Pilots opinion of the Yamaha TRX850

[Jabawocky]

Not exactly an aircraft specific matter, but as a very high percentage of pilots also ride bikes, I figure this might be a good way to get an honest opinion from those of us who love bikes.

My brother is looking at trading a TRX850 and these seemed to have been rare and not overly successful sales model, yet from what I read they were a great machine.

Have any of you owned or ridden one? He is thinking of trading it and keeping it for his wife to ride.

As you might recall I am a Suzuki guy, and know nothing of these Yammies.

[18-Wheeler]

Don't know anything about them sorry, but it's an excuse to post a photo of my bike.
I did the Q-Ride course a few years ago and that lets you go from no licence to a full licence so you can ride anything you like after that. I decided to get a litre bike as I wanted something that'd scare me a bit for my first bike, and I like the sound of a V-twin so I got a Honda VTR-1000F Firestorm.



They're okay for short trips but I certainly wouldn't want to have to commute far on one. I also never ride in the rain. Aldi had a tank bag that works really well but I haven't seen it for sale for yonks.

[ForkTailedDrKiller]

Not exactly an aircraft specific matter, but as a very high percentage of pilots also ride bikes,

Yup!

Dr

[Jabawocky]

Thanks Forkie.......... now this thread has some aviation related content....your bike fits in the bake of a Bo.

Mine however does not.......GSX 1250FA



And yes I still have the old GSXR for those that remember it......until someone offers me enough to part with it I guess and then Mrs Jaba will make me sell it

[SgtBundy]

Aviation related bike:

[Andy_RR]

I keep being tempted by one of these...



...but I remind myself I need to buy one of these shortly (aviation content)



(maybe not yellow though )

[osmosis]

Forget the pax and wannabes, it doesn't work. I tried it years ago. My brother tried it with a Hyabusa more recently, his wife had one ride and never again. Bike and all gear sold, not before I wrung it's neck out though.

Re Aprilias: very comfortable machine, unsure why they're not more popular. Easy to lose a license on one I should expect.

With respect, if you're on here and asking, it means you're not ready to buy yet. Don't scoff, but take a look at a BMW, you might be surprised.

Best wishes.

[Tidbinbilla]

I came close to buying a VTR1000 once, until I realised you need to ride it at above 140 to avoid Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Top hoon bike nonetheless!

[osmosis]

140...

Whilst you are correct Tid, try sitting above 200 for any length of time, the wrists have it real good but the neck is straining to keep the head attached. Them little windscreens are mighty low.

[troppo]

and hence the term temporary citizen

[Hugh Jarse]

Osmosis, I have a Bavarian Money Waster R1200RT. A big twin with lots of torque. Switch off the ASC and it'll loft the front just like a sports bike, and handles pretty well to boot.

The main reason I bought one was because I have a pillion on about 70% of the time, and it's hard to find many bikes truly set up for pillion comfort. This one has it in spades.

Jabber, I'm sure the TRX850 is a good bike, but I reckon Yamaha spent too much research money trying to build a parallel twin to sound and vibrate like a Ducati V-twin, rather than a machine which stands on its own merits. And I wouldn't bother about taking a pillion. I think the TRX pioneered the pillion "pad" (less than 25mm thick). Having said that, Yamaha haven't built many dodgy bikes since the mid 70's (except the GTS1000A, which was a good concept, but failed miserably in the marketplace).

The VTR1000? - closest thing any Jap manufacturer got to a Duke. And a great bike. Did some awesome laps around Eastern Creek a few years ago. Capable of 240+, if you're game. Not too bad for a V-twin which originally went into production around 1997. The thing that killed it for me was a pizzly 16L tank.

[Ultralights]

if your going to go sports bike, dont fart arse around, get a sports bike!
The only Yammy worth owning.



still have the Bavarian Meandering Wanderer

and hence the term temporary citizen

isnt Everyone a temporary citizen? Havn't met any vampires yet..

[bushy]

Motorcycles are bad for you. They are also wonderful for you!...Billy Commelly.

