Optimum time is approx an hour before setting off on a long trip I've always found... :p

Hi,

Thanks for the reply You are indeed a wise person.

Oddly I work best after dinner? I am a natural night owl. Had I started the project in the morning the bike would now be..........well, it wouldn't be if you see what I mean. Lol

You are also correct when you write that the standard bike is great for 95% of its users. Problem with me is I joined this forum and learned all about the mods etc, lol. Big mistake.

I have spoken to mechanics in this country who do NOT suggest fitting a power commander to the Tenere as the wiring-electronics are not the same as the PC111 as for the bikes it was sold me for, ie 200-2007 XT660R.
As you write I have been away from bikes for 30 years and more. To this end I depend on trusting others.

I did want to tune the Tenere as I have found it rather 'agricultural', best discription would be akin to a diesel on streroids, lol. Guess what after spending rather a lot of cash I now have a noisier diesel that drinks petrol and has made such a tiny difference to the performance of the bike. One lives and learns.
Before I am shot, let me write this. I do get it, I do understand why we want all the mods and tit-bits we can change. I understand the psychology of our desires. Problem is I fear the sales people share the same psychology and sell things knowing they are window dressing and not 'always' money well spent.

This will prove to be a very unpopular post but since when I have been dishonest with my posts. I think we deserve better than we get regarding Yamaha (Italian quality just stinks), some dealers and certainly some of these so called mods.

My pertol consumption has dropped not improved. Why? well now I am supposed to have all these extra horses I am trying to use them or why would I have spent the cash buying the neddies in the first place, logic eh? Regardless of what we are told the more one uses the Right wrist the more the engine will drink. If we don't desire to use the Right wrist what the heck is the point in making the mods in the first place, just buy a 125!:brkn:

All in all, I am disappointed with both DNA and Power commander. DNA, as the initial airfilter is a tad too small and is not a good fit out of the box PLUS to place an open side filter on an enduro is crazy, eventualy it has to get damaged? Just one drop in scrubland and a twig or some other small object will perforate the filter resulting in a new one..

Power commander can't even supply fitting instructions for the Tenere and the diagrams shown as absolutley useless. I don't own a 2004-2008 XT660R and the diagrams shown don't resemble in the slightest the Tenere? Why even put them in the box?
Further to be informed that it is "simple" to fit is just plain untrue. "Just undo the two back bolts on the tank and lift it a little etc" Pure fiction. Not even a baby could remove that plug in the space offered buy 'just lifting the tank and inch'. It is major work that needs side panels and all tank fixings removed with the tank being rainsed at least 3" to pass a hand under it. Then where is the "Trunk" mentiond in the fitting instructions to place the PC111? What bloomin trunk? As for the TPC fitting........give me a break. I ended up replacing that while being held upside down by a group of circus acrobates! I also had my small fingers made even smaller by some Amazon tribe! IT WAS HELL. I can laugh now but wow I could have committed a murder that night!

At present I am not a happy bunny with the quality of the bike, its just awful for Yamaha and not in the least impressed with these modifications. I fear most members who do make these modifications will believe they do well but do they realy make a difference? To suggest they save on petrol is also odd.............but..............

End of rant. Lol

A very BIG thank you to those who supported me through the initial stages of re learning the joys of bike ownership. The membership here is a true family.

I shall NOT be fitting any further so called mods to the Tenere. As you write it is a very good bike from the start.

Ryland
Post and be damned:tongue1:

My fuel consumption has not gone up and I have done a few mods (not a power commander tho).

I always short shift my gears and keep it in the torque band, revving it alot does not always mean more power IMHO :hidesbehindsofa[1]:

I'm glad you didn't take my remark badly Ryland ;)

I agree with you, the big singla can feel "agricultural" sometimes. I also ride a VFR750 which is smooth as silk, but I've learned to like the Tenere :)

Ride safe :)

I fully sympathise with your frustration, however I wonder if you have come to expect too much of your poor bike - perhaps you should consider something German the next time? I have a 2005 XTX and the build quality is on a par with my old DT80 (ie average) however my old 99 Honda Varadero 1000 was like the day it first left the shop after 40k miles.

I'm curious about what you thought the Power Commander was going to do for you? I've fitted them to three different bikes (CBR, GSXR and XTX) but each time for a different reason - rarely for fuel consumption. I'm off out to the shed now to pull off the Akra cans, reset the map to stock and fit the stock cans so that I can figure what to change next....

Also I'm curious as to why you fitted an XTR PCIII to a Tenere when even my hamster knows they are different bikes - the instructions couldn't apply equally to both. I have been caught at 2am having destroyed an oil filter taking it off only to find that the idiot in the shop gave me the wrong replacement and I had to take a bus to work - I feel your pain. For gods sake don't let it stop you trying or enjoying messing with your bike.

Be safe.

'cptr

I have no understanding for these "build quality" complaints, what are you comparing it with? I have the same bike and have no problems at all with it, either you are extremely unlucky, have too many thumbs or you have unrealistic expectations of the bike. Compare it to any other bike on the market and you will find it's not that bad. Either you get another bike or you stop making a post every time you want to vent your hatred vs italian manufacturers.

Might sound harsh, but I hope you notice this smiley: --> ;)

:049:

I fitted the power commander sent by Simon-C who, I was informed, was THE man here who knew about such things? I spoke with Simon on the phone, gave him the exact details of the bike etc so he knew what I had etc. The reason I fitted it was that I bought the DNA stage 1,2 and 3 THEN was informed, also by members here, that I would need a power commander as without it the bike would run too lean? The plot thickened lol.

