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Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 19 Aug 2021
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Basically I agree. On the other hand, I had my DL650 in the shop for its first-ever maintenance of any sort (aside from tire and oil changes, plus periodic spritzing of the chain with WD40 followed by no lube whatsoever). At 18,000 miles it needed nothing at all--valves still in spec, chain not worn (but with one tight link), air filter had accumulated some bugs, spark plugs all fine but changed while the fuel tank was off, etc.).

By the same mileage, my same-vintage KLR had needed a couple of tuneups, chain and sprockets, added fuel filters, bits of wiring modification when fuses blew or safety cutouts malfunctioned, valve shim changes, and extensive engine work due to a grenaded doohickey. In the balance, the DL has required less maintenance despite the greater complexity.

Just one more data point, whether relevant or not.

Mark
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  #2  
Old 20 Aug 2021
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Maintenance
Well, we have different ways to look at things.

I have restored bike during 20 years, 1-2 bikes per year.
And done 97% of the work myself.
I do not use work shops to do regular maintenace.
Only for things that require expensive machinery. Like boring cylinders, valve seat, valve jobs.

Just to have to give the bike to a workshop for regular maintenace shows the problem I described.

=
I had my DL650 in the shop for its first-ever maintenance of any sort...
At 18,000 miles it needed nothing at all.
=

Gives 2 follow up questions:

) How may hours did it take the workshop to come to the conclusion that it needed nothing at all ?
2) What was the cost for that ?
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  #3  
Old 20 Aug 2021
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Tongue firmly in cheek...or not...

You DO want the dealers to stay in business right? And who do you think KEEPS them in business? Certainly not the home mechanic. And the factory knows that. BUT they also have to make bikes lighter, more reliable, more powerful, better handling, more comfortable - and pass emissions regs and get great fuel mileage - AND SELL to a fickle cheapskate public. I'm glad I'm not a designer, way too many conflicting needs.
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  #4  
Old 20 Aug 2021
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Erik_G View Post
Gives 2 follow up questions:

) How may hours did it take the workshop to come to the conclusion that it needed nothing at all ?
2) What was the cost for that ?
Far less than my KLR had cost by the same point in its long, generally reliable life.

I'm not on this thread to debate the relative merits of doing your own work vs. hiring it out. At this point in my life, doing my own work is much more difficult than it used to be (various arthritic body parts, a few chunks of metal where used to be bone and flesh, some spine surgeries, bad eyesight), and it costs me more in missed work opportunities (self-employed) than it could ever save in shop charges.

I've done my own mechanical work quite a bit in the past, starting with my first car, a 1967; I do very little now. And while I complain as loudly as everyone else about the increased complexity in everything around me, I also notice that everything aside from household appliances generally runs better, longer, and with fewer repairs. Oddly enough, much of it is even cheaper in constant dollars.

I might see it differently if working on motorbikes was my idea of a good time. It's not--I'd rather ski, mountain bike, hang with friends, and ride. YMMV, naturally.

Mark
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  #5  
Old 4 Sep 2021
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Smile Happy Biker
I met a happy biker yesterday.
He used to ride a Suzuki DL 650 (as I often do).
But the bike had got some kms on it, and time for maintenance...
Something he is used to do himself ( As I am)
And he was so disappointed with the complexity of the Suzuki that he changed bike.
He had exchanged the Suzuki for a Royal Enfield Himalayan.
And now he is happy again



Maintainability is an important characteristics, for some of us.
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  #6  
Old 11 Sep 2021
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On the Tenere 660 ABS version I took around the world the battery was under the tank. It was 12 or 14 bolts/screws to remove and 3 tubes. And it was quite complex, the last mechanic who tried to take the tank off gave up! And with all the electric issues that bike had it needed the tank off several times pr week….what a nightmare… One of the reasons I never ever will touch something with the Tenere name on again, or hardly any Yamahas at all….
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Old 12 Sep 2021
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakeboy View Post
On the Tenere 660 ABS version I took around the world the battery was under the tank.
Hello

Just on the ABS model, the XT660Z from '08 had it under the seat.
The ABS has also less suspention.
Never understood why yamaha did that.

I would never buy the ABS model because of the location of the battery.

sushi
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Last edited by Grant Johnson; 13 Sep 2021 at 22:10. Reason: fixed quote
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Old 12 Sep 2021
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sushi2831 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by Snakeboy View Post
On the Tenere 660 ABS version I took around the world the battery was under the tank.
Hello

Just on the ABS model, the XT660Z from '08 had it under the seat.
The ABS has also less suspention.
Never understood why yamaha did that.

I would never buy the ABS model because of the location of the battery.

sushi
If I knew what I now know I would also never had bought that bike.

I will never ever buy a bike that has the battery placed under the gas tank, thats for sure.
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Last edited by Grant Johnson; 13 Sep 2021 at 22:11. Reason: fixed quotes
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  #9  
Old 20 Aug 2021
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markharf View Post
Basically I agree. On the other hand, I had my DL650 in the shop for its first-ever maintenance of any sort (aside from tire and oil changes, plus periodic spritzing of the chain with WD40 followed by no lube whatsoever). At 18,000 miles it needed nothing at all--valves still in spec, chain not worn (but with one tight link), air filter had accumulated some bugs, spark plugs all fine but changed while the fuel tank was off, etc.).



Mark
It's the saving grace of the DL650. Mine is the same: to the local independent shop every ~20,000 mi- check the valves (they never move) and while in there: change out plugs, air cleaner, and flush the coolant. Never anything wrong, and the bike is totally reliable. Now at 55,000 miles. Other than home oil changes, it costs a few hundred bucks every 20,000 miles.

If I'm doing the work, I would much rather work on my DR650. It's reliable, but does need more service- every 3,000. Fortunately, it's simple enough to be fun to work on.

..............shu
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