One owner 11000 miles.

Version: Abs

Year: 2005

Annual servicing cost: £200

A Swiss army knife that can do everything ,from canyon carving and long trips to everyday use in the city for many trouble free years .The price you pay is that it can do that to 7 points out of 10.

Buying experience: Bought it cheap with 40000kil.

Year: 2002

Annual servicing cost: £200

Really good all-rounder.

Buying experience: Privately

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £290

Superb bike great for long distance touring

Year: 2007

Comfort and economy.

Buying experience: Dealer. In 2013 i bought this for £3500 with 2100 odd miles. Sold it to a mate 3 years later. He took it round Europe. France, Italy Sicily, Spain. Never missed a beat. Bought it back from him this year. This is just how much i rate this bike. You really have to own one to appreciate just how good a bike it is. It's a keeper.

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £100

Great all round package that can do everything. It's fun, cheap to run and practical. Highly recommended. Bit more power would give it 5 stars but it's enough most of the time.

Year: 2003

Annual servicing cost: £100

Can be a little lumpy under 2500rpm even with the airbox modification.

Buying experience: Bought from a dealer. No complaints. Previous owner had bodged a few things but once sorted it has been 100% reliable.

Year: 2004

Annual servicing cost: £150

A brilliantly capable, easy-to-live-with all-rounder. I bought my ‘04 a couple of years ago and have had no issues with it. Yes, it might be nice to have a bit more power. Yes, the seat could be plusher. But actually the basic package is pretty good all round for a redesign now approaching 20 years old. It’s light for it’s class, very economical, easy and cheap to service.

Buying experience: I bought from a dealer after seeing a classified ad on eBay. It’s the first time I’ve ever bought a bike from a dealership and it was a totally enjoyable experience!

Version: TDM900

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £100

Great value bike, probably a better option than a revvy 600 on the road for most people. Feels very light, is narrow and easy to reach the floor for most people.

Buying experience: Privately purchased

Version: non abs

Year: 2008

Annual servicing cost: £100

sold fz1 to buy one. even in 2017 there is not a better all rounder. versys feels cheap and vibey. if your a good rider you can keep up with anything.one fault headlights rubbish.

Version: Non ABS

Year: 2004

Annual servicing cost: £100

It's just a fantastic all-rounder. Cheap to run too!

Buying experience: Bought secondhand from a dealer, I paid just over £2200 for a 19,000 mile example, one owner, full service history.

Version: ABS

Year: 2006

Overall I don't recommend this bike. It's old and it handles poorly, specially at slow speeds and at high speeds it's discouraging, because of the over-steering, I think due to the high center of gravity.

Buying experience: I payed well over this bike's worth because it came with most touring accessories. But now that I want to sell it I will lose money since people don't expect to pay this much for this bike. So resell value = low.

Year: 2002

Why buy a R1200GS, Multistrada etc when you can buy one of these beautifully uncomplicated bikes that just keeps on going. They are Japanese bullet proof quality that aren't over complicated like many of the latest trendy heavy adventure bikes that are more a fashion statement than anything else.

Buying experience: Dealer $3750 Australian

Year: 2007

The MCN review is spot on, it's a great all rounder that is so easy to ride and great fun. What I am confused about is why some die-hard sports bike riders in particular hate the TDM with a passion. Even some riders of all-rounders and adventure bikes seem to view them with disdain. The old nick name of Tedium given to the 850 version seems to have stuck but if you are thinking of buying a TDM 900, I can assure you that it is anything but tedious.....it's bloody brilliant and great fun and is one of biking's best kept secrets. I was going to spend just over 8 grand on a new Tracer but I am so glad I didn't. I bought my TDM for three and a half grand with 9200 miles on the clock.....best bike I've owned in years. Do buy one if you're looking for a comfy, fast, fun real world all rounder. Don't buy one if you care what people think of your bike.

Version: TDM900A ABS

Year: 2006

Annual servicing cost: £250

Generally overlooked but this has a lot to commend it. The handling is great for twisty A and B roads, the off-beat engine has soul, and you can ride it all day in comfort.

Buying experience: Good value second hand. I paid about £3K for one with 3 piece luggage and scorpion exhausts

I bought a TDM 900 in may this year (2013 reg, 500 miles) and am very pleased with it. It does every thing I want/need, Commute, tour, Back Lane Scratch, has bags of character and fun to ride. The Yamaha TDM was light years ahead of its time and a really good bike and only now people are cottoning on to it, shame because Yamaha dropped it in 2010, but in Europe they got it and the TDM sold very well.

