El Lobo
Pack Dog
- Joined
- May 8, 2009
- Messages
- 323
- Reaction score
- 2
- Location
- Cape Town
- Bike
- Honda CRF-1000L Africa Twin
Hi, Guys
I've hinted at this before in an earlier post, but have mostly drawn a blank with regard to replies.
What would you change about yourself (well, physically, at least and I'm not referring to looks / features) if you were able to? At the drop of a hat, I'd swop my (very able: 30 km mountain hikes with backpack / Argus Cycle Tours) legs for two being 6 cm longer. Just that.
I know it's pathetic reasoning this way, but I am heartily sick of trying to figure out ways of my straddling my soon - to - be (early December 2012) Yamaha XT660Z with both my feet ON THE GROUND!
Most (all?) of you're obviously thinking: lower the bike by means of lowering links, idiot! But, the thing is, I don't want to. I want my Ténéré to look as spritely as it did the day it was put on the showroom floor. And then ... I'm not sure the handling of the bike won't be compromised when lowering links have been used.
Corbin makes lower seats, but not for the XT660Z. Perhaps because the Ténéré XT660Z is not imported into the USA? Kahedo (I got the name from a discussion on this site), a German / Austrian manufacturer, makes a low seat 2 cm lower. The price (converted to Rand) equals R3 500, but Touratech can only import it as a special import, with the result that the price escalates to R8 500. This for only a 2 cm difference.
There is a ABS version of the Ténéré XT660Z available, but (wait for it) not to South African riders. Apart from having ABS, the seat height also comes standard as 3,5 cm lower than the models we, here in South Africa, buy. When I enquired, the agent got this reply from the importer (?): "This version, if it can be imported, will be R10 000 more expensive than the standard model." Was this stated to the agent to fob me off? Is this really impossible to import the ABS version, or is it just too much trouble for the importer?
What am I to do?! It's three months before I'm buying my Ténéré and I do want to be able to control my bike when I come to an unexpected stop offroad on uneven terrain.
I know that by posting this I'm opening myself up to severe criticism / ridicule / crude comments, but ... so be it. I've put my heart on the Ténéré XT660Z over a year ago, have done hours and hours of homework regarding the reliability, handling, accessories (panniers, hand guards etc.), tyres, have read most everything available on tours / trips done with the bike and am not prepared to give up on my dream of travelling North Africa because of ONE aspect.
Guys, I look forward to your comments, please.
I've hinted at this before in an earlier post, but have mostly drawn a blank with regard to replies.
What would you change about yourself (well, physically, at least and I'm not referring to looks / features) if you were able to? At the drop of a hat, I'd swop my (very able: 30 km mountain hikes with backpack / Argus Cycle Tours) legs for two being 6 cm longer. Just that.
I know it's pathetic reasoning this way, but I am heartily sick of trying to figure out ways of my straddling my soon - to - be (early December 2012) Yamaha XT660Z with both my feet ON THE GROUND!
Most (all?) of you're obviously thinking: lower the bike by means of lowering links, idiot! But, the thing is, I don't want to. I want my Ténéré to look as spritely as it did the day it was put on the showroom floor. And then ... I'm not sure the handling of the bike won't be compromised when lowering links have been used.
Corbin makes lower seats, but not for the XT660Z. Perhaps because the Ténéré XT660Z is not imported into the USA? Kahedo (I got the name from a discussion on this site), a German / Austrian manufacturer, makes a low seat 2 cm lower. The price (converted to Rand) equals R3 500, but Touratech can only import it as a special import, with the result that the price escalates to R8 500. This for only a 2 cm difference.
There is a ABS version of the Ténéré XT660Z available, but (wait for it) not to South African riders. Apart from having ABS, the seat height also comes standard as 3,5 cm lower than the models we, here in South Africa, buy. When I enquired, the agent got this reply from the importer (?): "This version, if it can be imported, will be R10 000 more expensive than the standard model." Was this stated to the agent to fob me off? Is this really impossible to import the ABS version, or is it just too much trouble for the importer?
What am I to do?! It's three months before I'm buying my Ténéré and I do want to be able to control my bike when I come to an unexpected stop offroad on uneven terrain.
I know that by posting this I'm opening myself up to severe criticism / ridicule / crude comments, but ... so be it. I've put my heart on the Ténéré XT660Z over a year ago, have done hours and hours of homework regarding the reliability, handling, accessories (panniers, hand guards etc.), tyres, have read most everything available on tours / trips done with the bike and am not prepared to give up on my dream of travelling North Africa because of ONE aspect.
Guys, I look forward to your comments, please.
