BLOG – YAMAHA TENERE – RIDING AND MODDING – 4

The RUST Yamaha Ténéré ‘build’ is nearing completion. I wouldn’t say it’s totally completed as such because there’s always more to do, more I might want to add. And we most probably will be visiting things like suspension and of course tyres in due course. But in terms of having a bike that has all I need to go adventure riding now, yeah we’re there or thereabouts.

So, the ‘travel’ setup. Here’s what I’ve done.

PANNIERS

I didn’t immediately plump for panniers or throw-over bags (ie hard vs soft luggage) when it came to luggage. I don’t favour either because having travelled with both setups, I know there are positives and negatives for both. Instead, I have both options here!

For a soft-luggage setup I have Touratech’s Discovery saddlebags, which I’ll be using later. This system offers two soft bags of 25-litre capacity each, plus has a neat integrated capability for lashing say an Ortlieb bag or tent (or both!) across the top. It’s a cute setup, with yellow waterproof inner bags that sit inside the external Cordura bags, plus there are an additional two 7.5-litre pockets with roll-top closure for more gear stashing. The whole lot, you throw over your bike and tie down with the four straps provided. The downside – as with many soft saddlebag designs – is you sacrifice the pillion seat to the bags. But it’s ideal for action (long) weekends for the solo rider. Two things you have to watch with soft bags: panel scratching (not an issue with enduro bikes, but tough to swallow with more expensive adventure bikes) and propensity to melt, or even catch fire if they rest on an exhaust.

So, in this case I’ve selected the Touratech Zega Evo X aluminium panniers setup for now. I’ve got the 38-litre versions – there are bigger 45-litre ones too. What I like with the Evo X is Touratech have worked especially hard at closing the gap between the panniers and the bike, so the extra width is kept to a minimum, meaning they just about approximate with the width of the handlebars. The right pannier consequently has a kind of cut-out for the exhaust so it’s narrower at the bottom, but as said, it now hugs the bike that much better. The Evo Xs also come with Touratech’s newest fastening and locking systems which are quicker in use, and solidly reliable. And, of course, on account I’d like to travel with a pillion from time to time, the panniers leave the pillion seat clear. And to that extent I’ve also added pillion handles – which double as both extra luggage tie-points as well as useful grab handles if we need to ever pull the rear out of a hole or such like (a two-man job at 200-kilos).  

One thing I have to say. The panniers and racks were the easiest fit of the whole job so far, with the three bolting points (on each side) lining up perfectly, then just the cross-bar to add across the rear, so it was super quick and easy. And one more thing – with aluminium panniers it pays to use inner bags, for easy organising and it means you’ll only be taking the clean inner bag into the hotel / B&B / tent at your destination, but also aluminium will mark your clothes if they’re left in the case rubbing away while you ride (been there, wore that T-shirt).