Two Stroke Motocross
Two Stroke Motocross Forum => General Two Stroke Talk => Topic started by: TMKIWI on January 28, 2011, 12:51:58 PM
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I thought I would post this regarding the reliability of TM's.
I have just put in a new piston and it got me thinking what I have needed to do in the past year.
I know some people are reluctant to buy things that are out side the square i.e Not from the big 4.
This is what I have found after a year of ownership.
The bike is a 07 TM300en bought 1 year ago with 100 hrs on the clock.The bike had been used in GNCC so was well used.But tidy.
1 year later I have put another 51 hours on it.
These are the parts I have replaced. I have put the price of RM parts next to them as a comparison.
Wossner piston $200 RM250 OEM Piston $200
Rear Sprocket $89 Renthal $99
Front Sprocket $44 Renthal $39
Rear wheel bearings. Local bearing shop.
Rear wheel bearing spacers $15 each. They were the cause of the bearings failing.
New linkage bearings. Local bearing shop.
Rebuilt Ohlins shock $150
New grips. Had worn the dimples off the old ones.
I put new rear pads in when I got the bike & the fronts are due for change shortly.
1 Rear tyre. Which is being changed soon.
I am going to replace the foot pegs soon as they are worn out.New price $85. After market RM $250
1 Spark plug. I put in a new one when I got it and have just put in a new one to go with the piston.
Thats it. Apart from your standard tranny fluid & air filter servicing that's all i have done to it.
I do alot of riding in rivers and mud so things will wear out abit quicker.
Most of the parts are genuine and surprisingly cheap.And are in stock.
I have had 0 breakdowns and the bike starts 1st kick 90% of the time hot or cold.Or 2nd
So as you can see the running costs are no different to your average jap bike.
So next time you are looking for a bike don't discount TM's because you are worried about their reliability.
They are great bikes and I will certainly buy another.
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Good to know. Although no matter how bad I want one I think it will be a while before I have an opportunity to get one. You keep your bikes healthy, bravo.
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That's pretty good-only about double what a YZ would be :D
The euro's are funny price wise compared to what people think.My KTM's were pricey for graphics and plastic-other than that-cheap,cheap.
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Speaking of the TM's. :)
Today TM motorcycles appointed Pete Vetrano (Motoman Distributing, Fullboreusa Tires) as the new exclusive TM motorcycle distributor (once again) for the USA. Pete had been the TM motorcycle distributor for 16 years, prior to TM transferring those responsibilities to a succession of three companies that never h...ad the success marketing the TM's in the USA like "Motoman Pete".
Pete and the 2011 TM's will be exhibiting at the Indy motorcycle show next month in the Italian Trade area. We look forward to having you stop by the booth at Indy and hopefully explore re-starting your business relationship with Pete and TM. The first containers of bikes have been ordered and will be arriving in early March 2011.
For Pete Vetrano, at Motoman in Upland, CA
909-608-0082. motomanitaliaimports@verizon.net
Regards,
Ralph and Colin Flanagan
Full Bore - Cycle LInes USA - Motoman East in Beltsville, MD
800-333-9119
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Cool report. But how do they compare to the other brands?
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TM is gaining ground very fast.
In Europe, more and more TM dealers are coming.
There's a brand new TM facility beiing built this year, right next to the Genk mx track, Belgium.
Parts are in stock by the dealers, if not, you can order them easily on their website.
They will ship immediately.
They also do everything it takes to get any TM near your location, if you are interested.
and they go the whole 9 yards to make sure it is propperly setup for you!
Really an awesome manufacturer! Specially the 250 and 300 2 strokes are superfast!
Never really got the recognition and props they deserve, but tides are slowly changing~!
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TMKIWI, which country are you in? Those prices look odd to me, in the USA.
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TMKIWI, which country are you in? Those prices look odd to me, in the USA.
New Zealand
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Sometimes funny. You hear and can read a lot about TM bikes here on this forum. But in Europe they are not that popular. Ktm by far most popular in Europe. TM is very popular in karting in Europe.
Tm will get in big problems when everybody is going to buy a Tm because it is a very small factory. Pedro Tragter (old gp worldchampion) father told me that KTM has the fastest 2 stroke engines.
Anyway although not very much Tm's in the Netherlands or Belgium i never heard a bad thing about Tm motorcycles.
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TM seems to be a very stable company,having manufactured motorcycles since the late 70's,in contrast with other Italion motorcycle manufacturers who antics rival a soap opera.
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Have to say I love the TM's in the little experience I have had with them.
Bought a 2001 model for a great price a few months back and although well used it has been brilliant since. The piston was apparently changed every 40 hours with rings every 20 before I got hold of it, I have probably put another 30 hours on it since buying it and haven't changed a thing.
After taking delivery I was a bit concerned as the carb was literally hanging off it. Once bolted back on it has been thrashed to buggery and hasn't missed a beat. The thing is a bees dick off newer 250 2t's in the beach drags we had a lot of fun doing, the 250 4t's were clearly beaten by the TM.
These things have great engines, handeling I can only compare to bigger bikes (2 stroke 500's, big bore 4 strokes) so obviously it is a relief to have such a light chuckable machine after getting off the big oaths.
In terms of durability they seem very good and certainly built with quality parts.
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i dont like that they didnt design their own shrouds
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i dont like that they didnt design their own shrouds
yeah they do, as far as i know my 08 ones are not interchangeable
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I know I may get some flack for this post but if smaller companies didn't have the ability to have their own plastics made in the past - due to high costs of moulding, there is a good alternative now, China.
