I set out looking for a 90's-00's era 250 2 stroke to restore. Trying to keep a low budget, these pair of TM Racing 250's kept showing up in my search. I brushed past them looking for a more traditional Japanese bike. But the exotica lured me into contacting the seller and making a package deal. Figured I would keep one and sell the other. Also use the two for comparison during the build combining the best of each. After a short test ride on each, and $3800 I loaded both of them up and took them home.
Bike on the left has Nissin rear brakes, Nissin front brake master with brembo caliper, Ohlins forks and 2002 seat and graphics.
Bike on the right has full Brembo brakes front and rear, Paioli forks with 2001 seat and graphics.
Which leads me to believe they are not the same year (2001) but roughly within one year of eachother. I'm calling them 01 and 02's. From VIN research I've done TM does not have consistent number system. Maybe others can chime in with help here. But seems 00-03 looked the same. I'll post pics of the VIN's below.
For now, I've decided to keep both (against my wife's opinion) make one a rider and one a garage queen. I'm doing the 2001 first as my rider and collecting parts for both along the way. I'm trying to return them back to mostly stock. To preserve their place in history and document for others.
A boutique Italian brand that used a combination of CR and KX parts. I've always wanted a TM since I was young, but the rarity scares most people off, and also hurts the resale value. But shouldn't, they're great bikes! My first impression riding them both was, they definitely fit taller riders. Being 6ft tall I was comfortable and would compare it to some older KTM's. Enough rambling, more pictures!
Picture of VIN
Picture from Motocross Action Magazine review 2000
Hours seem pretty low. Date code on front tire is 2001. Crank and lower end all tight, replaced crank seal and gaskets.
Not sure if someone painted this or not, but plan to strip it.
Found sunflower seeds in the swingarm, must have been a mouse!
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
One major issue with the bike, was the frame is dented on both sides from what looks like forks over-rotating past the stops. I tried heating it up first, but no luck.
Had a buddy braze it for me before powder coating. Talking with different powder coaters, this is the only preferred method for dent filling. Epoxies and plastic fillers will soften in the oven.
The powder coater recommended clear coating silver or grey powder. Learned this is one of the more expensive powder coat colors. In true TM fashion. Black, orange, no big deal, not as expensive. Trying to keep within a budget, I picked BMW silver, single stage.
Used some NAPA aluminum brightener, works great on old aluminum! Be sure to use in well ventilated area, lol!
New shrouds and replica graphics! That's all for now! Waiting for more parts to arrive.
Those are some sweet rides!
Damn dude good score! I've always liked those old TM's, looking forward to watching you freshen them up.
10th digit is the year and matches the year it was built, so they should be 1 for '01 and 2 for '02. 01 also has flat steering head bearing vs taper and the brembo/brembo vs the nissin/brembo on 02. I just picked up a 2001 TM Racing EN 125 and have noticed this. Use to have an 03 125 MX and it had the nissin/brembo combo. Paioli vs Ohlins also give away year. All Balls has pretty much all the bearings covered.
Where did you source shrouds and graphics? I need some for mine.
Looking forward to more and will add mine on here once i get started!
Your swingarm is 2000 you can see by the placement of the brake hanger weld. It was off center in 2001.. , and rear master changed to silver nissin in 2001.
Also tm racing use the 12th number as year identification , they didn`t use year model identification until around 02-03 i think.
I've read the same about 10th digit and 12th digit of the VIN being the year. On both of my bikes the 10th and 12th digits of the VIN are the same. 10th digit is a '1', 12th digit is a '0' on my examples. So, I believe the latter to be true about TM not documenting the year in the VIN previous to '02/'03.
Metal_miracle, good eye on the swingarm! I didn't catch that. I wonder if someone put a year newer graphics and seat cover on a 2000? They look original. Or did a smaller company like TM interchange parts over the years? Online parts show 99-00 rear brakes and 01-03 rear brakes using different components. Maybe I do have a 2000?
Does anyone know if Ohlins forks were available in '01? From the sales brochures I've found, Ohlins weren't an option until 2002? I ask because my other 250 I'm calling an '02 based on the graphics and forks.
I understand they changed the steering stem bearings in '02. I got the correct set for my '01, but ordered the newer style for the'02 bike, but they are not correct. On both my bikes the bearings are the same. This has been my ongoing mystery of the TM. Thanks for the advice by all!
The 00/01 graphics where produced by tecnosel . 01 graphics where more common in shops.
As for the rear brake slave i think its same as 34mm ktm 1998 unit.
The Paioli conventional (blue steel ) , and the Marzocchi 50mm conventional was an option in 00/01 models.
as for steering stem bearing on older models used 30x55x17mm . Think 02+ used 30x51-17.
