Apologies for a bit of a thread hijack so I will be brief - G, I have an XTZ750 with a TDM 850 engine fitted and Wr450f forks fitted. You are right, it is a gorgeous engine, big booming 270 degree crank, feels like a big single, lovely strong forks, it's all good. I not going to pretend that it is a Dakar bike or anything but it is not far removed. The frame has been beefed up, it's got Excel rims, MichelinDeserts, IMO etc etc and I love it to bits

There is a company in Luton that specializes in the build of these thing. Yamaha seem to develop bikes with lots of common parts and it is amazing that the forks and engine slot virtually straight in

Hijack over but it is about Teneres, albeit Super Super Teneres

No hijack - sounds awesome! - what we need is a picture though Dick?!

xxx

Oakey dokey here goes







I think I've posted about it on here before so apologies if anyone is bored with it. I've owned it for the last 15 years and it has just had a frame up, nut and bolts rebuild.

JMo and Photographicsafari, that has to be the best attack and (better) defense on the Tenere. Anyone who is contemplating one should read your posts.

Hee hee - I think we both have too much time on our hands...

xxx

Appologies for the profanity, but Dick, "sweet mother of god that bike is what I am talking about!"
This is... this is Exactly what I had in my head.

JMo. I dont like to think of my words as scathing, but rather as those of a person who had expectations somewhat shattered by reality and the propaganda of idiot journalists who clearly are ****** illiterate ****s perhaps my words were blunt and to an extent percieved as uncomplimentary. but not scathing, rather brutally honest.

Yes I take on board exactly what you say and I agree with almost all of your defence... and counter attack. After all I am actually an ardent XT Tenere fan - God knows I'd have to be, to ressurect and run a 21 year old bike!

Regretfully one must choose some bikes with ones mind and wallet and others with ones heart. This bike lands squarely in both camps, either a practical purchase, or for its drop dead tug your heart strings gorgeousness. Bravo Yamaha for doing that marketing act of geniousness.

We all know that I had intended to buy the bike and I do think it is gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous, but thoes pipes are ludicrous, too much design there for no benefit and has to have sacrificed componentry elsewhere (the brake levers, bash plate) But this is part of what attracted me to the package, I had imagined them to be Titanium, not plastic. I cant believe those were plastic too!

Sorry with regard to the bash plates, I disagree: Race teams can afford to replace plastic sump guards every race or once one has done its job in a race. But honestly this is not suitable for a non race-bike (its an adventure bike like the original tenere...) All the launch photographs show the ali plate, hence my disappointment (I wrote the pracy immediately after seeing the bike, fresh wounds)

Those pesky journalists really need to open their eyes, look at the ****ing bike before just running out the normal diatribe from the specs sheet. ****ers

To clarify the New XT660 Tenere IS better in every way than the old XT600 Tenere (other than insurance and generally financially) Its not alot better, and certainly not the cash I had in my pocket better.
Anyone looking to buy this type of bike coming from anything other than the same type of bike is going to be really really happy, because you do get alot for your money.

Plastic: hmm sorry for my whining, but there isnt any on the old bike. I do get it honest I really I do, but if you're in the desert in Namibia/Morocco/Chalbi/Gobi/You name it, anywhere in the middle of nowhere... surely the idea is that the bike is durable and I dont want to be carrying spare plastics. because when the plastic breaks and you dont have one to replace the same thing, the next fall will hit the same previously protected are...
Perhaps it is a good thing. - I shall relinquish my dislike of many of the plastic bumpers (but not the rear handles or the ones between tank and screen)
I thought (personal opinion) that the watertank would be very easy to get holed and I see that as a vulnerable point. Lay it "gently" on the right side amongst some rocks you are riding through as you bail over the handle bars looking for something soft, and sure as eggs its a question of time before everything goes pete tong. This is not an issue with the old bike and by the looks of it not the XT660r (but I diddnt check). But I want to see this tank relocated elsewhere.

Please forgive my facetious coments regarding the tow hook. That was well and truly put to bed by JMo, this is not that bike, and yes it makes a great anchoring hook.
However the tank should be bigger for the Tenere, I doubt it would do 300 miles through rougher terrain, where it is needed and defining the bikes original purpose.

Yes many after market accessories available, I was merely illustrating the necessary costs for a traveller looking for a purpose built bike and some "necessary" accessory costs.

The Old XT 600 has only one significant advantage over the new bike: In Africa where Carnets are needed to cross borders, and you are likely to trash the bike a bit more than most places, it is a significantly better bike, as it costs far far less. (This is thinking with your mind and wallet)

As to the competition, I feel that its a tribute to Yamaha that one of the chief competitors is its aging predecessor.
Then theres that KTM, a BMW 800 & 2x650's, a brace of Honda's with their own elderly competitor, in that gem the Africa Twin. Not forgetting that wonderful Suzuki 400 (its elderly 350) and their magical Vstrom.

All things considered, truth be told the XT660 Tenere rules supreme for anyone considering a brand new long distance bike in the light Adventure travel market. (Q4-2008)


Cheers G

They were some insightful comments, Photographisafari. I first admit that I am biased as I have a new Tenere, my first ever non-BMW bike, yet I have the most fun compared to all the bikes I've had. I think most of your criticism on the new Tenere is its cheap parts aka plastic bits. Like it or not, most bikes these days go cheap even BMWs. Why? Commodity prices are rocket high still, aluminum, steel, gasoline, you name it. You can blame the chinese for it, but the reality is that bike manufacturers have to maintain that profit margin. When the cost of the parts are escalating, they have to find 'cheaper' alternatives.

