Mate,

I had to make the same decision but with the Dakar vs 640A. I went the Dakar because I was happy modifying for performance rather than comfort. Forget about people winging about waterpumps. I was paranoid about it thinking it was a Rotax issue, but found that 2 people I asked (on KTM but didn't target KTM riders) had failed water pumps. But they didn't have a weap hole, so had to drop their oil. Rotax allowed for it, and all you lose is coolant. Which makes it better for being out in the boonies. I gues other bikes have the same issues.

People are assuming you're talking about the Tenere, which I reckon looks like a grass hopper. Obvioulsly there is a date difference between both bikes in terms of styling, and not sure I like what the future looks like. Again that low fender.

The Dakar is awesome on the twisties. The geometry is great. Quality of the FI GS got better in later models, so if you'd go for that I'd go for an 06/07.

If you're talking about the standard XT than you'll find that they are the bike of choise for Brazilians. Large tank available.

I don't know the Tenere, which would mean for me that if it were me I'd take the Dakar again. It's done it for years which means all the little things found on world trips have been ironed out by people, and mods are easily found. There is also some diagnostic tools for them. The motor is brilliant. Suspension sucks, but needs upgrading on all bikes for a trip like this anyway. I prefer to look at it like a Rotax with BM bits.

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Tacos Tyring Travels.com

Not sure which BM you're fancying but just for thought... I have travelled USA Morroco and most of Europe on a 1200GS. Recently changed to the new Yam Tenere and wouldn't have a word said against it.
The BM is more comfortable and will go most places the Yam can go, but with much more trouble.
The BM is too heavy if you're considering spending time alone, it is limiting with regard some of the terrain you will be encountering (especially if alone) and in some of the more remote regions you will be hard pushed to find spare parts.
The Yam will go almost anywhere and is fairly commonplace everywhere when you require spare and or repairs. With regard speed it will keep up with any other bike, of the type overlanders use, you wish to mention but who wants to speed and miss all the hilights you have based the trip around. True you do relinquish a little comfort on the tarmac but this is well worth it given the fun you will have when the going gets rough.
GO YAM TENERE and get around 350mile to the tank

Thanks for all the advice, I really like the look of the Yammy.

Does anyone know the cheapest place to buy one in the UK at the minute (i'm thinking new rather than used).

I'll probably end up phoning round anyway

cheers

Shaun

Try Ian Bell M/C's. Way way up north but got Tenere for £4500 otr.

Hi there
I been folowing this thread with interest and I was just wondering if you guys think that the new Teneere with injection is a safe card.
I have always thought that carb fed bikes is the way to go or am I wrong.

I myself is planing a trip thrue Africa and I would be nervus about injection.
Is that justified or just nonsens?

Good luck with your trip.

Hi Dogman,

Just thought i'd put my two cents in for what it's worth. I'd definitely recommend an XT as they're incredibly reliable but personally would go for the XT660R as opposed to the new Tenere (XT660Z).

It's basically the same bike, but it's lighter, has a lower seat and is a lot cheaper! Personally I'd say the only advantage of the Tenere is the larger tank, but given that you can pick up a 2-3 year old very low mileage for about 2 grand. Suddenly that Tenere's tank seems a bit expensive (If you want extended tank range buy a couple of plastic jerry cans!)

Buying an XT660R also means you can fully kit it for your trip for less than the cost of a stock Tenere.

There, I'm done!

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www.motoventurers.com

I thought the same way, but recently came to the conclusion that carbs are only better if you do know how to fix them and where to get spare parts.

Also in the real world a modern injection system will probably outlive a lot of other parts on a bike and will give you a lot less headaches on your travels.

But then again, carbs vs. injection is more a religious question than a technical one and the real world decision is basically over with, there are no new bikes with carbs any more and because of modern regulations there won't be anytime soon (speaking for western europe at last).

