If you intend keeping your bike.
 

Today I started preping my Tenere ready for our upcoming trip.

I stripped the back end off the bike and removed the swingarm and shock.

The shock as been sent away for a refurb and a upgrade Ohlins spring fitting.

I noticed once I removed the swingarm that there were almost no grease in there at all. The spindle was starting to rust. The bike as not been jet washed so I would guess that like the head stock bearings Yamaha Italy have asembled these bikes without useing much grease.

If you intend keeping your bike for a few years It maybe a idea to repack the rear linkage and swingarm spindle before the damage is done.

Dazzer

As a further incentive, the cost of a complete set of linkage bearings, seals, and sleeves (not counting the swingarm bearings, just the linkage ones) is �207.

Ask me how I know... :D

Tempted to stick some grease nipples into mine when I replace the bearings.

Should've gone to
 

http://shop.marksman-ind.com/drawn-outer-cup-type-110-c.asp

for the bearings at least.
Eg. 17 x 24 x 15 needle bearing is TA1715Z; 17 x 24 x 20 is TA1720Z etc.

Only just got round/needed to do mine after 91,000 miles. At least they lasted longer than my right hand (clutch side) main bearing.

I pulled my swingarm out at 12k miles and although everything was pretty grease-free, it wasn't worn. Packed everything with Silcolene Synthetic (waterproof) grease and re-fitted everything. I figured if it'd done 12k without grease it should do a lot more with grease.
However... I've still not done my head bearings (keep forgetting)
Just hope I'm in-time there too
Rob

Normally I would, but I couldn't be bothered to strip the bike down to figure out the bearing codes/sizes, then have it sat there in pieces while I tracked them down.

Needless to say I will be taking a note of all the sizes when I do replace them, for future reference.

Edit: And I knew I needed at least one of the sleeves, so had to go to Yamaha for that, although they are the cheap part of the assembly.

Interesting. This is the first time I have read mention of issues with the head-stock bearings.
I have started noticing a slight resistance when turning left lately. At my 24K service they made a note to check for "notching". I never did follow that up. Think I need to get it back before the warranty runs out next January.

At the 24k service they should, according to the service schedule, have them apart and regrease them. As they should have done at 12k. Same goes for the rear linkage.

How many Yamaha dealers do you reckon actually bother?

if they didn't, then they have commited fraud..... and should be reported to the Police.

I can't prove they didn't have my rear linkage apart at 12k, but I can be pretty sure by the way they 'advised' me it needed looking at at 18k.

It should be compulsory that they have a viewing area when they service your bike so that you can see what they actually do.

And they should provide........
 

....a full written report in conjunction with comprehensive video footage on DVD.
:laughing9:

Sounds like my Bed Room...:lovers[1]:

hope you got this done, you may not be stuck in an extreme situation like i was, my upper neck bearing cage shattered when i was in Bolivia at 9000 feet in a tiny village of around 500 people, i had to fill it will crazy amounts of grease and ride for another 8000 miles until i could find a replacement - grease it now it takes five minutes

i was told that it is a regular issue of minimal greasing in certain areas

I agree too.
 

I saw one of these in a Yamaha shop while in the South of France, and you could park ya bum on a chair a watch the guy's, through the glass, work on your bike.

It is a great idea and yeah, if at all possible, due to shop layout etc should, at least, be normal practice.

Grease me up too!!
 

My 2008 XT660z has, now, done some (average of...) 24,000 miles and has just done a 24,000 mile service, so, question: Should the head/steering bearings and the swing-arm bearings etc, by now, been stripped & re-greased?

If so not a mention has come my way!!??? :popcorn2:

:toot: NB: Does this too mean the same for my 2006, 20,000 mile Honda Hornet F6?

Thanks...

Yes - at least twice!

Oh dear.
 

Oh dear, if the bike(s) has not been ridden off-road and no winter mileage, but plenty of summer sun & summer rain riding and a yearly Euro' tour, will the bike, the Yamaha :tenere: still need this doing, asap??

Next time I'm at the Yamaha showroom, 26 miles from home, I'll ask 'em, next year now, too. Anyone have anything to add :smilies0942:

The Yamaha dealer I used to take my TDM and XTZ to had a big window between the showroom and the work shop and the double doors between them were always kept open. The mechanic also never objected to you hanging around and asking questions when he was working on your bike.
It does inspire trust.