TÉNÉRÉ TRAGICS TRAIL MAIL:

A QUESTION ABOUT FUEL BLADDERS

Hey Clubby: You guys are doing a good job with this Ténéré Tragics ride! Now, I've got just a couple of quick questions: I'm wondering what Luke and my ID numbers are? Also, how big a fuel bladder do you reckon the 660 Ténéré will need?

-- David, Ténéré Tragic

Thanks for your email, Dave. Okay, here's the scoop: 1). You are Tenere Tragic #25 and your boy Luke is Tenere Tragic #26. Awesome that we've got a father/son combo along on the ride! 2). Re the fuel bladder, I just spoke with Steve Smith at AdventureMoto.com.au and he advised the bladders are available in 4, 8 and 12 litre sizes. When not in use they roll up to the size of a Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, so you can stash them in your luggage. Then when you need extra fuel range, you just get 'em out, fill 'em up and because they end up shaped like a pillow, you can just strap them atop your luggage, usually with a small elastic cargo net, or even direct to the straps on your luggage (as Clive is doing in this photo with the fuel bladder atop his V-Strom). As for which size you get, it comes down to what range you need and how thirsty your bike is. I am going to carry an 8 litre bladder for the run from Cameron Corner down to Arkaroola -- where we need around 470km range. After we leave Cameron Corner, I will stop after about 100km and empty some fuel from the bladder into the tank, and then stop again later and empty the balance in, then put the bladder away for the rest of the day. Like I said in the latest Ténéré Tragics Bulletin, the crew at AdventureMoto.com.au are doing discounts for Ténéré Tragics, so make sure you call them on 1300-GO-MOTO and say you are on the ride. Steve also let us know he's doing a special deal on SPOT trackers for just $199 plus subscription fee. If you've got a missus at home who wants to keep track of you and Luke on the ride, the SPOT trackers are a great way of doing just that -- although make sure you send an OK signal each night and turn it off before we hit the pub -- don't want the girls at home thinking we're all parked on bar stools each night for hours on end ... now do we?!

-- Clubby, Ténéré Tragic #1

TÉNÉRÉ TRAGICS BLOG:

HOW GOOD ARE GROMMETS?!

So there I was just the other day, kicking back in the TRAIL ZONE workshop, gazing wistfully at the wonderful array of adventure riding options presented before me by my 'fleet' of original '83 and current Yamaha Ténérés ... when the silence was broken by the slamming of car doors and the scurrying of pint-size feet down the driveway.

"Uncle Clubby! Uncle Clubby!" two voices squealed as my nieces, Riley and Brodie, crashed through the doorway and busted the silence of my treasured Ténéré cave.

"What are you doing? Where are you taking us this weekend? Can we watch Foxtel? Can we watch the Suite Life with Zack and Cody? Can we go to the beach? Can we make videos on your work computer? Did Tania tell you we're playing Junior Masterchef tonight in your kitchen? And we're cooking Tofu!"

Yikes! Two pre-teenage grommets raging away at 100mph. It's a shock to the system when the biggest domestic responsibility you have to worry about (save for SWMBO!) is Albert the cat from next door sneaking into the garage and curling up in your Giant Loop Great Basin bag.

Anyway, all was going swimmingly for the next couple of hours as Zack and Cody kept the dynamic duo entertained ... until Riley poked her head in through the TZ office door and decreed: "I'm bored!"

Hmm.

"Why don't you take these pencils and this paper and go and do some drawing?" I proposed.

Amazingly she did, and the for next hour or so peace and quiet returned to TZ HQ -- until Riley returned with her artwork and proclaimed: "Pretty good, huh?!"

Well knock me down with an 83 Ténéré foam air filter element!

Riley's Ténéré Tragics artwork was just awesome, and will be going straight into a frame and taking pride of place on the TZ office mantlepiece ... right alongside the classic '83 Ténéré fuel tank and autographed Shane Watts KTM sideplate.

Thanks Riley! You can come watch Foxtel at Uncle Clubby's place anytime -- but next time leave the Tofu recipes at home ...

-- Clubby, Ténéré Tragic #1

TÉNÉRÉ TRAGICS TRAIL MAIL:

CRAIG HARTLEY’S XT660Z TÉNÉRÉ SET-UP TIPS

Good day Clubby:

Phil Hodgens (Ténéré Tragic #32) asked me to send you a couple of things on what we have done to our Ténéré here at Dalby Moto.

The bike has travelled 18,000km and the motor has run faultlessly. We advise as a precaution that people keep an eye on the cush-drive rubbers on the rear wheel, as we have had to replace a couple of sets and this can relate to the rear cush-drive bearing as well.

We fitted a high guard kit that was a simple modification requiring only a mudguard.

As for tyre choice, a Dunlop K490 or Michelin Starcross HP4 for the front along with a ultra-heavy-duty tube and wheel balance completes the front end, although after some heavy-duty use we have had to fit a new front rim but this is not necessary for most purposes. At the rear, we have found a Mitas tyre is a long-lasting and strong case tyre for the 17 inch rim, as this combined with the ultra-heavy-tube works well -- once again remember to balance your wheels.

For the suspension we have put heavier fork springs in the front with a new valve assembly and in the rear we have fitted a heavy spring, changed the oil and done some minor valving and this works very well considering the bike always has a load.

We have fitted a rear carrier and Dalby Moto pannier racks, along with Andy Strapz bags.

We were successfully running a TK Pipes muffler which has a blank chamber on one side to put tools and the like in, but we are now experimenting with just a single muffler, mainly to see if we could save any more weight, as well as to change the power characteristic a little.

