I can buy a '87 Tenere from a breakers, no logbook and it's well rough. Would it make much difference to transplant the front end,rear shock and rims onto my '90 600E, for a Scandinavian trip this Autumn. Are there any other parts I could use to make my 600E more durable and comfortable?
Can I create a perfect 600E?

CS wrote in his Adventure Motorcycling handbook how to Tenerise your XT600:
- Alloy rims (from Tenere are OK, though there have been some bad charges from DID)
- Better spokes - Tenere and XT600 are identical spokewise. When replacing your rims a good advice is to renew the spokes anyway. The original Yam items are good and not very expensive
- Steel braided brake lines - not on Tenere
- Oil cooler - you can take that from the Tenere with some additional plumbing
- Bash plate - take it from the Tenere

Other items:
- I think the front forks of the Tenere are identical to yours. Better to overhaul yours.
- Rear shock. If you still have the item with the adjustable spring and damping they are the same. If you have the lousy adjustable nothing you win by exchanging. Look for the numerous other postings. I would recommend to buy a better aftermarket shock.

For a trip to Scandinavia, unless a lot of rough off-roading is planned, the XT600 should be up to it.
However, the backsde of the medal if the Tenere is not very expensive I would buy it as numerous items can be used for the XT600 saving you loads of money for new original parts.

Auke