New member hello

[Ploddit]

After lurking a bit I have now joined the masses.

I have had my 3AJ for about 3 years, I was actually looking for a 1050 tiger, but saw a fairly clean original Ténéré with 58000kms on the clock for €900 and thought why not.

When I picked up the bike the drive chain was way too tight and the front pads were down to the metal.

Since I have had it I have covered 15000kms and have suffered 1 rear puncture, the choke cable knob coming off and regulator death. I also discovered the PO had lowered the forks as he was/is short. It has virtually no oil use/loss and I service it quite religiously as I use it to go to work. I put on a pair of continental off road style tyres that I am quite happy with.

I like and enjoy the bikes large size which suits me but is very nimble and passes well through traffic due to the high bars clearing car mirrors. What I don't like is the PITA to check the oil level compared to a wet sump, I dont really like the tubed tyres as the always seem more susceptible to punctures and deflate nearly instantly.

However ..... When I finally got round to changing the noisy drive chain ..... Can you guess?

[Mezo]

What I don't like is the PITA to check the oil level compared to a wet sump

Welcome.

Always check your level immediately after a ride (so take the cover off first) then take it for a ride & get it nice & hot & then most importantly check the level with the bike upright (not on the side stand) its very very common to overfill these bikes by not doing what i just said.

Easy to spot if you have overfilled as it blows back in to the airbox.

Mezo.

[Oldiron64]

Ploddit
Welcome to the group,
Unfortunately for me I’m not able to offer any technical help but as you already know there’s plenty of good folk on here happy to offer technical support.

If you don’t mind me asking whereabouts are you located?

Anyway, good to have you here and don’t be shy and show us a photo of your 3AJ

[Ploddit]

I have found one picture on my phone to show the Christmas present sender the item installed. Bolt that came with it was too short.



I will take a better on soon.

I do have a correct LH switchgear but it is a different model with two plugs so once I have adapted the plug from my nasty (on it when I bought it) switchgear to my correctish XT one that monstrosity will be gone.

I live in Nice France, and recently when I returned to my depot (truck driver) I saw this, we'll only one at first:





I thought which wa£_#er has moved my bike and why. Turns out they were being sent to South Africa....

Thanks for the oil top up guidance. Any ways I discovered ... The thread on my output shaft that holds the nut which stops the front sprocket coming off is completely trashed. Of course my bike doesn't have the meaty splines enabling the use of the keto modification. So I should be picking up a high mileage 3TBK working motor this week for €100.

I just hope the output shaft is a) the same and b) has nice threads. Either way a complete kick system for the price is ok, I have seen Mezos post 'dont worry it won't fall off'.

[Ploddit]

As requested:



Non OE collector judging by the lack of a grill, nasty Marving pipe which unfortunately lacks the welded on nut so it wobbles.

Note old school french yellow lob sided headlight, both come on when on full beam.

Rack did Yamaha make that?



Got the seat recovered then caught one of my laces clip things on my boots about a week later....

[Ploddit]

Just picked this up from a breakers for €100, described as running but high mileage about 60000kms, Same as mine.





The bit I need looks great.




I am thinking to use the barrel and head of this one so I can prepare them so they are ready to minimize down time.

Did you notice the lovely epoxy stator cover repair, luckily I don't need that.

[scottieh]

Just picked this up from a breakers for €100, described as running but high mileage about 60000kms, Same as mine.

Ah the luxury of having engines within a day’s drive rather than an ebay purchase that takes two months to ship to the states.

Nice find.

[jibber]

I did notice that it did not come out of a 3AJ, also it has been fitted with a kick-start at some point (handy).

[cadno]

In UK terms a very cheap motor.

[Ploddit]

Over here (France) that is known as a 3TBK as the xt600e was available as electric start or kick at various points, as this engine proves it was certainly kick only.