TM144

old'n'slow
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old'n'slow
Edited Date/Time 3/8/2015 3:36pm
My local dealer will have a 2015 TM 144MX next week. Thinking seriously about buying it.
Can not find any reviews about this model.
Wondering what other riders think about TM?
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F150Motocrosser 3/7/2015 2:59pm
3/7/2015 2:59pm
I know there's some Euro guys on here who are big on TM.. however I personally would have a very hard time justifying spending all that money on a brand new bike with such little distribution support. Sounds like you have a local dealer, which is great, if you like being handcuffed to your local dealer for parts and having little to no access to certain types of aftermarket products.

If you can justify the pros vs the cons of forking out the cheddar for a brand new TM, go for it dude. Personally, I couldn't. I mean is it really that much better than a KTM 150??
mx836
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mx836 3/7/2015 3:05pm
3/7/2015 3:05pm
I say go for it! I wouldn't mind a TM250 myself. Always been into having something different than the norm though. Can't speak from experience, but I would think parts shouldn't be too hard to get these days. Maybe a bit pricey if you have to get something shipped from overseas for some reason. nytsmaC has a couple TM's. Maybe he can chime in.
NHtoWA421
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NHtoWA421 3/7/2015 4:06pm
3/7/2015 4:06pm
Ive looked into parts for older tms before when a local one popped up for sale a few weeks ago.

I was informed that there is a new distributor for the brand in the us. So i got in contact with them. I ended up speaking with a gentleman by the name of ralph flanigan, who answered all of my questions regarding support, availability, and price. Ralph@tmmotorcyclesusa.com

Also, pete24 used to be a tm dealer, so he would have some insight as well.
Wasatch Rider 3/7/2015 4:52pm
3/7/2015 4:52pm
Great Bikes. If you get one, you'll be like the guy that rolls up to the local joint with 10 POS Subaru WRX's outside in a Maserati or similar.

Do it. Beautiful bikes.

The Shop

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Grizz
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Grizz 3/7/2015 5:51pm
3/7/2015 5:51pm
F150Motocrosser wrote:
I know there's some Euro guys on here who are big on TM.. however I personally would have a very hard time justifying spending all that...
I know there's some Euro guys on here who are big on TM.. however I personally would have a very hard time justifying spending all that money on a brand new bike with such little distribution support. Sounds like you have a local dealer, which is great, if you like being handcuffed to your local dealer for parts and having little to no access to certain types of aftermarket products.

If you can justify the pros vs the cons of forking out the cheddar for a brand new TM, go for it dude. Personally, I couldn't. I mean is it really that much better than a KTM 150??
I'm pretty sure most people would agree the KTM is better. I don't think anyone rides a TM because they are "better."
dane812
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dane812 3/7/2015 9:08pm
3/7/2015 9:08pm Edited Date/Time 3/8/2015 12:38pm
if you wanna ride a orange bike, and be part of the "orange crew".....buy a KTM....just another production bike, assembled at high speed, on a production line, where "time is money"......it's easy...just go write a check, and load "her" up in ur truck........Or,if u want a hand built (with attention to details) machine, where someone actually puts their pride into crafting a racing machine....there is no comparison.......would you rather ride a Ducati, or a Honda.....not much of a choice??

old'n'slow
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old'n'slow 3/8/2015 10:27am
3/8/2015 10:27am
Addition to my TM144 post;
Am closing in on 65 years of age, want something different, not the usuall.
Who knows might be the last new bike I buy.
I here this complaint about aftermaket parts not available, but considering that the TM could be consider the Bimota of offroad bikes.
One would not put cheap aftermarket part on a bike like that, would be the equivalent of buying one's wrenchs and sockets from Harbor Freight



nytsmaC
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nytsmaC 3/8/2015 10:37am
3/8/2015 10:37am
F150Motocrosser wrote:
I know there's some Euro guys on here who are big on TM.. however I personally would have a very hard time justifying spending all that...
I know there's some Euro guys on here who are big on TM.. however I personally would have a very hard time justifying spending all that money on a brand new bike with such little distribution support. Sounds like you have a local dealer, which is great, if you like being handcuffed to your local dealer for parts and having little to no access to certain types of aftermarket products.

