joining the tenere owners club. am i doing ok?lol

**stormsearcher** · #1 2 Sep 2004

finished a deal on a 88 tenere. done 3k kms after total top end rebuild, new fork springs, gear box done up too.rear shocker replaced too.was reading a few posts that said tenere r shit etc. am i doing the right thing in buying the 3AJ?. is the 1990 xt600 very similar to the tenere? fuel tank capacity is 11lts only.wat bout the engine?, can any1 clarify? also does the belgreda and the tt600 same engines? so parts availability is no problem? thanks

**Barry Johnson** · #2 2 Sep 2004

Hi - the Tenere was officially importing into Oz so parts shouldn't be a problem.

If you're planning on overlanding then I think you made the right decision - the 88 Tenere is tougher than a plain XT or TT. Also, as it's been rebuilt (presume gearbox work was 4th/5th gears?) you should get tens of thousands of trouble-free kms.

Reliability is very good - provided you:
- change oil every 5000km
- keep revs above 4200rpm when in 5th (5th gear is every big single's weak point, but it needn't be if you ride it right)

There is loads of info on how to take care of a 3AJ on the HUBB - do a search.

Congratulations - well done!

------------------
Barry
3AJ Tenere

**stormsearcher** · #3 3 Sep 2004

tx mate, the bike am getting is tottaly redone. new pistons etc and gear dogs etc. obviously there was no problem with the gears. just the selectors etc worn out. was never opeoned till bout 62k kms.now its done just 3k after total rebuild.hope i have tons of hazle free kms.where can i get carrier boxes etc in nsw oz?

**Geoff van de Merwe** · #4 3 Sep 2004

I would have to agree with Barry on that.
Before my trip I rebuilt the top end of my '88 Tenere and it got me all the way through some tough dirt roads in Africa with nothing but a flat tyre. Still going strong now 40k later.

I also believe that if you want any vehicle to be reliable you need to maintain it correctly. I wouldn't be surprised if those blokes who were slagging the Tenere off have similar 'reliability' problems with their latest model of bike. Be it a Honda, KTM, BMW etc.

**Matt595** · #5 18 Oct 2004

Congrats,

Sorry for the late reply, I fell with mine and still at the hospital for my broken knee.

Good choice, you'll see every good point with this bike as said in the other replies;
reliability
fuel economy
off road
easy to adjust and repair
etc etc etc !

Just watch out with the high center of gravity...and never be to self assure, cause that is when the Tén won't forgive your mistakes.

Have great time,

Mattias

**Kovac** · #6 20 Mar 2007

Hi! I have Tenere too, and i like to ask, is there someone from Serbia, because I am and my English is very bad, so i'd like to write on my laguage.
Ako ima nekoga ko me razume neka kaze, voleo bi da popricamo i podelimo par saveta, ima gomila stvari koje bi voleo da saznam, buduci da sam novajlija ( tek mi je 17. godina), samim tim i iskustvo mi je malo.