Yamaha TRX850 Enthusiasts Forum

I posted the below message in a nother forum and was cordially invited by killerwhale to come over to this website.

I've just registered as a member & this is my first post.

As soon when I traded my Kawasaki ZL cruise bike for a 1999 TRX, I immediately filled up the tank & took it for a 160 km ride.

Emotional, I loved the deep rumble sound of TRX, which was the main reason why I bought it. My heart says the TRX but my head said the SV 650. I can always get a latest SV650 in the future as the TRX has been discontinued & I can’t see the SV650 get discontinued in the distant future as they are selling hot cakes and are abundant on the used market in the future. Hey, at least I can say I have owned & ridden a TRX.

No offence but after riding a good all round road bike like TRX or SV, I don’t think I will ever get back to a cruise bike as they are heavy, slow to manoeuvre at traffic jammed speeds, a lot of wind resistance at higher speeds especially your chest. Maybe I will get another cruise bike when I go through a 2nd mid-life crisis.

As far as practically is concerned on the TRX, here are the not so positive thoughts:

1. 1st gear is very twitcy & clunky and needs a lot of clutch control as I have embarrassingly stalled it 3 times.

2. Likes to be kept above 3000 rpm for more friendly usable power. (slipping and sliding on the silky smooth seats)

3. Need to get one of those padded tank protectors to protect my crown jewels (eg. as I hit the throttle, it moves me backwards & pushes me forward as I slow down using engine braking from 3rd to 2nd gear)

4. The seat is so damm HARD as rock as my bum is in great pain.

5. Coming from a cruise bike, I got sore palms during the ride (probably my technique as I tend to have death grips due to my earlier enduro days).

6. No latch provided to lock your helmet?

The positive outweighs the negatives but I have one question for you guys/gals.

How do you overcome the damn HARD seat?
Any suggestions as to what you do to make the trip more comfortable ?

Thank you for your assistance.

canon wrote:I posted the below message in a nother forum and was cordially invited by killerwhale to come over to this website.

I've just registered as a member & this is my first post.
1. 1st gear is very twitcy & clunky and needs a lot of clutch control as I have embarrassingly stalled it 3 times.

2. Likes to be kept above 3000 rpm for more friendly usable power. (slipping and sliding on the silky smooth seats)

3. Need to get one of those padded tank protectors to protect my crown jewels (eg. as I hit the throttle, it moves me backwards & pushes me forward as I slow down using engine braking from 3rd to 2nd gear)

4. The seat is so damm HARD as rock as my bum is in great pain.

5. Coming from a cruise bike, I got sore palms during the ride (probably my technique as I tend to have death grips due to my earlier enduro days).

6. No latch provided to lock your helmet?

Just my 2 cents...
1. Get a pair of keihin FCR´s
2. Get a pair of keihin FCR´s
3. Gotta go to the gym and do some pullups! Should be able to hold yourself fixed when acc.
When breaking/dec. pinch your knees up in the tank...thats what its for!
4. Rebuild with gel instead of foam...cheap trick would be to use a pair of spinning shorts (they are usually padded)
5. Foam grips helped me a LOT!
6. ...and risk that a drunk passes by and take a piss in it!? No thanks i´ll be carying mine!

Cheers

Welcome to the site canon, we're a pretty friendly bunch (most of us are anyway )

Some of the Aussies on here have sheepskin seat covers - have a look round and you'll see what I mean (meemo-meh did have one for sale but you missed it). Probably double up as a protector too

Hook for your helmet? On mine there's two little hooks under the pillion seat but I struggle to get my lid hooked there coz the strap's too short

Enjoy your Rex

Hi and welcome to the forum!

I can't say I really have a problem with the seat being on the hard side, and I have mine cut down to compensate for my short legs. Lots of padding on the bum probably helps, though...!

I can agree with some of your not-so-positive thoughts, e.g.

1. True, many riders have altered the gearing, possibly to get round this. I've kept standard gearing myself and just use throttle/clutch control for slow manouvering - you will get used to it!

2. Def need to keep revs up a bit, even though the torque is great. I try to keep it above 4.5k (mine tends to feel very buzzy at about 4k)

3. Being female, I couldn't possibly comment!!

4. Like I said, I've got lots of padding so don't have a problem. Saying that, friends of mine who have ridden my bike don't find the seat hard - although coming from a cruiser where comfort is King, any other seat will probably seem hard to you. Give it time, I'm sure your bum will harden up in time!!!

5. More than likely your technique. Relax a little more.

6. Look under the pillion seat, there are latches either side of the bike I use to clip lids onto.

I love my TRX and wouldn't change it for the world. If I get another bike, it'll be in addition, rather than instead of.

Welcome to the wonderful world of TRX's. Having ridden an SV, I can safely say that you've made the right choice!

Wow, thanks for the tips.