Another observation is that you, like all of us bikers, are a perfectionist or taking a perfectionistic view on the new Tenere. As far as I know, most of us bikers spend an awful lots of time identifying the flaws of their bikes, researching the aftermarket options, and blogging to get opinions from other fellow bikers. I would imagine that the owners of those other comparables you mention, even the older ones, would always manage to find ways to improve the bikes to their respective perfections. That's part of the fun of motorbiking when we are not riding. I once had a perfect BMW touring bike, so perfect, unlike other BMWs, that there were only a few small parts available in after markets. So there was nothing to upgrade to, nada. It was not nearly as much fun as the Tenere.

Still I am curious, while you are certainly extremely knowledgeable about and have a pair of critical eyes on any new bikes, then why did you bring the 5G to the shop and were ready to buy? May be you were on the fence? May be you thought bringing the cash would force upon a decision? May be you are now relieved that the bike wasn't available? May be the other way around?

Yep i kind of see what you mean about the "farkling".
I had it in my head that I would get one now and sell the r1150rt, as it would be fine for touring, and do the Overland bit too. But I guess I thought it was considerably better than my old XT600 tenere. its not, its just a bit better all round.
You know when you go through that phase of thinking "Hmm I'd really LIKE a new bike" and I was really there in my heart. But I realised that i would still need to do alot more work to get it to a level where my old bike is now and spend much more money.

I had never seen one in the flesh either so I guess I was shoicked when I came into contact with something that wasnt like my old XT600 tenere. That was the point when i realised that this wasnt going to happen right there and then.

I have been watching the New Tenere's progression for a good while, but this needs more money to be spent on it, £1500 more to be spent to get it to what I wanted.
A) I dont have that right now
B) I cant see the point of spending £6500 to get a better bike that does exactly what my one does now but costs more
C) Walking out that TDM and the WR450 front end did jog my thoughts into what could be done with £3000 and some elbow grease!

So Why did I walk in with £5k? Cos I wanted to buy it, and Yes I dont like the Black, but I do like the Tenere, I guess it also struck me that I wanted to own a New Tenere, so that in 20 years time I would have two Teneres, one fourty years old and one 20 years old! This is one of the few Bikes that I would be prepared to buy new, because I would keep it for the duration.

G
I guess I figured if I was going to spend that kind of money then make it worthwhile.

Ah, I got it, the evil of temptation almost had you for the new Tenere, but your soul resisted and your senses returned to save you from the money and labor and to tell you that you've already got something precious.

Dick I cant believe that you sold your bike

That beautiful bike on ebay, I saw it one night and havent seen it since.

Shame on you.

Its the answer.
Dunno what the question is, but that bike is the answer.


Cheers G


(only teasing)

And the answer is.........................I didn't want to sell it in the end

See you at the Ace Cafe for the Overland Day

I am one of the few lucky US citizens ,with a brand new tenere

Goodness! Do you actually have it with you in the States now?

If I wasn't in Florida right now, we should get together for a photocall!

xxx

I hate being made to eat my words.

So my Old and beloved XT600 Tenere 1VJ was stolen a couple of weeks ago and it has forced the question and internal opinions in my mind again!

Result: I have run out of excuses, it looks like fate has dealt me a square blow right in front of the XT660Z Tenere. Probably an 08 model its just a question of time.

I would like to point out in my defense that I have been watching the progress of the New XT660Z tenere, and now with a new (colour) range out in the 09 model there will be some 2nd hand 08 ones floating about.
At least I diddnt get that new black one!

I capitulate!

Anyone want to buy an R1150RT?
I have a long weekend in Dorset to say bye-bye to the BMW. then its xt time.


Cheers G

P.S. Jmo Piglett, if you are a motorcycling journalist I wasnt personally abusing you, unless you rewrite spec sheets without looking at the bike in front of you (in which case only a quite word or two)

I have read much you have written on various forums and have allot of time for your input.

I looked at this bike but went with a KTM 640A. Clearly I'm less than impartial with my username. These were *my* reasons compared to the Tenere:

+ KTM 640 Adventure :
Carbed - rarely runs perfect, but will always run
Will go anywhere the rider is able, the difference counting especially in sand (edit: as in this is based on a pure dirt bike with roadgoing mirrors etc added)
Light
Ready to go RTW, not needing even the smallest change/mod/extra. Eg look at the handlebars on the stock tenere - guards? levers?
Flaws are well documented (numerous)
Nothing visibly cheap on it (but expected due to the difference in new cost) everything looks well/over engineered
Looked like it could be dropped all day long with no issue
Massive tank

-640: (now I have one)
Consumption sucks at 60+mph compared to fuel inj bikes
Wiring causing failure of components (most serious for me was the ignition barrel wiring, but was bypassable)
Service intervals very short compared to... anything else
Toolkit is in a stupid place
Not a comfy bike. It's not uncomfortable either. You can ride it as long as you need to.

I love the noise it makes and it's great fun to ride. It has buckets of character.

The vibes are a non-issue. Not a problem on the motorway, and irrelevant if beign ridden 'at home' on dirt tracks. Numbness etc is an internet myth.

The 640 justifies itself if you wish to take it the 5% of places other bikes struggle. Soft sand, tight technical trails, jumps/drops etc with luggage. If you're not planning on going everywhere, it's probably not worth living with the compromises it makes.

HTH.

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