Front rack
 

Given that this section is about intended mods, and spurred on by a good weekend trip and all the thoughts you have whilst riding I started to muse on the idea of a front rack to assist in carrying camping equipment etc. Now I'm not thinking about a wicker basket or similar before anyone starts wisecracking ;) but what prompted the thought was considering Nick's windstopper idea and also plans I had to mount a tent rack on the top yoke.
I know the windstopper uses quite delicate mounting points, which wouldn't be capable of dealing with carrying loads so I need to look more around the area for something to mount to. I did consider the tow-loop but then there's problems of clearance with turning and cargo.
I'm also aware that there needs to be clearance between the front wheel and the cargo.
Stay tuned for more. I have a tig welder now and I'm not afraid to use it! Ha.

the tow hook support ?

I had a few thoughts on that too
 

The problem is the clearences for fork mounted stuff, it's just not there from lock to lock. I looked at the front subframe, but to be honest it hasn't got the strength in it, and if you look carefully, the hole thing has movement on the rougher stuff (it's highlighted by the movement of the GPS on the GPS mount).

I was looking at some longer bolts (the two that hold the front subframe onto the main chassis) and making a kinda drop down and forward rack, but you've got the clearences again, or the headlight in the way - I'm considering this for a light rack for next winter, main beam isn't as good as it could be!.

The only real option is a linear rack across the top of the front mudguard, but it has to sit between the forks, and can't go too far back towards the bike. The problem this presents is it put weight alot further forward, then again, loaded up the Tenere is a bit front end lite anyway so who knows??

I've just got a TT rack (from a GS1200) on flebay for �33 (when it arrives), I have some nylon block and a pile of 25x5mm steel. I'm making a rear rack that will fit into the mounts for the Yamaha Box, so it will be removable. I'm happy it has the strength in it, not so much as a bit of wear after 8000 hard miles with an overloaded top box. When I have success here I'm looking to get one of the TT extended racks, and bring the luggage space over the rear of the seat. It will increase the carrying capability and bring the weight more over the rear wheels rather, hopefully making the front end less lite.

Welding - mines more functional rather than asthetic!

I was looking at either mount from the headstock as the current subframe does, or look to see how the tank and front panels mount (probably too weak), or do something similar to the old Riky Cross front racks for the AT's.
I've made a rack for the rear already that lets me strap stuff to it easily. I am just thinking of ways to do away with panniers.

This is the Riky Cross rack I meant-

http://www.xrv.org.uk/photopost/data/516/medium/rk1.jpg

pic nicked form XRV forum.

I'm sure the screen would keep a lot of the wind from affecting the handling if I mounted a rack on top of the bars. What effect it would have because of the unsprung weight though, I don't know

Weight on the bars isn't unsprung weight, that's your wheels, axles, brakes and lower fork legs.... It still, however, could wreck the handling.
Have you thought about bags on the front / side of the tank? I think Hein-Gericke do a special "Big Traillie" tankbag?
If you want something like the Riky one, maybe you could adapt some crash bars to come around the front of the fairing?

I am looking at a simple rack either side of the engine. A bit like the old style back rack with a small upstand loop. When placed flat and upright by the engine the loop bit will provide a support. I intend to bolt the bottom to the crash bars and the top to the main upper engine bolt.
I think it will make the load a lot lower and help with picking it up etc.

Sounds good, but won't that make it look like a BEEMDUBBLEUU from the front?! :icon_mrgreen:

You're absolutely right, sorry my head was elsewhere. I think building something crashbar like will be the way to go, but Yamaha have done a great job of making the bike very smooth! I'll have a good look this weekend.

This is a family forum, please keep your language down....:002:

didn't you recently admit to taking one for test Ray? :tongue11:

i'm watching this thread with interest, i'm looking at ways of getting some weight shifted to the front too.

i could just eat more pies- then i'll be the counterbalance weight....

