Picking up new Ténéré on Saturday - question

[ncpkwyrider747]

Good day,
I'm planning to pick up my new '23 Ténéré this coming Saturday. Does anyone have any advice about anything I should inspect on the new bike before I ride it off their lot? I'm driving about 200 miles to pick up the bike and I want to make sure and cover all bases while I'm there. Thanks.

 

[gprogers]

Just ride it and enjoy
Welcome aboard from Ontario Canada

 

[Sierra1]

Yup, what he said. I'd check the air pressure, but on a new bike, just have fun.

 

[whisperquiet]

The last two S10 bikes I bought new had set up issues. My 2021 had the front fork reflectors installed horizontally and not vertically + the handle bar, fork axle pinch, and brake caliper bolts were all over tightened. My 2023 had the front ABS sensor wire incorrectly routed outside the left fork leg and was guitar string tight. Plus, the bolts mentioned above were also way over tightened to the point that I couldn’t believe the set up person did not strip them. I trailered both bikes home and corrected the issues before riding either new bike. YMMV

 

[jeckyll]

So, what do you normally check before you get on a bike you don't know, have never ridden and was setup by someone else?
This isn't a rhetorical question.

For me, for a bike I've never ridden, I'd check:
Visual check to see if anything looks wrong, damage, scratches from shipping / prep, obviously missing bolts, etc
Tire pressure
Fluid levels (Oil, brakes, rad etc)
Lights & signals
Preload for suspension to ensure it's set somewhere in the ballpark for my weight (I may just do this via a parking lot loop & some braking / bouncing)
Control layout - can I see in the mirrors, do the handlebars seem to be in the right spot, reach to clutch / brake etc. or does anything need to be moved / rotated so I'm comfortable

Also, there's a full recommended pre-ride list in your manual, you can always check that out

Enjoy the new ride!

 

[ncpkwyrider747]

The last two S10 bikes I bought new had set up issues. My 2021 had the front fork reflectors installed horizontally and not vertically + the handle bar, fork axle pinch, and brake caliper bolts were all over tightened. My 2023 had the front ABS sensor wire incorrectly routed outside the left fork leg and was guitar string tight. Plus, the bolts mentioned above were also way over tightened to the point that I couldn’t believe the set up person did not strip them. I trailered both bikes home and corrected the issues before riding either new bike. YMMV

That's insane! Thanks.

 

[ncpkwyrider747]

So, what do you normally check before you get on a bike you don't know, have never ridden and was setup by someone else?
This isn't a rhetorical question.

For me, for a bike I've never ridden, I'd check:
Visual check to see if anything looks wrong, damage, scratches from shipping / prep, obviously missing bolts, etc
Tire pressure
Fluid levels (Oil, brakes, rad etc)
Lights & signals
Preload for suspension to ensure it's set somewhere in the ballpark for my weight (I may just do this via a parking lot loop & some braking / bouncing)
Control layout - can I see in the mirrors, do the handlebars seem to be in the right spot, reach to clutch / brake etc. or does anything need to be moved / rotated so I'm comfortable

Also, there's a full recommended pre-ride list in your manual, you can always check that out

Enjoy the new ride!

Thanks. I'll be checking the assembly and preparation checklist for the bike. I was checking to see if there's anything weird or unusual to check since I've never owned a Ténéré.

 

[AusTexS10]

That's insane! Thanks.

This can't happen on the Super T, but when I first got back into riding after a 45 year hiatus I bought a 2017 Yamaha SCR950 (only year they built it) and found a setup problem. Great bike for tooling around town, but too limited for highway riding, at least for me, which was why I swapped it in on a Super T. Anyhow, I joined their forum and was surprised to note as pictures were posted that over half of the bikes were set up with the front fender installed backward (longer part to the front instead of the rear), and mine was one of them (I figured it out right away and corrected it, but there are still pictures being posted of SCR950s with backward front fenders in 2023). The shop owner that helped me do the swap (front tire needed to be dropped and it had no center stand) also pointed out there was a completely dry front axle, so he lubed it. He said a lack of grease where needed was a common issue on newly-bought Yamahas he serviced.

