Nice pics Ray! Don't leave it so long till yer next set & update please - loving hearing about the BigTen :)

Selina

that thing is massive!

Looks amazingly front heavy.

Funny you should say that. The opposite is true.
I bought a Motolug collapsible trailer for it and had trouble with losing pins - came f**king close to losing my bike.
I found out that if I loaded the bike on the trailer with the boxes on the back, there was negative pressure on the tow ball (i.e. the trailer was putting no weight on the ball, in fact pulling it up - bloody dangerous).
This may sound odd, but the trailer needs to be attached before you can put the bike on it so you never actually feel the weight on the ball loaded.
Now I trailer it clean - doh !!

i saw one in a dealers & couldnt believe how compact it looked, must start saving

I totally agree. It's a convenience thing. As we have no car and travel about in a motorhome, it comes in handy for shopping and storing 2 lids in. When we hit the road with the bike on its own, it will be replaced with a lot bigger bag etc.

Anyway, I thought I would show all the doubting Thomas' just how effectively light this bike is:

Fat Old Git pickiong up unloaded Super Tenere....


I tried to embed the vid but failed...here is the simple link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwjixq9CxVY

Some advice on how to do it would be appreciated.

You only need the number so:-
[youtube]jwjixq9CxVY[/youtube]

I recon there's a fair amount of muscle un derneath that fat, but your technique is very good. Must have a try with my own Ten!:coolsmiley:

OGR, i've pmed u about the xt1200z oem sidecases.

Not good......
 

Sea air and Super Tenere's do not mix well....

I have just spent 10 days or so on the Costa Brava camped in our motorhome beside the sea. Whilst there we had a 4 day tornado that we fortunately were in the middle of.
Knowing that bike and salt do not make good bedfellows I wax washed it, twice, and covered it up with a breathable cover.
The likes of FS635 (or whatever its called) or gunk, or ACF50 do not appear to exist in Spain.
I even sprayed a thick mixture of Turtle Wax on the disks and spokes every day.

The result......
http://s310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_P1000267.jpg
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_P1000267.jpg
http://s310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_P1000273.jpg
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...d_P1000273.jpg

I am not happy... I have just spent 3 days removing all the spokes (2 at a time) and the disks to rub the rust off with a wire brush (on a drill) and then painted each spoke with clear laquer.

EDIT: This is the good bit. The tyres stayed on and inflated while I did all this - nice.

Is that is love and dedcation or what ?

Of course then I had to straighten the wheels out - actually that was the easy bit.

Ray, give me an address and I'll send you a can of ACF50. I mean it, I'll also send you a tub of aluminium polish (Alusolve) looks like you really need it and I need to return you a favour, remember?
Pm me your next address

Are the spokes chromed or stainless steel? Doesnt look like good chrome if it went that quickly.. ps I had the chrome spokes and nipples replaced under warrenty on a KTM950Adv I once owned though they only became stained at thread nipple interface after a full winter.

PM to follow.......cheers

Neither, these are zinc plated steel (or whatever most spokes are made of).
I have sent a warranty claim to Yamaha and will keep you posted. The thing is, our winters in the UK (and here in Spain evidently !) are sometimes so salt ridden it is likely to happen again if I replace them with the same. Its a bit like getting a new loom/regulater for the 660Z and getting the same uncovered connector on the new loom.
I am considering getting some stainless ones made up, or getting some gold anodised ones to go with the brake caliper plugs.

Yam ones are rear �90 and front �72 per set.

EDIT: From these people, as far as I can see, I can get a stainless set for about �150 all in.
http://www.central-wheel.co.uk/spokes/spokes.html

Got your pm but you forgot to give me a forwarding address. :064:

I cannot get it till tomorrow. Will PM then.
Regards.

That is not good Ray, if my bike looked like that I would cry. None of my XT spokes have ever shown any corrosion on them & I live by the sea, thank God no SALT on the roads here.