I have always made it crystal clear in my posts that I am not even close to being a mechanic and what I know about modern day bikes is ZERO. I joined this forum and found some very good members willing to help me through my initial situation regarding getting back in the saddle after more than 30+ years. I guess I then started to read about DNA then this and that and before I knew it I had fitted the DNA and THEN learned it needed the PC111.

I was also informed that the PC111 would arrive ready programmed for the Tenere taking into account the DNA modifications? I shall now have to find a garage where PC111's are sold and have them check that the commander is indeed for the Tenere and that it is pre programmed. All in all rather a **** up.

Reason for any of the mods was I found the bike vibrates and the accelerator very sensitive so was jerking the bike all over the place, lol. Expensive learning curve.:053:

Ryland

With no confrontation ment at all I respectfully suggest you read threads on any forum regarding Yamaha Italy and you will find some true horror stories.

Going back 35 years the name Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki stood for quality and they where great (Italian bikes even then looked fantastic but brother did the quality suck, electrics where a nightmare!). Same can be said today for those marks made in Japan but the series this forum is dedicated to plus my grandsons XT125X are made in Italy with parts from several other countires, engine in the Tenere is made in France while the engine from the XT125X is made in Portugal. I have no problem with that providing the quality is maintained.

Now lets take a trip to the Yamaha dealer and look at the bikes in the show room made in Japan and compare them with ours, oh dear.:byesmiley:

Need I write more, lol

My very best to you and yours.

Ryland

Ryland, you may be justifiably annoyed by the lack of quality of your bike. However, mine seems to be ok so far, and differs little in the quality of bolt heads et al from, say, my old XS1100, or my 96 Tenere. Both were fully Japanese. In fact, the plastics are much better imo than the 96 model. Again imo, Honda has always been master of the showroom, but Yamaha engines have often been the best, reliability-wise.

Admittedly, it's early days for me to get too carried away about quality. But I have owned five Italian-built big singles, and thus far the Tenere is the best of them on the face of it. But the only thing to go wrong with my old TTR600 was the Ohlins shock. Let's not go there with pre-BMW Huskies (except for two of them).

Re vibrations: well mate, it's a big single. Even little singles vibrate, but big ones are obviously worse when given a good rev. I've done a fair few km on big singles, including the '96 Tenere, and I have yet to ride one that doesn't vibrate when given a serve.

And as far as the Tenere's power goes, I have to say that it is sufficient for its design brief. No more, no less. To be honest, the Tenere does not seem like the bike for you. But beware if you replace it, as there can be surprises for owners of everything, even BMWs...

Hi,

Thank you for the understanding reply. I am well aware that it does NOT do well to join a 'club' then moan and groan about the product.:violin:

I am an avid car enthusiast and have owned, at some time, nearly every european car mark. By far the worst of my experience has been Italian cars in Particular ferrari! Man they look great but if I need a skate board on wheels that could fry a chicken better than a microwave why spend Ferrari money? Service costs where just silly. lets not go there!
Of late THE best quality car I have owned has been JAGUAR. Yes Jaguar, the car the British press are so fond of knocking. BMW cars for me have been no better than VW and my last Merc' went back after 3 months!

You see I give a quality service and am paid a quality salary. I expect no different from others, I think that just and fair don't you? There IS a significant difference in a Japanese Yamaha and our Italian 'Yamaha', even the co-owner of the garage where I bought both bikes agress 100% with that. Problem is they didn't inform me where the Tenere was made BEFORE I bought it or, take my word for it, I would not have paid out the cash.
If one doesn't learn from ones past mistakes then one is a fool. I learned at great cost about Italian engineering many years ago and simply avoid it. Others will find it acceptable and that is just fine. Their cash their choice and thank God for that freedom.

My son, who is in car sales, wanted the Tenere and due to his heavy work time table it is I who uses the bike 99% of the time. Son wanted an enduro so he could cross country, I don't feel safe with the wheels in sand and the rear end sliding about, I am just too old for that stuff lol lol:notworthy:

Had I have known that son would not use it I would have bought another 125 like I bought my grandson to ride with him. Having said that his XT125X already looks 5 years old rather than 5 months, rust and corrosion problems and much warranty work already carried out? (Italian Yamaha again:100:)

I have written previously that these bikes will not become classics, time will not be kind to them. Every time I remove a bolt from my bike it is white inside with corrosion and I have to grease the bolts. Many members here have replaced the major bolts etc with SS or orher non corrosive fixings. This was never my experience 30 years ago and I can't for the life of me see how Yamaha has taken several quality steps backward?

Most of the issues I have had with the Tenere have been totaly my own fault, initial purchase for son who never rides it, too high for me as a beginner, heavy, Italian production, High COG that means I drop it getting on and off (31" inside leg), then the performnce of getting in way too deep with these mods. My own responsibility and and my wife delights in telling me I should have more sense at my age!:angryfire::laughing11:

Do I like the Tenere?.......Yes I do, VERY MUCH! Scares the hell out of me but I am giving it my very best shot to re-learn my bike skills. I also enjoy visiting places like this forum and sharing the experience with a group of people who have been where I am and are willing to assist me. I am looking forward to seeing some of you to buy you that well earned drink I owe so many:notworthy: (Tea, of course, while driving:hello:)

BTW the reason the engine is PERHAPS so reliable is it is NOT made in Italy but France? lol.

I hope you keep safe and thanks for the reply.

Ryland