Where does the weight come from?

[kmac]

So just a curiosity for me, For those of you who have had the Tenere apart and seen all of the under belly, what would you say is the cause of the substantial weight?

Not complaining about the weight and I think the weight is completely livable for me, but what causes it?

I mean if you were to take say an R1 as a comparison. I know, completely different animal, but, a 4 cylinder engine vs a 2 cylinder...in theory the 2 cylinder could be lighter than the 4 because of the narrower crank, 2 less rods/pistons and valve train. I am aware that the bore and stroke of the 2 cylinder is obviously larger making each piston/rod and crank heavier, but having less of them at the very least SHOULD offset. The gear box is potentially the same weight. Both bikes have inverted forks, shock and seat. Headlight and gauges....you get the point.

So there is obviously a few pounds in the shaft and FD and swingarm over the sport bike chain drive and light hollow SA, there is a few. 2 extra gallons of fuel. there is 14 lbs...so lets add 25 lbs for fuel and drive systems. The frame is aluminum on the R1 as opposed to the steel of the Super T...maybe a couple pounds, but KTM has shown that a steel frame does not mean heavy as all of the Asian MX bikes now have aluminum frames and KTM has a ChroMo steel frame and is the lightest of all of the MX usually....so steel vs aluminum frame could be a mute point also.

R1 = 477 curb weight and the Ten is 578. Given the 25 lbs for fuel and SA/drive, where does the other 75 lbs come from?
How does the big beastly bmw gs/gsa with a large counter balancer, very heavy fork/telelever control arm, separate full shock and ball joint front end and 2 more gallons of fuel still beat the Super Ten in tonnage?

 

[~TABASCO~]

I think you pretty much hit it..... The motor being a 270* has two heavy counter weights in the engine. Also the sport bike has most all its parts trimmed of weight for road/track... The Tenere has to be much more beefy, in every part.. Also, the charging system is much stronger than a sport bike... The battery is bigger.. the risers on the ST, the bigger bars(size), the much bigger and stronger rear sub frame to carry panniers. It adds up fast. And as you have said, the rear drive shaft and Diff... Don't forget the other large forged gears in the case to allow the out put of the drive shaft that are located in the motor. That one gear with other needed parts is probably 6-8 lbs right there... Its all, 5 here... 8 there, 2 here.... adds up...
When Im off road I just think of it as a dirt bike... and do lots of this ::26:: Its only when I fall over im like HOLY S%%T this is heavy........

 

[talonboy]

I think you hit on much of the weight difference. When I work on my Tenere, after working on my CRF450R, I notice everything on the Tenere is heavier. For example, the nut and washer at the end of the axle is much heavier. Steel brackets for the license plate, and front reflectors. The passenger foot-pegs and brackets are very heavy. All the little stuff adds up.

The only thing I noticed being light was the swing-arm of the Tenere.

 

[Mark R.]

When Im off road I just think of it as a dirt bike... and do lots of this ::26:: Its only when I fall over im like HOLY S%%T this is heavy........

LOL !! Me too. I love this bike until I have to pick it up!!

 

[Mark R.]

The only thing I noticed being light was the swing-arm of the Tenere.

It is surprising how light the swingarm is.

 

[snakebitten]

LOL !! Me too. I love this bike until I have to pick it up!!

Much easier when riding 2-up.
She is so much more help than she realizes.

 

[greg the pole]

there are a few things that are very heavy on this piggy of ours.
Engine, and frame come to mind, and as mentioned above, a lot of the bits are heavy too.

They did try to save weight in a few places. The front headlight support is all plastic, vs steel. Rear racks are plastic vs aluminum etc..
Still the initial weight number seems heavy, but I feel it's as light as my crappy 650 vstrom.
the did a great job of keeping it low.

 

[avc8130]

there are a few things that are very heavy on this piggy of ours.
Engine, and frame come to mind, and as mentioned above, a lot of the bits are heavy too.

They did try to save weight in a few places. The front headlight support is all plastic, vs steel. Rear racks are plastic vs aluminum etc..
Still the initial weight number seems heavy, but I feel it's as light as my crappy 650 vstrom.
the did a great job of keeping it low.

It is odd to me some of the areas they tried to save weight, and then others it was almost like they just didn't care.

We have magnesium engine covers!

ac

 

[Big Blu]

there are a few things that are very heavy on this piggy of ours.
.....
.....
....