I would fit stainless steel spokes under those condition, as the damaged has been done to the metal coating surface & cleaning them is only a tem repair.

I agree totally, thats why I laquered them, but as you say it is temporary. I will wait to see if Yamaha change them for free, if not, its the stainless route I think.

Firstly, thanks to Capt Moto. His ACF50 allowed me to haul the bike 2,500 kms back from southern Spain whilst in preservative.

Secondly, Merry Christmas guys and gals,

Thirdly, back to topic....

(I posted this on ADV earlier today)

Well I have nice shiny stainless spokes on now. Here are a few piccys of them being fitted..

An original rusty one beside one that I cleaned up with an electric wire brush. They were then painted with clear laquer. It did not last long as expected. Once you remove a coating it can only be worse...
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...y/P1000274.jpg


I then managed to get some stainless ones from Hagon Ltd, Hainault Essex, UK. They are a spoke and shock absorber producing company with very long pedigree of drag and dirt track racing.

http://www.hagon-shocks.co.uk/main1st.htm

They now have the sizes on record should anyone else want a set for �150 all in.

It is easy to change them in about 2 hours each wheel. There is no need to remove the tyre at all.
I removed the disc/rotor to make access easier but it is possible to remove them whilst the wheels are still on the bike. This would be good for emergency roadside repairs. I know this as I did it (took some off) to get the manufacturer the pattern, whilst the bike was still on a trailer.
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...y/IMG_0403.jpg

The Yamaha nipples are a bit of a one of. Yam ones are the allen key ones, made from nikel plated steel. The new ones are nickel coated brass but they are used for racing so they should be strong enough. On top of that, the threads are longer - as are the nipples.
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...y/IMG_0406.jpg

They are a peice of cake to remove/refit, as long as you only remove them in pairs.
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...y/IMG_0412.jpg

They just fit under adjacent crossing spokes. Note the use of "Locktite". This is needed as, on this bike, if the spokes come loose, the nipples can fall out.
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...y/IMG_0408.jpg

They then lign up easily with the nipple/nipple hole and....
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...y/IMG_0409.jpg

..... are simply screwed back into place. (bad photo...sorry)
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...y/IMG_0410.jpg

I used the screwdriver so that the torque was pretty much the same everytime. When I last rebuilt the wheels, after cleaning up the original spokes, I used a ratchet wrench and the torque on each one was different and the wheel buckled slightly. Not a big problem but it took a couple of hours to get right.
This time the wheel went back together perfectly with no run out at all. Nice...... http://d26ya5yqg8yyvs.cloudfront.net/icon10.gif http://d26ya5yqg8yyvs.cloudfront.net/icon10.gif

PS. I did all this in a tent at about -5 deg C....Brrrrrrrrr. So it realy was not hard at all. I love my Yamaha. Incidentally, Yamaha are sending me a new set as well. I may get the nipples chromed and change the nipples over...decisions....decisions.....

Nice work Ray.

Nice job done..makes a big diferrence both in looks and durability doest it with no more rusty spokes!

Chrome your nipples - go-on you know you want to!


On a more serious note, that bike is looking way better than I imagines with knobbly tires. Theres now 3 in the adventure two up segment, 1200GS, Varadero 1000 and the Super10, Yamaha looks less offroad orientated than the GS...
Having owned both what are your thoughts comparatively?

Also any postulation on your experiences having owned both the XT's 660 vs the twin?

You may regret asking this.....

Nipple chroming....72p each (sounds painful doesen't it). I'll have to think about that.

I had the 660 first, following a long series of Pan Europeans and dirt bikes. I bought it to go around the world with the boss, Karen. The bike was not overly powerful but as an all round bike it was brilliant. I rode it up ski slopes and did a 830 mile non stop trip back from Monaco. In June I wa sin the Isle of Man and whupped some serious sports bikes asses, including a new Ducati 1098. The useability was incredible. It did however have one big flaw. It was not actually big enough to lug the pair of us around the world with our kitchen sink and 22 pairs of shoes (sigh).

