Yep, parked at Barber, I was recently there at looked it over... It looks like a wormed up piece of 'you know what'. Its been ridden hard and put away beat to crap. For the folks that have not seen his bike a Barber, its wasted. It has oil leaking out of several places on the bike. It has wet oil spots 'weeping' out of others. The bike has been beaten on. I think his cause is a noble one, and I'm really proud of the job he is doing and has done the promotion on two Tenere motorcycles. I somewhat saddened by things I have read that he has said about overall maintenance and not needing to do the valves Etc. To many people take what he says way to literally and think they have a 'pass' on not doing work to there bike. That is truly not the case.
As Ive said before, why does he really care, he gets free bikes from Yamaha, free parts, and free service if it blows up. We might all have a different attitude if it's all free to us.
Take it from me, Ive performed many valve checks on many Tenere engines, I would SUGGEST you put an eye on those valves.
172,000 miles in three years and you think Curechaser looks beat on? Of course it was beaten on! My bikes are daily riders. If it breaks, I roll it into the woods and get a new one. I know it gets some people’s panties all up in a bunch, but I use motorcycles as tools and replace them when they wear out. My goal is to get where I’m going and don’t care how pretty I look doing it. When you live every day with the unknowns of a progressive and often disabling disease, you dont have the luxury of Time. Not that I don’t care. I care, the bike needs to be dependable and safe. I don’t care if I’m losing a mile per gallon because the tire is 2 lbs too low or the air filter is dirty. It just needs to get me 1200 miles home.
Neither of my Teneres or the $30K I spent on average each of the last six years riding them for charity was provided by Yamaha or anyone else. No service, no free parts (with a couple of exceptions).
It took me five years and a lot of begging to finally get substantial support this summer in way of a donated bike. If you consider spending over $200,000 out of pocket to get where I am with Yamaha, I guess I’m guilty. I don’t work for Yamaha, nor receive a dime for anything I’ve done or do at Yamaha events.
When you see me sharing my story standing on my feet at a trade show for three days straight under Yamaha’s tent, please understand I’m there on my own dime raising awareness and funds for MS.
Sorry for the rant, but considering the extreme financial costs and struggles trying to continue riding this million mile journey for a cure has put on me and my family, it does bother me that people think I’m some how getting paid to ride or showered with all kinds of gifts.
As far as maintenance, I do have brain damage from my diseas but I don’t think I’ve ever said I don’t recommend doing it, I just have answered when asked about the dreaded valve adjustment, that I did not do any real service, never checked the valves, never flushed the brakes or clutch, never even washed bike #1. These were never recommendations, they were facts. Doesn’t mean it didn’t need it or won’t run better if it was done, just that I never bothered and never had an issue. There are lots of reasons to follow maintenance schedules and not doing so involve some risk. Some people chose to take risks, others want to flick on their hazards ( gen 2 only of course) and ride slowly in the breakdown lane when they over ride their oil change interval schedule by 50 miles. Most people fall in between and try to follow a sensible routine to service their machines. How long do you plan to keep your bike? Do you expect to get a high trade in value? Do you worry you will void the warranty? Do you do your own maintenance or have the dealer do it? If it makes you comfortable, check your spokes every gas stop.
I wonder what the costs to do all the factory recommended service procedures over the 300,000 miles I accumulated in 6 years on my two Teneres at a dealer would have actually cost me considering my dealer gets $130 per hour. $40,000?
I’m busy riding, but I’m sure someone can figure it out for us.
I have limited time and funds. I took a risk and skipped a lot of service recommendations. I ride them hard and hardly put them away, but when I do, I put them away wet.