I have a 2021 model. Before i bought the TM, i spoke to Steve Berg, but no Riejus were available near me (Montana). I always lusted after TMs, so I bought one in Idaho and brought the bike home in August 2021. At the time, MT was in extreme drought, meaning no off-road vehicles except for ag. Didn't matter - it took 4 months to find a spark arrestor silencer. Next spring, i go for the first ride, and the thing is SUPER loud and makes no low end power. Turns out that the ECU firmware has a bug - it would open the exhaust valve to make life easier on the starter, but it would remain open unless the bike hit 7 or 8K RPM. (The only spark arrestor silencer i could find in the US was a Pro Circuit 296. It's short, and loud. I tried to convince Pro Circuit to make a longer, quieter silencer, but struck out. Now, i just repack it every few rides. uggh).
You can follow exhaust valve saga here:
https://www.thumpertalk.com/forums/...uretted/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-18353323 and here:
https://www.thumpertalk.com/forums/...und-after-every-single-restart-thread/page/5/ (This page is where i jump in).
The bike will also just die on occasion - usually at low RPM, high throttle opening going up a hill. weird. But, if it restarts, it tends to be fine for a while. No real pattern.
Now, that being said, here are the good things about the TM. I was disappointed in the bike, but REALLY impressed with the people involved with TM.
1. Dave Turner at Get Dirty Dirt bikes is awesome.
https://www.getdirtydirtbikes.com/ He was/is super helpful with parts, and technical knowledge. He was very open about the Exhaust valve issue. I made him some controllers and "gear jammers" and he shared then with his customers, and put them on his race bikes. GREAT guy, and really cares about the brand.
2. Steve Beane at afterhourscycle is awesome.
http://www.afterhourscycle.com/index.html. Steve can get me Ohlins shock parts (my bike has the ohlins shock.)
3. TM has fixed the Power Valve Issue on 2022 and later units (of course, i have a 2021, but i have my own controller, so it doesn't matter.) To me, this is HUGE. A properly operating exhaust valve is really important to riders like me (not very good).
4. I designed built the "gear jammer" which the TM USA Racing team uses for enduro cross. I hung out with the team in 2022, and it was super fun. Great people. (you can see the gear jammer here:
https://www.dirtrider.com/story/racing/off-road-racebikes-ty-cullins-2022-tm-en-300/)
5. The bike really has quality hardware - suspension bearings, controls, handlebar, headlight, plastic, plated fasteners, etc. It's all top-notch.
I was disappointed with the bike but really impressed with the people who own them and who distribute them. The community is not unlike what is here on this site. Now that i have the issues worked out, and given the time I invested in this bike, i am going to keep for now. That being said, I still look forward to having a Rieju or a Kawasaki sometime in the future. I'd be uncomfortable selling the TM given the exhaust valve issue, so maybe i keep the TM and sell my daughter's 200 EXC.
Because of the great community, i would send an Exhaust Valve Controller or gear jammer at no charge for anyone who wanted one. The installation of the exhaust valve controller was likely beyond the capabilities of the average owner, but the gear jammer was a super easy mod. I did what I could. There are gear jammers in Italy (ironic), in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Fun to help others out.
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