Owned and traded in for a Suzuki Burgman by Tim Pestridge

Yamaha TRX850 twin "H15 TRX"

I originally traded in my jet-black 1990 Kawasaki ZZR100 for this beautiful TRX 850 from Motorcycle City in Newton Abbot, and discovered I'd found a fine machine. Although I never quite got into the flow of the TRX's handling, it was a superb and surprisingly characterful machine, owing a lot of it's charm to Yamaha's clever 280 degree crank aimed at aping Ducati's exhaust note and characterisitics.

The TRX was much more responsive to body movement, and felt grunty and chuckable after the ZZR, particualrly once I put new Bridgestones on it. The finish can be suspect, and like most Yamaha's needs liberal coatings of WD40 to keep them lokoing tip-top, and need attention to brakes at times if ridden through UK winter salt.

On the road you'll find it much more fun with sports cans fitted, half the fun of the TRX is it's booming Ducati-esque exhaust note. Equipment is sparse, home comforts are few (forget pillions) but fit a Baglux tank bag and you can cruise quite happily at 90-100mph if required tucked low behind the screen.

I was so pleased with the bike when I bought it that feeling flush and well-heeled I purchased a private number plate to go with the bike - HIS TRX, which I ended up transfering from the TRX onto a Burgman, and then onto a red VFR, which it still is connected to as far as I am aware.

Bizarre as it may seem, I traded the TRX in for a Suzuki Burgman 400 (below). It made sense at the time! The TRX does represent superb value for money, as long as you are aware of the suspect Yamaha finish. THis isn't the sort of bike that would fare well left outside over the winter.