Hello to everyone here. I'm Stim and I am firstly very thankful for this website and all those that contribute to it,all the fellow Owner Users and the Moderators too.....you have already been Immensly helpful to me.

I will admit,I have been "lurking" gleaning information for a while,just learning up on stuff regarding the XT660 in it's three guises. After doing this for a couple or three weeks,I decided that for me,the "Z" Tenere was the one for me. So then I went & bought one....back in July & didn't ride it until September ! The main reason for this is that I was busy cleaning & fettling it prior to it's first MOT,she needed a good wash,clean then a careful GT85-ing & ACF50-ing in some spots before any dreaded oxidisation spread throughout. Mostly this was on bare fasteners,like the panel fasteners such,but ,well, she did need a thorough clean & corrosion proofing in my opinion. Better now than later, when it's taken hold I say.

" Why a Tenere ? " I hear you ask. Well I wanted a more day to day bike,that was easy to get on with,did not need polishing & cosseting like it's a delicate flower or something. I wanted a versatile & tough bike that was easy to maintain,use in all weathers,all year round that was cheaper to run than many bikes out there and could do a bit of everything easily enough with some fun factor. Such as :-

Go Off-Road when required [Where I live,there's a mostly loosely surfaced narrow lane for two tenths of a mile until it meets an A-Road main road] ,I can trickle in first gear from our Farmyard into our Lane in first gear,both feet up easy-peasily,it's really light to handle once inching forwards,it's amazingly good !

Go Commuting to work in with ease [Be happy enough to travel just three & a half miles to work & be fully warmed up - I always let it warm up & tickover for a couple of minutes prior to riding off anyway,I love the black genuine Yamaha "Top Case" that slots onto the tail effortlessly & quickly with just the turn of a key.....it's the business!

Have a bit of fun " Blatting " about on the Cornish A & B Roads where I live. This bike has more than enough "Performance" for down here,I love the nimble way it handles too,very light,predictable & generally easy on me,the Rider. Also,it's great for looking over the top of the Cornish hedges & seeing what is at a side turn,Junction or a Corner,also when there are no such potentially hazardous places,it's nice to be able to glance across the lovely scenary and not be "blinkered" because of being on a lower/less tall Bike

Go longer distance riding & Touring when the occasion arises,this Bike offers great comfort from the riding position,the fairing protection and it has lots of room for a passenger & luggage.

In short,I can see now why the "Adventure" category of Motorcycling has gone bonkers over the last few years and I personally think why more specifically Yamaha have absolutely aced it in the 660Z Tenere. In concept and in reality,it is absolutely genius. It does everything well,without fuss, alot of ease & with alot of fun.

I have another Bike,a Suzuki GSX1400,this bike as you may or may not know,is completely different from the Tenere and way more singular in it's use. It's an impractical polished plaything for Summer in all reality-I missed not riding a Bike for all the other months that are not full of summer sunshine but not dire weather either. So the Tenere has taken me back to being a more frequent riding Biker,one that I used to be,with all the cheaper fuss free fun that went with it. And the Tenere reminds me of a Bike I had from back in that time. Of course it had a totally different power delivery, but the Bike itself was very similar in how it "felt" to me. This might sound bizarre,but the 660Z Tenere reminds me of the TDR250 from days of yore. It has that little bit of care free rascalness & naughtiness about it & in it's makeup from that "YPVS period" from Yamaha. Yet along with it,a utilitarian feel, because of it's tried & tested big thumper engine. It's a great package and i think a great Bike. It's many things to many Bikers.

I have really really warmed to this Bike,so much so,I stopped the other day after riding for about a hundred miles,got to the top of Carn Brea Hill,took off my crash helmet and shouted " Yeeeeeeeessss ! Why didn't I get one of these years agoooooo !?! "

.....Needless to say,Rambling Hikers looked on in bewilderment at my unmodest elated outcry from the peak of a hilltop,but i knew what i meant!

So without further ado,I'd like to thank the man,the myth the Modifier.... Kev . Not just for the Fuel Mod Switch but his knowledgeable contribution to these Forum message boards,also to Pleiades too. It's good to "hear" from a moderator I think,it adds some gravitas & confirmation to a topic,determining what is good & what is not in regard to the Bike. It's good to have & reassuring to know. Thanks!

Also I'd like to thank so many who have contributed,posted their thoughts & feelings on the Bike,their little mods that have been cheap,cheerful & useful to the Bike. For instance,I soldered the Blue & Green wire terminals in the Headlight Dipped Beam/Main Beam switch, I also installed two 12V 55W H7 +130% Philips X-treme Vision Headlamp Bulbs too. For Quartz Halogen level of technology, I consider the Tenere Headlamp to have gone from good to excellent

I also have a DNA round filter installed and removed the old stock airbox snorkel. I sealed the top of the round DNA filter to the underside of the Airbox Lid by using part of a 60mm Toilet Waste Pipe rubber gaiter,this too was recommended to me from this very Forum. It forms a perfect airtight seal on the foam ring on the top of the Filter,no glue,no mess,just a very cheap & good solution. Lovely!

Just Thanks Everybody. I really mean that. You have helped me out loads & loads,you really,really have.

