TM go Racing
By Martin Craven on 7th Mar 14
THE Italian TM factory may not be the biggest off-road manufacturer but that doesnt stop them producing an all-inclusive range of high-spec racers in all capacities and including both two-stroke and four-stroke racers.
And when you learn that TM design and build all their own engines in-house it really does make you stop and think.
High-spec is the term that best describes TM machinery. This starts with the twin-spar aluminium chassis as used on all models – even the most recent addition to the family, the 85cc two-stroke Youth class racer.
TM choose to run top-class components on their production bikes, which can make their bikes look expensive at first glance, but when you check-out the spec it all makes good sense.
So, having established that TM can provide a wide choice of machinery we are going to make it super simple this week, as we only have the one bike to check-out – the 300MX two-stroke.
As we have established, TM starts out with the aluminium chassis, into which is installed its liquid-cooled 300cc two-stroke motor (the 250 version is identical in virtually all respects).
The motor slurps its two-stroke mix via a 38mm Japanese Keihin carburettor and a V-Force reed valve and exhausts via a power-valve.
The spark to ignite the mix is provided by Kokusan CDI, with two selectable maps, the Italians again sourcing top-quality Japanese kit. Bore x Stroke is all square at 72mm x 72mm, giving an actual capacity of 294cc.
A tough five-speed gearbox is more than enough for the torquey two-smoke, while the clutch is controlled via hydraulic power, not a cable.
Front forks are courtesy of a pair of shiny 48mm Kayaba USDs (Japanese again) with the rear-shock attributed to TM Racing and operating via a linkage system.
Braking is taken care of with Nissin (guess where they come from) master cylinders, the front working in conjunction with a Brembo caliper while the rear is an all Nissin system.
There is a 270mm Wave disc up front and a 245mm disc doing its thing out back.
There's plenty of nice shiny Bling on show, starting with the lovely billet machined aluminium triple clamps and billet machined ally wheel hubs, which are laced to classy Excel rims.
Add in oversize taper handlebars and a performance HGS exhaust system and there's plenty of reasons to sneak out to the garage just to stand and look at your 2014 TM.
The motor has actually been taken for a trip through the development shop, as time never stands still and has emerged with several mods for the new season.
There's a new clutch basket combined with new fibre plates, a revised cylinder skirt, new base gasket and revised CDI mapping and carburetion settings, which combine with internal ‘flow' modifications within the crankase.
Then there's a revised gearshift system with friction reduction coated shift forks and a revised power-valve governor with modifications to the bearings.
All the above combine to enhnace the performance of what is already a mighty motor.
And topping the whole show are hot new decals and seat cover to give a fresh new look to the 2014 flyer.
Martin Craven was the lucky guy who got to give the 2014 TM300MX a quick spin round his very own FatCat test track especially for TMX...
SPECIFICATIONS
2014 model TM Racing 300 MX
ENGINE
Motor: Liquid-cooled, single cylinder 2-stroke with reed-vale induction
Bore x Stroke: 72 x 72 mm
Displacement: 294 cc
Intake: V-Force reed valve
Carburettor: Keihin PWM 38
Fuel: Super-unleaded
Ignition: Kokusan CDI Electronic with variable advance with two selectable maps (through handlebar switch)
Clutch: Multiple-disk in oil bath with hydraulic actuation
Gearbox: 5 speed
Cooling: Liquid coolant with pump
Starting: Kick-starter
CHASSIS
Frame: Perimetral aluminium construction
SUSPENSION
Front: 48mm Kayaba USD fork
Rear: TM Racing shock absorber
TYRES
Front: 100/90 x 21
Rear: 110/90 x 19
BRAKES
Front: 270mm Braking Wave disc with Nissin pump & Brembo caliper
Rear: 245mm Braking Wave disc with Nissin pump & caliper
DIMENSIONS
Fuel Tank: 8.7 litres (plastic tank)
FOR FULL TEST AND PICTURES SEE TMX NEWS MARCH 7
