If you had it to do all over again, what would you change?

[Dirt_Dad]

Since it appears my wife is stealing the Tenere from me I expect to order another one this weekend. Which means starting over again with all the farkles. So, what decision did you make the first time you set up the bike that you wish you could do over?

I think the only do over I've had was with bar risers. I first used the straight up 1" riser and it didn't work as well as the up and back riser for me. In fact it gave me carpel tunnel problems that never existed before or after replacing them.

Any second guesses out there before I start ordering? I'm wondering about making a change from the SW Motech bars to the Givi, seems most of you owners are happy and I like that they allow you to remove the plastic from both sides.

 

[HoebSTer]

DirtDad, The only thing that swayed back and forth was the saddlebag options. I think the Yamaha bags look best (not too large) on the bike but I wish at times I had the option of using say a Givi and or Hepco Becker side case rack. That way, I could choose many different types of bags. Pelican for me would have been the front runner, but nothing will fit with the small bags I wanted to go. I used to run the Givi E21 on my VSTrom, and it was enough for me size wise. The Pelican 1450 was the biggest i wanted to go for saddlebags and the IM2075 (9x7x7) for topbox. Just my thoughts!!!
I can't imagine how awesome it would be to be getting a SECOND Tenere in the house!!!!

 

[rem]

Apparently Micatech is coming out with some new, improved, more better panniers this spring/summer. More of a Pilot style I think. Might be nice. R ::001::

 

[~TABASCO~]

Personally I would have saved longer and purchased the ZEGA PRO bags.. I have the older ones and I like them, but like the pro better...

 

[Combo]

I would not have gone with the Yamaha crash bars and plate. They are just OK............... many more better options available now.

Likes:
I like my stock Yamaha Top and side boxes and would go with them again. No problems at all with them. Room enough for us on trips.
Without them on the bike (fast on and off) the mounts (strong) are tucked out of the way and blend in with the bike.

I like Wasp's adjustable wind screen mount big time and would go with it again for sure.

Dirt skins on the forks. ::008::

 

[roadlizard]

"NOTHING" - Except, if money was no object, I would have put on charcoal Jessie panniers instead of reusing my KLR's Happy Trails.

 

[ThatsLife]

No useful info from me but I just wanted to say that I think this is an awesome thread. For people starting over or just starting out this could be a great thread to watch.

After all, hindsight is a beotch!

 

[switchback]

Only thing I wouldn't do is the Calsci screen. Large is ok, hated the medium. Otherwise the Micatechs, givi bars, SW Motech Plate, and Symtec heated grips W/ Warm N Safe troller all work great along with the FZ-1 fuze box. Would also think hard about the Pelican option but like the Micatecs.

 

[Tremor38]

Re: Re: If you had it to do all over again, what would you change?

Since it appears my wife is stealing the Tenere from me I expect to order another one this weekend. Which means starting over again with all the farkles. So, what decision did you make the first time you set up the bike that you wish you could do over?

I think the only do over I've had was with bar risers. I first used the straight up 1" riser and it didn't work as well as the up and back riser for me. In fact it gave me carpel tunnel problems that never existed before or after replacing them.

Any second guesses out there before I start ordering? I'm wondering about making a change from the SW Motech bars to the Givi, seems most of you owners are happy and I like that they allow you to remove the plastic from both sides.

No need to re-farkle. Pull your farkles, put her bike back to stock then let her farkle to her own taste. ;D>

 

[tomatocity]

I have the GIVI guards. My only concern is what happens if you were to drop the Tenere and you are not near support. Recently asked a rider if his bent during his crash and he did not reply. My concern is they will bend at the lower mounting bolt tubes and you would not be able to remove them and the side panel(s) could not be removed.

Might be over thinking it but it is a concern. IMO the AltRider guard is built better than any of the others. If they had better clearance I would have already purchased them. Someone tell me the AltRider guard has sufficient clearance to easily remove the side panels.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Re: Re: If you had it to do all over again, what would you change?

No need to re-farkle. Pull your farkles, put her bike back to stock then let her farkle to her own taste. ;D>

There will definitely be some part swapping happening. She's already given me her list, which thankfully is short.

