Well as all the SRX'es, NT400Bros'es, XJ's are done and gone and the first two bikes are a little to small for me, it was time to look for a new project. Found one Yamaha XTZ750SuperTenere on Bahtsold for sale in Pattaya. Seller promised "not the usual Pattaya crap" which is partly true.
So here's a foto of my new 'baby':
Had a friend of mine pick it up and bring it to Bangkok for rego in my name which was no problem as also an engine change was stamped into the green book in 2543; means 2000 so rather convincing that the book is genuine. By looking at the frame and engine number and seeing them being original Yamaha numbers for this model I was happy to be lucky again and not bought a 'grey' one like the XJ.
I now understand why guys like David, Ron-2wheels and several others are sooooo much in love with the Africa Twin.
Flew down to Bkk early Saturday morning, was then taxied by a friend to Pattaya to his house and left on her with direction of CNX. As usual took the 331,304,319,33,Mitraphap-Saraburi-Lopburi and then onto the #1 all the way to Tak for an overnight stay at the Viang Tak Riverfront Hotel for a mere THB 800.- a night in a very spacious and clean room. Could not go further as the moscitoes were plastering my visor and I could hardly see anymore in the dark.
I did not expect to go this far, was fearing that she would break down in the middle of nowhere and leave me stranded beside the road BUT: that did not happen. Today, Sunday I continued the short rest of the trip up to Hang Dong.
Man was I afraid of a break down, but the engine ran smooth and sound, no glitches there, so that's why I stated that it is partly true, it's not the usual Pattaya crap. But that's it also because the previous owner took care of her just like some guys take care about their wifes, none at all.
Right side is bad as front and back fairing are broken beyond repair:
Tyres were absolutely beyond safe usage, guy seemed to have ridden only on straights as they are completely squared and also too old as brittle all over. So changing lanes where there were ruts from overloaded trucks was always a sliding game. Battery is next to dead as the frontlights would pass for Somchai's 25 year old pick-up truck.
Fairings are partly broken, previous owner never bothered with 2-compound glue, no, sticky tape was his simple solution........Buying a 16 year old bike for THB 125k one would expect at least 5 liters of petrol in the tank, no, the bugger bled her dry; that's why I love them Pattaya Farangs sooooooooooo much.....
Chain was dry as was the coolant tank, oil was maybe from shortly after the dinosaurs were extinct, handlebar is rusted like hell, frontscreen missing, 1 out of 2 brakepads are gone (the ones you can't see because covered by a mudguard), one blinker glass missing, no not the original ones but the standard Yamaha ones manufactored in Samut Prakan; so haaaaaaard to get..........
Everything that's metal and sits on top is rusted and bent, so are the header pipes. What a shame to treat a bike like this......
But on the other hand the bike quickly won me over with it's easy handling, plenty of torque and most of all the 26 liters petrol tank !! On this one I can ride farther then on the FJR. Comfort is good although the missing screen had my hands stretched like the ones of an Orang Utan......though not as comfy as on the FJR:
Put her up on short bursts to 170, but even with the totally fu....d up tyres she was steady like a good bike should be. Fuel consumption was an average of 6.8 liters which should give me 380 kms on one tank with higher speeds, most probably 400+ if I ride more moderate. Engine is an in-line twin with 750 cc and 70 HP.
Another good thing I found out is that the suspension is in good condition, only the front needs new oil. Fuelled up bike weighs 226 kgs which is not too much. Handling once off the bike is pretty easy although not as easy as the 165 kgs DR650.
So first tasks will be to make her roadworthy, that means repair all necessary glitches such as tyres, battery and do a simple service. Speedo showed 49,200 kms in Pattaya, most probably true as still everything quite original.
After all's been repaired, then I'm gonna think if it is really necessary to do a new paintjob. Original colour noted in greenbook is 'brown' which she isn't on closer inspection, it's a very dark purple a colour I actually like. Pink would be my favourite colour for her but then me thinks NOBODY would go an a ride with me...........
Cheers, Franz
So here's a foto of my new 'baby':
Had a friend of mine pick it up and bring it to Bangkok for rego in my name which was no problem as also an engine change was stamped into the green book in 2543; means 2000 so rather convincing that the book is genuine. By looking at the frame and engine number and seeing them being original Yamaha numbers for this model I was happy to be lucky again and not bought a 'grey' one like the XJ.
I now understand why guys like David, Ron-2wheels and several others are sooooo much in love with the Africa Twin.
Flew down to Bkk early Saturday morning, was then taxied by a friend to Pattaya to his house and left on her with direction of CNX. As usual took the 331,304,319,33,Mitraphap-Saraburi-Lopburi and then onto the #1 all the way to Tak for an overnight stay at the Viang Tak Riverfront Hotel for a mere THB 800.- a night in a very spacious and clean room. Could not go further as the moscitoes were plastering my visor and I could hardly see anymore in the dark.
I did not expect to go this far, was fearing that she would break down in the middle of nowhere and leave me stranded beside the road BUT: that did not happen. Today, Sunday I continued the short rest of the trip up to Hang Dong.
Man was I afraid of a break down, but the engine ran smooth and sound, no glitches there, so that's why I stated that it is partly true, it's not the usual Pattaya crap. But that's it also because the previous owner took care of her just like some guys take care about their wifes, none at all.
Right side is bad as front and back fairing are broken beyond repair:
Tyres were absolutely beyond safe usage, guy seemed to have ridden only on straights as they are completely squared and also too old as brittle all over. So changing lanes where there were ruts from overloaded trucks was always a sliding game. Battery is next to dead as the frontlights would pass for Somchai's 25 year old pick-up truck.
Fairings are partly broken, previous owner never bothered with 2-compound glue, no, sticky tape was his simple solution........Buying a 16 year old bike for THB 125k one would expect at least 5 liters of petrol in the tank, no, the bugger bled her dry; that's why I love them Pattaya Farangs sooooooooooo much.....
Chain was dry as was the coolant tank, oil was maybe from shortly after the dinosaurs were extinct, handlebar is rusted like hell, frontscreen missing, 1 out of 2 brakepads are gone (the ones you can't see because covered by a mudguard), one blinker glass missing, no not the original ones but the standard Yamaha ones manufactored in Samut Prakan; so haaaaaaard to get..........
Everything that's metal and sits on top is rusted and bent, so are the header pipes. What a shame to treat a bike like this......
But on the other hand the bike quickly won me over with it's easy handling, plenty of torque and most of all the 26 liters petrol tank !! On this one I can ride farther then on the FJR. Comfort is good although the missing screen had my hands stretched like the ones of an Orang Utan......though not as comfy as on the FJR:
Put her up on short bursts to 170, but even with the totally fu....d up tyres she was steady like a good bike should be. Fuel consumption was an average of 6.8 liters which should give me 380 kms on one tank with higher speeds, most probably 400+ if I ride more moderate. Engine is an in-line twin with 750 cc and 70 HP.
Another good thing I found out is that the suspension is in good condition, only the front needs new oil. Fuelled up bike weighs 226 kgs which is not too much. Handling once off the bike is pretty easy although not as easy as the 165 kgs DR650.
So first tasks will be to make her roadworthy, that means repair all necessary glitches such as tyres, battery and do a simple service. Speedo showed 49,200 kms in Pattaya, most probably true as still everything quite original.
After all's been repaired, then I'm gonna think if it is really necessary to do a new paintjob. Original colour noted in greenbook is 'brown' which she isn't on closer inspection, it's a very dark purple a colour I actually like. Pink would be my favourite colour for her but then me thinks NOBODY would go an a ride with me...........
Cheers, Franz