Hi guys i recently owned a Tenere but now i find that when i go in straight at low speeds (10-20MPH) i can turn softly for 15 degrees, more than that i feel an opposite force in the front wheel and i must overtake that "limit" to effectively turn in any direction. The bike there does not turn softly, there is an extra force i should apply to go past 15 degrees and there i can not predict so easy the bike move. Passing the 15 degrees (aprox) it feels like a "jump" in the turning swing. I feel this is risky and even more pronounced if a pillion is with me.

Tyres are ok, the bike is in very good shape. I lowered the bike in the forks an inch just to get to step the floor but i believe this should not lead to this strange and sudden behavior.

Is this normal in a Tenere?

Best


Killabyte

Hiya, sounds like the steering head bearing is on the way out. I had similar on my Tenere at about 10k miles, it was still under warranty so Yamaha replaced the head bearings. They had been assembled dry, (without grease), at manufacture hence the premature wear. I believe this has been a problem on several bikes.

Cheers.

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maybe your tyres do this.are they in good condition?

i had the same problem when i bought my second hand MT03!bike had only 7000km's and when i first tried to turn the bike just wouldn't fall.. i almost crash from the first km's i made!check the bearings as others said!If the previous owner drove the bike very easy and a lot of highway the tires got that shape and made step!thats why you can't lean!push it hard to lean and then check the tyres wear ,if the mark is like slalom then its 100% that this is the issue!
p.s sorry for my bad En i hope you understand me!

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my dirty xtx youtube channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/20vtorestis?feature=mhee

The bike is 10500Km, tyres are in midlife, surely i will go to check the steering bearings. But what you say -Orestis- could be true because i have been running for about 2500 km in straight highway with little or no lean.

Im induced to blame that kind of tyre wear because i can not feel any sound or roughness in the head steering when the bike is stopped.

Do your Teneres, apart from being heavy to turn behave in any similar way when turning? i mean apart from the increased force needed to make a full turn, is it a smooth turn?

another vote for dry steering head bearing

if the feeling is like the bike won't let you lean then its the tyres!did you leave the bike outside to rain etc? find something slippery or get it wet and put it under the front wheel ,then sit on the bike and turn right to left ,if the bearings are damaged you should feel the bar getting stiffer to turn!

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my dirty xtx youtube channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/20vtorestis?feature=mhee

Could well be tyres then? My Ten 's steering does exactly as you describe with a squared off rear - initial lean is OK, then fights back (as you climb over the tyre's square edge) and eventually falls over into the turn!

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guys you need to change the tires or find a good quality tarmac and start trying catching (imaginary) Valentino Rossi...after a couple km's tires will wear & bike will lean smoother! good luck

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my dirty xtx youtube channel! http://www.youtube.com/user/20vtorestis?feature=mhee

Pleyades do you feel that when leaning or when turning the handlebar, for me is far more notorious (and freightening at low speeds)