Dreaming of a motorcycle trip to distant climes? This section will help you to plan your trip, whether it's to the next state, country or all the way around the world! Start here!
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You could just get on a plane with your credit card and passport and buy or rent everything you need when you get there. That includes the bike, riding gear, etc. etc.
Gear Up! is a 2-DVD set, 6 hours! Which bike is right for me? How do I prepare the bike? What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers! "will save you a fortune!"See the trailer here!
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On the Road! is 5.5 hours of the tips and advice you need to cross borders, break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Tire Changing!Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
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Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
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Horizons Unlimited presents!
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I did few hundred km already on road, in town and off road and I don't have any problem with surging. Need only to adjust clutch cable cause doesn't disengage completely when the lever is not pulled all the way. Other then that great motor, great suspension for my weight (106 kg). As for now I don't feel I'd need any mods.
Glad you are enjoying the bike they get better/ smoother the more miles you put on them. Must have mods are Adventure spec bash plate (the best) and the kev 02 mod for more low rev flexibility. The fuel mod is more for if you fit a DNA filter which gives the bike a small increase in responsiveness I wiegh the same as you and have 29 inch legs, the seat will eventualy soften up and the reach to the floor will get shorter its fine without lowering the suspension once you get used to it. There are lots of little mods you can do to the bike
which combined change the bike from a very good bike to a great bike. XT660.com will give you all the info you need. You will be pleasantly surprised at the performance when the engine loosens up even though the hp figures are not that high.
I did few hundred km already on road, in town and off road and I don't have any problem with surging. Need only to adjust clutch cable cause doesn't disengage completely when the lever is not pulled all the way. Other then that great motor, great suspension for my weight (106 kg). As for now I don't feel I'd need any mods.
I'm pleased you've come to that conclusion Tremens - I've always said the 660 Tenere is probably the best RTW style bike right out of the showroom.
I bought one back in 2008, and rode it 23,000 miles all over the United States in bog standard form, and it never let me down (although the cush drive rubbers did wear after about 12,000 miles, as has already been mentioned).
March 2009
I then extensively modified the same bike - suspension, wheels and particularly the engine with a Power Commander, Single Ti race can and open air-box lid/DNA filter - and raced it from Paris to Dakar.
October 2009
It was an awesome machine once modified, and certainly breathed a whole lot better and made much more power once it had been remapped with all the mods in place - but all that came at a significant cost of course - and not least a significant increase in fuel consumption.
While racing one was huge fun, it was a different kind of fun - and I honestly didn't find it any more rewarding than those initial few months of ownership travelling on the standard machine.
Enjoy your new bike, it's still one of the best looking adventure bikes out there ;o)
I'm pleased you've come to that conclusion Tremens - I've always said the 660 Tenere is probably the best RTW style bike right out of the showroom.
I bought one back in 2008, and rode it 23,000 miles all over the United States in bog standard form, and it never let me down (although the cush drive rubbers did wear after about 12,000 miles, as has already been mentioned).
March 2009
I then extensively modified the same bike - suspension, wheels and particularly the engine with a Power Commander, Single Ti race can and open air-box lid/DNA filter - and raced it from Paris to Dakar.
October 2009
It was an awesome machine once modified, and certainly breathed a whole lot better and made much more power once it had been remapped with all the mods in place - but all that came at a significant cost of course - and not least a significant increase in fuel consumption.
While racing one was huge fun, it was a different kind of fun - and I honestly didn't find it any more rewarding than those initial few months of ownership travelling on the standard machine.
Enjoy your new bike, it's still one of the best looking adventure bikes out there ;o)
Jx
thanks! great pictures, were you racing on this Paris Dakar on tenere??? I wonder how was it on desert? no problems e.g. with clutch etc?
Hi Tremens - It was the Heroes-Legend rally in 2009, that followed the original route to Dakar through western Africa...
There was a brief thread about the campaign here on the HUBB, with links towards the end of that thread to the more detailed build story and event report on ADVrider and XT660.com
The bike was excellent throughout (the photo above is in the dunes in Mauritania), no mechanical issues at all. The support plate for my GPS broke half way though the second week, and the original Touratech road-book crapped-out on me, but I had a spare mounting plate and replaced the road-book with an MD one from my assistance crew.
Oh, and one night the refuel crew filled my bike with helicopter fuel rather than petrol. That was a fun hour or so stripping the tank off to empty it out.
Happy days...
If you're interested, do take a look at the links at the end of page two of that thread - the photos etc. still ought to be live on those respective sites.
Hi Tremens - It was the Heroes-Legend rally in 2009, that followed the original route to Dakar through western Africa...
