RIDEFAST NOVEMBER 2021

The torque is really a whole lot more than any
Motard I have ever ridden or raced… it is A LOT,
I was braking as much as 50 metres earlier than
any other bike I have ridden on the same track
and that was just because of the speed I was
getting to the corner at. Torque is so important
on these Motards because the tracks are so
short, at most of the tracks we don’t even get
into the high gears, so the torqueiest bike is the
quickest bike, it is whoever can get from the
lowest gear to the highest gear the soonest with
the most speed which has all got to do with
torque.
I would easily estimate that this TM 450 is a
good second a lap quicker than anything else I
have ever ridden or competed against.
The bike also breathes extremely well with extra
vents in the airbox so it can suck in more air as
well as double exhaust pipes which gets the
gases out quicker and delivers the power very
quickly yet smoothly and predictably, it is a very
quick revving engine. The twin exhausts also
help to distribute the weight more evenly around
the bike, also helping to increase rear grip on
the bike and all you ever really want on all these
short tracks is more rear grip.
Armando, Marius and Dorren
TM also seems to have the engine braking
sorted out, some bikes I have ridden have too
much engine braking and other too little, TM
seems to have found that optimal balance
between the two. With too much engine braking
you can’t stop because the back wheel is sliding
which negates the rear brakes and puts the
rider out of control. You can put the TM into a
controlled slide with the engine braking, giving
more corner speed confidence. With no engine
braking there is no weight on the front wheel
and it feels loose and uncontrolled, TM seems
to have found the perfect balance between too
much and too little engine braking.
It’s such a pity that more of these bikes aren’t
racing in SA, I would love to enter this one but
the other guys are complaining because this
factory bike is so good - but I still want to enter,
not to take points but just to compare for myself
if this bike really is as good as it feels.
I really would love to see this brand grow in SA.
Uncle Philip and Uncle Marius from Formula-K
track really helped my Dad and I get this
bike into the country quite quickly and as an
international racer I must say that formula-K
really is a 5 star track, easily comparable with
tracks around the world that I have raced on. I
have to say that on Motards, I only train at F-K
when I am in SA, not only is it so close but it is
really that good. On my 600 I generally train at
Redstar because I can put in more and longer
laps there.
I really look forward to seeing more TM’s on the
tracks and competing with and against them in
the near future.
Queries on the TM brand:
www.formula-k.co.za