We went through 3 or 4 rear caliper brackets because the exhaust can hit the calliper when you bottom out. At first we though that couldn't have been the case, but it happened on the other bike as well. Fabulous bike still though. When we took it to Fraser Island it showed it's dirt pedigree too us.

Off course this is no contradiction. You can implement tried and tested innovative concepts from your competitors range as well as you own. With the WRR they could have used some of the electronic features to make this bike the flagship of their range which is should be IMHO. Things like the diagnostics equipment in the dash, and the automatic engine kill switch. Simple stuff like this. And the tank should have been under the seat. Especially when it's a large tank. So much easier to work on the bike like that. Batteryless FI with a kickstarter would have been nice. And upside down forks.

Keeping in mind that the bike is not for sale in Aussie yet, I have to ask. Is the tank a plastic one, what's the charging capacity of the stator, are the vibes less or equal to the F and the DR and is the fuel delivery a round circuit or a one-way type? Did a quick google but couldn't find it so I thought I'd ask.

They broke the rules with the WRR with great results but are underestimating the effect of this bike and let the results just waste away in the corner of their R&D department. Bit cautious. Like they're the other side of the pendulum of BMW which justs implements any idea they can come up with without really testing it.

I've spend a lot of money on my Dakar but would have sold it for the Tenere if they wouldn't have gone a more innovative route with it. Even though I think it looks shocking.

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Ah, that would be, as they say, a bad thing...

Yes it's interesting that the XTR has the diagnostics and adjustments in the dash, but for some reason the Tenere has to use a separate unit... noone has been able to answer that one!

Regarding the other elements you mention - it does have an automatic kill switch (if by that you mean if you drop the bike, the fuel injection/engine cuts out), and as for the underseat tank - Im not sure that is such a good idea? The Tenere tank is 23 litres (about the same size and weight of a Acerbis aftermarket tank for example) - easiy enough to remove for access (although other than to adjust the valves, I don't see why you'd need to remove the tank? - everything is accessible without removal) - One of the complaints regarding the KTM 690E and to a lesser extend the BMW 650GS is the ability to add extra fuel (easily and cheaply) should that be required - should anyone wish to develop an even larger tank for the Tenere, it would be a simple swap, rather than an addition and extra fuel pumps etc? That said, it will easily cover 250+ miles (closer to 300 if you are gentle) on a tankful, so I don't imagine many people would need much more capacity.

Kickstart might be nice as a back up, but I wonder if you would ever use it?! - and of course no BMW (or the KTM 690) has one these days either... there is a decent battery on the Tenere, you would be very unlucky not to be able to start that bike on the button. Smaller bikes (400s) that have smaller batteries and run a lot of electrical accessories (lights/heated grips etc) might need one as a back up, but I really don't think it's necessary on this bike.

USD forks are a mixed blessing - most people who complain of leaking fork seals on dirt-bikes are the one with USD forks? They would also cost significantly more, and this bike was pitched at the 'affordable' end of the price range? The stock suspension is actually very good for the kind of riding this bike was designed for (ie. all-terrain riding at 'modest' trail speeds) - if you want to go racing, you'll need to make a few improvements x


• Yes the tank is plastic - a double lined one (like a number of streetbikes these days) so that the surface can be painted (which it is) without bubbling.

• Stator output is just under 300w I believe.

• The BMW single is renowned as smooth, however, I wouldn't say the XT is significantly harsher although I have not had the opportunity to test them back to back. I was surprised how 'fluid' the Yamaha engine felt for a big single (I have an XR650R also) - although admittedly this is my first XT engine.

• Fuel delivery is a one-way type (if by that you mean there is no return circuit on the fuel pump/tank.)


I agree - I'd like to see a WR450R version of the new 250 Trailie as an everyday play bike, but perhaps this market (the overlanders) doesn't actually require such radical innovation and engineering?

Hee hee - it looks better in the flesh - depends on if you grew up with Lego, or Transformers...

xxx

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Yeah..... I'm not buying that. I thought it looked more like a grass hopper though.



