Bear with me on this as I am just thinking out loud.

I have a F800GS and a 660 Tenere (not an XTZ!!!), the Tenere was supposed to have gone last year but I'm quite attached to her now. That said I really want a lighter, more wet greasy Kent green lane, type of bike. The off road market seems to be dominated by high performance motocross type bikes who's service interval is measured in hours, not thousands of miles! I've looked at DRZs but in the main they are going for silly money for an old (er) bike and I'd have to sell the Ten at a time when the market seems awash with them (14 on ebay at the mo).

So, anyone stripped back a Ten to the bare bones? Maybe an R tank and instrument cluster.

And yes I know plenty of people on here green lane the Ten as is, as have I in dryish conditions but I'd prefer something lighter. Any ideas? Or am I completely off the mark with this?

Keith, I totally agree with you about the ten being a great winter bike on tarmac, inc wet lanes, it's the more off road side of things I'm talking about. Sure, an experienced off road rider could hustle this bike with the best of them but that ain't me! The R feels a lot lighter bike and I suspect if you stripped both bikes down to the chassis they'd be pretty similar. Hence wondering whether it would be feasible to change some parts.
Probably more trouble than it's worth. Maybe I've answered my own question!!

i understand what you are getting at
but the workand ����s involved to shed a few kgms from what will still be a tall bike seems prohibitive

i think you need kitit out with aggressive tyres and have a go or to bite the bullet and trade her in

The Z and R are like brothers with different fathers, the heart is the same, but the body around it is far from similar.

If you've decided that the old Ten isn't for you, and to be honest those bikes should be looking toward renovation, restoration to full glory, (in my opinion), then I think you've made your decision already.

There is nowhere an R can go that a Z (with a committed rider) can't, but you are right, experience and fear of the unknown make most people stop and think, and the conclusion is usually "I can't do that", the reality is more often than not, that you can, you just need someone to show/tell you you can.

If you ask any of the guys who have been to the Lakes meets (May this year) who we've sort of pushed into off road situations, most (who didn't really want to have a go) would agree it's not as hard as it looks to ride a big bike on your average UCR (Green Lane).

I see your point though, so here's a curve ball..... TT600RE's are cheapish these days, and there always seams to be one or two on eBay. It's the same 600 motor from the old Tenere, but in a light package that keeps the power of the bigger single, but the weight of the DRZ. Air cooled so really simple machines. The TT600RE was the bike Yamaha brought out to fill the gap before the R was released, so it's not far from what you are considering.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Food for thought GULG. For me though it's not so much that the the R will be easier to ride off road, I doubt there's much, if anything between them, it's the fact that the R will be easier to pick up and less likely to be damaged (less protruding bits) also because it doesn't have a fairing will be a more 'natural?' experience.

The Ten is a far better all round bike, I know that, but I have a F8GS and the bikes are too similar to justify keeping both. I am quite attached to my Ten now and if there was a way to morph it into the bike I (think!) want that may be the way forward, for me. Regarding cost, whilst I might have to spend some money on it at least I'm not losing money on the sale of the bike. Swings and round a bouts.

Someone has offered me an R in exchange +cash my way. Subjective I know, but would I regret it? Answers on a post card please!

Make the trade it sounds like thats the way you want to go. I agree The R seems physically smaller and I think the lower narrower seat helps with this. The Ten should have a slightly narrower seat and tank set up and it would feel much smaller.

If you are really enjoying the off road then get something much smaller and lighter. A 250 yam will give you all the fun you ever need off road and you will feel like a riding god. There are so many riders out there that think power power power but after a full day in the saddle off road most would have been better off on a smaller lighter more tractable bike. They are less tiring to ride

Whatever direction you choose have fun.

How about using the Beemer ? they aint half bad off road

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Ride On :tenere:Camel 2008XT660Z
harvey mushman did it in the dirt Uma 1994 TT250R

Fit a Shorai battery it is a great weight saver & it will also crank your bike faster.

The XT660 Version http://www.shoraipower.com/s-158226-XT-660-All.aspx

Your OEM battery as a comparison http://www.yuasabatteries.co.uk/yuasa-yt9b-bs-89-p.asp

On my SMR I saved a good few Kgs by going with a lithium iron battery.




