Hello from the South West UK
 

Hello all,

After recently passing my test, i bought a 2008 XT660Z Tenere :) Its brilliant. Thought id join here to get some maintenance tips and modding help! So far, i dont have much. Current specs are as follows:

-2008 in the white and red trim
-30,000m
-Aux power box
-Oxford hot grips
-Barkbusters
-Custom seat
-Metal mule lowering links (Im 5ft8 and this is my first bike!)
-Adjustable levers
-Top box

Call me crazy, but im setting about going around the world on this bike next year. Will it make it? who knows.. but im lucky enough to be able to take some time off, strap some luggage on and give it a try. To that end, im looking to get it ready for such a trip next year. Specifically, im looking at installing the following:

-Luggage rack and boxes
-o2 Mod
-Putting together a proper toolkit
-Learning how to service it properly in the field
-Semi-knobblies for the mixture of roads ill encounter
-GPS/Phone mounts

If anyone could point me in the right direction (especially the o2 mod, i cant seem to find one anywhere!) thatd be great!

If anyone is located in the south west UK itd be great to ride out and chat XTs!

Welcome and what a fantastic opportunity. It would be great to see some pictures, maybe even a photo diary from purchase-to modifying- to journey. We'd all be busting to join you by proxy.

As for mods (O2 device), Kev sells them on ebay.
https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-XT66...UAAOSwHnFVw0N-

Your request for overlanding info will keep your thread busy for a while, I guess.

My humble initial input is to try to take off the rear tyre yourself in the comfort and privacy of your own home. It's a skill that may well be a God send should you be unlucky enough to catch a puncture in one of The 'Stans' where the RAC don't quite get to. The rear is very well known to be a complete pain to get off. This way you'll also realise some of the tools and kit you'll need (small 12v air pump / Rocky Creek, for one thing).......and a 14mm hex bolt to undo the front wheel spindle too.

Welcome to the forum! , sounds like a great plan. ...and the Tenere is more than capable of it. Look after it properly and it's a rugged and dependable friend. Check out Spencer Conway's trip circumnavigating Africa. ..and many people have done huge trips on these bikes. Steve

Thanks for the good advice! I don't have a garage or anything so stripping it at the roadside certainly adds a degree of "realism" with its time pressures etc. I also plan to write down what tools i use during this process to build a tool roll of the vital components. Is there much on this bike thats renowned for going wrong? Ive read a lot about the cush drives being poor but ive not heard much else in the way of sad stories..

Tool kit make-up is a personal process and it's a great idea for a long term traveller to home maintain the bike and work out what generally is needed and what's otherwise just bling / weight.

I think there are a few searchable threads on this forum and also http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/ which with no disrespect to xt660.com, is more focussed on your sort of tour. Asking a bloke what's in his tool roll is going to provide so many different answers but a lot of them will cross-over with common denominator answers. Pick out what's obvious and what you like the sound of (such as zip/cable ties for example), and marry that to what you actually need. Tool storage also goes down several paths including a 'tool tube' fixed to the bike or a Kriega tool roll.

Tool tube..
https://www.adventure-spec.com/defau...tool-tube.html

Kriega..
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/mot...nt_prod/207177


As for reliability, well as Steve said, they're pretty strong. The common issues that are more 'preventative maintenance' than breakdown issues are things like replacing all 5 wheel bearings as they last about the mileage your bike is at and also check / replace the headstock (steering) bearings. The swinging arm and suspension lower linkages will all need re-greasing.


How to:-
https://www.xt660.com/showthread.php...ghlight=grease

Another thing is rectifier failure which happens often due to water ingress at the plug socket. It's best to remove it (from below the radiator expansion tank - right side) and clean the contacts and then re-insulate the entire plug connection with amalgamating tape.

Tape..
https://www.screwfix.com/p/self-amal...mm-x-3m/2115v#

Thread re rectifiers and what happens when they are failing:-
https://www.xt660.com/showthread.php...ight=rectifier


Then there is the usual stuff such as ensuring your chain and sprockets, brake pads, and any other consumable are as new as possible to launch date or you'll be 4000 miles in and looking for new pads to last the next 20,000.

:hello: and :welcome: to :660:

Welcome and RESPECT to you..I would suggest that you check/grease anything that can be tightened down and greased..

Any service history with the bike?..Oil and filter changes are a must and at under �30 cheap enough.

Hey, why do you not come over to the Annual meet and see a few faces and other bikes?. It will be a real introduction and you will get some inside info about the Tenere.


Cheers Steve

Cheers mate! There's the usual MOT stuff but nothing in the way of servicing. I'll change the oil and filter myself once we get a bit of sun at the weekend. Hopefully it comes out clean and with no metal in there! The engine seems to be in pretty good shape. No suspicious knocks or anything. It surges a little bit and doesnt sit comfortably below 3000rpm but I've read this is pretty normal. I need to get the back wheel off and check out the cush rubbers at some point too. Stick a new spark plug in because why not. I'll also need to replace the bar end weights. When I was fitting some new grips, I found the left hand one was rotten and seized. Luckily, there's a garage around the corner and he was nice enough to let me borrow an extractor bit, free of charge :D

Hey Steve. Sounds interesting. Do you know where I can find details for the meet? Cheers!