Sold my tenere
 

Yes it's true. Sold her yesterday. Since owning the bike I have only used it to cover 2,000 miles or so. Sat two winters in the garage.

I know when I bought it I complained an awful lot about the bike and to be frank I never got used to riding it. The negatives outweighed the positives by far (for me).
Drivers in this country are THE worst in Europe, official figures, with no respect at all for fellow motorists so bikes have no chance.
The conditions of the roads here are hell and this is one of the great positives of the big high Tenere, it took all these roads could throw at it and didnt even blink. Its a tank of a bike like a Humbee.
To give you some idea in the past 5 years I have written off three tyres and one mag alloy going down pot holes here!

Problems for me, as an older biker, where the height and weight of the bike. There was no room when mounting and dismounting for even the smallest error, once it got past the smallest -out of line- degree it simply went over. I dropped it around 5 times getting on and off it! The cost of parts is silly. Thank God I had crash bars fitted so it was 'only' mirrors and leavers, no body damage.
High winds where hell on it due to its high COG and the vibration over any distance made it uncomfortable. I always had a numb bumb after a drive longer that 50 kliks.

My main concern was having to make an emergency stop. I just KNOW I was not safe enough to handle the height and weight. Not fair to me, my passengers or other road users to remain on a bike I was never realy in control of. I guess age also takes its toll plus seeing so many accident victims.

The other major concern was the awful quality of the bike. It had corrosion problems all over the place. Had I not sold it this year I fear in another 24 months it would have been worthless. Cant get my head around that. I washed and cleaned it, kept it dry in a garage well ventilated. Its simply not made to the standard of Yamaha Japan. Nor is the 125. Both made in Italy. Enough on that though I have already made so many posts regarding this point. The bike never missed a beat and was totaly reliable. It is a very strong bike. I can't see them ever becoming clasics though due to their build quality?

The real odd thing is I am so sorry she has gone! I miss her something fearfull! Work that one out!

I think my days on two wheels are over. I enjoy the -feel- of metal around me, with seat belts and various air bags. I know, I know, woozie.

Still have the 125 to potter around on IF I get constipated! lolol

You are a great bunch of people, please keep safe and do look after yourselves.

Very best wishes,

Ryland

You obviously haven't been to Turkey, well at least the part that's in Europe :D

Sounds like you need a XTR. You never to old to ride a bike, you just need to find one that suits your needs.

Best of luck, I took a year out recently and came back as it's just in your blood. Yes there are dangers but you have to accept it and move on. At some point like you say it's time to hang up the helmet, no shame in it at all.

I try to use all three of my modes of transport to suit my situation, some days I drive to work, some times I ride my XTX, other times I cycle. I like the variation. In reality the car is the ideal transport as I have no clobber to wear, if it rains I turn the wipers on! But it's just not as thrilling even if it's a fiat Panda! LOL!

Sorry to hear you have sold your Tenere Ryland , its a shame you had so many negative experiences of it . Its true what you say reguarding the vibes and the weight etc ( mine went over the first day i had it ) but i think its a bike that the more you use it the more you forgive it . I found the vibes got alot better as the miles built up and once over 3000 it smoothes out more . It does get windy up there but i always found it stable . As for the levers , i always loosen mine off as much as i can so if i do drop it they will turn on the bars and not break. Glad to hear you still have one bike though and hope you enjoy it for a long time to come .

Forgot to mention, I had a tenere as well and sold it after only a short period, mainly it was too heavy, to tall, to uncomfortable and gave me backache, guess what, I wish I still had it! I could have sorted out 2 of the three easily!

Don't tell anyone, I think I am going to swap my xtx for an r later on in the year... After the lakes meet... Just wanna see how the r goes on the off road day.

http://images.sodahead.com/polls/001...tf_xlarge.jpeg

Exactly! LOL

hi Ryland, like so many other folk the bike just did not suit, why keep it? i really enjoy mine despite it's minor faults.

keep biking, it's a great hobby/lifestyle, so all the very best

Couldn't get away with mine either, a few issues, build quality not up to English winter, sluggish and lacked any sort of punch, 90mph flat out loaded up on motorways.Started to vibrate very badly after 10,000miles, cush drive rubbers disintegrated, spokes rotted badly along with the discs, splines went on the gearshaft, totally garbage really IMHO.
I don't think the Italians have built this thing to the same exacting QA standards as Japan and boy does it show- although I did stick a lot of miles on it in a short time,( 10,500 in 9 months)and I followed the service schedule meticulously.
No reason to feel bad about it Ryland, just get shot and move on to the next bike!! Mines a Speed triple by the way!! Yeehaaa!!

Is not only illegal and stupid, but dangerous to yourself and others too.

Life is about the journey, why would you want to get to the end quickly ?

Life is about the journey, why would you want to get to the end quickly ?[/quote]

Nice.:058:

And the kittens. Won't someone please think of the kittens?

Thought yo would have figured it out by now Keith - Red ones are of a higher quality - you must have forgot.:toothy2:

Although i didnt have a Z but and R, had it for over 38K miles, and its now on 46k miles i thinK!! Only had two electrical issues from bad connectors under the tank, apart from this a cracker big single for some fun.

Not to jump on the band wagon but fully loaded and most bikes dont like 90mph, ive ridden a fully loaded Varadero 1000 and to put it bluntly 90mph and the rear end was moving quite alot with mild weaves starting, at this point i just backed off and cruised at 70mph again.

Well Ryland, for what it's worth I think you've done the right thing. You've never been too pleased with your Tenere, it seems.

No bike likes salt imo. I ruined my WR426 finish by crossing three or four wet salt lakes by necessity in the Simpson Desert. Very short distances, each crossing. The bike was washed the day after. Too late. So I figure the finish on Yamaha dirt bikes is not up to heavy salt infestation unless properly protected, no matter where they're made.

A pity to give the game away, but you have to do what's right for you.

As we get older our needs and wants change. Sorry to see you go but it will happen to most of us sooner or later.

As for the kittens...fried or boiled.?