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2001 TM 125
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By KIT PALMER
PHOTOS BY BLAKE CONNER
'here's nothing quite like showing
up at the track with something a
little different in the back of your
truck. In a world full of Hondas,
Suzukis, Yamahas and Kawasakis, it
doesn't take much to get people
looking your way when you ride up to
the start line on something other than
the aforementioned motorcycles.
Usually, only the hot local Pro usually
gets that kind of attention, but you
don't have to be the best at your
track to attract a crowd around your
pits if you have bike that's different,
exotic and unusual. Unfortunately,
being the center of attention usually
has its price, after all, there's a reason why unusual and rare bikes are,
well, unusual and rare: Because
they're more often than not, not all
that great when it comes time to get
down to business.
But that's not always the case.
Take the Italian-built TM 125 for
example. Here's a bike that turns
heads wherever it goes. It's flashy, it's
trick looking and it's different. And
best of all it's actually not bad.
But it's still different.
The Italian-made TM looks like a
works bike that you purchase right off
the showroom floor. The HGS
exhaust pipe is unpainted (and unfortunately untreated), the Excel rims
are blue-anodized, the handlebar is
made out of aluminum, and the
tank/seat graphics are striking. And
many of the TM's components are
from top-rate companies that you've
probably heard of, such as an Ohlins
(shock), Paioli (forks), Brembo
(brakes), Keihin (carburetor) and
Acerbis (plastic), all good stuff. There
are probably even a few companies
you haven't heard a lot about, such
as Koukusan (ignition) and Shinko
(the manufacturer of the rear tire that
came on our test bike. The front tire
was a Pirelli. Hmm.).
While many of the TM's components come from these well-established aftermarket companies, TM is
mainly responsible for the frame, the
motor and putting it all together.
TM's claim to fame is its motor.
. The company got its start by building
kart-racing motors and later
branched off into building motocross
bikes, concentrating mainly in the
125 class (which they still do). Building powerful 125cc motors has never
been an issue with TM, and this
becomes blatantly clear when you
ride the TM 125 for the first time.
This bike is fast, very fast. In fact, if
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FEBRAURY 14, 2001 •
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