What you did to your Tenere today??!!

[colorider]

I walked by mine as I got/returned tools in my stable. Seems like all my waking hours lately has been working on one home project after another! I'm two days into the remodel of our LAST bathroom. WooHoo!!!

I expect to be done before the end of March - just in time to start getting the SuperT ready for this year's rides!

Until then, not much time to spend on the forum.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Wondering how they'll hold up if the bike goes down at low speeds, like out on the trails. Ever had the misfortune of testing them? I like the looks of metal panniers better, but dang the price!!

I've never tested them, but recently a friend of mine did: http://www.stromtrooper.com/766131-post53.html He believes they saved his leg. The cases are guaranteed for life and I've seen other cases that have serious road rash, but still working. This is my first set and they are tough as hell.

 

[snuffcityrider]

I've never tested them, but recently a friend of mine did: http://www.stromtrooper.com/766131-post53.html He believes they saved his leg. The cases are guaranteed for life and I've seen other cases that have serious road rash, but still working. This is my first set and they are tough as hell.

And here's to hoping you never do ::003:: Thanks for the info.

 

[Carolina Tim]

Got a jump on that first oil change at 450 miles and after one week of riding Big Blue. Sticking with Yamalube in the engine and put Mobil 1 in the final drive. I'll switch to a full syn motor oil at about 3,000 miles.

Still dialing in the suspension after blasting over some dirt roads yesterday, but as usual with this task, I always feel like a dog chasing its tail I'll post the best compromise I can come up with, if and when I can come up with one. My first goal is to find good settings for dirt roads and mountain curves with little or no load. Given the OE Bridgestones, I was pleased with the lack of mud I encountered.

This bike is much better on lumpy dirt roads than I expected, and it also handles better than I expected in the curves. All that mass just seems to vanish once underway on any surface I've tried. I'm even feeling some benefits to the heft, as in plowing through the gravel that piles up in the middle of the road. There's some "axle tramp" while jamming up washboard under power (love the TCS!), but it's much less than my old R1100GS had, and I think a little more shock preload and a little less rebound damping might do it. I do wish we could adjust the compression damping of the shock.

I think this bike likes being dirty! (and it certainly is now)

 

[Jap_STi_3]

Can't ride like the rest of you fellas, so I did some tinkering inside the garage. I've read the recurring question of how much extra 'watts' does the Tenere have for accessories, so I figure I could at least provide some info that helps although I don't have enough information to 'fully' answer the question..yet.

One clamp style meter with hall effect sensor for measuring DC current.

Reading at left fuse box feed. Big power consumers hooked to that box are 2x 55W headlights, followed by the fuel pump.

Reading at right fuse panel feed. Majority of power consumed by the ignition system (radiator fan not on). Second being various lighting.

Add the two readings together and we come up with roughly 14.4A of steady current draw...so 14.4 X 14VDC (measured) = about 202 Watts already spoken for prior to hooking up any accessories.

I have never seen an electrical system put out the full rating. No chance to actually load check the Tenere yet, but just saying to beware and err on the conservative side. I'd say 300W of headroom is a fair assumption (500W - 200W) is a figure that would leave some wiggle room. Sooner or later, someone how has a volt meter on their bike and has added enough lights and heated gear will reach the actual limit, so we will have a very rough idea of where that happens, IF myself or another 'geek' doesn't attack it with a bank of headlight bulbs first. 8)

Beware of just going into the manual, doing a current X voltage calcultion to get a 600W capacity, which is more of a rating for the wires. Yamaha advertises a 580W capacity which probably is arrived at using a very small power factor.

A few disclamers.

Only steady state current draw items were considered.

The ABS motor draw is totally separate from these fuse box feeds, but I'm assuming its consumption is negligible when not activated...maybe somebody can step in who knows the answer to that. I can get the reading, it's just not quite so convenient.

Extra notes:

- A few question have surfaced regarding the fan, and whether the fuse rating is appropriate. With the fan running, I noted roughly a 5A increase in current consumption, the fuse is rated at 20A, so it appears they have factored-in the inrush current properly. I didn't specifically measure the inrush current, but 4x the steady current draw sounds about right for a motor. Any fuse rated less than that and you'd better be monitoring the fan operation closely.

