Mike's Tenere & Motorcycle Blog

  Airbox Wrapped with Thermo-Tec Reflective Heat Barrier Wrapping the airbox with heat reflective insulation/tape can reduce intake air temps resulting in a more dense air/fuel ratio improving performance slightly (the motor & catalytic converter located directly below generate a lot of heat). Airbox Removal Note:  this was not a stand alone job...the tank was off to facilitate replacement of the 7 rubber brake lines with a HEL Performance Braided brake line kit & repair a broken left cylinder spark plug connector locking tab. Removal of the oem airbox is realatively easy once the tank (requires removal of front side panels), seats & side panels under the rider seat are removed (see step by step instructions via this link ).  remove the airbox breather hose at the front top loosen the 2 airbox/throttle body intake boot 4 mm allen head bolts ( Tech Tip: do not completely undo to prevent the nut & spacer from falling off & getting lost in the motor area...

   3rd Annual Sea to Sky ADV Moto Expo Saw my former 2014 Yamaha Super Tenere 1200 ES at the 3rd annual Sea to Sky ADV Moto Expo at the Sky Hanger at the Pitt Meadows Airport

  Mitas Enduro Trail (E07) 90/90 21 TL & 150/70 18 TL Tires (non-Dakar) These will be my road biased 50/50 adventure tires renowned for good overall performance on/off road, quiet tread pattern & longevity. This is also one of Bret Tkacs favourite 50/50 adventure tires that outperform many big block tires in gravel, dirt & sand because of its 13 mm tread depth (currently the 2nd deepest next to Motoz's Tractionator Adventure/Rallz tires at 15 mm) & good perfromance in 3 categories: friction, bite & thrust (see Picking the Best ADV Tire video below). Mitas promotes them as a Heavy Duty tire (a sturdy & durable design & what I went with) & an Ultra Heavy Duty Dakar version (stiffer carcass for heavy bikes & extended durability). Many riders report averaging ~15,000 km or 9,000 miles with some reporting up to 20,000 km or 12,400 miles.   Picking the Best ADV Tire video by Bret Tkacs ADV see 3:10 timestamp for Mitas Enduro Trail (E07) Mitas, a C...

  2026 Vancouver Motorcycle Show Yamaha Tenere 700 World Raid Reveal Yamaha had a surprise reveal of the 1st Tenere 700 World Raid availability in Canada at this year's motorcycle show at 5 pm Friday Jan 16 with an attractive Redline White colour scheme to accompany the Midnight Black model. It has not been verified if North American World Raid models will continue to be assembled in Yamaha's facility in Saint-Quentin, France, which produces most non-North American Tenere 700 models, or if some production will be shifted to their Iwata, Japan facilities.  Just as with the original North American Tenere 700 release in 2020, Canada will get the bike 1st, followed shortly after by the USA  with estimated delivery in June 2026 of limited stock in both countries.   Price is $16,999 + $1,000 Freight & PDI = $17,999 equating to an estimated out the door price of $20,158.88  (as per Yamaha Canada website in Canadian dollars) via a non-refundable $1,000 pre-order dep...

  Alouette River & Trans Canada Trail Today's ride was to meet up with Higginson family cousin Paula Maciver & her golden doodle Charlie for a walk along the Trans Canada Trail along the Alouette River at Harris Road north of Pitt Meadows. It was also a location shoot for the TV show Tracker.

Thanksgiving Day ride exploring coastal waters, starting with Iona Beach Regional Park, Garry Point Park Steveston, Dyke Road & the Fraser River & Ladner Harbour Authority & Pier. Iona Beach Regional Park Garry Point Park, Steveston Dyke Road & Fraser River East of Steveston Mt Baker from No 3 Road Fishing Pier, Dyke Road Ladner Harbour Authority & Pier

Another pristine fall day ride 250 km loop to the Eastern Fraser Valley with views of Mt Cheam, Fraser River & Panoramic NW views from Chilliwack's Eastern Hillside toward Rosedale & Chilliwack. Mt Cheam from Agassiz/Rosedale Bridge Fraser River & Agassiz/Rosedale Bridge Panoramic NW view toward Rosedale & Chilliwack from Eastern Hillside Panoramic NW view toward Rosedale & Chilliwack from Eastern Hillside Panoramic NW view toward Rosedale & Chilliwack from Eastern Hillside