We have fitted an Oxford tank bag which works quite well but after prolonged use it will wear a little paint around the filler cap of the fuel tank, so some clear contact would be a good idea here. Because of the shape of the fuel tank, we use straps on each side of the tank bag down to the plastic tank guards to stabilise the tank bag. This works well, it just means you have to loosen the straps off and move the tank bag slightly to one side to refuel.

Finally, we have fitted weather shield Barkbusters to the bike.

That's about it, while the fuel range of the bike is very good and can regularly run out to the 300 to 400 km range depending on how you ride the bike.

Hope this info is of help to the Tragics -- look forward to seeing you on the ride in March.

-- Craig Hartley (Dalby Moto, Qld), Ténéré Tragic #15

Thanks for all the info on the 660 Ténéré set-ups, Craig, and we're stoked to see you've rounded up a posse of fellow riders for the inaugural Run to the Rocks in March. Looking forward to sharing a quiet drink (!) with you and Philth when we catch up.

-- Clubby, Ténéré Tragic #1

TÉNÉRÉ TRAGICS TRAIL MAIL:

MY NAME IS KEN & I AM A TÉNÉRÉ TRAGIC

Normally I am a man of few words (that is until I've got a few beers under my belt). I've been around now for over half a century and in that time at about 11 years old started riding bikes, aboard anything that had an engine and I could strip all the junk off and ride around a paddock. I got on the road at age 16 and rode various road bikes until my early 20s when the kids came along and with family and work commitments I only occasionally got to ride the odd bike until six years ago when I again started riding touring-type bikes. I decided about three years ago that I needed a bike that would do a bit more than just road work, so I bought a V-Strom and rode 18,000km in 15 months. I got the adventure riding bug and when the new XT660Z was released, I bought one and have used it since for everyday use and weekend runs out to the bush. When Yamaha announced the Super Tenere was to be released, I couldn't help myself and ordered one. The S10 was just what I wanted for the long-haul runs: I got the bike in mid-July, fresh off the boat and I've kitted it out with crash bars, soft panniers, top box, GPS and bar raisers. The bike is a joy to ride, light with a low centre of gravity, very easy to handle in traffic and off-road, with the ability to change your riding style with the flick of a few switches. I still have a few bits to buy for her, which will be done before the Tragics Run to the Rocks. So there we have it, although I am a new Tragic, I can say the Teneres have got me and I cant see myself parting with either of them. Cheers, and looking forward to seeing you all in March 2011.

-- Ken, Ténéré Tragic #13

With a new 660 and 1200 parked in your garage, that is serious case of Ténéré-itis you are suffering from there, Ken. But hey, when the bug bites, sometimes it bites hard! Thanks for sending us your photo and details -- we'll see you on the Run to the Rocks in March -- but which Ténéré are you going to bring???

-- Clubby, Ténéré Tragic #1

TÉNÉRÉ TRAGIC TRAIL MAIL:

SAVE THAT HEADLIGHT!

Hello Tragics: Thank you for confirming my Registration for the ride: I can't wait to see you all at the event. I will also send a story and pictures for your web page when I have a little more time. For now, though, can you please let me know what that web site was for Ténéré aftermarket stuff? My bike is well set-up but I want one of those trick grill headlight protectors. Thanks!

-- Deano, Ténéré Tragic #49

You just made it, Dean -- you're one of the last Tragics to get a spot! If you're looking for a bunch of aftermarket gear for your Ténéré, then try one of our Ténéré Tragics ride sponsors, Steve Smith from www.adventuremoto.com.au -- just get onto the web site and have a hunt around through all the gear they've got. Then when you're ready to order, contact Steve and tell him you're a Ténéré Tragic and he'll look after you. As for the wire headlight grill that we have been running on our XT660Z Ténéré Project Bike in TRAIL ZONE magazine, that's actually a Touratech part that is available from Touratech Australia -- call them on (03) 5729 5529 to order.

-- Clubby, Ténéré Tragic #1

TÉNÉRÉ TRAGICS UPDATE:

SOLD OUT!

It's time to hang up the 'SOLD OUT' shingle on our inaugural Ténéré Tragics Run to the Rocks ride.

All 50 spots have now been filled and we've got an awesome mix of Ténérés and Super Ténérés both old and new that will be joining us in the spectacular Flinders Ranges in the first week of March 2011.

We've got riders coming from far and wide, including Tasmania and WA, proving the reaches of the Tenere brotherhood know no bounds.

Thanks to everyone who has registered to join us on the ride -- like you, we just can't wait!

And you Tragics who registered, look out for more event details in your Inbox over coming weeks.

-- Clubby, Tenere Tragic #1

TÉNÉRÉ TRAGICS TRAIL MAIL:

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Okay guys, what's the real story with the name Ténéré? Where does it come from and why did Yamaha choose it?

-- Dale, Ténéré Tragic Wannabee

Is this a trick question, Dale? Every Ténéré Tragic worth his salt knows the answer to this one! Yamaha borrowed the Ténéré name from a remote desert region in the south-central Sahara. The original Paris-Dakar Rally travelled through this area which was notorious for forcing many a DNF due to navigational and fuel issues. Of course you needed the large fuel tanks that featured on early model Ténérés in order to even contemplate tackling this area. If you want to know even more about this region, here's what Wikipedia has to say: Ténéré (Berber: Tiniri, literally: desert, wilderness) is a desert region in the south central Sahara. It comprises a vast plain of sand stretching from north-eastern Niger into western Chad, occupying an area of over 154,440 square miles (400,000 km²). Its boundaries are said to be the Aïr Mountains in the west, the Hoggar Mountains in the north, the Djado Plateau in the northeast, the Tibesti Mountains in the east, and the basin of Lake Chad in the south. Okay, Dale, now you know!

-- Clubby, Ténéré Tragic #1