- With high beam selected, the solenoids add about 1A of current draw.

Great information Tremor38.

I must be somewhere near the limit now runnning the following

TT Fog Lights
Yam Heated Grips
2 x Gerbings Heated Jackets
2 x Gerbings Heated Gloves
StarCom Intercom
Garmin 660

That's as much as I will ever need.................. he says hopefully ::008::

 

[Tremor38]

I imagine you're still OK with that...I did throw some wiggle room in. A good test would be to hook-up all of that gear and turn everthing on high setting while watching a voltmeter. If charging voltage is maintained at somewhere comfortably above idle, then check again at idle just to get an idea of what adjustments are needed when riding with alll of that gear. Chances are those jackets are not run at high all the time anyway and the PWM controllers do a good job of saving energy.

I plan to do a load check later on to get the actual capacity, but not with all of this schoolwork going on

 

[maddog5150]

I shipped both of my seats off to bill Mayer to be reworked. I'm excited about the seats, but I am already sad that I will have an entire week that I can't ride. I guess I will make it through.....
Can't wait to try the new saddle!

 

[Tremor38]

I shipped both of my seats off to bill Mayer to be reworked. I'm excited about the seats, but I am already sad that I will have an entire week that I can't ride. I guess I will make it through.....
Can't wait to try the new saddle!

Nothing that a throw pillow and duct tape won't solve ::008::

 

[EricV]

Can't ride like the rest of you fellas, so I did some tinkering inside the garage. I've read the recurring question of how much extra 'watts' does the Tenere have for accessories, so I figure I could at least provide some info that helps although I don't have enough information to 'fully' answer the question..yet.
<snippage occured>
Add the two readings together and we come up with roughly 14.4A of steady current draw...so 14.4 X 14VDC (measured) = about 202 Watts already spoken for prior to hooking up any accessories.

I have never seen an electrical system put out the full rating. No chance to actually load check the Tenere yet, but just saying to beware and err on the conservative side. I'd say 300W of headroom is a fair assumption (500W - 200W) is a figure that would leave some wiggle room.

Very nice work Tremor! ::008:: Thanks for the info.

@Jap - Trim dude, trim!

 

[maddog5150]

Well not really too my tenere, but for my tenere. The seats got shipped out today so I was looking for a project. I have been looking for some kind of key cocoon to cover the other keys on the ring so they don't scratch the triple tree. I couldn't find one, so I thought I would make one! Pulled out the wife's sewing machine and read a book.
It's not pretty but it works! I used an old neoprene sock.

Keys deployed

For the ignition key

And for the pocket

 

[EricV]

Nice project work. Tip - Next time you want a pocket like item, sew it up inside out, then when you're done you can reverse it and have no outside seams.

 

[maddog5150]

Nice project work. Tip - Next time you want a pocket like item, sew it up inside out, then when you're done you can reverse it and have no outside seams.

I tried doing that on a second one but because of the thickness of the two layers of neoprene when they fold around it made the mouth stay open.

 

[roadlizard]

K-60's arrived today. No time to mount. Installed Fenda-extenda and rode to the big city to buy bourbon and steaks. Hit the Mississippi river levee as I was leaving Mississippi into Arkansas and followed it the remaining 35 miles to Arkansas City. Then about 15 miles of asphalt home. Dammit Boy, I love this bike. Gravel or asphalt it's a beast. Sooner of later I will pass a road constable and will be awarded a certificate of achievement for traveling above and beyond the posted speed limit. Thankfully I reside in a sparsley populated and less traveled area of the Natural State.

 

[pluric]

The women folk were mad dashing getting ready for the grandkids 2nd birthday party.
I had done my duty so I banished myself to the garage to change out fluids on the Tenere.

It was cold because the main door was open for the planner. I shit you not, my daughter
who lives with me and her daughter had a person to do flowers and a color scheme.
The kid is two! So they need access to bring in flowers and balloons and..........

So you understand why I'm hiding in the cold garage. Anyway, I drain the oil.
Of course one of the brass drain plug washers that had stuck to the motor takes
a dive into the drain pan. I just figure I'll find it when I drain the pan for recycle oil.