Well you'll have to wait a bit longer! I've started work on my DR600 rebuild and got a Jawa cafe racer to restore so the Tenere will be taking a back seat as far as fiddles go for now!

aren't they the little dudes who live in the sand on Tatooine in Star Wars?

I have very little money and work 5 days a week! All the other time I have spare is spent in the shed. For example my saturday went like this-
Wake up at 0345 to fetch g/f's parents from airport. Home at 0630,
Sleep for 2hrs.
Wake up feeling crap.
Wrap Tenere saddle and S3 Proflex shock for sending away to be worked on.
Ride to post office to post above then on to bike shop for Mot on g/f's bandit.
Whilst waiting for MoT remove flywheel from C90 and bleed front brakes on bandit.
Get MoT and breakfast.
Ride to meet g/f's mate's b/f to go for ride on his new GSXR600.
Scrape things on Bandit.
Get home,
Stripped the rear Triumph caliper and find the dust seals ****ed so new ones on the way. I polished up the pistons whilst I was there.
Pull DR out of shed and strip down and try FZR parts.

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...s/DSC00314.jpg

Get washing and bikes in when rain starts being heavy.
Fit piston in DR engine.
Decide that as it's 1730 I'm hungry so ride to spar for cider and then ring for Kebab.

Looking forward to the Jawa though :)

I have sinned and now I repent....

I (and SWAMBO) have stopped eating pies to lower the all up weight for our eventual RTW trip. ...

So you have rear panniers and a top box right ? Could be I be so bold as to say if you need a front rack you are carrying to much stuff? :)

On the other hand if you just want to build one , coz you want to .. then go for it bit I would avoid putting anything heavy above the front wheel

It's mainly as I want to do away with the panniers if I can. I managed a weekend away (just gone) on my Triumph with a Us-20 tailpack and a rucksack as I'm cutting down on the crap carrying. It worked well.

My Front Racks..and other bits
 

The Rack tacked together and ready for welding.

http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1961.jpg
When I took the crash bars off I found this. The front bracket had snapped off.

http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1955.jpg

I also found this under the petrol tank pump housing. The wiring worn through.
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1956.jpg
A closer look. Its the speedo unit wiring.

http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1957.jpg
I also bought a new volt and temperature guage that glows the same colour as the main clocks.

http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1959.jpg

And here it is in the daylight. Its from Virtual Village in Singapore.

http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_DSCF1960.jpg

Funny you mention a cracked crash bar as Shaun,"Touratech bike "showed me the same thing on his bike,it must be made of chocolate or something similar
Christ his bike has everything and smells of vanilla

This is the same problem that left me with a dead bike a few months ago. There is a thread about it, to prevent it you need to loosen off the cable ties so the harness can 'move'. Rather than have a new harness under warrenty, I agreed to have it repaired and 'protected' - on the premis that a new one would go down the same route, a repair and added protection would serve me better in the long run (also the work to replace a full harness may well cause other problems in the future).

Bad to see you engine bar breakage - I've checked min over and it's fine, although they do suffer from lots of stone chips, to be expected I suppose!

The racks look good, but I'm worried about the dark place this is taking you :confused5:

Looks to be progressing nicely Ray, quite a mule you're building!

Thanks GULGO,
I sussed the cable tie thing already and have cut them, I will replace them with looser ones when I have insulated the bare wire.

The engine bar thing looked like a metal fatigue fault and is now welded up.

Not sure what you mean about the dark place though ! Overloading perhaps ?
I am concious of the ability to overload but as I intend to do some serious mileage I want to distribure the weight better and nearer to the Centre of Gravity and rely less on rear end weight.
I see many bikes with the rear end loaded beyond belief and that cannot be good for frame stress and handling.
I intend to keep the rear rack free for light bulky loads like sleeping bags etc.
OGR

12 months to retirement and then I can hit the road till I meet my maker...

Its gonna be a long 12 months...OGR

Oh dear I spied a crack in exactly the same place on my engine bars, I tried hard to convince myself it was just the paint.

