Haven't had too much of a chance to ride the TDM, as I have been trying to break in the SV650s by riding as much as possible. My initial impressions, however, are that is going to be hella fun. It's fairly top heavy, and you really feel it when you lean into corners. It reminds me of an enduro bike I used to ride--you just lay into the corner and it feels like a long way down, but then the heavy top pull itself back up. The motor is cold-blooded, but a blast once warmed up. A little buzz at 4000, but I cut my teeth on an 81 sportster, so it doesn't bother me that much. The carbs have been re-jetted to clean up the midrange. The trans is clunky, and I have missed shifts quite a few times. There's no "snick" like the GTS, you really have to throw the lever up and down. Probably just a habit I'll have to develop. Lots of suspension travel, very upright seating position, so looks like a good, comfy tourer. The windscreen is a clearview +6 or +8, but the old owner would shave it down when it got a crack in it or something, so it's more like a +4 at this point. Stock seat is lots of soft foam, much like the GTS stocker, and very unlike a Corbin. Virtually no exhaust note. Easy reach to the ground. It does have the disadvantage of a fuel cock, which I always forget to turn off. Also, it isn't as much of a screamer as the GTS, and probably as the SV650 (though I can't take it above 5k rpm, I suspect it will be hot up around 9), more of a steady puller. Then again, I haven't spent a lot of time up in the 7-9000 range on the TDM. I would say it's a lumbering ox compared to the SV650, and a svelte gazelle compared to my other off roader, the XR650L. The TDM will be fine on logging roads, and they make some good dual purpose tires for it. I'm looking forward to spending some time on this bike this summer. Plus, with the blue/grey paint scheme, the grey givi bags will match both the GTS and the TDM! Adam --- Tom Sheraden <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I would be interested to hear > how > you like your TDM. > -ts __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.yahoo.com/
