Just hit 70,000 miles, and soliciting maintenance opinions

eemsreno

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I find it hilarious that some guys think they are experts on this bike and haven't rode it 10,000 miles over years of ownership.
As far as riding the bike a lot, I don't feel like I ride mine all that much. I almost never get in a vehicle unless I'm hauling my dirt bikes, but I just don't feel like I get to ride all that much. My granddaughters get upset every time I go on a trip, they ask Michelle why I don't want to be with them. So big trips are few and far between. I'm hoping Michelle and I get to go for a 10 day trip after summer heat is gone. But that will be on the 2017 Tenere. She wanted to ride all day on our 40th wedding anniversary this weekend but now it's looking rainy. I told her we could load up the 1979 XS1100 and retrace our honeymoon trip but that was a big NO.

Back to maintenance.
I just had to replace my fork bushings for the first time at 210,000. they developed some play even though they still looked good. [the coating wasn't wore through]
My 2012 rear shock started leaking at around 115,000 miles so now I am running the stock rear shock off my 2017 and the 17 has a really good aftermarket shock on it.
They say to never run the tank out of fuel or it could damage the fuel pump. well I have been guilty of major fuel pump abuse then, I don't even want to tell you that story, lets just say after shaking the tank many times to keep it running I finally couldn't get it to go any further. Still going strong with the original pump.
I'm still on the original front wheel bearing, and yes they have been under water many many times. I think that I counted 26 big creek or river crossing that we did on that one trip to Alaska in 2015.
I haven't replaced any suspension linkage parts or steering head bearings.
I have replaced the clutch plates but not because it was slipping but because I got it hot [I was stuck] and it got draggy after that.
It still doesn't work as good as the 17 clutch but that the price of having fun.
I did replace the throttle cables just to be safe and when I did I found one of them starting to fray. So that is something to do once and a while.
Of course the ABS pump failed a long time ago, when I removed that plastic tray stuff under the seat I found the pump was living in a swamp. So it may not be all the pumps fault that it failed , It was easy to just bypass the pump so now I have great brakes they just are not anti lock and no linked brakes anymore. I actually have a spare pump from a wrecked bike that I picked up for parts but it was living in a swamp also so even if I installed it on my bike it probably would have a very limited life span.
I had to replace the stick coils at around 175,000 miles, One of the cylinders just would not fire all at once [with no pre bad running conditions] I replaced the coil that was bad but it still missed until it warmed up so I replaced the other coil on the same cylinder and that fixed it so I just went ahead and replaced all 4 coils with my wrecked bikes coils.
The stator failed at around 170,000 and would not charge anymore. This is something everyone should keep an eye on because all oil bath stators will fail sooner or later and could leave you stranded.

Hope this helps.
Steve
 

Cycledude

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What does a new Yamaha stator cost and how big of a job was it to replace ?
Alternator has probably been the biggest failure issue on my Goldwing, the first 2 failures were under warranty including towing and motels but since the warranty ran out I have been carrying a spare alternator, it’s been replaced 4 times.
 

tntmo

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Does anyone know what the actual improvements were on the upgraded Tenere cam chain tensioner ?
My Goldwing currently has 550,000 miles On the original cam chain and tensioner. The valves were adjusted once at 50,000 miles, they were checked a few more times but never needed any adjusting.
I have only worked on older GoldWings and they had cam belts. Do the newer ones have chains?
 
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ballisticexchris

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What is the wear limit on the sprockets, how is it defined, and how do you measure it?


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You simply measure between the unloaded side of the camshaft sprocket and timing chain roller. 1/4 tooth is the wear limit. Anything more and the chain, camshaft sprockets, and crank are replaced as a set.


I find it hilarious that some guys think they are experts on this bike and haven't rode it 10,000 miles over years of ownership.
Hope this helps.
Steve
Guilty as charged Steve!! My 2017 currently has 5578 miles on it. Not a lot of miles but mostly fun miles. For me it's not about how many miles anymore. My life does not revolve around riding like it used to when I was younger.

Well there you go Ron. Follow Steve's lead. Don't even consider maintaining your bike. Just ride the crap out of it and enjoy it. Riders choice to ride a bike that is unsafe and not properly maintained.

I am by no means an expert on this particular bike. The Super Tenere while very reliable is no different than anything else mechanical. It will leave you stranded with a broken bike or broken body whether you decide to maintain it or not.

With proper maintenance of machine and body you lower the risk of breakdown or injury. It is just my simple common sense approach to enjoyment and pride of ownership.

Riding a bike with clapped out chassis/suspension components, brakes, is not my idea of fun. Waiting for a cable to begin fraying before replacing it is nothing more than an accident waiting to happen. New cables stretch once when new. Any other sign of stretching indicates replacement ASAP.

That is very good info Steve on how far you can push this bike until components start to fail. I just did a spark plug change yesterday and tested all my stick coils for primary and secondary ohm range. At 5578 miles I was not surprised to see that they were still good. I'm doing my 6,000 mile required service a little early since I'm out of the saddle.

Here is a small list of what I'm doing over the next few days to keep my bike in good running order.

**DONE** Bi annual coolant and brake fluid flush (done in May 2019)

**DONE** Disassemble and inspect front/rear brakes. Clean, lube guide pins, clean slider pins, clean caliper pistons, document pad/rotor thickness.

**DONE** Replace plugs with NGK iridium ones imported from Japan.

**DONE** Put ohm meter to the coils and measure resistance.

**DONE** Balance throttle bodies per 3/4 turn on reference screw.

**DONE** Replace Air Filter.

**DONE** Inspect throttle slider/cables, and lubricate kick/center-stand pivot points, gear shift shaft, levers, and brake shaft.

