I've owned my 1998 TRX 850 for 2 months now and have had many brilient fun days out on it already come rain or shine. It was the sound that sold me when I went to the viewing with the aftermarket cans on. As the revs climb the exhaust emits a noise not disimilar to an anrgy rotwieler being poked with a stick! My friends CBR's and R6's sound like small childrens push bikes in comparision!!! Having limited experience on other bikes I would have to say the performance is ace. It turns in nicly and always has enough grunt to get me out (and into....) various situations. It is kinda lumpy in the lower revs and this leads to a bit of jerkyness in trafik and sharp turns without a bit of clutch. Further up in the revs it comes into its own, hit the power band and the thing just shoots off at an increadible speed and just keeps on going (i've only had it up to 120mph and it wanted more...). The engine produces more vibrations i think than the flat 4's such as the cbr and r6. I rode a friends R6 the other weekend and was quite suprised how vibration free it was. However i do think my trx may need a routine tune up with the carbs balenced etc... to minimise the vibs. The brakes have being upgraded to those from a Yamaha R6 and look very tasty as well as biting hard when needed. I've only had to order a few new bits. I found that the yamaha dealer had the exhuast gasket i needed in stock tho none of the other bike shops i called did. I have BOS aftermarket exhausts and one on the brakets snapped and i am still waiting for the bracket to be delivered from Hollond and have the relivitly quiet standard cans on at present :-( I have kept the bike outside and riding most days for the last 2 months and it has been raining solidly. I have cleaned the bike a lot but not after every ride and its still the shineyest bike in the bike part and turns a few heads. I thought i would just mention that it also have quite large underseat storages for a chain, camera, sandwiches etc...
All in all this is a brillent bike and an very happy with it.
Owning and running a Yamaha TRX 850 by Tim Pestridge
I originally traded in my jet-black 1990 Kawasaki ZZR100 for this beautiful TRX 850 from Motorcycle City in Newton Abbot, and discovered I'd found a fine machine. Although I never quite got into the flow of the TRX's handling, it was a superb and surprisingly characterful machine, owing a lot of it's charm to Yamaha's clever 280 degree crank aimed at aping Ducati's exhaust note and characterisitics.
The TRX was much more responsive to body movement, and felt grunty and chuckable after the ZZR, particualrly once I put new Bridgestones on it. The finish can be suspect, and like most Yamaha's needs liberal coatings of WD40 to keep them lokoing tip-top, and need attention to brakes at times if ridden through UK winter salt.
On the road you'll find it much more fun with sports cans fitted, half the fun of the TRX is it's booming Ducati-esque exhaust note. Equipment is sparse, home comforts are few (forget pillions) but fit a Baglux tank bag and you can cruise quite happily at 90-100mph if required tucked low behind the screen.
I was so pleased with the bike when I bought it that feeling flush and well-heeled I purchased a private number plate to go with the bike - HIS TRX, which I ended up transfering from the TRX onto a Burgman, and then onto a red VFR, which it still is connected to as far as I am aware.
Bizarre as it may seem, I traded the TRX in for a Suzuki Burgman 400 (below). It made sense at the time! The TRX does represent superb value for money, as long as you are aware of the suspect Yamaha finish. THis isn't the sort of bike that would fare well left outside over the winter.
They represent excellent value for money, as long as you don't mind it being touted as a 'fake-Ducati'.
Brilliant package & grossly under rated. Outright speed is not fantastic but it handles, stops & accelerates (runs out of puff at about 130) beautifully. Comfortable enough to tour one up & unusual. Why does anybody bother with a Ducati?
Never owned
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed July 2003.
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just a great sports bike! sold mine, wished i hadn't. only the owners know what a hidden gem they have. super sounding, safe handling, un-posey, real bike.
Owned for 2 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed October 2002.
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I climbed off a ZX10 and onto the TRX after a much maligned break. The first thing that I noticed about the TRX was it's ridability. It was the easisest bike to get used to that I've ever ridden. After a frustrating run-in period (hard to resist the temptation to rip into it) the bike came into its own with the engine performance improving by the kilometre. It could do with few more decibels of noise and the next purchase will be a stainless system. My only criticism is the characteristic front end dive of many Yamahas. A small price to pay for an otherwise excellent machine.
Owned for 6 months.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed September 2002.
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I like how it can be ridden all day with little effect on the rider, those dual pipes (after Market)give a growling rumble that no one can miss. Needs to have a 6th gear, firmer suspension allround, with about 20 ponies more on tap and it would be close to perfect.
Owned for 3 months.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed June 2002.
Performance
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I found the bike good value for the money front brakes need upgrading to goodridge brake lines & sinted brake pads. Rear suspension very poorly built need to replace with olins or white power units. Require new cylinder head shims adjusting at 13.000 miles. Found that metzeler mez1 racing tyre good grip & good feed back 3.000 mile change
Owned for 1 year.
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