Two Stroke Motocross
Two Stroke Motocross Forum => General Two Stroke Talk => Topic started by: burn1986 on July 20, 2010, 03:09:07 PM
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Here is an older test ('09) of a KTM and TM. Its a little short, but sort of cool too.
http://tmracingmotorcycles.com/media/magazine-tests/ (http://tmracingmotorcycles.com/media/magazine-tests/)
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While I haven't gone out to get it yet, my understanding is that the newest Dirt Bike Magazine has a test on the TM144....
Anyone seen that one yet??
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Really? I'll have to check it out.
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cool write up. when i rode the 2011 ktm 150 i was really impressed..
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I have the August 2010 issue of Dirt Bike magazine & there is'nt a TM test anywhere in it... :(
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The Dirt Bike test is a writeup about stock and modified 144's including Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, KTM, TM and Husqvarna. :D
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Found the article Sachs.I can't believe I overlooked it!....Thanks... :)
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Yeah, I can't believe I missed it. It has some really cool bikes. The CR144 in there looks totally bad--s. It would be neat to have a class of 144s.
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I think they should be put in the 250 class. That is, the 126cc - 250cc no-matter-how-many-strokes class. Sad that they don't fit, but hey, maybe someone might take advantage of the super-light weight.
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Even though I have not seen the article.. I want to point out something.
Dan from Barker Bros. sent a brand new TM144 to Dirt Bike and Dirt Rider because he was told that it was going to be tested by the magazine.
According to the feedback above, it sounds like more of an impression, then a test.
What did they have to say about the TM?
It sounds as though they loved the Honda! :o :o :o
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They just explain how trick and rare it is.They put showa forks on the front with rg3 clamps.
They said this about the motor.
It was left bone stock,or as stock as you can call a motor built by tm.The bottom end is minimal compared to a ktm 150,but the mid-range and top-end make up for the later power delivery in a big way.The bike is buit to race.
If you want to know the rest you will have to spend the $4.99 and read it yourself. :D
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If you want to know the rest you will have to spend the $4.99 and read it yourself. Cheesy
I just may have to make a trip out to PA to check that out! LOL
Seriously, I may have to bring the TM125 out there for you guys to do some race testing on. Would that work out for you?
Then maybe I can read your issue of Dirt Bike??? :-* :-*
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Tm is mostly used engine in go karting. Icc class and karts with motox engines. So if they win there they are really really fast. Sure they are the fastest engines. Japanese engines are not used often. Sometimes a yamaha but they are just not fast enough. KTM is also used also fast.
Tm motocycles you just have to see. Pieces of art and strange enough not so populair in Europe. Could be marketing thing or just fashion. KTM wins lots of races because they have big factory team. TM just small firm. Secondhand not more costly then other brands over here.
They use aluminium frame ktm steel no idea why tm thinks alu is better. I know Italians. Sometimes they just do things because it looks better.
What you have to do is go to TM dealer and put your japanese bike next to it. Compare the beauty the materials used. How they made it. And you will know it is Italian. Ever saw an MV agusta in real life?
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Even though I have not seen the article.. I want to point out something.
Dan from Barker Bros. sent a brand new TM144 to Dirt Bike and Dirt Rider because he was told that it was going to be tested by the magazine.
According to the feedback above, it sounds like more of an impression, then a test.
What did they have to say about the TM?
It sounds as though they loved the Honda! :o :o :o
John,that would work.That was a question i got last night after our ride.Question was when can i ride it?When we arrange that i guess i will have to let you read my db mag. ;D
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High rise construction in China has driven up the price of high strenght steel to the point where it is cheaper to make a competition motorcycle frame out of aluminum.
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I do not think tm is into making cheap things. they are italians! As long as it is beautifully made. Italians are often in making something with the heart in stead of saving money. Most of the time those manufacturers go bankrupt and after a while they start again. TM has been a long term surviver i think. I own a lot of Italian products and sometimes they brake down but who cares. Fun to ride and nice to look at.
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Every one should try to at least once ride a tm. The power delivery is very addictive thats for sure.
I get lots of requests from people wanting to ride mine but i have had to politely turn most down.
Otherwise i wouldnt get to ride the damn thing myself.
The expression on the faces of the few people i have let have a go are priceless. :D Generaly followed by f***ingh*ll thats quick.
Mine still has the steel frame with oval tubes that look pretty trick.
They are certainly well built with plenty of billet parts but are also reliable.
The resale over here is not to good, but if you are going to keep one for awhile it doesnt matter.
That good thing with that is you can pick up a 1-2 year old one for less then a KTM or Yamaha.
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I wish I could find a used one. These bikes are pretty rare, expecially a 144. I can't see anyone wanting to sell a used one. I have seen some KTM 144s that were not running for about $3000.