 

[erenet]

Some of the farkling is all about compromising, non of these parts were specifically made for me. One example, the Altrider crash bars may do the job if I drop the bike, but don't look (symmetric) straight, and missing the tubes going down over the engine sides, although it's not necessary to protect the bike it would make a good place for me to install my highway pegs.

I think now, I would go with the crash bars from South Africa.

 

[Tremor38]

Some of the farkling is all about compromising, non of these parts were specifically made for me. One example, the Altrider crash bars may do the job if I drop the bike, but don't look (symmetric) straight, and missing the tubes going down over the engine sides, although it's not necessary to protect the bike it would make a good place for me to install my highway pegs.

I think now, I would go with the crash bars from South Africa.

Those SA bars definitely look like the real deal. They're over the top for my needs though.

 

[dcstrom]

Jon,

congrats on Tenere-too! Hopefully test rides will go well - looks like a nice weekend for it.

What would I change if doing it again... hmm. Well still messing around with top boxes and handguards and a few things, still need to decide on a shield, but for the basics - skidplate and crashbars and bags - I'm very happy with the H&B and Jesses and would get them again. Mind you, I haven't given either the ultimate test yet but I suspect they'll do fine.

Symtec grip heaters are working well, at 10% of the price of the OEM ones, that's a no-brainer.

Does this mean you have to get a black one so you can tell them apart in the garage???

Trevor

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Does this mean you have to get a black one so you can tell them apart in the garage???

Trevor

Thanks, Trevor. I took a couple of quick test rides on "her" Tenere this evening to get the steering set correctly. Everything is set and torqued to specs. Ready for tomorrow's inaugural ride after we go pickup the Spyder from the repair shop in PA. I did get her to push the bike forward and back in the barn. She tells me it's so much easier to move around than her old DL650. I expect tomorrow to go very smoothly.

Black or blue? I really prefer blue, but there is some concern about looking too much like we're wearing matching sweaters. Larry has a black one scheduled to arrive early in March. For now he's put my name on that one. I've told him that if he can get me one sooner I'll take it. He's looking for a blue one for me, but also knows I won't hold out for color.

 

[3putt]

I might would take a look at the Gobi panniers a little closer. I checked on them when I was shopping but just tossed them from my list when I saw how expensive they were. Since I have seen them on a 990 and they were very nice looking.

No crash bars, beast is already too heavy.

I might take a look at a black one if my wife took my blue.

 

[dcstrom]

I might would take a look at the Gobi panniers a little closer.

I have the Gobi top box - not figured out fitment yet but that's coming - I like it... but the main "problem" with the Gobi bags is the 3.5L of water they hold in the walls. This makes them bigger on the outside than the inside. It's great if you need to carry the extra water - but if you don't they are bigger than their actual volume.

the topbox has a double-skin lid (which I like - insulation so that the interior doesn't get as hot) but outside is single so no reduction in volume.

trevor

 

[Tremor38]

I might would take a look at the Gobi panniers a little closer. I checked on them when I was shopping but just tossed them from my list when I saw how expensive they were. Since I have seen them on a 990 and they were very nice looking.

No crash bars, beast is already too heavy.

I might take a look at a black one if my wife took my blue.

Among the higher-end cases, they're really not so expensive when compared with Touratech and and the even higher end H&B products. They look to be one of the toughest around, next to maybe the Pelican/Caribou setup. As DC said, the Gobis end up wider than comparable capacity cases because of the water jackets. I really like how the new 2-tone black and silver looks.

Compared to what I just ordered the Gobis don't look too terribly expensive, but I've become picky to the point of being obsessive for some reason. :-\ Gotta have it my way ::009::

 

[Dirt_Dad]

The deed id done. My wife got on the lowered Tenere today and took off like the rider she is. Before she completed one lap around the school parking lot she was weaving in and out of cones someone had placed in the parking lot for traffic control. 10 months off a bike did not slow her down much.

I informed the dealer my order is official. He told me he can only find raven, so raven it is. I can live with that, it matches my helmet. Bike is in the warehouse already and I might have it as soon as next weekend. Weather is supposed to be ugly here tomorrow so I'll have time to get all the farkles ordered while it snows.

Now if I can only get that Spyder sold so I can pay for all this stuff...