Hi, I'm new here. I am looking at a 2008 America 865cc with the view of purchasing it. Only 4,000 miles, 2 owners. My last bike was a Suzuki C50T Boulevard (2005, 805cc, 12,000 miles) with screen, paniers, SatNav, heated grips, touring lights, cruise control. I loved the Boulevard but unfortunatley it wasn't economical to freight it with me from the other side of the world when I moved to the UK. Does anyone have any views or recommendations on the America?
I have a French pal who has done 120,000 kms on his - mainly two-up and often loaded with camping gear. IT HAS BEEN TOTALLY FAULTLESS.
Thank you, that is exactly the reply I was hoping for. In New Zealand I rode on the TT2000 rally every year - that is touring New Zealand riding 2000km (1250miles) in 48 hours. I also went on lots of other very long rides. My Boulevard was superb for this, I hope the America will treat me just as well.
Great bike, but then I am biased ! Get one with all the extra's you can, costs a small fortune to add them later, but they add no real value when buying.
Had to finish that one early, had do to some w*rk Great bikes, I came from a sports bike (fed up going quick, dead or lots of points beckoning), so big change, but I absolutely love mine. 200+ miles per tank, I have found the finish on them brilliant, no corrosion problems, other than trying to keep the bare alloy wheels shiny (no chance), tyres last a lifetime compared to sports bikes. I chuck mine around the twisties quite the thing, scraping pegs and exhaust, or bimble along smelling the roses, or tour 2 up 250 miles a day in comfort and ease. Missus loves it on the pillion seat, and actually struggle to get out without her !!!! Best modification is Triumph Off Road pipes (TOR), as standard are way too quiet and a set of decent tyres (Avon Cobra transform handling, especially in the wet, where OE metz' are useless). Could do with a sixth gear and maybe another 10~15 bhp, but other than that I think it's a great bike. Be keeping mine for a long time.
Brilliant - thank you. I had to get extra padding in the boulevard pillion seat to make it 1/2 way comfortable. Riders seat was superb though. I've also done the sports bike thing. Self preservation, a desire to keep my licence and an appreciation of the journey converted me to the cruiser. i intend to ride the America solely for pleasure so your recommendations help me a lot. Thank you once again.
Well...... I now have the America. I've spent quite some time cleaning and prepping it up to MY standards. My brief early thoughts after owning it for just over a week and riding about 200 miles this weekend ............. DAMN I LOVE THIS BIKE Also, I noticed how friendly the UK riders are. During my decades of riding in NZ I always waved and acknowledged all other riders regardless of brand, model or type but in NZ there is definite division between some riding groups. Harley riders never wave or acknowledge other riders except other HD's Midlife crisis riders seemed to self absorbed (or to afraid to let go of the handlebars ) And, nobody waved to scooters! Despite riding alone all weekend (I've only been here 6 months and I don't know anyone else with a bike) 'everyone' waved or nodded to me. Even the 2 or 3 groups of riders I came up behind and tagged onto for a while waved as we parted. I'm going to enjoy riding in the UK .
The TDM900 is a very nice bike. Quite a contrast from the America. My last bike was a Suzuki Boulevard C50T (I think they are known as VL800 Volousia in the UK). The Boulevard was my dream bike but I think I like the America more (even though the Boulevard was a higher spec for accessories). I hope you enjoy your America as much as I enjoy mine.
I don't have many pics yet. This is it the day I got it The last pic is my previous bike - the Boulevard
Hi Triple B, you say it's a 2008, is it carburetors or EFI ? If it's EFI you can gain about 7hp, about 1/2 what Mr Orange says would better it. By going to the "tuneecu" website and download my tune from 2009' , this tune is suitable for efi 865 cc with short open pipes, K&N air filter and the ais disabled. Cheers capt.
Capt, is your tune any good for my throttle issues? Currently going from closed throttle to open throttle is awful firstly nothing happens then it lunges forward. 2012 efi america. Short tors. Ais removed. O2 sensors removed. Map for short tors +% I can't remember exact number? Andy
I had a TDM850. Cracking good ride for it's time. Got it new from what was a joint Triumph/Yamaha dealership. With hindsight I wish I had gone Triumph back then, 20-odd years ago, though I couldn't fault the yammies I had from them.
Hi Andy, my tune is in the tuneecu website. If you have tuneecu , you can download it and use the compare maps feature, if tuneecu won't allow you to compre then the maps aren't compatible, but you could print off the fueling map's and compare that way ? Then if you want to try my fueling map you would need to adjust your map in tuneecu and then save the changes and upload to your bike's ecu ? It's the long way I know, but I did it a few years ago on my 99/00 sprint, found a map for a later model and tuneecu wouldn't compare or install, so I did the above manually and worked fine, try it out, you can always go back again. Cheers capt.
Andy, if it's just the snatchiness at the start of the throttle ? Try adjustment on the cables and resetting the throttle position sensor in tuneecu ? Cheers capt.
Hi Mr O, when I had my T100 Bonny I felt the same so I changed the front sprocket from 18T to 19 which gave it a more long-legged feel and modified the airbox and mapping (TTP map no. 3) to give more usable power.
