The story of Tenzing the Super Tenere

[cooneyr]

Tenzing is the latest edition to the family. He is a 1991 Yamaha XTZ750 Super Tenere. He's a little battle scared and neglected but with a little bit of TLC hell be right as rain (hopefully). This is my attempt to get myself a ride that is twin cylinder, reasonable suspension, 21 inch front wheel, has some gravel/dirt capability, is comfortable touring and fits a biggish fuller and his missus on the back.

It all started when we went to the CCA in April this year and first laid eyes on what was Jezza's XTZ, now my little brothers, that is exacly the same year, colour and very similar kms. I'm mad keen on a KTM 9x0 but cant afford it and I'm not that keen on a BMW R GS so when I saw the XTZ and then after a bit of search found out about XRV Africa Twin's I though I'd better keep an eye out for one or the other.

Tenzing was cheep but was cheep for a reason. He is ridable and warrentable but he does need some work. I've got a list of things to do to get him in to reasonable shape for what I want to do. This list will probably grow but here goes

1. Handlebars (971 Renthals from old bike) - done
2. Handlebar grips and heaters (from old bike) - done
3. Moose bark busters (from old bike) - done
4. New Mirrors - done
5. Mitchelin Desert rear tyre - done
6. Pirelli Scorpion 486 front Tyre - done
7. Plastic weld up fairings and tail pieces so they are functional (not duct taped on - don't care about look too much) - not going to bother at this stage
8. Loose the front brake disc covers (supposedly can overheat the front brakes when braking hard lots) - done
9. Make some crash bars
10. Make cover for tail rack tool box - done
11. Fix clunk in rear suspension (supposedly worn lower shock bolt) - Done (new lower shock bolt was needed)
12. Get front suspension rebuilt with new springs and maybe racetec emulators - Oil and springs done, didnt bother with emulators at this stage.
13. New rear shock - New Wilbers on the back
14. Put in H4 55/65 watt plus 50 bulbs - Not going to bother at this stage. Twin headlights are a huge improvement over DR650. Would do +90 bulbs now anyway
15. Adjust/straighten leavers to suit me - done
16. Mount GPS - done
17. Headlights protection - done
18. Make a new speedo drive washer - done
19. Make bars for soft panniers

Tenzing supposedly does have a Dyno jet stage two carbie kit and a K&N filter and he does have a Zorst SSports exhaust that makes very nice noises (reasonably quite when idling and cruising but barks when given a handfull). The chain and sprockets are all in good condition and the motor seems to go well (not been for a very long ride yet).

Plan is to potter away with the aim of getting Tenzing fighting fit for summer.

Pictures of the beast below. I'll have to get a picture of Bro and my twin twins at some stage

Cheers R

[WRT]

The condition doesn't look too bad from the pics! Was expecting much worse after reading your post.

Congrats on the new toy!

[Peril]

Looks good.
I found with my Tenere it was a bargin price,but ended up cost me a bit in little repairs here and little parts there and a lot of sweat and bad words when it doesn't start hot
It'd be nice to see more Yamahas out and about on our rides now too.

[cooneyr]

Looks good.
I found with my Tenere it was a bargin price,but ended up cost me a bit in little repairs here and little parts there and a lot of sweat and bad words when it doesn't start hot
It'd be nice to see more Yamahas out and about on our rides now too.

Mine is going to cost quite a bit to do up since I'm looking at buying a new shock but it will still all up be a whole heap less than buying a KTM 9x0 or even a XRV.

I never had any problems starting your bike when hot - guess it helps when your over 6 foot

Cheers R

[Peril]

Mine is going to cost quite a bit to do up since I'm looking at buying a new shock but it will still all up be a whole heap less than buying a KTM 9x0 or even a XRV.

I never had any problems starting your bike when hot - guess it helps when your over 6 foot

Cheers R

Which reminds me,next time we go out I'll let you have a ride on it to see how it compared to a DR650.
The rear shock is going in on the 18th of August,so that'll make a huge improvement to it's handling.

[cooneyr]

Which reminds me,next time we go out I'll let you have a ride on it to see how it compared to a DR650.
The rear shock is going in on the 18th of August,so that'll make a huge improvement to it's handling.

Is that you letting me have ago so I can tell you how the XT600Z compares to the DR650 or so you can compare the XTZ750 to the XT600Z

No worries

Cheers R

[Peril]

Nah,I'm happy to let you jump on the XT while I watch.I think anything over 600cc and more than 1 cylinder is getting a bit silly

[Crisis management]

Great choice Ryan, looks like a nice bike. As a matter of interest how do they compare "ridability wise" to the DR, does it feel a lot heavier / more cumbersome?

[Transalper]

Tenzing is the latest edition to the family.......
....I've got a list of things to do to get him in to reasonable shape for what I want to do. This list will probably grow but here goes......

....Plan is to potter away with the aim of getting Tenzing fighting fit for summer....

homework first boyo!

[timg]

Congrats and welcome to the world of twins.
So when are we going for a ride, huh??
Cheers

[JATZ]

I think anything over 600cc and more than 1 cylinder is getting a bit silly

You wash your mouth out Peril

Noice ride there cooney

[cooneyr]

Great choice Ryan, looks like a nice bike. As a matter of interest how do they compare "ridability wise" to the DR, does it feel a lot heavier / more cumbersome?

I've ridden it all of 8 kms around town but I did ride my bro's bike (exactly the same with better suspension) for 120kms with wifey on back across the plains. While it seems to do the two up thing well I can really comment about 1 up blasting or off road or wiggly roads

homework first boyo!

Congrats and welcome to the world of twins.
So when are we going for a ride, huh??
Cheers

What TA said. Give me 5 weeks to get my masters finished then

Cheers R

[NordieBoy]

Nice.

The 2-up-ability has got me interested as well.
The DR will do anything I ask - except for 2-up comfort.

[Peril]

You wash your mouth out Peril

Noice ride there cooney

Ok,I'll change that to anything more than 1 cylinder.That better?

[cooneyr]

Had a long lunch break today and managed to get a few things done. The bike is now ridable again (had the handle bars off) with the 971 bars, 30mm bar risers, progrip grips, grip heaters moose bark busters and new mirrors. I went to cut the end of the old throttle tube only to crack (old and brittle). Found that a WR450 throttle tube works with a couple of modifications.

Also made a lockable cover for the tail tool box out of some checker plate alloy.

Pics to come tomorrow.

Cheers R