As you have read,I've done some "modifications" already to my Tenere,here is a rundown of what I have fitted so far since July :-

Scorpion 1 into 2 Pipe & Carbon End Cans

DNA Air Filter & "De-Snorkel" of Air Box Lid

Kev Fuel Mod Switch [ Thanks Mr Kev ]

Givi Crash Bars

Scottoiler & Dual Nozzle Kit

New Chain & Sprockets

New Cush Drive Rubbers

Yamaha Centre Stand

"Fat Foot" Sidestand Plate

Barkbusters "Storm" Handguard Kit

Fenda Extenda to Front Mudguard

Oxford "Touring" Heated Grips Kit

Black Yamaha Top Case & Inner Tenere Bag

Touratech Frame Protectors

Touratech Horn Re-Locator Bracket

2 x H7 Philips X-Treme Headlamp Bulbs & Two Philips LED sidelight Bulbs

NGK CR7EIX Iridium IX Spark Plug

Re-Soldered the Blue & Green Wires together at the Green Wire's terminal in the Dip/Main Beam Headlamp Switch Cluster


So I suppose you'd like to see my particular XT660-Z ? Alrighty then !

Here are some links to some pictures of my beloved " Tenny the Wildebeest" to click on :-



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Mods for the future? Well I am delighted with how she is right now. My only criticism is of the tyres,they suffer from "Tramlining" a bit. That sensation of the Bike following road imperfections,it's a little bit wierd at first but I got used to it,I've read here it's symptomatic of the Metzeler Tourance Tyres,so I might try some other pair of Tyres that don't suffer from this when the rear tyre wears out. Apart from that I'll be renewing the Brake Hoses with some new aftermarket ones,only because it's recommended to renew Brake Lines every 3 years,apart from that,I am absolutely chuffed with my Tenere. It's just a really good,honest,fun & cheap Bike that ticks so many boxes for me,it's unreal!

Thanks Again & I hope to see you around here soon.

All the best,kind regards & Cheers - Stim

Well Stim, you have been a busy boy - just look at that list of mods!

Glad the forum has been of help to you.

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Hi Simon, nice bike....are you pleased with the Scorpion system. .? Steve

Sorry. ..Stim. ...not Simon. ...predictive text!

Great to hear you're happy with your bike Stim, it's looking good !

Hello & welcome. I know what you mean about the Tenere reminding you of you TDR 250, had one myself years ago, at least the Tacho is easier to see on the Ten though

Hi and welcome Stim, nice bike and good mods.
For the "Tramlining" you can try to increase a bit the fork preload, decrease the shock preload or both togheter. Just make minimum modification at a time and try the sensations.
Sometimes you have to go on the opposite: decrease front preload and increase the shock preload; thats depends on suspension conditions and driving style.

and to

It really has been so informative & helpful, Pleiades,which is a credit to everyone.

Just love the Scorpion 1-Into-2 Tailpipe Section and Cans. For me,the system completes the Bike ! The welding is beautiful,the Pipe Clamps are high quality,the Cans are high quality,and the system fits perfectly & exactly,first time with no faffing or fuss,.....the soundtrack is immense.
As you may notice from the pictures,I have the DB Killers removed as soon as the Cans were taken out of the box then lovingly stroked! I'm careful not to get exuberant with the throttle where "Mr Plod" would easily take offense and just do me for noise as well as being the five-odd miles an hour over the speed limit. Yep,where there are speed limits in & around built up areas I'm careful and keep the taps closed-which naturally keeps the volume level turned down,but once out on the open road,I let the Wildebeest snort & bellow ! Makes lovely pops & bangs off the throttle too,just intoxicating. Also,Car Drivers don't drive up my chuff and don't pull out on me either,it has to be said. Highly,highly recommend the Scorpions,they are expensive,but the high quality is there to see and hear and guaranteed for life.

Thanks dommiek,very impressed & so happy with it. Should've got one years ago !

Thanks Desert Racer. Ha! Yes,a nice easier position to see the Rev Counter,for sure. Although,I'm always reaching towards the instruments in the fairing binnacle for the key,then realising it's down by the Fuel Cap !

Hi Pardik and thanks.

I may try to increase the Front Forks Preload as a last resort,but don't really want to being honest,because I love the way they are set up [.....whatever the setting is ! ], I just like the suppleness the suspension gives and the more than firm enough feel without excessive "diving" under braking too.

As the rear Tourance tyre is just now starting to get "squared" off a bit because of the inevitable centreline wear and the front already being half way through it's life,I may leave the suspension alone,as i just love the way the bike soaks up everything yet stays composed and taught,but just want to eliminate the tramlining sensation that the Tourance suffers from,I may try something from Avon,the Distanzia or Gripster - [ Used to love the Gripsters when i used them years ago ! ] to see if I get the same good levels of grip but without the wierd,ponderous & slightly disconcerting front end rolling about as it follows road imperfections.....but that's for the tyres section of this great site!

Cheers Captain !

Hi Stim, lovely bike, a bit big for me, but I like the look of it (I bet people ask what it is/how much etc.)
I get that with my XTX, which is also a bit tall as I'm only 5'9" and being of Spanish descent most of that height is in the torso not the legs, so I find it a challenge getting on and off, especially on a slope.
I wouldn't have anything else but Battlax which I have on front and back, and I can report they tramline too, I think most bikes do to a certain extent unless they have very wide tyres as the bigger ones tend to.
Regarding that feel of days of yore, I know what you mean, for me it's the beat of a long stroke motor that I'm guessing your kwacker doesn't have.
My Harley sportster is similar but oh so much lower, a bit too low (don't try and turn corners with a Harley whatever you do LOL)
Welcome to this fantastic resource.