**DONE** Inspect wheel bearings.

**DONE** R&R tires, measure wheel runout and true, measure rotor runout, balance wheels, check spokes.

**DONE** Inspect steering head bearings.

**DONE** Inspect fork bushings for wear (right fork bushing showing sighs of wear/slight fork tube play).

**DONE** Inspect swing arm, all suspension pivot points and components.

**DONE** Remove driveshaft assembly and lubricate splines.

**DONE** Replace gear oil.

**DONE** Insect fuel lines/crankcase breather and all rubber hoses.

**DONE** Inspect brake lines.

**DONE** Inspect exhaust system.
 
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lddave

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Typical service includes replace all wearable parts, bushings, seals, oil, shims, etc. 10,000 mile figure comes from personal experience with degraded suspension. Also suspension shop I have been using since the 90's recommends this. For most of us it's a simple thing to check for fork bushing wear when the wheel is off by seeing if the fork tubes rock. I have yet to see any street bike go much over 10,000 miles and not have any play in the forks.
10,000 miles service on suspension would have interrupted several of my trips.
I can not imagine doing the service that often but then you need to do what you perceive as needed.
 

Boris

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Steve mentioned about the ABS pump, and it sitting in a swamp, likely not doing it much good. For anyone that doesn’t know, there’s two small drain holes in the bottom rear of the tray it sits in. A couple of times a year I get a small cable tie (zip tie) and have a prod about in through the drain holes. I’m always surprised how much small debris falls out, potentially stopping a blockage and a future swamp.

thanks for the reminder Steve. Drain holes cleared!
 
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ballisticexchris

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It would take some guys 50 years to get to 70,000 miles at the rate they ride. I surprises me how some can ride so little, and yet be so opinionated.
Have you ever considered that some of us have ridden many many miles over the years and are sharing personal experiences which are more than just an opinion. My life has taken a drastic turn which prevents me from riding as much as I would like. I get almost as much enjoyment relaxing with mellow music and working on my vehicles. When I raced it was no different except the damage repair exceeded the maintenance in labor and cost.

As I have stated many times it's always the riders choice at the risk level they are willing to take when swinging a leg over the bike. I choose to approach on the side of caution and have the best maintained equipment as possible. I did not purchase this bike to beat the crap out of it and brag how good and where I can ride a clapped out, poorly maintained machine.
 

eemsreno

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What does a new Yamaha stator cost and how big of a job was it to replace ?
Alternator has probably been the biggest failure issue on my Goldwing, the first 2 failures were under warranty including towing and motels but since the warranty ran out I have been carrying a spare alternator, it’s been replaced 4 times.

I never had to purchase a stator because I just took it off my wrecked bike. It's not such a big job that you couldn't change it out in a parking lot if you had to. I just wouldn't want to.


Chris
I never realized just how dilapidated my bikes are, Wow, no one better tell my wife or she won't travel with me anymore. Maybe I should only put on 2,000 miles a year like you then they wouldn't get so run down.
 

squarebore

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It would take some guys 50 years to get to 70,000 miles at the rate they ride. I surprises me how some can ride so little, and yet be so opinionated.
It surprises me that some people think there is a relationship between experience and the right or ability to express an opinion. Does miles equal wisdom?

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Mak10

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I’m glad I didn’t stumble on your posts Chris when I was looking at buying a Super Tenere. I would have bought something else.

I have extensive experience riding aHonda Trail 90, but my opinion on that bike has just about no relevance to a Super Tenere.

Checking the resistance of ones coils, as well as using iridium plugs at 5,000 miles seems obsessive.

It would be far easier and most likely more cost effective to just buy a new bike every year.

I’m out riding my “clapped” out bike today.
 

RCinNC

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I'd kind of like to drag this thread back to my original intent for starting it. There are probably lots of other threads on here for Obsessive Maintenance Compulsion Disorder, so whether or not someone rebuilds their forks every time the Moon is in the seventh house wasn't really what I was shooting for. I realize that the pool of riders who've put 100,000 miles or more on the S10 is fairly small so I didn't expect there to be a lot of relevant input, and I do appreciate the responses from the guys who've had that longevity with the bike.
 
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ballisticexchris

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I take extreme pride in every vehicle I own. I'm very proud of it. Even when I was racing and peeling off thousands of miles a year I treated my all my vehicles the same. And it shows. I have never DNF'd a race from equipment failure. I have never once been left stranded on the side of the road on a bike either.

I had only one bike fail on the trail in my life. XR600R. Motor locked up. Repaired for free under warranty.

FWIW my right fork leg has a bushing that is already showing signs of wear. I am not surprised. It has very small amount of play and the left one is solid.
 
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jrusell

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What does a new Yamaha stator cost and how big of a job was it to replace ?
Alternator has probably been the biggest failure issue on my Goldwing, the first 2 failures were under warranty including towing and motels but since the warranty ran out I have been carrying a spare alternator, it’s been replaced 4 times.
Not sure on Yamaha price, but RMStator makes a stator for the S10 as well. Price seems fair. They also have other electrical gear for our bikes if anyone is looking. Coils , starter relay etc.
 
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JJTJ2

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Steve mentioned about the ABS pump, and it sitting in a swamp, likely not doing it much good. For anyone that doesn’t know, there’s two small drain holes in the bottom rear of the tray it sits in. A couple of times a year I get a small cable tie (zip tie) and have a prod about in through the drain holes. I’m always surprised how much small debris falls out, potentially stopping a blockage and a future swamp.

thanks for the reminder Steve. Drain holes cleared!
Do you have a pic of where the tray and two holes are so I can easily locate them?
 
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