Hmmm 'Edog' ... the man from MADtv ... have you watched his recent 6 part series about crossing the Simpson ... interesting, funny and certainly in his usual style
The first part can be found here ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeT0jY8gUtQ
Yes, he does like (love) the KTM690 ... I must admit I've also been tempted but the initial purchase cost, maintenance regime and the additional long distance rally pack (Rally Raid EVO Kit or Dalby KTM Adventure Kit) just make it too much of a dream project ... even if it is a real light weight package.
Like a number of others I'm waiting to see what Mamma Blue does with their new MT-07 & MT-09 power plants for the Adventure market in the near future. My riding buddy and I looked at the new Triumph Tiger 800 XCx specifications with some interest but the quoted wet weight of 221 kgs is just daunting.
Like many Adventure riders I'm in the older demographic ... well actually I'm already on the wrong side of 60 and growing old disgracefully
I also have a Super Tenere 1200 as well but the R is still used for general work commuting, off road adventure and just general fun riding.
So o/k back to the question at hand XT660R v's XT660Z !!!
Oh and interestingly ... we have a Tenere Tragics group here Downunder who seem to believe that attaching the name "Tenere" to a bike imparts magical capabilities to that specific machine
No disrespect but of course I wasn't allowed to join this august body for their special ride because the R obviously doesn't have the right DNA
No problem I just went out and added a S10 to the stable so they have to play with me now
I'm no expert but I see the Tenere are having advantages with better instrumentation, standard suspension, fuel capacity, weather protection, seating (but only just), front brakes, ground clearance and places to hang things !!!
But the disadvantages are cost, ride height (yeaph it's tall in the saddle) weight, weight and weight ... did I say weight
When I brought my R the relevant purchase costs (down here in Oz) were $8,500 for the R (in model run out) as against $11,500 for the Tenere (which was a new release at the time). So I was already $3k in hand to start the farkle process with.
So what have I done with the R ... well most things were just simple bolt on upgrades that I could largely do myself.
Yamaha Bash Plate (yes it's OEM but has stood everything I've thrown at it)
Yamaha Large Smoked Screen
Renthal Fat Bars, Bark Busters (Storm), Upgraded Control Levers (cheapie HK sourced)
Engine Crash Bars (Hepco & Becker)
Rear Rack & Pannier Mounts (Hepco & Becker - but run Andy Strapz Pannierz)
DNA Air Filter (stage 1)
Front Forks Re-valved (Local suspension tuner)
Remus Slip-on Mufflers (should have fitted a 2 into I but didn't !!!)
Ohlins Rear Spring Unit
OTR 525 Chain Kit (15 / 48)
Rear Drive Carrier Bearing Upgrade (double row bearing)
Rear Drive Damper Upgrade (polyurethane cush inserts from SA)
Seat (recovered by local shop and fitted with gel insert)
Pivot Pegz
O/k so there was nothing tooo over-the-top in that lot
The resultant package has been reliable and has consistently got me where I've wanted to go ... with one exception ... we don't do sand
... the bike most probably can but I definitely can't ... yes I know all the theory about weight distribution and floating over the sand at speed ... but I'm to am wary of falling off and breaking something ... at the very least it hurts
So what's missing or would I like to improve ... well other than my own riding skills ...
The fuelling on the R is still bloody poor - haven't done the Kev Mod but thought about the Power Commander
Longer fuel endurance would be nice (it would have been great if the standard tank was at least a few litres bigger - I average about 20 kms/litre off-road)
Instrumentation - miss a Tacho (yes I know I'm a gadget guy) but seriously on an Adventure bike fuel management is critical (especially so in the Oz Outback) and a hit and miss fuel light just simply isn't enough
Heated Grips - yes I'm getting old (have them fitted on my S10)
Exhaust - a 2 into 1 would be better (lighter) and enable the space saving to be utilized for storage (maybe a customised fuel tank)
Main Stand - would be useful and haven't fitted one yet but carry a "support stick"
Additional Lighting - easy if there was somewhere to hang them !!! (I've considered dropping the mudguard with a spacer somehow and fitting a single Baja LED light in there)
Anyway that's gotta be enough for this post