 

[ncpkwyrider747]

This can't happen on the Super T, but when I first got back into riding after a 45 year hiatus I bought a 2017 Yamaha SCR950 (only year they built it) and found a setup problem. Great bike for tooling around town, but too limited for highway riding, at least for me, which was why I swapped it in on a Super T. Anyhow, I joined their forum and was surprised to note as pictures were posted that over half of the bikes were set up with the front fender installed backward (longer part to the front instead of the rear), and mine was one of them (I figured it out right away and corrected it, but there are still pictures being posted of SCR950s with backward front fenders in 2023). The shop owner that helped me do the swap (front tire needed to be dropped and it had no center stand) also pointed out there was a completely dry front axle, so he lubed it. He said a lack of grease where needed was a common issue on newly-bought Yamahas he serviced.

Wow, that's interesting. Back in the early 2000's I bought a new Concours that was delivered to me with no shaft drive oil. 25 miles on the odometer and the rear wheel locked up on me while I was riding the Blue Ridge Parkway. Long story but a very scary experience!!

 

[Silver Badger]

The motor is gonna sound like an angry tool box rolling down a flight of metal stairs. Don't panic. It can be disconcerting, but it's normal.

 

[ncpkwyrider747]

The motor is gonna sound like an angry tool box rolling down a flight of metal stairs. Don't panic. It can be disconcerting, but it's normal.

Lol, thanks for the heads up. Nice to know since I'm accustomed to the sound of my Concours 14 inline 4.

 

[RCinNC]

One thing I've heard guys mention as far as new bikes is that the cap nut on the steering head was loose when they got the bike. It's the big nut just below the handlebar risers. It's supposed to be torqued to 94 ft/lbs, but more than a couple guys in here have said that they discovered that theirs was finger tight after they got the bike and did a steering head service.

 

[ncpkwyrider747]

One thing I've heard guys mention as far as new bikes is that the cap nut on the steering head was loose when they got the bike. It's the big nut just below the handlebar risers. It's supposed to be torqued to 94 ft/lbs, but more than a couple guys in here have said that they discovered that theirs was finger tight after they got the bike and did a steering head service.

View attachment 107037

That's great information. Thanks.

 

[HeliMark]

The motor is gonna sound like an angry tool box rolling down a flight of metal stairs. Don't panic. It can be disconcerting, but it's normal.

And it gets worse with a proper bash plate

 

[Muybig]

check little things as well - my mirrors where not properly tightened and started swiveling on their pivot point/ my heated grips where on the highest level (they got really hot)/ air pressure is a good point / check oil level and radiator coolant - FYI i dumped the oil at both 250Km and 1000 KM so you might want to pick up some oil and filter before leaving the ship ENJOY !

 

[pooh and xtine]

My last two STs were both delivered without the upper metal saddle bracket inside the left switchgear, so the switch unit would rotate a little on the handlebars. The last one didn’t have either of the underside metal brackets that hold the handguards securely, nor did it have much lubricant in the rear diff when I changed it at 600 miles. Not sure I’d call it diff oil, it was some thick grey sort of gloop!

 

[ncpkwyrider747]

My last two STs were both delivered without the upper metal saddle bracket inside the left switchgear, so the switch unit would rotate a little on the handlebars. The last one didn’t have either of the underside metal brackets that hold the handguards securely, nor did it have much lubricant in the rear diff when I changed it at 600 miles. Not sure I’d call it diff oil, it was some thick grey sort of gloop!

Thanks! Do you have any pictures of what you're talking about to share?

 

[whisperquiet]

Two more things……make sure you get the extra lock sets for the saddle bags and trunk. I also purchased two S10s that did not come with the plastic height adjustment bracket for the seat.

 

[ncpkwyrider747]

Two more things……make sure you get the extra lock sets for the saddle bags and trunk. I also purchased two S10s that did not come with the plastic height adjustment bracket for the seat.

Saddlebags and trunk? Unfortunately my '23 Ténéré doesn't come with any luggage. Yours did?

 

[gv550]

Two more things……make sure you get the extra lock sets for the saddle bags and trunk. I also purchased two S10s that did not come with the plastic height adjustment bracket for the seat.

Does the 23 really still come with the 3 lock tumblers? I looked under the seat of a new bike in the showroom and there were no locks, maybe no longer supplied now that the Shad/Yamaha boxes are obsolete. I asked the dealer and he told me the tumblers are now provided only with the current style boxes, and the dealer has to key them to match the bike.