OEM battery, 220 CCA, 14 AMPS


Shoria lithuim battery, 270 CCA 18 AMPS

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Mods that I have done to my XTX's

My 04 XTX
Stage 1 & 2 DNA filters / Kev fuel mod / snorkel mod / Drilled air box mod / Engine breather mod / Fork Spacer mod / 15w fork oil /
[
My 07 XTX
Raptor 700 cylinder 102mm / Modified Crank Case to take a 105mm Raptor Cylinder / 11:1 102mm JE Raptor piston / Stage 1 Raptor Hot Cam / Ported head / Colder Spark Plug / +2mm Throttle body / DNA stage 1 & 2 filters / Modified Air Box / Snorkel removed / Worry Brothers stage 2 filter cover / 6mm & 8mm Bolts Replaced with Titanium Bolts / Recovered seat in Black / O2 Eliminator /

My 09 XTX
59HP at the rear wheel / Stage 2 Raptor Hot Cam / DNA stage 3 Air Box / Carbon Can Exhausts / Modified Exhaust Link Pipes / PCIII With Custom Fuel Map / Wideband Commander O2 Data logger / LCD100 Dyno Jet display & fuel adjuster / 2500 OHM HT lead instead of a 10K OHM XT lead / Extra Coolant Cooler / Protaper Fat Bars / Tail Tidy With LED Tail Light / OKE Protection Knobs / LED indicators / AIS blocked / Modified rear sprocket rubbers / Rear Foot Pegs removed / 09 ECU With 02 Sensor Changed To A 06 ECU / Complete wiring harnes Changed from 09 to 04 / Home made LED resistor flasher / Hole drilled in the fuel tank filler neck to allow quicker filling / Modified Bar End Weights / Progressive front fork springs, 15W fork oil, forks lowered 25mm, used XTR rear links lowering the rear 20mm, rear spring one click stiffer / Changed front & rear guards from blue to black / 47T rear sprocket / Speedo Healer V4.0 / Kev throttle cam mod / Throttle grip mod / The new 2010 O2 sensor mod is out, works a treat, The new 2012 O2 Controller is out, PM me for details

Now ride a 2018 MT09SP ABS + TCS

My KTM 990 SMR Mod book. http://www.ktmsmt.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=4946

GULG's right. The right tyres for the terrain and momentum are key really. These bikes are relatively heavy for an off road bike so will never have an enduro or light trail bike feel. The correct riding stance and the right line help too.

Most folk were off road in the 2011 Lakes do and coped just fine (better than on the tarmac in my case!). We had Z's, R's and X's off road.

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The height, weight and feel of any bike will never suit everyone, and indeed with some bikes, anyone. However I have found over the years that if you try and turn one thing into another, it invariably fails and you loose money and time. A tree is always a tree and a bush, no matter how much plant food you feed it, will always be a bush! So if you are unhappy with what you have, sell it and buy what you would like. I know what you are saying about the market for used bikes at the moment but if you start hacking around and spoil it permanantly then its worth nothing. Sell it now for a realistic price and buy another, smaller bike that suits your current needs. The only time I would consider hacking around a bike would be if it was a complete basket case.

There are many mods, some described above (I like the battery idea Kev, very simple and 2 kilos saved) that can be done to the Tenere, but it is still the same bike with the same overall staure. Its the height that most find scary, as I dd at the start. Lowering links, lower seat etc can help, but its the same bike underneath. Also you mentioned you have the F800. They are very similar and so I would definately sell one IMO and get a small green laner for having a spot of fun with less physical effort.

Good luck with whatever you decide and keep us all informed.

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DickyC

Gun Metal Grey 2014 XT660Z
'Advice is sought by someone who knows the answer but doesn't like it'

'The adsence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously'

Thanks for all the advice. Don't worry, the worse I'm gonna do now is put The TKCs back on if it doesn't sell!
I have green laned this bike in the dry last year with no problems and took it round the Pyrenees on the HUMM so I'm not afraid to take it off road, it's just the byways here on the Downs in winter can be steep, rutted and very slippy.

Think I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and sell the ten to buy a smaller, more trail orientated bike, which is a shame as I'm quite attached to it now