I had never liked BMWs. Both for the crudeness and the snob factor (my opinion and I'm entitled to it) that went with them. But it was the only bike that would fit the bill size wise. So I went out and bought a new 09 GSA with all the bells and whistles (God I love being in debt) I still had the 660. Anyway, I just could not fall in love with it. It lived up to all my poor expectations, The engine was crude but powerful, this was helped by the fact that I had a low 1st gear installed, but the ABS was scary off road. Driving downhill on loose stuff made it feel like the fluid had leaked out - very scary. On top of that it was very top heavy and high, a bad combination for the intended purpose. The gearbox felt like my father in-laws tractor. The switches completely baffled me, although they were at least all on the handlebars. The screen was however, very good.

Unbeknown to me Yamaha were 3 years into building the S10 when I bought the BMW this but they had not anounced it. Had they done so, I would have waited, my faith in Yamaha has never been dented in the 38 years I have had them.

As soon as the S10 was anounced, I walked into my garage and told the BMW its days were numbered. I then rang my dealer and signed on the dotted line having never seen one. I cleaned the BMW up and put it up for sale. I was not at all sorry to see it go. It was a big pig.

I then waited and upon my return from the TT in June, the new, fully loaded S10 was ready for me. I went to the dealer on my 660 (for PX) and before I had even sat on it I changed the tyres for the nearly new TCK80s that I had taken off the BMW.

I then strapped the original tyres to the rack, fired it up and was amazed how easy the bike was to use. A bit heavier than the 660 but a lot easier to use. This bike is absolutely brilliant. The brakes are absolutely incredible. I can drive down a loose gravelly slope, grab a good handfull of front brake and the bike just stops. No drama, no pulsing, it just stops - brilliant.
The TCS in mode 2 allows the bike to be drifted like a pro. Its a peice of piss to pick up, ride slow 2 up, and manouvre in tight spaces.

Anyone of average height (I have a 29" inseam) who already has a BMW and does not have a BMW tattoo will be tempted by this bike.

In T mode, it is soft and great to ride in traffic and 2 up (no helmet bashing) and on the roads, switch to S and it takes off like a scalded cat with a strong smooth power delivery. On the dirt, the power gets scary very quickly in S.

I cannot praise this bike enough. The only critisisms so far are:
Spokes - should be stainless.
Panniers - plastic crap.
Belly plate - rear fixing inadequate
Screem (both) - inadequate and induce a lot of buffeting.

BMW need to be very scared. This bike is a very easy going, long distance, all road bike. Aside from niggly things, to the best of my knowledge, this bike has had no real failure yet.

You should by now have gleaned my opinion of the 3 bikes....He he he

As for the off road ability. The BMW may be more capable in a riding Gods hands, but for us ordinary mortals, the BMW sucks and the Yam is so much easier to use and I am sure will be the benchmarch for future all road tourers. Despite what the tossers at MCN say.
For example, I went to the Horizons Unlimited meet in Ripley. It became a standing joke among the staff there that all the bikes falling over were BMWs. :what:

Hope this answers your question. Sorry about being biased, I can at least give a proper opinion.

PS. I hope the ABS on the new 660 is the same as the S10 (likely as they have also put it on the FZ8). It will make it one awesome motorcycle.

There is one downside, BMW riders no longer wave at me :pjrmoony_1JJHDG:

EDIT: And another thing: The BMWs TCS will allow a real good wheelie and then when its alarm clock goes off, it wakes up, cuts in and slams the bike unceremoniously back on the deck. The Yam TCS works virtually all the time (unless turned off) and stops any embarrassing stupidity before it happens. It is not a wheelie monster though. The low weight stops a lot of that. It's another reason that it is so quick off the mark :-)

OGR... I read with enthusiasm your ride report through the Alps, and did my best to map out your route, but all those Col's seem to merge into one.