I prefer to think of it as a robust build. ::025:: ::025::

Paul

 

[Boondocker]

If we're talking about weight, let's also consider payload - how much weight are these bikes rated to carry?
Ténéré - 461 lbs (curb weight 575)
R1200GS - 462 lbs (curb weight 495)
KTM 1190 Adventure - 462 lbs (curb weight 503)
Yamaha R1 - ?? (curb weight 454)
Multistrada 1200S - ?? (curb weight 485)

I couldn't find the GVWR or rated payload for the R1 or the Multistrada. Good thing it's not just a numbers game because the Tenere is a piggy. If the extra weight is the cost of reliability and good manners - I'll take it! I've ridden my Tenere many thousands of miles 2-up with camping gear (fully loaded) and have no regrets about the base weight.

 

[greg the pole]

It is odd to me some of the areas they tried to save weight, and then others it was almost like they just didn't care.

We have magnesium engine covers!

ac

what about that light weight muffler?
Sorry, the bike is not heavy....it's big boned. ::013::

 

[GrahamD]

How does the big beastly bmw gs/gsa with a large counter balancer, very heavy fork/telelever control arm, separate full shock and ball joint front end and 2 more gallons of fuel still beat the Super Ten in tonnage?

The big beastly GSA with 23 Litres of fuel on board weighs about the same as the Super Ten.

That's if you actually put them on real scales in a real workshop, rather than advertising scales on a the internet.

There are two reasons.

1) YAMAHA is making a porky but not telling porkies regards weight.
2) As many have said. Its a Robust build for real men.

But just FYI..

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=12836924&postcount=2381

 

[kmac]

After putting a mere 20 miles on mine....that's right, I said MINE... ::013:: It is a big bike but does not feel bulky when riding. I am not looking forward to picking it up alone, but I am sure I can.

 

[True Grip]

First time I picked mine up it took a few days for a testicle to show back up ::014::

Congrats I'm sure you will enjoy it! The bike really grows on you after you see what it's capable of.

 

[kmac]

Yeah I had to pick up my bmw in a starbucks parking lot while on my last trip....FULLY loaded probably 550 lbs. I knocked it over closing my right side box...heavy load, kick stand should be shorter, pushing on the far side...uh oh....clunk....total rookie move for a guy flirting on 1 million miles on bikes {counting dirt bike testing/racing/practice....best educated guesstimate}

 

[redneckK20]

I think you pretty much hit it..... The motor being a 270* has two heavy counter weights in the engine. Also the sport bike has most all its parts trimmed of weight for road/track... The Tenere has to be much more beefy, in every part.. Also, the charging system is much stronger than a sport bike... The battery is bigger.. the risers on the ST, the bigger bars(size), the much bigger and stronger rear sub frame to carry panniers. It adds up fast. And as you have said, the rear drive shaft and Diff... Don't forget the other large forged gears in the case to allow the out put of the drive shaft that are located in the motor. That one gear with other needed parts is probably 6-8 lbs right there... Its all, 5 here... 8 there, 2 here.... adds up...
When Im off road I just think of it as a dirt bike... and do lots of this ::26:: Its only when I fall over im like HOLY S%%T this is heavy........

The battery actually isn't bigger.. But the combined brake system ads weight, extra sensors for the TCS, etc. The shaft drive is really what kills it though.

 

[Yamaguy55]

Crankshaft is quite robust. It is easily seen with the clutch cover removed. The shaft, wheels and frame/running gear are all robust and heavy; there's nothing featherweight or minimal on the whole bike.
Still lighter than the FJR, and much lighter than cruisers. Look up Harley and the new Indian's gross tonnage. Railroad locomotives are envious of their adhesion. And they generally weigh 287,000 lbs.

Try picking it up when it is over so far that the wheels are uphill from the tank. By yourself, with no possibility of assistance; great fun, gets you a bonus hernia operation. ::008::

 

[kmac]

I am a low hernia risk....been there, surgically altered that....pelvic mesh reinforced now....no really. I have more Ti, mesh, SS, and cadaver bone in me than any 10 humans should have...those are future stories though...no one will want to ride with me if I tell them all now ::013::

 

[redneckK20]

Try picking it up when it is over so far that the wheels are uphill from the tank. By yourself, with no possibility of assistance; great fun, gets you a bonus hernia operation. ::009::

First week I had my bike, ended up on some ATV trails and the ABS kinda screwed me. Ended up falling over downhill. I literally thought my guts were coming out down south by the time I got it back shiny side up. It was a hell of a sidehill too, the bars were at my chin when I got it up and I'm 6'1". I've gained quite a bit of off-road skill since then, so hopefully it won't happen again. I'm also pretty young, so I haven't had quite as much wear and tear on my back.. Yet.

 

[kmac]

Next time you gotta pull the wheel around and get the top of the bike uphill, THEN pick it up....dirt bike 101 ::025::

Not laughing AT you....laughing WITH you.