Farkle Remorse Thread

[Mark R.]

I recently bought a DR650 to add to the stable, and joined a DR forum that had a Farkle Remorse Thread. I thought it was a good idea, as there were posts about all sorts of farkles and mods that did not work out for some DR owners. I was able to really get a sense for what works on the DR, and what does not. It is not about bashing vendors, but about products that weren't compatible with other farkles, or maybe they didn't deliver what the motorcycle owner thought they would.

Examples could be things like a pipe was too loud, a rack wouldn't work with a saddlebag combo, a tank bag wouldn't mount properly, you bought fork springs that were way too stiff. In the DR world, it seems a certain aftermarket carb is much better than spending money to re-jet the stock carb. It's things like that which might help any of us avoid spending money we shouldn't.

So what mods or farkles have you made to your Tenere that you wish you had not done, and why?

 

[Lutsie]

Love the idea. Excited to see some responses of odd combos that did not work

 

[Triple dick]

I think you'll find there's already a thread covering that!! Just saying.

 

[snakebitten]

Yep, think there is one. But it's certainly dormant.
A fresh one might be worthwhile.

I don't really have any example that comes to mind. Probably because of my nature to do R&D on the backs of others. Lol

I do expect there to be some posted though. More than a couple of busted sumps after adding insufficient bash plates.

Oh wait, I do have 1.
I bought an adjustable windscreen mount early on in 2012. It was a "Wasp" mount. Very well made.
But I ended up selling it because I was successful at getting rid of the buffeting without it.
But it was a nice piece of kit, regardless.

 

[AlsoRan]

I have one - the Yamaha "tall" windscreen! Purchased it with high expectations, then rode about 2 miles with it an it was worse than stock. Not a little worse but big time ridiculous. It vectored the airflow right into my face. Took it back and got 100% credit.

Bought an MRA Vario and all is good. ::008::

 

[arjayes]

OEM heated grips. I got a decent deal on Ebay ($280), but then paid my local dealer another $100 or so to install them. Had some install issues that had to be cleaned up, but not a big deal (wish I had installed them myself, though). The big disappointment has been the drastically uneven heating between throttle side (scalding hot) and clutch side (lukewarm). Also been more than a few reports of broken wires on the throttle side, although that hasn't happened to me yet. I may try shrink tube under the clutch side grip to even out the heating, but all in all this is a farkle I regret. Cost/performance ratio way too high. Should have gone Oxford or Symtec.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Fenda Extenda - very bad mix with a SW Motech skid plate. They lock together on the right bump locking up the steering of the bike. Happened to my wife.

SW Motech crash bars - bent too much on a simple drop in mud. Far too expensive for a one-time use item

SW Motech side case rack - absolute crap. On the side that carried my empty side case 90% of the time the top weld broke. Replaced by Twisted Throttle (TT) under warranty, then the bottom weld broke on same side. I forget the exact weight TT said it was only supposed to carry, but it was something like 10lbs. SW Motech gear is off my purchase list. It just does not hold up to average use.

 

[Random ride]

The only things that I have removed from mine after installation was the Yosh slip-on (just a tad too loud), and the Yamaha tank bag (too large for my needs).

The only thing I really want to do now is upgrade the suspension. This will wait a little while longer.

 

[Timmeh]

I have the OEM skid plate and OEM crash bars.

These must go...especially the skid plate. (Who engineers an engine protection solution and uses the engine as a mount point?)

 

[Bushyar15]

Man, I've got a few…

1) Shorty-windscreen - Thinking was to get rid of the buffeting by putting my helmet (Arai XD-4) in clean air. Nope, way worse… Used it for less than an hour..
2) V-stream Windscreen - This time thinking maybe going taller would work better. Well it kinda does. Buffeting is gone but now there is no airflow into/inside in the helmet. Its too warm now even when the temp is in the 30s. So off it comes and back to the stocker…
3) Changed out the rear spring and somehow ordered a 2.5" spring instead of the 2.25. Used it for a couple weeks till the correct one came…
4) OEM tankbag - Didn't work for my needs. Too big and moved around too much no matter how tight I made it...

 

[SAL]

Exactly the same is Random Light below.

I installed Yosh Slip-on (on my 2012). A shade too loud. Will probably remove this winter.

