Thanks people. It was really fun building it and really helped my head while I was down from the surgeries. My brain needed some MC fix and the thought of getting back and adv touring was a lift for my soul.
It is fun to ride over all, but with the high front fender, fork mounted fairing and gauges, long travel and knobbie tires it is good off road, better than most big adv bike I would say, but it definitely leaves a bit to be desired on the hiway. I have learned that a bias a bit more street based would probably fit my needs more. I still want to be able to go where ever I want to, but enjoy the tar getting there more.
Someone mention "koolaide", I think you meant the koolaide of the Tenere? If so, I am fully aware that any thing mechanical can, and will have issues at times. I accept that. But the "truth in engineering" brand is just not true now days. My trans is clunky, like so bad it is worse than my '49 Studebaker 3 on the tree w/OD tans. So is my buddies '08 GSA. Unbelievable that is what passes as "German engineering".
Then if you read my RR in a different area here on this site called "Epic ride...until" you will see that parts availability and in stock issues suck on the BMW. When I blew up the fuel pump at 24k miles for no reason in the middle of no where outside of Visalia Ca. I found out that, #1, bmw does not care about stocking parts for any bike older that 10 yrs old. #2 there may be many dealers near where I live {live 8 within an hour or so} they are few and far between in rural America which is where I like to ride the most.
Nearest dealer from Visalia is Fresno or San Fernando...couple of hours in opposite directions and neither had what I needed in stock. Yet, right in Visalia there was a Yamaha dealer that had 2 Tenere's in stock and many parts for them on the shelf. When you look at the very full line of vehicles Yamaha offers the number of dealers and the even in more remote areas is WAYYYYYYYYY better. With them selling snowmobiles, they will be anywhere in upper elevations, and they can still order bike parts. With them selling boats and PWC they are anywhere with water....again they can order parts even if they are mostly a boat dealer. With them selling generators and farm type quads and side x sides they are anywhere in farm country...same for bigger cities that are big MC markets. Just way more options if you have an issue.
I also am sold on the cost of parts...I looked up a Fuel pump for a ST and they were $139 or so and the filter and sock were fairly cheap. A pump from BMW for my beast was $328 and $59 for the filter and $39 for a stupid pick up sock = $426 as opposed to $150-160 from Yamaha........If meant Yamaha koolaide, you are right...Im in
