I wouldn't say don't carry various spares - just don't get preoccupied with every potential thing that can go wrong?

If they are small and can be packed away, go for it - but remember that there are very few places in this world that you can't get something shipped to, if you are prepared to wait a few days?

The most likely things to go wrong on a trip are things coming loose, and punctures - so make sure you carry a selection of tools that can fix/tighten anything on the bike, plus a puncture kit/spare tube. I'd also take some metal epoxy 'quick steel' stuff - multitude of uses, including repairing a punctured airbox cover! I'd also pack a spare brake and clutch lever, as that can be an inconvenience if you do drop the bike...

As for reliability, as RBJ says, I think any rectifier connector problems would have manifest themselves by now... and remember its the actual connector block, not the rectifier itself that as been the cause of those problems - if you really want peace of mind, do what Bernard (Stoic Bloke) did and chop off the original connector and replace the reg/rec with a similar unit (note. the reason why you would have to change the reg/rec is because the stock Tenere one has the connector receiver built into it, there are now wire 'tails' to put a different connector on) - personally making sure the connector is home and sealed (you can make a gaiter with a length of bicycle inner tube) ought to see you without any issues...

I rode a brand new [stock] Tenere over 23000 miles in the first six months (around and across the USA and back), and it was faultless other than the cush-drive rubbers wearing at around 10,000 miles... got some of those in the post and it did another 13,000 miles with no problem, save a single puncture...

Jx

__________________
"Where we're going, we don't need roads..."

JennyDakar.com