Am going to definitely upgrade the Suspension before planned Alaska trip in July.

The only things that I have removed from mine after installation was the Yosh slip-on (just a tad too loud), and the Yamaha tank bag (too large for my needs).

The only thing I really want to do now is upgrade the suspension. This will wait a little while longer.

 

[AVGeek]

Yep, think there is one. But it's certainly dormant.
A fresh one might be worthwhile.

I don't really have any example that comes to mind. Probably because of my nature to do R&D on the backs of others. Lol

I do expect there to be some posted though. More than a couple of busted sumps after adding insufficient bash plates.

Oh wait, I do have 1.
I bought an adjustable windscreen mount early on in 2012. It was a "Wasp" mount. Very well made.
But I ended up selling it because I was successful at getting rid of the buffeting without it.
But it was a nice piece of kit, regardless.

I was also in search of the best windshield to reduce the buffeting, and tried the Madstad bracket. It didn't last long before I sold it and made do with angling the windscreen with some spacers. I was able to score one of the WASP brackets a few months ago, and it was worlds better for me than the Madstad. I have 3 different windscreens (CalSci Shorty, stock and a tall one I picked up via the forum that I don't remember the make), and right now the tall screen is on the bike for winter. The OEM wings are on my shopping list for that last little bit of wind management...

 

[2112]

My only regret (so far...) is the MRA screen I bought. it just didn't work for me even with a Touratech adjustable bracket. Calcsi to the rescue however.

 

[superjet]

Arjays,
I have seen this before with grip heaters. The throttle side generally has plastic under the grip and it works well as an insulator, so the heat gets directed toward your hand. The grip on the clutch side usually mounts right to the metal of the handle bar and "adsorbs" the heat. I bet if you touched the bar with your bare hand just inboard of the grips on both sides when the heaters have been on for a while, the throttle side bar would be cool and the clutch side would be warm.
It probably isn't the grip heaters fault.

OEM heated grips. I got a decent deal on Ebay ($280), but then paid my local dealer another $100 or so to install them. Had some install issues that had to be cleaned up, but not a big deal (wish I had installed them myself, though). The big disappointment has been the drastically uneven heating between throttle side (scalding hot) and clutch side (lukewarm). Also been more than a few reports of broken wires on the throttle side, although that hasn't happened to me yet. I may try shrink tube under the clutch side grip to even out the heating, but all in all this is a farkle I regret. Cost/performance ratio way too high. Should have gone Oxford or Symtec.

 

[martin_nj]

For those with the Yosh pipe - are you keeping the silencer in or out?

For me the only bad thing is the Givi 50L trunk blocks the stock yamaha side bags from opening

 

[Salmon Sam]

This is a tough one because I tend to be picky and nothing is perfect. Don’t ask for me to tally up what I spent. That is too depressing. Listed in with comments and whether I would buy again (YES, NO, TETT (too early to tell):

OEM top boxes and panniers – fragile (replaced one already) but nicely integrated and like the looks; haven’t had any lock issues like have been reported; liner bags are top notch ...................... YES

OEM (from Canada) plexi headlight guard – no issues; great for easy removal and cleaning; can see the headlights reflecting on the corners, though ..................................................................YES

OEM heated grips – control box has a little crack in it where screw goes in (seen this with others); great performance, though; can get hotter than you need; like the dial vs. button; haven’t felt different temperatures on each side as others have ............................................YES

3M Tankslapper protective film – takes patience to apply but great stuff ...................................... YES

“Super Tenere” sand man tank zipper protector - Dakar-like! Cool............................................ YES

Oversized tank knee guards – through Jaime from Spain and the company he is associated with; expensive but great protection and distinct visual ............................. YES

Touratech sidestand foot – could there be more pieces to something so simple? Screws come loose often despite using threadlock. Probably a better option ............................ NO

ALTrider bars – excellent protection (tested on a car side-swipe) ........................................YES

ALTrider skid plate – severely bent after one season of off-roading .....................................NO

ALTrider heel guards (universal joint and master cylinder) – tore pant legs to shreds; solution no better; company did refund to its credit after I raised a bit of a stink ...........................................NO

Touratech heel guards (replaced above; cheaper; still filed down sharp edges for stand-up, off-road riding where you use more of your ankles to steer) ..............................TETT

