1-17-15 Update: This TDM850 did not meet reserve at $3,050 last time around. But reader John K. just alerted me that nearly a year later, it’s back up for sale. Find it here with bidding up to $895 and the reserve not yet met or a BIN of $5,500
The Yamaha TDM850 is definitely an oddball…a well-rounded bike in a US market that seems to prefer hyper-specialization. Sold in the US for only two years (1992-1993), there aren’t very many of these bikes still around, but the TDM definitely has a cult following. Well suited for tall riders, Yamaha designed this bike to enjoy mountain roads and also be capable of handling surrounding fire roads.
With a long travel suspension and an engine derived from the XTZ 750 Super Tenere (a bike that won Paris-Dakar), the TDM is well suited for light off-road use – think of it as the Japanese predecessor to the Ducati Multistrada. It’s a ‘do-anything’ road bike that’s not going to break the bank. While it sold very well in Europe, this bike was simply too ahead of its time in the States, and it sold terribly. You got great reliability (though some people had issues with clunky 1-2 shifts), 78 horsepower, 56 pound feet of torque, and reasonable suspension travel.
This specific Yamaha TDM850 (VIN: jya4dte01na000425) has just 8,191 miles and looks great, with just minor cosmetic chips. It’s quite original, including the hideous dual-color seat.
Find this Yamaha TDM850 for sale in Montoursville, Pennsylvania with bidding up to $3,050 and the reserve not yet met