If you can justify the pros vs the cons of forking out the cheddar for a brand new TM, go for it dude. Personally, I couldn't. I mean is it really that much better than a KTM 150??
Grizz wrote:
I'm pretty sure most people would agree the KTM is better. I don't think anyone rides a TM because they are "better."
This. I can't honestly say that I think my TM's perform better than their equivalent KTM's. I would venture to guess that the KTM's are more refined, they should be. But I'm glad that I went TM and would do it again in a heartbeat, they have been great to own and I love riding them. They are absolutely competitive with anything else out there and built to a higher standard.

Where else can you buy a bone stock bike that has the cases matched, deck height carefully set, base gasket hand-cut, completely hand-welded (beautiful welds too) and hand-assembled, thoroughly greased and prepped like a factory racer?

No need to disassemble these things and check for grease. Every bolt on the bike has been greased or assembly lubed and it's ready to race.

Buy that TM, you'll be glad you did. The new distributor is awesome and a wealth of knowledge on these bikes, he is a fast vet and races them himself. He's easy to talk to and has a ton of experience with these bikes from Europe. Parts are easy to get, the occasional part is overpriced (like rear brake pads, stock pipe, stock 250 piston, all of which you have other options) but most are comparably priced to anything else and in many cases cheaper.

Many parts are billet aluminum where you'd be surprised to find it. They are super light, my 2014 144MX was 198.5lbs ready to ride without fuel.
Sidecar
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Sidecar 3/8/2015 11:03am
3/8/2015 11:03am


My 12 year old likes to frighten kids (and Dads) on new bikes on his 1997 TM 80, they are really well built, this bike is still tight and fast.... Do it!!!
Cancerman
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Cancerman 3/8/2015 11:13am
3/8/2015 11:13am
As an older guy myself, I think the 144 idea is a good one. It's lighter than a 250T, the 144 gives it more meat than a 125, yet it's super light. The TM's are beautamus. Make yourself happy and proud. You can't take it with you. Do it.
nytsmaC
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nytsmaC 3/8/2015 11:23am
3/8/2015 11:23am
Here's my 14 from last Sunday, love it. Ricky Dietrich's van in the background, he was riding his new FC450 for the first time.

philG
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philG 3/8/2015 11:35am
3/8/2015 11:35am
old'n'slow wrote:
Addition to my TM144 post; Am closing in on 65 years of age, want something different, not the usuall. Who knows might be the last new...
Addition to my TM144 post;
Am closing in on 65 years of age, want something different, not the usuall.
Who knows might be the last new bike I buy.
I here this complaint about aftermaket parts not available, but considering that the TM could be consider the Bimota of offroad bikes.
One would not put cheap aftermarket part on a bike like that, would be the equivalent of buying one's wrenchs and sockets from Harbor Freight



before you buy a 144 try the 300.. went out on mine for the first time yesterday, really liked it , easy to ride , not like a 250 at all more like a really laid back 500... i race a 300SMX in Supermoto trim that we are taking out to 344cc , but i was worried that in MX trim it would be too much... but it really isnt. ... and i am pushing 50 , so i want an easy ride.
thorns
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thorns 3/8/2015 11:56am
3/8/2015 11:56am
Build quality is fantastic. I have a 2010 TM 250mx with over 100 hrs and is still immaculate and eveything is still tight, most people who look at it think its much newer.
Sure, there are not many after market parts, but the simple fact is you don't need any on these bikes, they have everything you could imagine. Buy one, set the suspension and ride.

philG
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philG 3/8/2015 12:02pm
3/8/2015 12:02pm
This is mine, a 2012 300mx, its well used but with a fresh motor..



