Itchy Boots - New Season

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I agree with 99% with what you are saying, but I don't think that rebuilt-from-the-ground-up 600 Tenere is cheap to purchase? Neither is a self rebuild...
If you can buy an XT like that, needing work, for say R30 000, then with another R30-40 000 you can build it like it's new.

I am talking doing it yourself.

Frame and cycle parts; blasted, primed and painted......... R3000

Engine; rebore, piston and rings, all oil seals, camchain, 2 x main bearings, Conrod kit, full gasket set, set of clutch plates, complete carb kit, air filter,
2 x rubber inlet manifolds, fuel tap kit, oil filter, valve stem seals comes to...........R9203.

Seat recovered........R1200?

Tyres and tubes........................R4000?

Spoke kits, front and rear.........R3000.

Paintwork of tank and cover.....R5000

Steering head bearings.............R1100

You now sit with a total of R56 503.

Even if you allow for rebuilding the wiring loom, replacing a fender, perhaps handlebar switches, you will still come in under R80 000, which

is far less than any bike of it's equivalent on todays market.
 
If you can buy an XT like that, needing work, for say R30 000, then with another R30-40 000 you can build it like it's new.

I am talking doing it yourself.

Frame and cycle parts; blasted, primed and painted......... R3000

Engine; rebore, piston and rings, all oil seals, camchain, 2 x main bearings, Conrod kit, full gasket set, set of clutch plates, complete carb kit, air filter,
2 x rubber inlet manifolds, fuel tap kit, oil filter, valve stem seals comes to...........R9203.

Seat recovered........R1200?

Tyres and tubes........................R4000?

Spoke kits, front and rear.........R3000.

Paintwork of tank and cover.....R5000

Steering head bearings.............R1100

You now sit with a total of R56 503.

Even if you allow for rebuilding the wiring loom, replacing a fender, perhaps handlebar switches, you will still come in under R80 000, which

is far less than any bike of it's equivalent on todays market.
.....en is iets soos (bv) n Enfield 450 nou rerig SOVEEL beter tool vir die job?
Weight is also not the issue here, I don't think you get ANY new 600cc lighter than that Tenere anyway
 
The XT's engine is just sooooo much more suitable for touring than the 690.
How about vibration. I am familiar with the XT but have not done any kind of measurable riding on one. The 690 is pretty damn smooth for what it is.
 
Would be interesting to see how she "gets along" with that old Tenere though.
I'm sure she's strong enough to handle it
But maybe a tad short, through mud or rocks etc....dunno?
Those old T's are comfy enough though, nice torque, and she doesn't do 120/130 km/h anyway (think not, haven't really watched her stuff).
So...I do think the Bike is "good enough" for what she's doing, as good as many other new or newer options.....that's my point.
Has a lekker range too, but a full tank might be a bit of a handful...just a bit
But still, DEFINITELY an "interesting" choice of Tool!!
 
How about vibration. I am familiar with the XT but have not done any kind of measurable riding on one. The 690 is pretty damn smooth for what it is.
Could be an issue I think.
I get cramps ("claw" thing) in my hands after about 200km or so.
On the (older than hers) XT.
 
KTM 690 (45hp vs 75hp), and more than 10kg lighter than this old horse 🤟
From what I have heard is you have to abuse the 690's clutch at low speed stuff so maybe wont work for her riding slow. Something about the gear ratios of the bike. Also she said does not want new tech.
 
If you can buy an XT like that, needing work, for say R30 000, then with another R30-40 000 you can build it like it's new.

I am talking doing it yourself.

Frame and cycle parts; blasted, primed and painted......... R3000

Engine; rebore, piston and rings, all oil seals, camchain, 2 x main bearings, Conrod kit, full gasket set, set of clutch plates, complete carb kit, air filter,
2 x rubber inlet manifolds, fuel tap kit, oil filter, valve stem seals comes to...........R9203.

Seat recovered........R1200?

Tyres and tubes........................R4000?

Spoke kits, front and rear.........R3000.

Paintwork of tank and cover.....R5000

Steering head bearings.............R1100

You now sit with a total of R56 503.

Even if you allow for rebuilding the wiring loom, replacing a fender, perhaps handlebar switches, you will still come in under R80 000, which

is far less than any bike of it's equivalent on todays market.
Can help bring that down.

Guy in Goodwood who upholsters some seriously expensive cars, but is a rider and also does bike seats. Did my Harleys seat, with new foam and two texture fabric for R950.

Another guy who sprays hand built Ferrari replicas who could do the tank for around 3.5K maybe in a single colour.

I just like playing along with the "rebuild dream" as it would be flipping cool.
 
The XT's engine is just sooooo much more suitable for touring than the 690.
Would the 690 not have better fuel range?

Then again I am sure the 600 can run on poorer quality fuel vs the 690 (Not sure where she will be riding this season)
 
The XT's engine is just sooooo much more suitable for touring than the 690.
Very "laid back", and torquey, for slow(er) work and (reasonably) laden with luggage.
I think so anyway.
Ek sou natuurlik (dreaming here!!!), as ek so 200000 budget gehad het, n 1980's 80 G/S gevat het.
Lekker lig en plat en smooth en maklik
 
From what I have heard is you have to abuse the 690's clutch at low speed stuff so maybe wont work for her riding slow. Something about the gear ratios of the bike. Also she said does not want new tech.
The slow speed stuff I have seen her do is not slow enough to really need the clutch. Both these bikes will putter along without issue. Granted I have not watched nearly everything that she has uploaded.
 
A FANTASTIC choice!

She is basically giving the manufacturers the middle finger and saying "I don´t care about tech, because it isn´t reliable and it can´t be fixed outside of the 1st world!"

She is also showing the public that you don´t need to get into debt and buy a brand new motorcycle to go anywhere. Adam Riemann did the same thing with the XRV 750 Africa Twin, the Warhorse series.

I guarantee you that her choice of bike plus all the parts, time, upgrades and labour will be putting most of us in debt to about the same degree as a new bike.
 
If you can buy an XT like that, needing work, for say R30 000, then with another R30-40 000 you can build it like it's new.

I am talking doing it yourself.

Frame and cycle parts; blasted, primed and painted......... R3000

Engine; rebore, piston and rings, all oil seals, camchain, 2 x main bearings, Conrod kit, full gasket set, set of clutch plates, complete carb kit, air filter,
2 x rubber inlet manifolds, fuel tap kit, oil filter, valve stem seals comes to...........R9203.

Seat recovered........R1200?

Tyres and tubes........................R4000?

Spoke kits, front and rear.........R3000.

Paintwork of tank and cover.....R5000

Steering head bearings.............R1100

You now sit with a total of R56 503.

Even if you allow for rebuilding the wiring loom, replacing a fender, perhaps handlebar switches, you will still come in under R80 000, which

is far less than any bike of it's equivalent on todays market.

Sure, but that is if you can find one for R30k.. you probably will not

Then you cant just take out the labour, saying, oh do it yourself.. labour is the bulk of the cost of any bike build

Then this motor was completly built up. including wiring upgrade... you are coming in very light at R9k

You gonna hit the price of a 300 rally easily for this build without breaking a sweat
 
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