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Quote:

Originally Posted by 66T (Post 155107)

I agree that this is applicable to a great many of us. We want our bikes to lose weight, but we need to lose it a b****y sight more. Saving a few kilos on a loud exhaust to gain 2hp is silly if we've got pork to get rid of. I know I have.

As for the complaint that the 660 motor isn't flexible and capable of pulling <3000 rpm in top - fair enough, but neither is almost any other non-classic big single I've ever owned (13 of 'em. Jeez.), and that goes right back to XT/TT500s. The only big single that would was my 2001 TE610E, then they went and stuffed it with the 06 model, which was worse than the Tenere, let me assure you. Admittedly, it was a lot faster.

Another reason not to make modern big singles lug hard is that if you do, eventually you will flog out the gearbox, cush drives notwithstanding. Those heavy pulses are murder on gears and mains. Spin 'em, I always say. If a motor is unhappy at 3000rpm, change gears and live with it. A happy engine is a free-spinning engine. Sometimes there is way too much thought put into things that don't matter imo. I guess I'm guilty of that too, or I'd not be writing this!

Yes you've hit the nail on the head - you have owned 13 big singles and are used to the power, torque and gearing. Others like me have come from a very different background - big capacity, twins, tripples and fours which in my case allow you to ride in a different style. The problem I'm pointing out relates to these people who will PERHAPS be put off ownership of an XT or be looking for a swap soon after buying one - a great shame.Its so important for me to like the bike I'm riding and IMO anything I can do to improve that riding experience is worth thinking about and discussing - and if you can learn from others experience - which we can all do - so much the better. What doesn't matter to you might matter to others mate. The more you can do ( at little effort and expense) - (IMO if you end up spending huge amounts, you may have bought the wrong bike in the first place ) to make an already great bike fit your riding style rather than you fit the bike can only be a bonus to your enjoyment of a bike.
As far as keeping the engine spinning - thats exactly the aim by fitting the 14th sprocket.:023:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keithblade (Post 155124)

Consider this:

I have had Fireblades
Harleys (several)
Muscle bikes (several)

I currently ride a Suzuki BKing which is arguably the most powerful straight out off the crate bike in the country.

When I get off the Tenere and get on the BK I think I am sat on an Exocet missile. But when I get off the BK and get onto the Tenere I enjoy the ride, I am NOT suprised at the difference in power and I still enjoy it just as much because I know that these 2 bikes are both different horses that defianately ride on different courses!

Will I be messing with the gearing on the Tenere? No not a chance, cant see the point really?

Point taken, and again the gearing depends on the A roads/B roads/tracks/ditches/hills/mountains/valleys/motorways/paths/river crossings you ride on or thru and how much time you spent doing each of them. It all MATTERS. Horses for courses as you point out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keithblade (Post 155132)

Yeh I get your point, think I am getting old and I just love things for what they are these days.

One thing I will add though - for the price it really is a great bike!:luuurve:

Never enjoyed a bike more, the only thing I will be swapping it for is a zimmer with risers and TKCs.:crybaby:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiddich (Post 155142)

TKCs.:crybaby:

Oh ooh I reckon I can do you a great deal on one of those........

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gas_Up_Lets_Go (Post 155158)

Oh ooh I reckon I can do you a great deal on one of those........

That would be interesting, a unicycle zimmer.
I'll be watching ebay Darren!

I said horses for courses. We have a paticular terrain up here and we have peculliar habits so the 14 tooth sprocket is a well cheap fix and works perfectly. We only alter the bike to suit us and the use to which it is put like a proper bash plate because it gets used, a main stand because the Yamaha version doesn't lose too much ground clearance and it's usefullness outweighs that, risers because we are both over 6' tall and we do a fair bit on the pegs standing so the wider pegs then come to the fore, a headlamp guard especially when the bike in front has a rear Mitas C02, handguards to protect the levers and hands from trees etc so everything is modded to suit the use and the rider bearing in mind Yamaha make the machine in a standard form to suit all uses and supply mods to suit. Power is not even on the list. If you want to go fast, you have the wrong bike, as I've said before, the power thing is not what this bike is about. :smilies0347:

An update:

Fitted the 14th sprocket for last weekends ride - most of which was off road - On tarmac the bike pulls from around the 2500rpm mark now in top ( if treated with respect on the throttle) and seems to have a new lease of life through the gears - I'd say ideal for 'nipping' past traffic and the slower country lanes I was talking about at the start of this post. Very pleased that I changed the sprocket.:glasses9:
Off road - again very pleased - suits the type of stuff I do - spent more time leaving the bike in 2nd and 3rd where I felt I was having to chop down a gear before.:yahoo:Bl00dy ace man.
Sorry to bore you guys who did this ages ago but had to follow up on my earlier post.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiddich (Post 157082)

Bit of a late reply to you, Fiddich. Re-reading my post, I figure it was a bit blunt, and that your point is well-made. In hindsight, I agree that shorter gearing will help the bike work better offroad - in fact, I would do it myself for tighter going.
Having said that, I still believe that the XT660 motor is one of the better big-single bottom-end runners, made possible mainly by it's soft level of tune.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 66T (Post 157138)

Hi,

No probs mate, would be interested to know which singles you've owned in the past - this is my first single and now feel very at home with it.
:023:

PM sent to Scotland...