MRA Vario touring screen with spoiler (Twisted Throttle) – nice blacking out around dash (prevent melting); like the adjustable spoiler; can lower for hot days; spoiler could tilt in more positions better, though; spoiler brackets can be distracting but you learn to ignore them ; also there is a hole at the bottom that can let cold air through on your neck (good in the summer, but )...........................................................YES

Touratech adjustable windshield bracket and GPS bar – adjustable knobs loosen. Fix Touratech gave me was longer bolts with nuts on the end (works but defeats the purpose); tends to vibrate and you notice it with the GPS .................................................YES

Touratech GPS (Garmin Montana holder) – I like this but it is ridiculously complex; worry about durability; don’t trust the locking mechanism (too easy to thwart); plastic top with “Touratech” logo already had to be re-glued on; is there a better alternative? .................................YES

Garmin Montana – water proof; camera; good viz in bright sunlight; battery or wired capability is nice.......................YES

Denali D2 foglights (Twisted Throttle) – put on a PC-8 fuse box; bright!; have heard about future electrical problems .................................................................YES

Kaoko throttle lock – fantastic; almost as good as cruise control; can easily dial up and down....................................................................YES

Heideneau K60’s – rock went through a knobby on a WA backcountry ride (only 2000 miles on tires *#@@@!; plug held but replaced tire anyway; great 50:50 tire; skittish on wet asphalt ..........................YES

Rich’s Custom seats (Kingston WA)– had back cushion put on OEM top box and pillion seat done for wife; got convinced to have mine done as well; still too hard (feel dish after 2nd re-do) .........................................YES – pillion; NO – mine

ECU remap – 2 Wheel Dynoworks of Woodinville, WA - wow ..........................................YES

Touratech brake pedal extender - good, but almost too easy to ride the brakes in the dirt if you aren't careful ...................................YES

SW Mototech (through Twisted Throttle) on/off road footpegs - great removable rubber pad for on and off-road riding; great increased footprint; lower setting for more leg room and lower weight; need to remove gear lever to install on left side; not machined to be tight with the OEM holes and bolt so anticipate some "ovalling" of the holes where the peg attaches ................................................TETT

Touratech Extreme shocks and fork redo (Konflict) – good so far on the twisties (more like a crotch rocket feel; didn’t realize that the bike sunk so much in the corners before; can’t wait to try it in the dirt in the summer; ridiculously expensive so better be a transformative experience ......................................................TETT

Wolfman Blackhawk tank bag – wife bought a “Rainier” for me for Christmas but deemed to large for off-road riding; returned to exchange for a “Blackhawk” .........................................................TETT

RAM mount for smart phone (oversized Galaxy S5) – phone already fallen off .....................................................NO

Sena 20S – glitchy but cool and fun; bass not great for music; make sure other rider’s mike’s are wind protected else they are turned on intermittedly and will cut your music off – annoying .....................................YES


And I am sure there will be more in 2105. The above list doesn't scratch the non-farkle stuff like gear, camping equipment, helmet, etc. Groan. ::26::

 

[mobyfubar]

DS Bike Protection RAID toolbox. Leaks like a sieve. Ruined a set of tools, since it had water sloshing around in the bottom after riding in the rain, and I didn't know that and didn't need to get the tools out for a couple months. Looks cool but total waste of money.

 

[JRE]

That's goodti know...I have one on order.

 

[nga]

This is a tough one because I tend to be picky and nothing is perfect. Don’t ask for me to tally up what I spent. That is too depressing. Listed in with comments and whether I would buy again (YES, NO, TETT (too early to tell):

OEM top boxes and panniers – fragile (replaced one already) but nicely integrated and like the looks; haven’t had any lock issues like have been reported; liner bags are top notch ...................... YES

OEM (from Canada) plexi headlight guard – no issues; great for easy removal and cleaning; can see the headlights reflecting on the corners, though ..................................................................YES

OEM heated grips – control box has a little crack in it where screw goes in (seen this with others); great performance, though; can get hotter than you need; like the dial vs. button; haven’t felt different temperatures on each side as others have ............................................YES

3M Tankslapper protective film – takes patience to apply but great stuff ...................................... YES

