Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Is here anybody owing new Yamaha Tenere?

Quote:

Originally Posted by KTMmartin (Post 229301)

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.

An interesting (and honest of you) summary there Martin... seems you were blinded by the orange glow, and realise the 640A is not the perfect travel bike, rather a dirtbike with a big tank...

For the benefit of anyone considering the new Yamaha, if I might counter some of your (perceived) critisisms of the Tenere, with some experiance of the machine myself:

The EFi on the Tenere is both simple and ultra reliable - it too will always run (and better than the carbed KTM ahem x)

The Tenere will also go where the rider is able - Slick Rock in Moab, Desert in Nevada/Arizona and New Mexico, the high passes in Colorado (yep, snow) - and the KTM would certainly suffer at 14,000+ ft... it also made a pretty good fist of the Rubicon:

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/r...8/DSC09891.jpg

What is it about the bars?! They are a nice pair of aluminium braced jobbies (not Renthal, but not bad) - my bike has been down loads of times, and they are more than strong enough.

As for not being 'RTW ready' out of the crate? - mine bike is standard except for a pair of (yes, KTM) handgaurds - so that's 36 quid you'd have to spend... the reast is more than up to the task, believe me x

There are no documented flaws for the Tenere, as it doesn't seem to have any... ahem.

Nothing cheap about the Tenere either - and has quality parts where it matters (hell, it even has the same brakes as the KTM!)

The KTM tank is admittedly 4 litres bigger... you'll need that as it is more thirsty x

As for the downsides on the KTM, this is where the Tenere particularly shines in comparison:

Good fuel consumption (and no jetting problems of course).

Wiring failure?! what is that?!

Long service intervals (hell, they suggest you don't even need to change the oil filter for 12,000 miles!)

Tool kit is in a good place, however, the tool kit itself is the usual Japanese rubbish it must be said... (KTM isn't much more robust mind you - have you tried to undo a wheel nut with that spanner made of cheese?!)

As for comfort, some owners have complained about the seat - athough you can bet it is still more comfortable than the KTM perch!

I'd say you can quite easily take the new Tenere to those same 5% of places you mention, and have a whole lot less hassle on the other 95% too?

Don't get me wrong, I loved the look/concept of the old 640A, but that is what it is now - old. Of course should KTM ever produce an Adventure version of their 690 Enduro, then the tables may turn once again - but for now, it really is the Tenere that should be at the top of anyone's list...

xxx