I've had my TDM 900A for 18 months now and will probably keep it for a good few years yet. Why? Because it does everything I need, it's a commuter, a back lane scratcher, a motorway cruiser & hoot to boot. I use it in all weathers and it's never let me down or missed a beat. Great on twisty A roads, comphfy on long motorway hauls, superb on overtakes,great fuel economy, over 200 miles per tank whether ridden hard or easy, gives me a smile on the way to work & puts a smile on my face after. Bad points hates winters despite regular cleaning snatchy at low revs,no auto choke. Overall if I was to change this bike it would be for another one ;-)

only had my tdm a week but loving it.should of brought ost thought about itne 3 years a go.when i fir

I use mine to commute, and to tour. It does both capably. I have had two pillions fall asleep on the back on three seperate occasions, say something for the comfort. OK build quality isn't perfect, the engine paint hates road salt, but then most bikes never see that. Don't be decived by it's looks it isn't very good off road. The mechanics are simple, and it is easy to service. You won't go wrong with one of these

Don't own one but me Brother does and seeing as he's laid up in Hospital (non Bike related) have been using his TDM. Overall a nice package, engines good and it certainly can be hustled through the London traffic.

I have had mine for a couple of years now, and I cannot fault it for being a mile muncher. It is comfy to ride all day long, and then again the next day. It is ok handling through the corners as well, and the high bars and thin engine make it good at filtering too. Then engine has a smooth power band all the way up, nothing overly spectacular, but then this isn't meant to be a sports bike. It has been very reliable, very little has gone wrong with it. In fact I think I have only had to replace one coil on it, which was cheep as chips. My only real grip about the bike is the quality of build, the engine paint flakes after no time, the rear brake caliper is terribly prone to salt getting behine the pad guides. But then I didn't buy this bike to look pretty, but to be a work horse, and it is superb at that

The TDM took a little getting used to after riding a multi, but what a great torquey twin. It'll pull from next to nothing in any gear (although it is a bit lumpy below 3k), consistently return 200-225 miles before it hits reserve on the fuel gauge (average 59mpg), is comfy 1 or 2 up, great roll on acceleration at sub 100mph speeds and can cruise at a ton. Handling is very confidence inspiring as is grip (Metz Z6 work really well). Got 12k on the front tyre and headed for 8k on the rear. Servicing reasonable (£150). Strengths: Brilliant all rounder. I've put 12k on the clock since April 05. 70 mile commute daily. Economy is good. Weaknesses: Suspension is a bit soft, but an extra click on everything seems to sort it out ok for my taste. Doesn't have the street cred of a sports bike (although it will shock a few of them).

ABS is a god send but only for the rear, when the front is activated the wheel still locks for a split second which is scary. All the other tests say it all. I am a bit lacking in height (29'' leg)and can still touch the floor due a narrow seat. Strengths: Ride for miles in comfort. Easy to get luggage. 210miles average on 17 litres pushing hard it will drop to 180miles. Fitted larger screen to help with wind. Dunlops work well. Weaknesses: Front ABS. First gear clunkey. 18 inch front wheel does restrict tyre choice.

Great all-rounder. Have ridden sports 600's for years to the point they were almost getting bland for me. This really has put the smile back on my face. Wish I'd done in sooner. Strengths: Engine, seating position, comfort, tank range, brakes. Weaknesses: Tyres (Bridgestones when the Dunlps wear out), exhaust not loud enough, NO centrestand on a twin exhaust bike?

Used daily for commuting into central London. This bike is ideal; great for filtering through town traffic, but then a real blast when you hit the dual cariageway on the way home! Heated grips and high screen make cold mornings bearable. Strengths: Good low down torque and great fuel economy for a bike of this size. Averages 59mpg, with 63mpg from some tankfuls. Beats most stuff away from the lights. Weaknesses: Very lumpy at low revs, which can make the trickle in traffic queues uncomfortable.

This bike looks a little quirky granted, but from some angles it looks stunning - This is most definatley a wolf in sheeps clothing - Fire the twin up let her warm up for a couple of minutes get a couple of miles of heat in the brakes and be prepared to be shocked - This bikes torque is awsome, the answer to rapid progress is via quick gear changing at around 6500 rpm - for everyday use and real world riding this bike is great, it'll cruise at 90 mph all day long, fuel economy is impressive, tank range is good, comfort leaves supersports for dead - then you come to the handling, braking power on the TDM is almost too good, you'll need to crank the front and rear suspention up to avoid to much dive under heavy braking (Fully adjustable), and believe me this bike ANCHORS up quickly and with huge amounts of control - The funny thig about a TDM 900 is the handling is it just keeps giving you more, and when you think you have found it's safe limit it just goes and gives you some more. Strengths: Handling - Torque - Riding Position. Weaknesses: Quirky looks - Soft factory setting on suspension (adjustable).

If you want a bike to do plenty of miles on in total comfort, but still have loads of fun on the way, this is the one. The engine is full of mid-range power, and strong enough for most. Strengths: That flexible engine. The gearbox is excellent. The riding position gives a fantastic view and just does not stress your body at all. The finish looks good to last, and the pillion provision has made my wife a happy woman - and if she's happy, I'm happy. Weaknesses: Standard headlights are not that strong, but that is about it.

Just swapped in fazer600 for the new TDM 900,this bike is a proper mile muncher, superb riding postion lots of fun and very easy to ride for a tall bike. Strengths: Excellant riding postion, very economical (45mpg) even when ridden hard. Weaknesses: Shorter riders would struggle with the seat height (under 5'10) and you get a lot of wind noise at 70mph+.