[redsnail]

As my learned mate Jarse has said, the TRX is a parallel twin designed to sound and look like a Ducati 900SS from the mid 90's. It wasn't a bad bike but suffered because there was quite a few V-twins coming out from Honda and Suzuki that were their own bike as opposed to a blatant Ducati rip off.
The TRX is based on the old TDM and there were no real flaws on that bike. A bit bland if you're really looking for faults.

If it's the V thing you're after, get a Ducati (and those who know me will understand why I say that) or have a look at the SV series from Suzuki. But you didn't hear me say that.

Hey Jarse, I still remember what Jarsephine said after you suggested a Honda after riding my lil Ducati.

[remoak]

Come on now, a Monster isn't a real Ducati...

[redsnail]

I don't have a Monster.

[Josh Cox]

I'd recommend a british bike.

Restored this one last year:
Before:

After:


Am presently restoring this one ( the Norton ):

Fat old tatooed biker chicks think I'm cool, and that is all that matters.

[redsnail]

Josh Nice restoration job, I see you've included the obligatory oil drips on the ground.

Like the Guzzi in the background.

[Chimbu chuckles]

U'lights they misspelt BIKER - just in case you hadn't noticed

My old FJ1200 back when I was based CNS with PX - Chelsea about 8 or 9. Now she has a child of her own.



My Honda Valkyrie in Singapore. Used to ride it up the Malay Peninsular many weekends - shoulda shipped it back to Oz.



What I ride now..Yamaha XJ900S...very nice bike.



Aviation content? I have been known to do the odd bit of low flying on the FJ1200 and lately the XJ900s

[Hugh Jarse]

I've been a "temporary citizen" for the 38 years I've been riding

Reddo, we still laugh about that one. Trying to talk her into getting her licence...

Nortons and Trumps. Cut my teeth on them in my first job out of school. The first thing my trainer told me: "British bikes don't leak oil... They mark their territory". Norton has to be my favourite POME bike.

By the way, where's the seat on the Snortin' ? Electrical problems?

Found this one among some old bike shop stuff:

• Mr Lucas: "Prince of Darkness"

• The Lucas motto: "Get home before dark".

• Lucas denies having invented darkness. But they do still have a claim to "sudden, unexpected darkness."

• Lucas -- inventor of the first intermittent wiper.

• Lucas -- inventor of the self-dimming headlamp.

• The three-position Lucas switch -- DIM, FLICKER and OFF

• The other three switch settings -- SMOKE, SMOLDER and IGNITE.

• The original anti-theft devices -- Lucas Electric products.

• "I've had a Lucas pacemaker for years and have never experienced any prob...."

• If Lucas made guns, wars would not start either.

• Did you hear about the Lucas-powered torpedo? It sank.

• It's not true that Lucas, in 1947, tried to get Parliament to repeal Ohm's Law. They withdrew their efforts when they met too much resistance.

• Did you hear the one about the guy that peeked into a Land Rover and asked the owner, "How can you tell one switch from another at night, since they all look the same?" He replied, "It doesn't matter which one you use, nothing happens anyway!"

• Back in the '60s Lucas decided to diversify its product line and began manufacturing vacuum cleaners. It was the only product they offered which didn't suck.

• Quality Assurance phoned and advised the Engineering guy that they had trouble with his design shorting out. So he made the wires longer.

• Why do the English drink warm beer? Lucas makes refrigerators, too.

• Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. Joseph Lucas invented the short circuit.

• Recommended procedure before taking on a repair of Lucas equipment: check the position of the stars, kill a chicken and walk three times clockwise around your car chanting: "Oh mighty Prince of Darkness protect your unworthy servant."

• Lucas systems actually uses AC current; it just has a random frequency.

• When taking a comfort stop on the route always walk away from the vehicle down wind at least 100 metres before emptying bladder. This will help alleviate the ingress of moisture into the electrical system and allow you to maybe continue your journey.

• Electrons flow through conventional wiring at the speed of light. In Lucas products, they travel at the speed of dark.