Looks like I'll have to look closer.

Cheers for posting that Ray.

Tow bar maybe ?

Caravan,,,,

or could it be the BMUU thing, dunno :beer[1]:

The BMUU thing is a definate no no. Too big and far too complicated. I asked the dealer about reliability and he said "its got a shaft drive". His face was a picture when I said "Yeah, but to me thats a disadvantage, its a lot easier and cheaper to change a chain and sprockets."

As for the Tow bar and caravan thing...you are close, we will be buying a new motorhome with a tow bar for carting the Tenere about. It will be our home for a long time.

Re The engine bars and cush drives

I have 2 08 Teneres - one with 5200miles, the other with 4400 miles

They both have broken engine bars - both cracked in the same place.
They both have slop in the cush drive, and the cush drive connecting piece (the thin rubber connecting the rubber blocks) have broken away.

A phone call to West London Yamaha tomorrow I think !!

so if you don't mind me asking, if your base is gonna be the motorhome, what do you plan to put on all your racks on the Ten?

Ah, my favorite subject. So glad you asked...

Initially we intend to sell our house (or rent it out if we cannot sell it), buy a Motorhome and take it all round Europe for a year starting in May 2010. The Ten will be hanging off the back and let us go up mountains etc on a daily / short camping trips basis. We then intend to ship the MH and Ten to the USA and do the same there for 6 months or so including the Alaska thing.

When the North American autumn 2011 begins we intend to park the MH up and then get on the Ten and ride the whole of South America down to Ushuia (the end of the World) .

We will then return to the MH. Ship the MH and Ten back to UK, park the MH up at the in-laws in Scotland and ride the Ten to New Zealand. We have not sorted out a route yet but we have plenty of time. (age and health permitting).

After that we have no idea but the worlds is a realy big place.....Russia...India....China (if I can get a travelling Visa) Australia...Japan...who knows ???

We expect to be travelling and of no fixed abode for about 5 years after which we will likely look for a place in Spain as a base. Having said that, Karen (the boss) said last night that we may never have a permenant base....yipeeee

Thats why I need to get the complicated things sorted now while I have the facilities. You obviously cannot buy racks of the type I want so I have to make them.
OGR

Please excuse me while I go totally green with envy here! Sounds like you'll be having an excellent time on the bike. Do you have any more definate plans in place or more a lose outline for now?

How does Karen find being on the back of the Ten? My wife did not feel that comfortable on the back of mine (first time pillion for both of us), not to mention struggling to get off with her short legs!

Its still a year to go so its only a loose outline at present.

As for the pillion thing. Karen is very happy on the back although I am considering widening the rear half of the seat to make it a bit more comfortable for her. We have covered many thousands of miles as rider and pillion but most of that was on Pan European's that have seats like arm chairs. Despite this she is still very happy on the back of the Tenere. It took some getting used to, her getting on and off due to the height and the panniers/top box (she has short legs too). She is now quite happy with it all.

thats a fairly comprehensive reply that is, and certainly shoots down any argument about you not needing the space!

i too am green with envy, as I suspect a lot of people will be :)

crack on mate, you've got work to do!

Mine has cracked on the same place too. The aluminium skid plate has crackes too.

Thats 5 people (on this thread) that have experienced this problem so far. I spoke to me dealer about it yesterday and he asked for photo to send to Yamaha for their info. I will do that now and also refer to this thread.
Thanks OGR

interesting thread --
 

An interesting thread in more ways than one. I retired two years ago and found my needs in a motorcycle changed - hence the purchase of a Tenere.

I inherited a nearly new car as part of my 'retirement' package and trading it in to buy a motorhome would have cost me too much in depreciation for comfort so I bought a caravan instead.

Last year the van was sited in Croatia and I used the gixxer 6 to explore. This year due to the weak pound against the euro the caravan will stay in SW Scotland and I will camp - stay with friends or take an apartment when in Europe.

Regarding the lower engine rails - I have a set on order but after reading this thread I might cancel them and look at what Off-road supply when I am in Germany later this month.