I am a BMW owner (1150RT) of a few years (2nd BMW). I love the idiosyncrasies of the Boxer engine, but I truly loathe the fiscal raping ownership brings with it.

Briefly owned an elderly XT600 1VJ before it was stolen, and have been trying to find its replacement.

I test rode the XT660z Tenere, and wasnt sure if it was an improvement over the original... ergonomically.
I cant bring myself to sell my BMW either.
The Super10 looks to have solved this issue, just got to get to grips with the price tag.

As for your travelling issues with the 22 shoes, can I suggest a soft top Landrover, very much like riding a bike. The noise, the braking, the wind and grit in your face, almost no protection...

Those cols were fantastic. I'd recommend that to anyone, the views are to die for...

As for the 22 pairs of shoes, she is gradually coming round to my way of thinking but it is a painful journey.
As far as the landrover is concerned, I'm with you on that, spent 1/2 a year doing that in Kenya whilst in the Army. On top of that the boss keeps suggesting it for when we chase the wildlife in the rift valley and the Okavango delta. She seems to think my S10 would loose in a fight against a wilderbeast !

Interesting read here http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=595933 Waspworks taking the bike apart

Mike, have you posted this on the wrong thread ?
I can't see the connection !

Ray

Edit...cheers mate

Oh yes i have......sorry my mistake. Deleted the post

New FARKLE's = Fancy Accessory Realy Kool Likely Expensive
 

I have decided to add some bits to my Super Tenere:

A side stand extender from Touratch: �26
http://www.touratech.com/shops/008/i...603-0_I_01.JPG

A mudguard extender from Powerbronze: �25
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...udguardpic.jpg

A screen adjuster from MotorradGarage in Australia (Waspworks): �115
http://www.motorradgarage.com.au/catalog/images/3.jpg

A much stronger bash plate from SW-Motech: �191 (190 Euro)
http://shop.sw-motech.com/cosmoshop/...4629-31244.jpg

And finally a GPS mount, also from SW-Motech: �40 (45 Euro)
http://shop.sw-motech.com/cosmoshop/...3857-31244.jpg

�397 plus a bit of postage...FFS don't tell SWAMBO.

One annoying thing. �9 to send the screen adjuster from Australia, and �8 to send a 6" long peice of plastic from Sussex. Rip off Britain...din't ya just love it.
Incidentally, regarding the SW-Motech stuff. The company will not send from Germany and only from their UK dealers, thats OK till you realise that their exchange rate is 1 to 1.
Grrrrrrrrr

I'll post some piccys when they arrive....just gotta keep them out of the bosses sight, once fitted, she'll never notice. he he

I forgot to update after the above bits were added. The Touratch sidestand foot was useless and I binned it in favour of a simple welded plate over the top of the existing. It is not pretty but it works well. I also beefed up the crash bars to protect the rad and my legs for when SWAMBO and I fall off.
I posted this pic previously on ADV. It was taken whilst skiing in Italy in Feb. I got some funny looks riding it around the ski resort :001:
http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...dventuring.jpg

I have to say, I am more than happy with the bike now. It is fairly crash proof and it cruises very well with no buffeting.
Downside is that it has cost me a small fortune but it will probably be my last bike so it's worth it in my opinion.

Another warranty claim.
 

After Yamaha supplied a new set of spokes without question (not that I used them) I have had to make another claim.

Whilst in Rome, Italy, one of the buttons on the dash, the one that restets the trip meter, stopped working. I phoned my dealer in the UK for advise and he told me to pop onto any dealer in Europe and they will sort it.

I looked up a small dealer in Rome and popped in and showed the mechanic the problem.

He asked for the service manual which I did not have so I gave him the log book. He photocopied it and said he would call me in couple of days. 2 days later he phoned me and said that a new set of clocks was in and to come in and get it fitted. After I checked the part number as the UK models have miles and kms on them, I went in fitted it myself in 10 minutes.