I guess it is just a matter of time for me to get use to the riding style.

Normally I need a firm twist of the trottle in order to get the bike really going but with the TRX, it caught me by surprise which goes to show the lack of power of my previous bikes.

Sounds like I need to really wrap my thighs & croutch right up against the tank which is very diferrent from a cruise bike.

I can ride lazily and get away with my previous bikes but with TRX, I need to pay attention, especially the trottle.

I was at a really bad traffic jam with lots of stops etc and I did noticed that the engine got quite hot, I can hear the fan going & the temperature gauge was nearly at the red spot.

I see that you guys/gals have replced the exhuast, brake calipers, forks etc but for now, I'm quite happy with the factory settings as I'm on a very tight budget, you know, wife, kids, mortgage, bills, dogs etc.

I just want to enjoy my ride until I win lotto.

Oh, one more thing.

What I meant was that starngely, there is no "lockable" latch for the helmet.

The tabs under the pillion seat lock with the seat. Someone would have to pry the sucker off to get at the helmets. Never had any problem with mine, but I don't park it outside of bars where drunks can pee in it.

The seat being hard... Did the previous owner cut it down or something. I think it's one of the most comfortable and easy to position yourself on seats around.

As for moving around on it. It sounds like someone slicked it up with Armor all or something. Either that or you wear silk undies... Give it a good washing, see if that helps. And as with any sportbike, you do need to grip the tank with your knees.

The other problems you mentioned, just part of the bike's character. You'll get used to the low end stuff. But depending on the milage, your emulsion tubes in the carbs could be causing rough running... Someone else should be able to help you with that, I run FCRs.

Welcome aboard!

Low speed stuff: I geared my TRX down one tooth on the front. makes driving in town no problem at all, and I do a lot of town stuff. Out of town I keep mine over 4000 revs most of the time anyway, above 5 preferably. It's still theoretically capable of 135mph even with the lower gearing but I don't go there anyway. 6000 revs is just over 100mph. That said I reckon changing the emulsion tubes in the carbs made a big difference to the engine running below 3000 revs.

As for the seat, grip the tank with the knees, leathers don't slide on the seat like cordura or jeans might. I do find the seat hard too TBH.

Hi mate,

1. Notoriously 'notchy' at low revs and speeds. Make sure all the slack in the throttle cable is taken up and make sure the chain is adjusted spot on.

3. Some dealers spray bikes with silicone spray to make them all shiny. This is good stuff, but slippy, so could be on the seat too? Give it a good wash.

4. You could get the seat reupholstered, or get a Gell Pad from any decent bike shop, or if you're in Oz, go for the popular 'roadkill' furry cover.

Dave.

Welcome aboard Canon.
I'm sure you will soon get to know and love your TRX and get used to all it's 'characteristics' until anything else will seem a poor imitation of a motorbike.
I too fitted a one tooth smaller front sprocket to improve 'town' riding and havn't missed the slight drop in top end speed.
Where are you based? Are there other TRX owners near you that you can meet up with to swap ideas?
As for the hard seat ... just be thankful you don't have to ride pillion on it!
Red Rex.
(also struggling with a mortgage, family, etc. etc and I was un-employed for 8 months but NEVER even considered selling the TRX)

Thank you all for your valuable inputs as it is very much appreciated.

Yes, when I get more funds I will definitely look into the possibility of improving the performance/ride/handling etc.

Funds are very limited and I need to prioritise it. No point spending more money on the bike and let the rest of the family go hungry, don’t pay my mortgage etc.

I’m not concerned with top end performance as I don’t race at racetracks or ride @ 160 kph on the highway constantly risking my licence, put my life in danger due to silly drivers etc. Every weekend someone on a bike dies and mostly are young male riders on their high performance bikes.

The maximum speed limit in Australia is only 110 kph and it is an automatic lost of licence (1-2 years?) doing such speeds and there are plenty of cops and speed cameras. No point having the TRX at home and can’t ride it.

I go up to 150 kph for quick overtaking and the occasional adrenalin rush of hormones but only in short burst.

By the way, the Police Dept raises lots & lots of money from speeding fines it has become a good source revenue raiser for the Govt.

In a car, one can tend to only over speed by 20-30kmp but on a bike, it can eeasily be 50kmph or more, so more chances of loosing your licence.

Until the TRX, I’ve never really had decent bike but then again I was never really been a die-hard hardcore bike person. I just enjoy riding.

A lot of people I know had to completely give up riding when they got married or when they have a family, so I’m considered very lucky.

I will not be able to contribute but will definitely log onto the website every so often to read what you guy/gals are up to etc and ask more dumb questions like what is a FCR ?

Once again, thank you.

Dumb questions I can answer, it's the real techno ones that I have trouble with...

FCR is a Keihin racing carburetor (flat slide type).