I like the Yam panniers but the locks are criminal. I have tried various lubricants and was surprised to find that sticking the key into a jar of Vick Menthol in desperation before using provided the smoothest operation. Four weeks from new and one of the keys has a twist - only a matter of time before it snaps.

Good luck with your side frames - it's obviously the right area to carry weight - it's just a matter of keeping it there :icon_smile:

Oh and about your trip Stateside - I had it all planned to do the big Niagra Falls to Bar Harbor/Maine to Oregon and right turn to Alaska thing three years ago - bought my steed on American e-bay (a BMW R100GS in Michigan) in preparation then put myself in hospital while earning Brownie Points on some crazy DiY when I should have been flying over there. I even had the use of a log cabin while in Alaska and a buyer for my Beemer lined up so I could fly home afer the mid-summer Dawn till Dusk meet in Dawson City.

The reason I mention it is that although I am fit and well now I can't find insurance cover cos I'm over 65 - hope you have cover sussed or are retiring younger.

cheers - givit

I've had the panniers and top box since July, and although the locks are crap, I have been careful and so far so good.
Bummer about your US trip..sorry to hear that.

What is it you cannot get cover for...is it just the bike or is it towing the caravan or both ?

We are fortunate enough to be retiring early so insurance should not be a problem for a few years.

Does 65 seem to be a cut off for insurance ??

OGR

ditched ---
 

[quote=Old Git ray;89492]I've had the panniers and top box since July, and although the locks are crap, I have been careful and so far so good.
Bummer about your US trip..sorry to hear that

What is it you cannot get cover for...is it just the bike or is it towing the caravan or both ?

We are fortunate enough to be retiring early so insurance should not be a problem for a few years.

Does 65 seem to be a cut off for insurance ??




Since retiring and taking to the road I have ditched most of the paperwork built up for that trip. But here are the nuts & bolts of it.

I bought my BMW in Michigan and had it insured through an outfit that provides cover throughout the States for visiting riders. Reading the small print later I found that cover stops within a hundred miles of the Mexican border. The company providing the cover also have a cut-off point at 65 years of age.

In some states insurance isn't even compulsory but the Canadians are a fussy lot so make sure everything about your bike has type approval if you are riding through there to reach Alaska.

I shipped the bike home in the end - cost less than 400 dollars from New Jersey to Thames Dock using a Californian outfit. The bit from Michigan to New Jersey was the bummer - about 800 bucks for the road transport. Saga insurance wouldn't even refund the cost of my cancelled air fare so the whole deal ate up most of my early retirement settlement.

You win some - you lose some :035:

The caravan isn't an issue as I wouldn't dream of taking it over - anyway I've gone off Yanks - they are all mouth and trousers :icon_joker:

givit

*update*
 

After a pm conversation with the lovely Mr. Bog I've been spurred on to doing some more on this. Don't get too excited as all I've done so far is measure and try things!
Firstly I think as I don't intend to carry more than 2kg up front I will use the four front mounts for the grey plastic shoulders. I can use 16mm tube sleeves to slip into the recesses and bolt through there. I'll do a potatoshop of the design later, but for now I tried a US-5 tailpack (usually lives on my tank) for clearance on the lamp, and also I slotted my rear rack in to give me some sense of scale.
So, first up, the US-5

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...s/DSC00353.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...s/DSC00354.jpg

and now with the rear rack in there

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...s/DSC00355.jpg

It occurred to me that whilst I was there I may as well consider a high front mudguard. I'll see what my local shop can do for me.
More soon*







*possibly ;)

The last picture showing the front rack reminds me of rib eye steak and sausages, and the headlight is perfect for illuminating the steak to see if it's medium or medium rare. It doesn't look to me you can still turn the bike anymore.

Hey josephau, sorry I wasn't clear; that rack in the picture is only rested in there to give me an idea of possible sizes.
The rack is the one I made for the rear of the bike.