It would have looked heaps better and closer to the original like this (althought that's nearly an exact copy of the 3AJ but you get the picture I hope)




Are you sure this is on the XTR? I thought it was new on the WRR. Either way. That’s the way to go with computers now controlling just about everything. Unfortunately mobs like BMW don’t like giving away their codes for whatever reason. Possibly because of the potential stress on their warranty systems. Good to see Yamaha not being paranoid about this. But why not standard on a travel bike.

I didn’t know it came fitted with this switch, so that’s a good addition than. Would be nice if this became a DOT required item.
I used to be tank size obsessed like most people, but accepted this not being possible (at reasonable cost) on the Dakar, and found I really didn’t need it as you mentioned as well. It’s heaps easy to carry a fuel bladder for the few times you do need an extra 10l. We got ridiculous economy out of our FI’s with 1l/24km on average and sometimes hit the 30km at a load of about 60+ kg through mountainous terrain. So about 400km range. Heaps really. Oddly enough I got better range when I rode her hard.
Which to me is a great characteristic.
The imbalance of adding fuel and changing the behavior of the bike just doesn’t make sense anymore than. So for me anyway it’s more logical to keep the COG low by putting heavy items such as fuel below the rider rather than in front.
I don’t know the setup of the new Tenere, but with the old one we had to remove the tank to get access to things like cables but can’t really remember what else. All I remember is lifting a bloody heavy rank (somehow it’s always full) over an airbox to get to whatever. And always being covered in fuel after having to pull the hoses off. So it’s become a relief to not have to do this anymore. The downside is the setup of the plastics to cover a fake tank which on the Dakar is not ideal.

I reckon kickstart should be on any bike that markets itself as a go anywhere bike. We did need it on our Tenere when our (admittedly) wet cell Yuasa died in the desert. We did check the fluid before at the previous service. And with the availability of batteryless FI it can now be back on the cards. I didn’t care about it on the Dakar because we have 2 of them, but if I’d be on my own I’d go with the 640A which has got one. Those and the DR were my only choices when I was in the market.

I’m new to USD forks but wonder if this is due to pitting of the chrome similar the common complaint of the Dakar’s forks. I’ve run mine with fork gaiters since I’ve got it and no problems at all. I guess I’ll find out, as I’m putting YZ forks on mine.
I thought Yamaha would/ should have gone more towards the hardcore 640A setup rather than the BM market. But I guess the Euro market wouldn’t warrant it.

I reckon it’s that market that absolutely requires that sort of innovation but the market that I’m picturing is not the market the manufacturers see except KTM. What is it. 60k km valve intervals on the WRR? All the electrical innovation. It should be the norm on a vehicle that is designed to go to the back off beyond. Batteries are usually a number one problem.

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Just to let you know I had a voltage regulator fail on my 09 Tenere after 1000 miles - only symptom was the warning light, followed 5 mins later by the rev counter falling to zero (engine still running) then the multi function display shutting down then the engine stopping. Since the fitting of a new one under warranty I have done a 4500 mile, 15 day trip round the coast of GB with no problems,- I fitted a Givi top rack with PLX363 side carriers and V35 cases. Fully laden the bike becomes a little light at the front, with easy (inadvertant) wheelies off the throttle in 1st and occasionally 2nd gear. Bike averaged 63 mpg on mainly B roads and unclassified roads, covering up 380 miles per day in 12 - 14 hours. Seat gets a bit uncomfy after a bit, but never enough to have you in real pain. Rear tyre dead after 4700 miles, front still has 1000 miles left with the odo now at 6200 miles. An excellent bike and just as much fun to ride as my CBR 1000, without the risks to my licence.

There is a warrenty replacement for than, it's not the VR, it's the connector block. When these connect, there is a possibility that the electrical connections are fine, but the weather seal isn't. Some greese around the connector stops the weather, nad the connectors stay nice and clean.

What have you been doing ? 1st tyre got over 90000 and second one is down to 2mm with the bike on 15,000.

Actually there is one living in my Tenere. It hides between the screen and the instrument. It comes out after I ride for 10-15 minutes, but I am not sure if it comes out to let me know I woke it up or for a breeze.

Hee hee - I've been looking for a new colour scheme... maybe I should paint mine green afterall?



xxx

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