“Super Tenere” sand man tank zipper protector - Dakar-like! Cool............................................ YES

Oversized tank knee guards – through Jaime from Spain and the company he is associated with; expensive but great protection and distinct visual ............................. YES

Touratech sidestand foot – could there be more pieces to something so simple? Screws come loose often despite using threadlock. Probably a better option ............................ NO

ALTrider bars – excellent protection (tested on a car side-swipe) ........................................YES

ALTrider skid plate – severely bent after one season of off-roading .....................................NO

ALTrider heel guards (universal joint and master cylinder) – tore pant legs to shreds; solution no better; company did refund to its credit after I raised a bit of a stink ...........................................NO

Touratech heel guards (replaced above; cheaper; still filed down sharp edges for stand-up, off-road riding where you use more of your ankles to steer) ..............................TETT

MRA Vario touring screen with spoiler (Twisted Throttle) – nice blacking out around dash (prevent melting); like the adjustable spoiler; can lower for hot days; spoiler could tilt in more positions better, though; spoiler brackets can be distracting but you learn to ignore them ; also there is a hole at the bottom that can let cold air through on your neck (good in the summer, but )...........................................................YES

Touratech adjustable windshield bracket and GPS bar – adjustable knobs loosen. Fix Touratech gave me was longer bolts with nuts on the end (works but defeats the purpose); tends to vibrate and you notice it with the GPS .................................................YES

Touratech GPS (Garmin Montana holder) – I like this but it is ridiculously complex; worry about durability; don’t trust the locking mechanism (too easy to thwart); plastic top with “Touratech” logo already had to be re-glued on; is there a better alternative? .................................YES

Garmin Montana – water proof; camera; good viz in bright sunlight; battery or wired capability is nice.......................YES

Denali D2 foglights (Twisted Throttle) – put on a PC-8 fuse box; bright!; have heard about future electrical problems .................................................................YES

Kaoko throttle lock – fantastic; almost as good as cruise control; can easily dial up and down....................................................................YES

Heideneau K60’s – rock went through a knobby on a WA backcountry ride (only 2000 miles on tires *#@@@!; plug held but replaced tire anyway; great 50:50 tire; skittish on wet asphalt ..........................YES

Rich’s Custom seats (Kingston WA)– had back cushion put on OEM top box and pillion seat done for wife; got convinced to have mine done as well; still too hard (feel dish after 2nd re-do) .........................................YES – pillion; NO – mine

ECU remap – 2 Wheel Dynoworks of Woodinville, WA - wow ..........................................YES

Touratech brake pedal extender - good, but almost too easy to ride the brakes in the dirt if you aren't careful ...................................YES

SW Mototech (through Twisted Throttle) on/off road footpegs - great removable rubber pad for on and off-road riding; great increased footprint; lower setting for more leg room and lower weight; need to remove gear lever to install on left side; not machined to be tight with the OEM holes and bolt so anticipate some "ovalling" of the holes where the peg attaches ................................................TETT

Touratech Extreme shocks and fork redo (Konflict) – good so far on the twisties (more like a crotch rocket feel; didn’t realize that the bike sunk so much in the corners before; can’t wait to try it in the dirt in the summer; ridiculously expensive so better be a transformative experience ......................................................TETT

Wolfman Blackhawk tank bag – wife bought a “Rainier” for me for Christmas but deemed to large for off-road riding; returned to exchange for a “Blackhawk” .........................................................TETT

RAM mount for smart phone (oversized Galaxy S5) – phone already fallen off .....................................................NO

Sena 20S – glitchy but cool and fun; bass not great for music; make sure other rider’s mike’s are wind protected else they are turned on intermittedly and will cut your music off – annoying .....................................YES


And I am sure there will be more in 2105. The above list doesn't scratch the non-farkle stuff like gear, camping equipment, helmet, etc. Groan. ::26::

Great write up SalmoSam! I would love to hear about your non-farkle stuff too.

 

[Lutsie]

DS Bike Protection RAID toolbox. Leaks like a sieve. Ruined a set of tools, since it had water sloshing around in the bottom after riding in the rain, and I didn't know that and didn't need to get the tools out for a couple months. Looks cool but total waste of money.

Thanks for the heads up. I was considering one.