Mike's Tenere & Motorcycle Blog

  My 2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 Build Total Build Costs $12,984 Canadian (includes consumables currently installed) Performance - $2,518 Canadian 2 Wheel Dyno Works ECU flash    MIVV Dakar Exhaust + carbon heat shield + db killer + spark arrestor w/#30 mesh screen Black Widow Decat Race Header - removed & sold after 2,300 km, not included in build cost MWR Filtercage & Outercover  + 304 stainless #30 mesh screen to reinforce Filtercage opening Guglatech Ultra 4 air filter & fuel filter sock   FunnelWebFilters snorkel & airbox lid pre-filters + main filter  (currently not installed) JTF1691.16RB front sprocket  (replaced by 15/46 combo 2026, not included in build cost) JTF1591.15RB front & JTR1876.44 rear sprockets   DID VX3 525 chain   Outlaw chain rollers w/bearings Yamaha swingarm chain guide Camel 1 Finger Clutch Kit Camel ‘The Fix’ brake lever w/enduro tip & custom lowering mounting plate Galfer semi-metal FD165 G105...

    8 Day,  4,360 km (2,709 mile), 'Rideabout' - 2 Provinces, 5 States, 1 Provincial & 4 National Parks -  Aug 7-14, 2024 With each year, & officially a 'baby' senior at 66, motivation & ability to do the things I historically treasured become a plethora of balancing the increasingly disparate physical & emotional realities with the seductive biased recollections of my youth touring much of western Canada & USA, Baja/Central/Northern Mexico & 2 years in Texas via motorcycle...Bob Seger's "Against the Wind' echoes in my head 😎.  After having to cancel my Yukon/Alaska trip this June because of recurring back issues, & while no where near 100%, was in need of some throttle therapy & seized an opportunity. The ensuing journey is as much an exploration of my current abilities for a concentrated high mileage solo 1 or 2 week long 'rideabout' without much conditioning & lead up riding as it is about my accessorized ...