To be fair to Tuscan - I can see where he's coming from... sure the Tenere could have been built a bit lighter from the factory perhaps, but then it would have cost a lot more, and ultimately, would not be as 'bomb-proof' as the over engineering has proven to be?

I think I've shown [with my Rally bike project] where improvements to to overall ability of the machine can be made, if you wish to spend a significant amount of money... but none of which significantly reduced the weight, other than replacing the stock exhaust with a single Ti can... (5Kg saving btw.)

Ultimately, and for the same reason I left the stock side stand and headlight assembly, there is a law of diminishing returns when it comes to modding parts just to save a few grammes, when, as Kev pointed out initially, a large proportion of the weight comes from the engine assemble itself, followed by the frame and tank/bodywork...

You could machine the hell out of various components, replace everything with alloy or titanium, and still be left with a pretty heavy bike (for info, Thorsten at OTR reckons with all his mods and a fibreglass tank, his Rally XT660R still weighs 165Kg) - but on the other hand, the weight [or rather substantial nature] of the Tenere moreoften works in it's favour...

I'd say get on it and ride the arse off it!

J xx

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