Here's a read my used 2 stroke piston. Not sure the hours. TM single ring piston. The Vertex I installed is a double ring.
Here is the lower triple clamp. I'm going to see if I can have a local welder build up material for me to prevent damaging the frame or other components. Other suggestions?
I've already installed new Vertex A piston and new linkage bearings. The rear shock bearing seems to have a high failure rate.
Had to cut out the old bolt sleeve, and no idea how the new one fits together? I've been fighting it for a while this evening. Seems the new sleeves won't press into the bearing?! Anyone run into this? New ProX bearing kit
Another problem I ran into, apparently on disassembly I didn't notice the lack of threads on the one side of the chain adjuster. Assuming it is safe to heli-coil it? No threads to chsse.
Long time, no updates. Got the swingarm and triple clamps fixed by a local aluminum welder a while ago.
Bike mostly back together. Biggest issue holding me up was, the rear linkage. The bushings in the kit I purchased were wider then OE. Even received another kit, same dimensions. Finally sourced some OE bushings from TM to get the swingarm installed.
New front and rear wheel bearings. New chain and sprockets. New front brake hose, clutch line. New swingarm slider, linkage bearings, steering stem bearings. Samco radiator hoses. New carb vent lines. New top end, engine gaskets and seals. Spare seat and new cover. New Pro Circuit exhaust.
Re-used the old wheels for now. Plan on new wheels for TM # 2 which has nicer donor wheels for this one. Slowly aquiring parts for that build later.
Air box resealed. ECU resecured. I guess this is factory? Just zip ties?
01 replica decals from TM. Sad the lower radiator shroud bolt holes don't line up. Otherwise looks good.
Bike is looking great!
The reason the shroud holes don`t line up is that you got 4t decals.
if you are looking for tm decals check out James Kennedy on facebook.,
and yes the cdi is mounted whit zip ties from factory in various positions . up until 2007 at least.
Pit Row
Thanks for the info the decals. I didn't think TM offered a 4 stroke until 2002? Probably the templates. I tried to order the 02 graphics for the other project, but they were sold out. May have to try your source.
Dave @ Get Dirty Dirt Bikes is in Europe for 5 weeks currently to hopefully secure TM parts and bikes in the future. So TM USA is temporarily closed. Some say the future for TM is upn in the air? I'm confident we'll be seeing more. They did have plans to expand and produce more bikes.
TM Racing has split into TM "Moto" for cycles and TM "Racing" for go-karts from what I understand. I'm sure someone here knows more than I do. Just rambling, on to the build!
New Pro Circuit platinum pipe and silencer arrived. Only platinum and the 'EN' version of the silencer were available. Debating weather I should cut the longer Pro Circuit down or run the FMF silencer that came with the bike?
Also note the weld job on the FMF exhuast pipe section. Wondering if previous owner modified exhaust from a different bike?
I thought I would have been riding this machine by now. Like most projects life, work, and family get in the way. Plus, I'd rather be out riding! Attempted to bleed the clutch after installing new line and could not get it to bleed. Inspected the clutch M/C and found piston rubber damaged. So I ordered up the next best thing...
Upgraded the stock Grimca clutch master to a KTM Brembo unit that comes stock on most KTM bikes 06+
Ordered a used 94-98 KX seat and new foam from Guts Racing. New blue gripper cover from TM Racing. Waiting for the seat to come back from upholstery...
New foam on the left, used KX seat in the middle, original TM on the right.
The silencer I ordered does not fit. Working with Get Dirty Dirt Bikes to source another silencer. Taking with Dave there, he explained FMF made a universal silencer that you could weld yourself to fit?
Getting so close. Hope to ride this thing yet this season!
Edit: I updated the title of the thread to "00 TM" vs "01 TM" given the info provided by metalmiracle earlier in this thread. It is a 2000 model year based on the brake combo. It just has 2001 graphics.
Discovered previous owner modified the exhaust mounting on the subframe, and custom silencer to match. Frame is already powder coated so, I guess I'll have to accept it and live with it for now. Returned the Pro Circuit silencer.
Compared my 2000 to my 2002 TM 250
Should have known with that suspect weld.
Compared to the '02 which is in the stock position. Another reason I'm glad I purchased the two bikes as a package.
Here's the finished product. Have yet to ride it. Photos before I scratch it.
Looks great, we'll done!
Great job!
Its a beauty from an excellent time in the sport. Congrats!
Update with numbers in true Euro style from the era. I'm missing the font brake hose number plate holder. Seems discontinued from TM. I have a universal Acerbis one, but would like something in a slimer profile. Any one have suggestions?
Looks fantastic. Nice job! Are you using stock or aftermarket pegs? If aftermarket what make/model/year bike?
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