So if you want to buy new, that means fuel injection. If you still need to tinker just get yourself a power comander

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Projekt Balkan
www.buebo.de - Der tägliche Wahnsinn

Interesting.
Iam a mecanikal guy and like things I can see and try to fix and have a hard time t trust comuterfed info. Is there anything you can do in the midle of africa if the injection go tits up?
Or is the injection reliable theas days?

Sorry to go of topic

Carb: You can take every singe part to pieces. Whay you'll be left with is a pile of tiny brass bits and bits of rubber you need to know how to rebuild. They clog with dirt, they leak air, they go out of adjustment. When they do fail you get out the Big Voodoo book of carb tuning, slaughter a chicken, make a pentangle of the guts then start looking for the blocked jet, swelled o-ring, leaky float etc. If you are lucky the bit you need is in the rebuild kit. If not, you eat your chicken dinner and start walking.

FI: There are only three or four big parts which you can take off the bike and test. Most failures are wiring, fuses, blocked filters. When it fails you pull out the multimeter and/or take an injector out to see if you can cover your boots in petrol. It's all yes or no checks, no worrying about the taper on a brass needle looking worn or not. It you change the fuse, filter or unblock an injector you can have a quick smoke to get the petrol off your boots (and avoid plucking your eyebrows for a week or two) then be on your way. If all the bits work when off the bike you are going for a little walk as it is the one bit you can't get deeper into without a PC. That said, you can buy OBD units about the size of a 1970's calculator and a lot of overlanders carry lap tops, so could do a re-cal for say a busted exhaust or altitude with very little kit or training.

For some reason people think the ECU is going to fail. Unless you are a stupid actor and don't unplug it for welding work, the ECU is about as likely to fail as a carb body or the ECU that runs your spark plugs (or are the Luddites using points you can set with a fag paper?). You wouldn't worry about dropping a bike, breaking a carb body and carry a spare, so why worry about the ECU. If you'd never seen a double body diaphragm carb, you'd treat that like a "black box" too and I do understand people feel safer with technology they hope they understand.

Working FI is better it increases your range. Broken FI is just about knowing how to use your multimeter instead of the Voodoo Chicken carb leak detector. Vehicle fitters all over the world have been seeing Diesels with FI since 1897, so help is out there, but of course while they'll have FI rated pipe, they are as unlikely to have a Yamaha diagnostic kit as they are an AMAL rebuild kit.

As we are talking planning for a trip, learning about your FI is just part of the preparation.

I understand carbs, but honestly hate fiddling with ones that won't play. I've played with FI and it's way superior if you've got the manual etc. I won't be swapping bikes to get FI, but if I was looking for one it wouldn't put me off.

Andy

So, is this where I invest in a Megasquirt I kit for my Ural?

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

Don't tease having had a little to do with Guzzi's, an FI 1000cc Ural is IMHO going to be very very good. I'm betting we have to wait for more emissions regs before we get it though (plus another year because I won't buy anything with V1.0 software).

Andy

Thank you all for your advice, a fantastic offer of an XT600 came up which i couldn't let go and after last week feeling a bmw and the sheer weight of it, i had to go with the yam. It's coming saturday so finger's crossed!

I'm confused - XT600 XT660 XTZ660 XT660Z - all different bikes... seems to me that some people are recommending certain ones, when what they mean is (or think other people mean) a different machine?

I don't consider myself a Yamaha aficionado (just yet anyway), but admit to being a bit of a pedant - if you are talking about the current Yamaha Tenere, that is the XT660Z... any other combination refers to the previous generation machine/s.

I can vouch for it's robustness, reliability and ability in all areas... 24,000 miles in the last six months over every kind of terrain imaginable - never missed a beat.

xxx

hey Nick

same here I pick up my 2008 model xt660 z (unregistered) on Saturday also. I manged to get one in white - what about yours

regards

Shaun

SATURDAY PROMISES TO BE A GOOD DAY FOR YOU GUYS.
I've had my Tenere 660Z 1 month now (from new) and like JMo can't bear to get off the thing. It's great fun, reliable and will cover all kinds of terrain.
I'm sure you'll enjoy the bikes
Happy days!!!