I am in manufacturing and while my business is nothing to do with bikes it is so easy to find contractors in China who make al kinds of plastic parts for us. Moulding costs which would be closee to $10,000 in Aus is done for under $1,000 in China. Of course, this opens the door for far smaller minimum runs, which is the biggest problem for these smaller companies who may sell only a few hundred bikes a year.
Find the right manufacturers and there will be no problems with quality, especially if they just stick to plastic parts being made there.
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tm's shrouds look very similar to 2008 honda shrouds. I have nothing against tm's they look like trick bikes and already respect them just for making the 2 stroke
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At least they are not like ATK. They make their own plastics but not their own motors (Rotax, Maico)
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ATK can kiss my American ass, they dropped all the 250's and bought that Cannondale turd. the monster 2 sts they do sell are hardly usable by any mortal man, and I consider them novelty items. If I had the money I'd get one just to put my smartass friends on and watch them crap thier pants when it rolls into the pipe.
Now they've partnered w/ some Jap company and they're gonna make bolt on parts for Harleys???
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tm plastics are made by Acerbis , The same company that makes KTM plastics.
I always find it funny when someone complains about little things like where the plastics are made.
I bet that tm makes more parts for their bikes in house then any of the big 5.
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TM Plastics are Racetech, and unique .
Christian has been testing the 2011 TM250 today, biggest grin factor for a long time.(290111)
www.tmukonline.net (http://www.tmukonline.net) are the main importer into the UK and 2011 is looking like our best year, TM make awesome four strokes and the fast lads and and teams are getting bikes ready for UK Nationals, at the moment in addition to to TM UK Team which has five riders, 2 maybe 3 dealers will be also fielding team.
TM UK 2 strokes are fantastic and the guy who says cost wise more than a YZ is kidding himself, buy a TM and go racing maybe get the Ohlins and Marzocchi tuned but thats it,
The YZ would need, wheels, suspension, exhaust, reed block and some engine work to be anyway near competitive enough to race at UK Nationals.
Good Luck
stop messing about go and get one.
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TM Plastics are Racetech, and unique .
They must have changed. My tank & rad fins have Acerbis on them.
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TM Plastics are Racetech, and unique .
They must have changed. My tank & rad fins have Acerbis on them.
Still cool as they are on a TM, and you are right TM do 99% of everything in house, The TM250 Christian rode today was way the quickest bike at the the track today all it needed was the suspension dialling in after first ride, straight from the crate to the track and on it after 10 minutes set up.
Good Luck
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TM kart engines are a different entity all together, but I know the mx 125 has been used for karting with some success.They even make a 113 and 115mm rod for them. ;)
Another Euro brand that has little exposure is GAS GAS the new 300 EC/6 DAY has been getting some great reviews. Puts out 50HP stock.
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I believe ATK partnered with Hyosung (South Korean). ;D
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Another Euro brand that has little exposure is GAS GAS the new 300 EC/6 DAY has been getting some great reviews. Puts out 50HP stock.
Nice bike's. :)
I think people need to give the Japanese companies a 2 finger salute.
The more Euro bikes sold that eat into the Japanese market share the better. They do not like seeing their market shrinking.
TM/KTM/Gas Gas/Husaberg/Husqvarna/Ancillotti have all brought out NEW bikes for 2011.
Not BNG bullshit but actually new models.
Maybe the Japanese will take notice and realise that an 11' model that has only had BNG since 06 ( Yes that's you Yamaha ) is not acceptable to us any more. :(
If a small company like TM can do engine changes and the like, I think it's probably in Yamaha's capabilities to do the same. ;)
That's my monday rant. Haven't had one for awhile. :D
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Pssst...
You forgot to mention the radically new Ossa 2T Trial bike:
SOGUES: PRESENTACIÃ?N MUNDIAL EQUIPO TRIAL OSSA 2011 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x7wJ1nRNo4#ws)
And the new Fantic Enduro's.
(altho they use gasgas engines and also some gasgas plastic)
Nah, i don't think my money will ever go to a Japanse brand again...!
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Pssst...
You forgot to mention the radically new Ossa 2T Trial bike:
And the new Fantic Enduro's.
I new I would forget something. Better mention Maico as well.
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I have found a fault with the tm.
A couple of posts back I said i was replacing the worn out foot pegs.
Well they turned up today and I fitted them.
The fault ? The right hand peg was not worn out at all.The new one is in nearly the same condition.
The mould they use does not have very sharp or deep spikes. :( The left is nice and sharpe , the right not so.
Strange.
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Take a file to them.
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I wish TM could do a ride day. I dont usually buy without trying first I'll be looking to get a 250 soon and would like to try one out.
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Can you buy other good aftermarket pegs to fit TM?
And if you want to make a test ride on a TM, it's possible near your house if you live in europe.
I don't know who the closest dealer/importer near your area.. But they are just as good as you
think they are, and possibly even better.
A local guy here from this area did a test on a TM 300mx. He liked it so much, he got one.
If you ask specifically, they will tailor the bike fully to suit your personal wishes.
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Can you buy other good aftermarket pegs to fit TM?
I have heard different stories on what fits.
Some say KX & some say YZ pegs.
My local Yamaha dealer said I could take a peg of a new YZ he had in stock but I wasn't too keen.
(I can get my pegs cheaper somewhere else.) :-X
The genuine pegs were cheaper then aftermarket pegs, It was just annoying that I didn't actually have to put new ones on.
The right peg does look worn out from new. :(
Out with the file again.