After selling my Tenere and settling for a very low mileage TDM900 I couldn't help but picking fault with the poor bike. After all it had some big boots to fill. A lot of plastic in the front and next to nil protection, choppy suspension, and general blandness, to name but a few faults. But, and its a huge BUT, there is that wonderful engine. That's the one the 660 Ten was born to have. I was always in the 'Single Pot Character' camp but why if you can have this? And I soon realised that with a few mods, as with most XTs on here, you can turn this TDM into a really great bike. Something Yamaha could have easily done years ago. A change of bars sorted the posture and I am working on loosing the fairings, or most of it. The chassis is great apart from the suspension. And here I need some help. I am contemplating to fit 660 Ten front forks into the TDM. Short of going into a show room with a tape measure can somebody tell me how long the Ten's forks are from axle to the top edge. I take it they are 43mm in diameter. Seem to remember something like that and can't find an answer easily.
With a longer rear shock to achieve the correctish rake I would be half way to a half decent bike to go almost anywhere. Need to look at the brakes of cause but there is usually a way if you look at it long enough.

Still missing the Ten,

Rob

I've had a TDM900 for about 8t0000km before I got my first Tenere. It is a truly great bike and much underrated by the general motorbiking public.
The engine is a thing of genius, the chassis would not be out of place in a modern crotch rocket and the Sumitomo brakes go excellent feedback. I liked those so much I retrofitted them on my track TRX as well.
It is true the suspension lets it down a bit. That can be helped greatly by changing the spring on the shock and adjusting rebound and compression settings. On the front I changed the springs as well and used a slightly thicker oil. Once you get it right the TDM can take on any racer in the twisties.

I'm not sure whether the Tenere forks would fit. But what rim would you want to use? With the Tenere 21inch I fear the TDM would become a little slow to turn in. It already has a slight understeer, which can be more or less remedied by pushing the front forks through the top yoke about 10mm.
Also, make sure the airbox valve is disabled and plugged. It helps with the Euro3 flat spot Yamaha introduced around 3000-3500rpm.

There's a great deal of info over at http://www.carpe-tdm.net/ipb/

Surely better to fit the XTX forks so you can use a 17" front wheel??? And I agree re the TDM, I have always fancied one. I have an XJR and LOVE it for touring, but with decent tyres she also corners really well for a big girl. I have tried the FJR but I found it far too efficient, like riding a 2 wheeled Ford Fiesta so I sold it and got another XJR....

__________________
(Now sold on, sob) 2011 Blue XT660X with gold wheels, was 26,500 km.
Engine mods: K&N Stage 1 filter, DNA Stage 2 filter, snorkel removed, Kev fuel mod fitted.
Plus: smoked Puig screen, Yam aluminium sump guard, Yamaha / Acerbis handguards, Givi Trekker aluminium side cases, Leo Vince X3 cans plus Kev front fork mod and Fender Xtender. Just fitted Michelin Road Pilot 3 tyres.

SOLD the XTX for a Super Ten 1200. And just bought a Raptor 700 so staying on here for some tips....

Airbox done! Massive difference. Still surges a bit below 3k but you can live with that. It is now down to the mapping. Maybe a Kev Mod would do the job also on the TDM???
I would stick to the original wheels. Firstly they are not that small, there is a good selection of dual purpose tyres to fit it, and mine got ABS. All gimmicks for that are in the wheel hub.
The XTX forks are not an option as I need double front disks.
Searched on Carpe and JBX but nobody seems to make them higher, lowering seems to be the order.
What is the diameter of the forks? Looking for 43mm.

Rob