dane812
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dane812 3/8/2015 12:35pm
3/8/2015 12:35pm Edited Date/Time 3/8/2015 12:37pm
PhilG.....old'n'slow is a good buddy of mine, and I think the 300 is a great idea!! not too much more money...and a whole lot more HP!!
philG
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philG 3/8/2015 12:41pm
3/8/2015 12:41pm
dane812 wrote:
PhilG.....old'n'slow is a good buddy of mine, and I think the 300 is a great idea!! not too much more money...and a whole lot more HP!!
i have an RMZ450 too, and the TM is like riding a 125... but with the 300 you can short shift and enjoy the ride... i have my first race next week on it , so i will no more then , but i was worried that it would be too much on the dirt for me, but it wasnt.

Obviously there are issues with it being a bit specialised, but we have good support here in the UK , and Germany is pretty good too, it just depends how much $$ the US guy puts into it.

In supermoto now TM are killing it , MX not so much , but you buy a bike and its done.. proper forks and shock already , you just put gas in and go.


As an engineer, i have to say that the build quality is pretty good , not as refined as a KTM , but still good.
dane812
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dane812 3/8/2015 1:54pm
3/8/2015 1:54pm
him and I are both "takin it easy" as far as riding goes anymore, and figured the 144 would be the perfect machine for either of us....lightweight, enough power to be fun, and not enough power to get into trouble?? we both ride RM-Z250's....and grew up with 2 strokes.......kinda want to bring back those old days of the smokers.....and keep the 4 strokes, for the best of both worlds?? I think owning one of the more exotic bikes is just cool, and a lot of us older guys can afford the slightly higher price, for the trick stuff you get.....

Pit Row

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philG
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philG 3/8/2015 1:58pm
3/8/2015 1:58pm Edited Date/Time 3/8/2015 1:59pm
dane812 wrote:
him and I are both "takin it easy" as far as riding goes anymore, and figured the 144 would be the perfect machine for either of...
him and I are both "takin it easy" as far as riding goes anymore, and figured the 144 would be the perfect machine for either of us....lightweight, enough power to be fun, and not enough power to get into trouble?? we both ride RM-Z250's....and grew up with 2 strokes.......kinda want to bring back those old days of the smokers.....and keep the 4 strokes, for the best of both worlds?? I think owning one of the more exotic bikes is just cool, and a lot of us older guys can afford the slightly higher price, for the trick stuff you get.....
i thought the same , bought a 125 KTM , but you have to try too hard , mentally , to get them to go , swapped that for a CRF250 , and while it was nice , you still have to cane it everywhere, the 300 is just like you wish a 250 was like , but isnt . I am told by guys that have that ridden the 250 and the 300 , that it is friendlier. Im also a bit big for a 144, so the 300 lets you worry about where you are going, and not how you are going to get there..
old'n'slow
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old'n'slow 3/8/2015 2:42pm
3/8/2015 2:42pm
Am sure the 300 is great, but only weighing 135lbs (a kilo less after a good morning shite) think the 144 would be more fitting.
philG
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philG 3/8/2015 2:59pm
3/8/2015 2:59pm
old'n'slow wrote:
Am sure the 300 is great, but only weighing 135lbs (a kilo less after a good morning shite) think the 144 would be more fitting.
i think you may be right. If you want something thats fun , and different , you wont do better.
Flatliner
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Flatliner 3/8/2015 3:36pm
3/8/2015 3:36pm
dane812 wrote:
if you wanna ride a orange bike, and be part of the "orange crew".....buy a KTM....just another production bike, assembled at high speed, on a production...
if you wanna ride a orange bike, and be part of the "orange crew".....buy a KTM....just another production bike, assembled at high speed, on a production line, where "time is money"......it's easy...just go write a check, and load "her" up in ur truck........Or,if u want a hand built (with attention to details) machine, where someone actually puts their pride into crafting a racing machine....there is no comparison.......would you rather ride a Ducati, or a Honda.....not much of a choice??

A Honda.

My cbr 600rr was worlds better than the Ducati 848 I rode. Street riding it wasn't even close.

I love tm's.

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