New to adventure touring

[Abercrombie tenere]

I just brought home a hold over 2012 Tenere on Friday and can't wait for Feburary to haul it to Texas for some riding in the Hill country.

I'm new to adventure touring and have never owned a dirt bike or enduro so I will be scouring the forum learning how to equip the bike.

Some of my first additions will be;
- Jesse 10" Odyssey bags although I haven't heard much bad about the Yamaha bags but the Jesse's hold 105 liter vs 60 liter for the Yamaha bags in the same space. ???
- Yamaha Skid Plate
- SW Motech or Givi Crashbars, the yamaha engine guard seems like it leaves a lot of plastic unprotected.
- Piaa LP 530 LED Driving lights
- A taller windshield and have no idea which type. Any Ideas? I'm 6'1" with 34" inseem.
- Yamaha grip heaters
- Some kind of GPS mount? Maybe SW Motech?

Just added this all up. I should have thought this over before buying the bike Friday. ::010::
Please feel free to contribute suggestions since I am totaly clueless and don't have any friends that know anything about Adventure bikes.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Welcome. If you make it Texas make sure to stop by
Your going to love the bike !

 

[HoebSTer]

I would scrap the idea of Yamaha skid plate unless you are NEVER off road. For or at least the SW motech skid plate.

 

[terrysig]

Congrats and welcome and agree with Jeff on the skid plate. Much better options out there if you are even just considering an off road excursion.

 

[Abercrombie tenere]

I would scrap the idea of Yamaha skid plate unless you are NEVER off road. For or at least the SW motech skid plate.

Thanks for the input, thats what I'm looking for.

 

[pteppic]

Re: New to adventure touring

Before you trash the windshield, try the shimming out trick. I have about 3/8" of rubber washers pushing the top of the tall windshield out. This cheap fix has kept me happy.

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[barkingllizard]

a simple hello, Abercrombie tenere.....

just a suggestion, to reconsider a taller windshield, tried that, didn`t work as well as I had hoped, and was brutal in hot weather,
switched to Givi Airflow http://www.giviusa.com/Screens--spoilers/AIRFLOW/AF447 vastly better.....

 

[Abercrombie tenere]

Thanks for the windshield ideas. When your talking about shimming out the windshield are you talking about the Yamaha tall or the standard shield?

 

[RockyDS]

Welcome.

I bought the OEM skid plate and bars but agree there are better alternatives.

Also lots of info on the furom about alternatives to the expensive Yamaha heated grips.

And the USD forks have road style seals and need protection in off road conditions, check out the fork protectors from Rideonadv or the OEM Worldcrosser version. Or at least use Kriega or Shocksox protectors to keep crud away from the seals. Lots of discussion about this on the forum as well.

::001::

 

[talonboy]

Welcome. Haul to Tx? Ok.
I have the Jesse bags and Givi crash bars like you mention, I really like them both.
You may want to look at the Spectre driving light bar that mounts under the headlight, very bright. Protected from tip-over damage.
I also have the Yamaha skid plate, I really think I need to replace it with a sturdier unit.

 

[Rasher]

Please feel free to contribute suggestions since I am totaly clueless and don't have any friends that know anything about Adventure bikes.

For me the same bloody stuff I aalways ended up buying for sportsbikes ::010::

* Hard luggage (Yamaha stuff too small for me as well)
* Taller Screen
* Better rear shock (as OEM useless for two-up)
* Rework forks (Had much worse, bit for £200 they are soooo much better)
* Replace / rework Seats (Having mine modified as it is under £100 for both seats compared to £800+ for Sargents)
* Comms system
* Sort Fuelling (ECU Flash / Power Commander)

For me really is no different to equiping any other bike, especially as I am not really off-roading, maybe the odd unpaved road and one of the reasons for getting this type of bike is most UK backroads (The only ones not compeltely jammed up like Central NY with cars) are now sort of half-paved, part dirt, part gravel, part grass and entirely unsuitable for sports or touring bikes.

I don't need huge sump gaurds or crash bars, just luggage and fuel ::021::

 

[pteppic]

Re: Re: New to adventure touring

Thanks for the windshield ideas. When your talking about shimming out the windshield are you talking about the Yamaha tall or the standard shield?

Sorry, I forgot to mention it's the tall one. I'm 6'4" with a 34" inseam.

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[rem]

Welcome on, Ab-T from ND. Ah, the farkling. Yes, the Yamaha skid plate is pretty wimpy. I think that would be the single first thing I would add, is a solid after marker skidplate. Lots of choices. So much stuff, so little money (in my case, anyway). ::025:: ::025:: ::004:: to the Forum. R. ::022::

 

[Buelligan]

Abercrombie,
You really should think about the Colorado gathering in June.
Lots of other Tenere riders will be there
Lots of experienced offroaders that know the trails will lead the way
Lots of good 'ol fashioned fun will be had

I know Texas can be a fun place, and the twisted sisters are a great trio of roads to ride, but come on, Colorado is THE BOMB, when it comes to riding of ANY kind... ::001::

 

[JonnyCinco]

Re: New to adventure touring

Step one: dont trailer it to hill country, ride the sum beach

Welcome

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[Abercrombie tenere]

Abercrombie,
You really should think about the Colorado gathering in June.
Lots of other Tenere riders will be there
Lots of experienced offroaders that know the trails will lead the way
Lots of good 'ol fashioned fun will be had

I know Texas can be a fun place, and the twisted sisters are a great trio of roads to ride, but come on, Colorado is THE BOMB, when it comes to riding of ANY kind... ::001::

I have tentitive plans to ride around Salida Colorado in June but it will be on the FJR for the SWFOG FJR gathering. I have had bikes on and off for thirty some years but never ridden off road and not sure if the Tenere is the right one to learn on. LOL I'll have to take it slow and get my feet wet or muddy.

 

[Abercrombie tenere]

Re: New to adventure touring

Step one: dont trailer it to hill country, ride the sum beach

Welcome

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Ride the sum beach? Its ten F F F F F FRICKIN BELOW HERE IN ND! I picked it up last Friday and put two miles on it in 35 degree icy wet roads to go top it off with gas. It hasn't moved all week. It got up to zero today and I thought I would tough it out and ride it to the post office today but the bike pussed out and wouldn't start!

 

[Buelligan]

Well if you roll through New mexico, give me a yell, I have a spare bed if you need one.
Also, may run into you in June, as I spend most weekends during the summer in Colorado.
I have a few sportbikes to alternate with my offroad, and adventure rides... <big grin>

 

[JonnyCinco]

Re: New to adventure touring

The wind protection with the stock screen should be sufficient to keep you warm.

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[Abercrombie tenere]

Re: New to adventure touring

The wind protection with the stock screen should be sufficient to keep you warm.

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Wind shield looks sorely inadaquate for this cold but I think I'll have to install a block heater so the darn thing will start first. ;D