There was a brief thread about the campaign here on the HUBB, with links towards the end of that thread to the more detailed build story and event report on ADVrider and XT660.com
The bike was excellent throughout (the photo above is in the dunes in Mauritania), no mechanical issues at all. The support plate for my GPS broke half way though the second week, and the original Touratech road-book crapped-out on me, but I had a spare mounting plate and replaced the road-book with an MD one from my assistance crew.
Oh, and one night the refuel crew filled my bike with helicopter fuel rather than petrol. That was a fun hour or so stripping the tank off to empty it out.
Happy days...
If you're interested, do take a look at the links at the end of page two of that thread - the photos etc. still ought to be live on those respective sites.
tremens: not sure how much you've read elsewhere, but one really weak point on the Tenere used to be the rectifier connections. Maybe Yamaha has improved this, maybe not, and you should take a look. The problem is that the connections loosen and cause arcing, the rectifier stops working and your battery gets fried.
My bike failed in Morocco but I managed to get it back to Algeciras in Spain where the dealer fitted a new wiring loom and rectifier under warranty. It seems to be a bad connection issue rather than water ingress as mine hadn't been near rain for months.
__________________ "For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
It wasn't due to poor assembly, rather the excess current being dumped to earth so corroding, heating and disintegrating the earth pin. The loose connection and arcing which many people found seems to be as a result of the issue, rather than the cause.
__________________ "For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Location: Back into the hamster wheel again, in Oslo - Norway. Did a 5 year RTW trip/250 k kms, 2014-2019
Posts: 1,525
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Cullis
It wasn't due to poor assembly, rather the excess current being dumped to earth so corroding, heating and disintegrating the earth pin. The loose connection and arcing which many people found seems to be as a result of the issue, rather than the cause.
In a quick look, the latest bike I can find affected is a 2012 so the problem *might* be fixed.
I have a 2011 model and have passed 100 k kms and havent had any problems with the rectifier But I know a german guy with a 2012 model who had rectifier problems on his bike and had done one repair and later had to replace the whole thing before he passed 50 k kms on his bike. So it "might" be as you say "cured" by now....
I have a 2011 model and have passed 100 k kms and havent had any problems with the rectifier But I know a german guy with a 2012 model who had rectifier problems on his bike and had done one repair and later had to replace the whole thing before he passed 50 k kms on his bike. So it "might" be as you say "cured" by now....
Sounds like an assembly issue rather than Cullis's electrical theory to me. If there were no new part numbers and the looms simply replaced the German guy likely got a Friday afternoon bike.
docsherlock: I've had the rectifier failure happen to me and I feel I have at least a little knowledge about the subject, so please don't be so disparaging. If it was an assembly problem it would have shown up thousands of km earlier.
Your persistence in not wanting to be wrong offers ill-advised comfort to tremens when in reality he should be checking the situation out.
Oh, and if you want to refer to me in a response use my login name, not my surname.
__________________ "For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
Yes, this is a problem not only on the xt but on HD's, dls and many more. the problem is in the single ground wire. if this becomes , lose, corroded or loses it complete connection, failure is beginning to take its toll, sometimes the whole electrical generation system needs replacing,stator to battery the VR has long given up. I clean n check the tightness, add star washers on all grounds, scrapped the paint off the VR case to better ground it that way, some have added additional ground connections( sportsters n buells) it is a costly repair even if you do it yourself,( $100+ battery, VR dont remember) glad i could do it myself including the testing as at $100 an hr that would get very big quickly.
On bike subject to vibrations( seems the brits sorted out theirs and now rather than frame mounted 650 verticals we have 650-690 singles to take their place.
tremens: not sure how much you've read elsewhere, but one really weak point on the Tenere used to be the rectifier connections. Maybe Yamaha has improved this, maybe not, and you should take a look. The problem is that the connections loosen and cause arcing, the rectifier stops working and your battery gets fried.
My bike failed in Morocco but I managed to get it back to Algeciras in Spain where the dealer fitted a new wiring loom and rectifier under warranty. It seems to be a bad connection issue rather than water ingress as mine hadn't been near rain for months.
thanks Tim for tip,
found this on tube:
I guess this is what are you talking about.
Definitely will check before longer trip.
Having something happening to you doesn't add anything with respect to causation, I'm afraid.
Not a case of not wanting to be wrong - I just don't think that if there are no new part numbers that this was a design fault, rather an assembly fault. If you know otherwise, do tell.
Your log in name IS Cullis, isn't it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Cullis
docsherlock: I've had the rectifier failure happen to me and I feel I have at least a little knowledge about the subject, so please don't be so disparaging. If it was an assembly problem it would have shown up thousands of km earlier.
Your persistence in not wanting to be wrong offers ill-advised comfort to tremens when in reality he should be checking the situation out.
Oh, and if you want to refer to me in a response use my login name, not my surname.
Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's thelist of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.
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™ 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!
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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.
helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers!
break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the cool Horizons Unlimited graphic on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
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