It sure would! But, for some strange reason Yamaha is going for a 1200cc engine in the Super if the rumors are right. Stupid. =(

Hi Jacked thread - sorry Jmo
 

I could live with it being a 1200 even if it the intention was to steal BMW customers purely because its a Yam. I like the reliability and am more that happy to sacrifice technology and power for the guarantee of getting there.

For me personally although I would like a go anywhere no matter what bike, but as I ride 2 up, a bigger "Trail" would suit me better. I would like to cruise at about the ton to get to the good bits.

I would also like them to fit human beings and not giraffes.

Horses for courses I suppose. Having said that the XTZ is perfect for now.
OGRi

Fair point if you are two up with luggage of course, and I trust Yamaha won't build a behemoth to try and 'compete' with the big GS et al, but stick to what they do well (hell, you need to be two up on a 1200GS just so you have a chum to help you pick it up!). Although (some of) the press seem to have an issue with the 183Kg dry weight of the new Ten' everyone I've spoken to says it doesn't feel it's weight and is nimble and sprightly?

As for shipping to the USA, Motorcycle Express are probably the easiest way to do it, although they do charge for that simplicity...

However, in general, the protocol seems to be to use a shipping agent in the country where the bike is (as they know what will be required to get the vehicle out) - so when I brought my XR back from the US I used a local Las Vegas shipping company who were great - it cost me around �700 to have it picked up from my address in LV and flown to Manchester, and the customs admin was all taken care of by them (remember to tell them it's going as a tourist machine, not an import).

The agent at this end who handed over my crate at Manchester are arranging the return journey (although it will be the Ten' in the crate not the XR this time), they seem pretty thorough, having made me aware of all the typical EU burocracy - you'd hope it would be as simple as it was leaving the States?! The cost will be similar (based on same size and weight of the crate), although fuel prices have risen considerably since I brought the XR in in January.

For a bike, flying really is the best way to go - far simpler logistically, and the bike is there in a few days, not three weeks. The price is essentially the same too - I was quoted �720 for a bike via sea, although that was roll-on-roll-off, no need to crate.

Hope that helps? - there is plenty more info about shipping on the Horizons Unlimited forum too.

xxx

Ah yes, the old MCN rumour machine... I think the only reason they said that is because they consider the 1200cc BMW as the benchmark for uber-trailies, even though the only reason the BMW is 1200 is because it needs that capacity to get any power out of the ancient engine?!

KTM have proved you can build a similar bike with just as much (in fact significantly more) performance using a litre engine, and I think it would make sense for Yamaha to utilise an existing (and proven) powerplant, or a derivative of it at least? The adventure trail market may be a growing segment, but it is still tiny in comparison to sportsbikes and nakeds?

xxx

Hi JMo, you won't regret from going for the Tenere. I myself went from Beemer head (K75RT, K1200GT - 2006, two R1200GS - one was stolen right outside of my apartment in a nice neighborhood in Frankfurt) to Tenere, and I am so glad to make the switch both in brand and size of the engine. I am a small guy (170cm or 5'8" weighing only 65-67 kg or 145-7 lb), and after riding a 125cc honda for two weeks in Vietnam, I was convinced that I don't need a big machine to go anywhere far while still having as much fun if not more. Don't get me wrong, BMW bikes are great bikes and the GS was really fun, but it is just a touch too big for me. The Tenere is the smallest bike I've ever owned or ridden, but it's the most fun I've had riding.

Two nights ago, I was on the autobahn going at 150km/h or 93mi/h, it was solid and stable albeit some vibration which was less than I thought. Now I just changed the airfilter to DNA - i am taking baby steps in mods - I was just going on autobahn at 140-150 km/h and it's already much smoother and feeling a touch more power. I don't think you need to legally go faster than that in the US or anywhere, except German autobahn and Chile's section of transamerica highway.

The wait is painful I know, I waited for a month!! But you will be very happy with it.

I pray to God you are right and that the rumors are proved wrong. =)

Anyway, back on topic!

I spent the afternoon in the garage, and have started to mod my Tenere - nothing major, just a few enhancements for traveling...

1). GPS power. Sorted the GPS wiring (see Scottnet's thread) - seems the connector behind the dash panel is not to be used, so I reconnected the length of cable I'd cut off, and routed it under the tank to the battery for now - Yamaha UK tech dept don't recommend hooking into any block connectors on the loom as they are specific, he suggested taking a positive feed from the rear brake light switch if you want GPS power switched with the ignition. I hate to cut into such a fancy loom though...

2). Handguards. Fitted a set of KTM plastic wraparound guards - I like these as they offer good weather protection and are surprisingly strong for plastic guards. Good value too at �38 for the whole kit. The inserts for the ends of the bars fit into the threaded standard Tenere bars (or you could go for Renthals etc.) and the guards fit either 7/8th or Fatbars too. The clutch side fits straight on (you might need to move the clutch perch in slightly so the lever end doesn't foul), the brake side is fine too, although you need to cut a crescent out of the deflector part of the guard in front of the fluid reservoir so the banjo/hose clears - a couple of minutes with a dremil x

3). Footpegs. Contary to what our dutch test rider chap said, WR pegs do not seem to fit straight on afterall (certainly this is true of the Pivot Pegz I bought, which they say are a like for like replacement fit)... although they can be made to fit quite easily.

The width of the WR peg where it pivots in the frame is 30mm while the Tenere is about 25/26mm. I simply ground the tubular part (where the spring sits) of the peg down a few mill until it fitted in the U-bracket on the frame - this still leaves plenty of room for the spring.

I fitted the pegs and they sort of looked ok, but I realised they were drooping and pitched forward. Basically the block of the footpeg is a little too short to touch the U-bracket, so the peg droops down and forward. I remedied this by drilling a small hole in the flat face of the footpeg block about 8mm deep, and inserted a 5mm dome-head allen bolt as a spacer between the peg and the U-bracket - this was slightly too thick, but can be easily filed down until the peg sits level and true. Result!

(ps. I'd like to say I tapped the footpeg block, inserted a helicoil and can therefore remove/replace the 5mm allen bolt as required. In reality, I drilled a 4.5mm hole and bashed the ba*tard in with a hammer until it sat flush... x

So, I have GPS, protected hands and comfy/grippy feet... next on the list is to do something with the ugly elephant trunk tail... chop chop!

xxx

Tank protection
 

Perhaps I am being a bit precious, but was concerned that the shiny new black paint on my tank would soon get scratched/worn - especially if you have dirty knees when standing?

Of course an adventure bike is going to show the scars eventually, which is why the self-coloured Acerbis plastic tank on my XR is so good...

Still, I've cut a sheet of self-adhesive clear vinyl for each knee area of the Tenere tank (I swore I'd never buy anything made by Motrax!) and will see how it fares once I get the bike proper dirty... it may prove unnecessary...

xxx

To be honest, if the black is matt black, it would have been a big toss up between that and the white for me. :D

JMo......

:needpics[1]:

Sorry,

Please post some piccys.