![Reply](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/buttons/reply.gif) |
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
27 May 2009
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Calgary AB
Posts: 1,028
|
|
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.
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
28 May 2009
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Sheffield, England
Posts: 11
|
|
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
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
28 May 2009
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Leeds
Posts: 11
|
|
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
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
28 May 2009
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Roxburghshire
Posts: 13
|
|
Tenere
Try Ian Bell M/C's. Way way up north but got Tenere for £4500 otr.
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
28 May 2009
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London
Posts: 10
|
|
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.
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
28 May 2009
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Between London & Singapore
Posts: 153
|
|
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!
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
28 May 2009
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 183
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by i8lusaka
Hi there
I myself is planing a trip thrue Africa and I would be nervus about injection.
Is that justified or just nonsens?
|
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
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
28 May 2009
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London
Posts: 10
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by buebo
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 ![Innocent](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/smilies/innocent.gif)
|
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
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
29 May 2009
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Yorkshire UK
Posts: 1,785
|
|
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
Last edited by Threewheelbonnie; 29 May 2009 at 08:46.
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
29 May 2009
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Tallinn, Estonia
Posts: 1,049
|
|
So, is this where I invest in a Megasquirt I kit for my Ural?
__________________
Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
29 May 2009
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Yorkshire UK
Posts: 1,785
|
|
Don't tease ![Drool](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/smilies/drool.gif) 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 ![Sad](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/smilies/sad.gif) (plus another year because I won't buy anything with V1.0 software).
Andy
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
2 Jun 2009
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Hampshire,England
Posts: 7
|
|
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!
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
2 Jun 2009
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: California
Posts: 879
|
|
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
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
2 Jun 2009
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Leeds
Posts: 11
|
|
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
|
![Old](https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/images/statusicon/post_old.gif)
3 Jun 2009
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Sheffield, England
Posts: 11
|
|
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!!!
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
Similar Threads
|
Thread |
Thread Starter |
Forum |
Replies |
Last Post |
Yamaha xt 350
|
Tripper |
Which Bike? |
20 |
29 Dec 2007 03:05 |
Yamaha TTR 250
|
stuxtttr |
Which Bike? |
0 |
22 Oct 2007 01:51 |
yamaha xt 500
|
crijns joseph |
TRAVEL Equipment for Sale / Wanted |
1 |
10 Jul 2006 19:49 |
|
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
![Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.](/stuff/ripcord/ripcord-logo-250.jpg)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
![Five books by Graham Field!](/stuff/grahamfield/graham-field-2021-280.jpg)
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
|
|
|