I notice the center stand has been sandblasted by Baja and make a mental note
to paint it when the perma-frost is gone.

I get the motor and drive hub drained and want to empty the used oil in and empty
container to recycle. I was not aware that some leaves had blown in the drain pan
at some time in the past. I'm squatting (not easy with these knees) pouring the
drain pan into a funnel that rests on top the container. I'm daydraming a little looking
at something on the bike when the pee alarm goes off. People who don't remember
25 cent a gallon gas and home phone party lines may not be able to relate.
The pee alarm is Defcon 4. Decon 5 is a shower and a new outfit. There is about
a 10-15 second difference between the two.

In the mean time the leaves have plugged the funnel and I'm lubing the floor.
I have a home full of strangers and last minute bathroom cleaning going on.
I leap through the garage back door and being a guy the world is my urinal.

Someone has been assigned to take some garbage out to the cans five feet behind
me. That wasn't awkward at all. "Did you know your Dad pees in the backyard?"
So now I've got trouser tracks and an oil spill to clean up.

I also forgot the brains of the bike have been sent off the AF1 for an attitude adjustment.
So I can't fire up the bike to fill the oil filter and final level check.

Someone please remind me later because I know I'll be too excited to remember to check it
before trying the flased ECU.

The party went fine .

And we have a new Yamaha owner in the family.(I like the "This needs a reflash" look on her face)

First official wheelie!

 

[Firefight911]

I love it Pluric!!!! Good stuff.

Psssst, don't forget to check the oil level when you get everything back. Glad to help!

 

[pluric]

Well not really too my tenere, but for my tenere. The seats got shipped out today so I was looking for a project. I have been looking for some kind of key cocoon to cover the other keys on the ring so they don't scratch the triple tree. I couldn't find one, so I thought I would make one! Pulled out the wife's sewing machine and read a book.
It's not pretty but it works! I used an old neoprene sock.

Keys deployed

Hey Betsy Ross, mad sewing skills. ::008::

I had the same problem years ago and found these to be the easy button.
Most key shops and travel store have them as well as like an REI store.

I llike them large enough to hold a credit card. Then you always have it right
there at the gas pump. They zip close for change too.

I've found them ready with an outside pouch with a second key holder in place.
If not any small coin purse style will do. Just put one of those keyrings that are
designed to come apart through the top of the purse. (like the brown bag I pulled it out some)

Or keep working on the whole seamstress thing. You may have a bright future.

 

[TierHawg]

First official wheelie!

Awesome!



I thought I was having a bad day until I read about yours! Actually neither were bad.

I intended to mount a set of Caribou Luggage and an Altrider rear rack. Everything was going fine, until I found German's must have Monday and Friday manufacturing issues too. The Hepco Becker racks went together fine until I found the part they forgot to thread? :'( A quick phone call to Roger at Caribou should have me back on track this coming week.

The Altrider rear rack is a thing of beauty. I got the black, and maybe should have gone with the plain finish. That way the coming scratches won't be noticable. At least that part was an effortless install.

 

[pluric]

The Altrider rear rack is a thing of beauty. I got the black, and maybe should have gone with the plain finish. That way the coming scratches won't be noticable. At least that part was an effortless install.

I have one too. Very impressed with it and it stores the air pump and extra tools in the cubby spot.

 

[Tremor38]

@tierHawg, I think you just made up my mind on color choice for the Altrider Rack. Then Pluric pushes me over the edge by mentioning the cubby hole. Were's my plastic

 

[pluric]

@tierHawg, I think you just made up my mind on color choice for the Altrider Rack. Then Pluric pushes me over the edge by mention the cubby hole. Were's my plastic

It'a a little hard to tell by the photo. It fits a Slime compressor in it's case tight. Room next to it
for tire plugs or I put some extra tools/flashlight there. The passenger seat stops forward movement
and I put a nylon buckle strap through the Altrider slots to keep the rear secure. It's money well spent.

I originally had an alloy plate made to put my Givi trunk on the stock rack. I think it would have worked.
I just really liked the Altrider design and strenth.