A couple of Belgians just arrived in Japan with 2 tenere's and 2 AT's!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26668640@N03/

Guys,
Just stumbled on this thread and I might be able to give some feedback. Tomorrow (Wednesday 27th August 2008) I'm hitting the road for a pan european trip, 24 countries and approx 9000miles. It's going to be good and reasonable roads I believe, maybe Romania will have something to throw into the mix, but I'll be keeping an online blog going too.

Anyway, when I return at the end of sepember I should be well placed to report on how the bike behaves - if you want to keep up : www.smokingtailpipes.com

I'd say the new Tenere sounds perfect for the sort of trip you are planning Scottnet - in fact I'd spend the time between now and then hunting out a few more unsurfaced roads as part of your route?!

I'm taking mine to the US later this year (in about a month actually... sheeeet, better get packing!) and plan to cover a lot of ground with it... Western desert States this year, then head south and east on it in the early spring...

I built up an XR650R last year with a big tank, e-start, better brakes, luggage rack, rallye fairing etc. and the new Tenere has all of that right out of the box, which is why I just bought one myself!

xxx

XTR vs XTZ vs Dakar
 

My experience of riding an XTR in Africa leads me to agree largely with what Thorsten has said above. A couple of points:

There were 2 fully prepared BMW Dakar bikes on our trip. They both performed very well, but had cost around �11000 each to set up!

I haven't ridden the new Tenere, but it has the genes to do the job.
XTZ large tank; fine, but you can add 10 litres fuel capacity by strapping a �10 can on the back, or by buying petrol in bottles en route - then you can ditch the extra weight when you get to more urbanised countries.

I would probably buy an XTR with as much good quality protection kit on it as possible for about �2500 and spend the other �2000 on preparing it for the expedition. Making it comfortable for the long days and "drop-proof" in the dirt are two important issues. XTRs are easily bent back into shape if you crash.

How well do XTZs crash? What are they like to pick up when they have a full fuel tank?

Forget BMW
 

I have recently completed a trip of South America on a XT600 and although it only had its standard 15ltr fuel tank I only once used the contents of a 5ltr fuel can for the whole trip,the XT was absolutely perfect for the job,not fast but slow enough to see the world around me and brilliant off-road even loaded up.On my return I have since sold the XT and bought a BMW 800 GS,what a complete load of S--T.On paper it ticked all the right boxes but in reality its crap and I certainly would'nt take it any further than pushing distance of a BMW dealer.Right now I've got that off my chest if I had the chance to do a similar trip again it would be on a XT and more than likely the new Tenere which incidently I am thinking of getting the only issue only having a 30" inside leg seat height is a problem but I believe there are some mods available(maybe somebody could help).I have bought a stunning Africa Twin to replace the Bavarian Bollock Dropper and off to France for a few days.I hope I have helped with anybodys decision in what to get.:sign4:

You are preaching to the choir here, most of us fully agree. =)

Welcome to the forum, hope you get your hands on a Ten soon. There are lowering kits for the bike available so no worries about the seat height (if I understood correctly that you think it might be too high).

oops, i'm a newbie with a new tenere, planning to cross afrika.
What are 'catalyst free cans'?

You bought a F800GS and you don't like it at all???
you didn't make a testdrive? Or you discovered afterwards things you didn't like?
i'd like to know what makes you say the F800GS is a complete load of ****.
I bought a new tenere 3 weeks ago and last week my best friend bought a F800GS.

Kudu takes on Tenere
 

Its interesting to see that Kudu expeditions will be replacing their 650 Dakars with the new Tenere and not BMW's see [FONT='Calibri','sans-serif'] http://www.kuduexpeditions.com/expeditions12.htm [/FONT]

Without getting too technical (not for your sake, mine :) ) a catalyst is kind of a particle filter that is inserted into the cans/exhaust of all modern vehicles. This has no relevance to its performance, but is only to minimize particle polution from the exhaust. The catalyst is designed to operate on un-leaded fuel. Apparently, the exhaust from leaded fuel consumption is so hot that the catalyst will take permanent and irreversible damage from heat exposure. Also, the filter may clog up due to the lead particel exposure, and thus clog up the entire system. And ultimately stop the bike in its tracks.

The catalyst/particle filter is standard in all modern cars/bikes. But you can buy cans of the shelf, that have no catalyst. Catalyst free cans. You cannot from just looking at it, determine that it is a catalyst free can. You'll need an exhaust/gas test to do that. But you will violating enviromental standards. I doubt the earths enviromental problems will increase significantly if you as a single person decide to use catalyst free cans :).

Torsten