Bravo Yamaha. Warranty agreed and foreign part supplied in under 48 hours. I was very impressed.

Great addons and interesting reading. Yamaha I thought were very good with the warranty when i needed anything doing.

Better get a real fat piggy then. They don't come cheap!

I havent seen it yet. I am in Prague (Wohoo- what a place) and my copy is in Scotland. I asked Alun to send me an electronic copy of the finished write up but nothing so far. I did not even know it had been published.

Kostnice. Well worth the visit, but not obvious to find.

Found it.....

Have bike will travel. Thanks Guys.

I'll post a couple of piccys when I get back.

Kostnice Church of Bones
 

As promised in my previous post...The Church of bones.

This Church was surreal. The walls and ceiling were adorned with the bones and skulls of up to 40,000 people. On top of this in each of the 4 corners of the church were a pile of bones neatly stacked that filled in total about half of the floor space. Most of the bones, 3/4, are the legacy of the bubonic plague, the remainder from battles. (There was a cabinet which had skulls with holes in them, showing different types of weapon marks). It was a very humbling visit.
The decoration is the idea of a half blind monk who took as many of the bones, initially piled up outside the church, inside, and made the “decorations”, he then piled as many as possible into the 4 “shrines” in the corners and buried the rest in the churchyard outside.


http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...y/IMG_0954.jpg

The church with an immaculate graveyard - as they all are in this area.


http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...y/IMG_0945.jpg
Part of a family crest made of bones. Depicts a crow picking out a Turks eye after after a victorious battle to oust them.

http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...y/IMG_0943.jpg
In the 4 corners were huge piles of bones organised into the shape of bells. This was the centrepeice.

http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...y/IMG_0937.jpg
A chandalier made from all the bones fron the body.

http://i310.photobucket.com/albums/k...y/IMG_0931.jpg
These decorated the corner walls.

I second that.

One year on...
 

I have had the bike for just over a year now and I am more impressed than I was at first. Having covered 6000miles the engine has loostened up and I went the the HU meet at Ripley over the weekend and decided to check my consumption. 53mpg over 450 miles. 75% motorway and the remainder in the Yorkshire dales and B roads. All the time, driving at the same speed as most of the other traffic - as you would likely do when touring. The bike was loaded with camping gear, panniers etc.
I was also getting 200 miles before reserve

The only problems I have had are the rusty spokes (replaced with stainless) and the trip reset button (clocks replaced under warranty).

I have been riding on TCK80s all the time. These tyres also spent 1000miles on my previous BMW. I am going to change the rear later today. I fancy testing out the middle of nowhere tyre changing method to see how easy it is to break the bead with the bike. I'll get back to you on that.

The crash bars and sump guard have had a test. I hit the sump guard on the same rock that wrecked my old Yamaha one and the SW-Motech one is fine. My crash bars work fine. I dropped it trying to ride over another large boulder and I just rolled away from the bike without getting my leg caught and there was no damage to the bike whatsoever. The only bad bit was that Karen was also out playing on the quad and witnessed my embarrassment.:happy8:

Here's a bit more ->

http://www.smokingtailpipes.com/Vide...8-Kostnice.wmv


Took this in 2008, not really Peter Jackson, but I had a go!

Ray - only 6k miles ?? That seams a little lite given the traveling you have been doing......

Dont forgert, it hangs off the back of the motohome for the long journeys and gets used for the interesting stuff when the MH is parked up somewhere nice. We have done 21000 miles in both vehicles in the last 12 months.

Sadly, I am taking it to the HUMM next week but after that it will probably not be used for a year or so. We have bought a landrover to take to Africa as the boss (understandably) wants to spend a long time in the game reserves and you cannot take a bike in them.

The MH is up for sale and we will be moving into the landrover roof tent. Talk about one extreme to the other. Now we really will be camping. Its OK for me but Karen has got a serious learning curve ahead of her !

Sounds interesting. Hope you'll be keeping us updated, even though it's not bike related.