I'm new to the forum. I'm in the final stages of buying a '84 Tenere, getting it this Friday. I know the old XT500's very well, but not the 600's. over the last few weeks I've been trying to get as much info on the bike as possible, reliability etc. Is it a certainty that the CDI unit will fail and if so can I do something to stop this from happening?
CDI Unit failure???
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Maximus
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- Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2014 9:05 pm
- What Bike or Bikes Do You Own?: '81 XT500
'84 XT600 Tenere - Previously Owned Bikes: 2x '81 XT500's
BMW F650 Dakar - Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa
CDI Unit failure???
Howzit Guys
I'm new to the forum. I'm in the final stages of buying a '84 Tenere, getting it this Friday. I know the old XT500's very well, but not the 600's. over the last few weeks I've been trying to get as much info on the bike as possible, reliability etc. Is it a certainty that the CDI unit will fail and if so can I do something to stop this from happening?

I'm new to the forum. I'm in the final stages of buying a '84 Tenere, getting it this Friday. I know the old XT500's very well, but not the 600's. over the last few weeks I've been trying to get as much info on the bike as possible, reliability etc. Is it a certainty that the CDI unit will fail and if so can I do something to stop this from happening?
"There is a reason why we call it the good old days"
- Mezo
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- Previously Owned Bikes: Honda SS50, Suzuki TS50, Honda CB100, Honda CR125RZ, Yamaha YZ125, Kawasaki KX250, Suzuki TL1000S, Ducati 900SS, Ducati 900SL, a few Tenere`s.
- Location: Queensland Australia
- Contact:
Re: CDI Unit failure???
Hi & welcome,
Preventing it from failing could be done by opening it up & soldering the dry joints but its pain in the arse to do, why not just purchase an aftermarket CDI?
There are several guys who make them, i think the cheapest is Zieltronic.
Mezo.
Preventing it from failing could be done by opening it up & soldering the dry joints but its pain in the arse to do, why not just purchase an aftermarket CDI?
There are several guys who make them, i think the cheapest is Zieltronic.
Mezo.
"A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion"
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Maximus
- No Gold Stars Yet

- Posts: 16
- Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2014 9:05 pm
- What Bike or Bikes Do You Own?: '81 XT500
'84 XT600 Tenere - Previously Owned Bikes: 2x '81 XT500's
BMW F650 Dakar - Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Re: CDI Unit failure???
"There is a reason why we call it the good old days"
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steveloomis
- Financial

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85 RZ350
84 XT600
86 XT600 - Previously Owned Bikes: Honda 50's, 90's, Yamaha Twin 100, 68 DT1, '73 DT-3, 73 RD350, '77 DT250
- Location: Oklahoma, USA
Re: CDI Unit failure???
If it is not out of the question, I'd get a spare. Better to have and not need than to need and not have....
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gobo
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Romet Ogar 200 - Previously Owned Bikes: Yamaha Virago
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Re: CDI Unit failure???
hi & welcome
I had a very good feedback on those guys : http://www.ignitech.cz/en/
maybe worth a try ...
I had a very good feedback on those guys : http://www.ignitech.cz/en/
maybe worth a try ...
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Maximus
- No Gold Stars Yet

- Posts: 16
- Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2014 9:05 pm
- What Bike or Bikes Do You Own?: '81 XT500
'84 XT600 Tenere - Previously Owned Bikes: 2x '81 XT500's
BMW F650 Dakar - Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Re: CDI Unit failure???
Thanx for the contacts. There is a huge difference between these two suppliers' prices. One at around R2200 and the other around R11000!? I should maybe take the advice and stock up on 5 or 6 of the cheap one
So seriously, by the sound of things every single one of these units will fail at some time or another......no exceptions!? Forgive my ignorance, but how reliable is the Tenere then. I read somewhere that the '83-'85's were good and the '86-'87 not so good
"There is a reason why we call it the good old days"
- Mezo
- Dashingly Handsome

- Posts: 6108
- Joined: Wed Mar 23, 2011 11:01 am
- What Bike or Bikes Do You Own?: Kymco agility 125 ;-)
- Previously Owned Bikes: Honda SS50, Suzuki TS50, Honda CB100, Honda CR125RZ, Yamaha YZ125, Kawasaki KX250, Suzuki TL1000S, Ducati 900SS, Ducati 900SL, a few Tenere`s.
- Location: Queensland Australia
- Contact:
Re: CDI Unit failure???
Your talking about the 1VJ Tenere which reportedly had overheating issues, there are plenty of people on here running them with no issues (even here in very hot Aussie) and even if there was an issue its known how to make the engine run cooler.
Mezo.
Mezo.
"A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion"