9013052132 Report This Comment Date: February 14, 2006 08:40AM
Very cool. I personally went on a few rides with a friend of mine who is TM's
regional rep, got to demo a TM 520 four stroke in Idaho's Sawtooth mountains.
Awesome! Now all these guys need is a network of dealers and solid parts
support.
Mrkim Report This Comment Date: February 14, 2006 12:50PM
Looks like a party on 2 wheels! I'm guessin with all the suspension travel
it's an Enduro - street/trail bike, right ?
The last enduro bike I owned was an XT 550cc Yamaha. Strange MoFo it was a
single cylinder 4 stroke, 4 valve head (very unusual in 84), 2 exhaust pipes
comin off the head, and dual carbs, one cable operated and a second one that was
vacuum controlled for 1/3 throttle and above.
Helluva trail bike with awesome torque! The sumbitch would have idled up a wall
if it could get a bite !:>
Had to abandon bikes though, knew for sure I was gonna kill myself on one
otherwise.
Maximus_Erectus Report This Comment Date: February 14, 2006 02:53PM
well, obviously desidned for the man with no sack
Mrkim Report This Comment Date: February 14, 2006 03:41PM
Yer right ME, not much padding for the "jewelry" is there. This bike
is really strange, seat layout and tires are more for high speed street style
riding while the overall bike seems to be best suited for offroad.
Those tires wouldn't do ANY good off road though, really an odd combination and
looks like a "bust yer ass" waitin to happen if you took it off the
pavement.
cesiuminjector Report This Comment Date: February 14, 2006 05:08PM
its a supermoto bike - its ment to slip and slide around the tightest of
corners and handle on the shittiest of asphalt - i imagine fitting more
appropriate tires would make it a bad ass on fire roads
Anonymous Report This Comment Date: February 14, 2006 06:04PM
Sounds reasonable enough, looks like a fun toy & with a nice set of trials
or knobby tires, fun in the dirt too!
I really like the set up for the front disc brake, looks like they'd be very
effective with the rotor that close to the wheels diameter in circumference.
Wonder why it looks like they're using a drum in the rear?
I can spend an inordinate amount of time inspecting machinery trying to get into
the designers heads about their choices for various assys.:>P
cesiuminjector Report This Comment Date: February 14, 2006 08:19PM
that rotor is like the buell rotor - it is mounted directly to the rim - thus
the hub does not have to sustain such torque forces and can be much lighter -
end result lighter bike, less unsuspended mass, better suspension reponse and
bad ass front brake. And they are not using drum in the rear - their is a wave
disc brake clearly mounted on the single sided swing arm
cesiuminjector Report This Comment Date: February 14, 2006 08:20PM
their = there (typo)
Mrkim Report This Comment Date: February 14, 2006 09:03PM
I had wondered if that was a type of brake in the rear, thanks for the
explanation CI. I always appreciate learning about new technologies, it appeals
to the inquisitive side of my Mech nature ; >
9013052132 Report This Comment Date: February 16, 2006 07:05AM
Bah! It's all old tech anyway. Hell, Honda was using single sided swingarms on
the '98 VFR750 Interceptor. This was an ELF patent, which has since run out. Rim
brakes are neat but simply market tech gimmicks, work well, but increase
rotational mass at a point where it is least desireable...too far away from the
axis.
cesiuminjector Report This Comment Date: February 16, 2006 09:08PM
granted the moment of rotational inetia is increased but that engine is more
than capable of compensating and that brake is way more powerful and ultimately
its a lighter wheel which means better suspension response. and im not gonna go
touting single sided swing arms - ducati was all about single sided but even
they changed
cesiuminjector Report This Comment Date: February 16, 2006 09:09PM
i dont believe any part of that bike is show without go