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How are they building the engine ? If there stroked and borred that,s good, if there just overborred that,s not as good. Are they beefing up 2nd tru 4th gears, to handle the extra power, just wondering. The TM,s motor sounds great, same range as the 125 mid and up. My favorite power range.
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From what I understand TM is part of a diversified industrial conglomerate and they carefully manage production numbers to satisfy demand.
I've got an 02 TM 250 MX in my shop and I'm trying to rebuild the poor thing. The sasquatch that previously owned the bike used wood screws and SAE bolts to hold the gas tank on and the Ohlins rear shock shaft is bent into an "S" shape. Every linkage bolt is bent/siezed to the point where I'm having to drill or cut it out. What a nightmare! :o
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From what I understand TM is part of a diversified industrial conglomerate and they carefully manage production numbers to satisfy demand.
Don't know for sure that they are an industrial conglomerate, what I heard is that it is a small family business.
The way they manage production and don't get into trouble like other manufacturers is they build the bikes when needed. So you get a hand built bike each and every time.
TM Racing does not just start up a production line a print out a bunch of bikes.
By the way the 144 TM is not just a punched out 125. It is a purpose built 144 with different lower end altogether.
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TM RACING
USES and ADVICES:
TM : HISTORY ��.
It all started way back in 1976 with two friends who had one great love in common: motorcycles and racing. Thanks to the excellent quality and high performance of their motorcycles, that small Pesaro enterprise became in just a few years a force to be reckoned with. The pioneers of TM, Claudio Flenghi and Francesco Battistelli (or rather "Mr Engine" and "Mr Frame") are two childhood friends of the same age who have spent a large part of their lives in direct contact with the world of motorcycles. At just 12 years old, already working in car and motorcycle workshops, Flenghi in particular in a few years assimilated considerable experience working in sectors of great technical interest such as the Motobì racing department and the Benelli experimentation and testing centre. Battistelli, with a love of motocross, managed to involve his friend Flenghi in his passion and after an initial phase in which they dabbled with improving the performance of their friends' bikes as a hobby, they decided to do the job in earnest by preparing an Aermacchi on which Battistelli won the regional championship. In the meantime Flenghi began to cultivate his real interest, that is to say the world of Go Kart racing, gaining important experience on two-stroke engines. And so the idea was formed of building an original motorcycle with an engine made by themselves. Flenghi set to work, coming up with his first engine in a short time which was to be fitted into a motocross frame built by the competent Battistelli, who also took care of road testing the bike. This is how, in 1976, the first experimental bike was born and which was entrusted to two young riders who immediately achieved results far above the wildest expectations. In 1977 the two friends left their respective occupations and founded their motorcycle making enterprise which was registered under the name of TM (from the initials of the names of the sons of Flenghi and Battistelli - Thomas and Mirko). Still in 1977, a bike was entrusted to Gastone Serafini, a young rider from Pesaro, who was to be a determining figure in helping Battistelli in developing the bike and who would go on to achieve competition results of the highest level. At the 1977 Milan Motorcycle Show TM was to attain unexpected success that would urge it to move its premises from Flenghi's small workshop to a new and more well equipped factory located in the Pesaro industrial zone. It was in exactly this period that the Serafini family stepped in to became part of the organisation and in so doing the production figure of 200 moto cross bikes was reached in 1978. In 1979 TM expanded its racing team adding Tommaso Lolli alongside Gastone Serafini, the bike continued to develop and it was in this year too that the first TM enduros were built. In 1982 Battistelli decided to leave TM and his place was taken over by Gastone Serafini who, having reached the end of his professional racing career, decided to join Flenghi full time in running the company. The following years saw a succession of different riders at the controls of TM motorcycles achieving excellent results both nationally and internationally, with equally excellent results in the Kart sector, where TM and its bikes soon became a leader. The philosophy that has always distinguished TM is without doubt the choice of materials, which must always be of the highest quality, and the workmanship, even defined by some as "obsessive", not to mention the high performance of the engines used on the standard bikes, in many cases far superior to those of the most prestigious competitors. This justifies the prices of these jewels of engineering that appeal to a niche market made up of very demanding customers. They can in fact purchase a standard product with which to race in high level competition. All the rest is recent history and the advent of 4-stroke engines has certainly not taken TM unawares, having worked hard and in a short period been able to expand its range with three new 4-stroke cylinder capacities 250/400/530 cc. In addition, great attention has been paid to development of the new 450 cc, which will inevitably eventually replace the 400 cc, more due to market trends however than for reasons of trying to increase the performance of the already powerful 400 cc...
...and The Story will go on...
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The term conglomerate may have given the wrong impression.I have it from a reliable source that the owners of TM also have other business interests that allow them to ride out the inconsistencies of the motorcycle industry.