The Tenere was the first bike I thought of as a competitor to the new Triumph. But at a couple of thousand dollars more, the Triumph would be a tough sell.
An acquaintence of mine owns a couple of Yamaha dealerships and we talked at length about the Tenere. Yamaha really designed it smartly where panels that would be damaged off road could be replaced for not too much money. Most surfaces that would hit the ground in a tip over won't show damage that much anyway.
I suspect the Triumph might be a bit different, at least on my old Daytona it started looking a bit tired in normal use, much less scraped to hell by going off-road.
The Tenere was the first bike I thought of as a competitor to the new Triumph. But at a couple of thousand dollars more, the Triumph would be a tough sell.
An acquaintence of mine owns a couple of Yamaha dealerships and we talked at length about the Tenere. Yamaha really designed it smartly where panels that would be damaged off road could be replaced for not too much money. Most surfaces that would hit the ground in a tip over won't show damage that much anyway.
I suspect the Triumph might be a bit different, at least on my old Daytona it started looking a bit tired in normal use, much less scraped to hell by going off-road.
I agree and I was joking about dirt riding mine but I have had it in some not so nice areas but for the most part it sticks to gravel. Yamaha did an outstanding job on the Tenere not only the nice thing about the panels but the CG on it is very low having the rider believe he is on a much lighter bike when in fact he is not. Very deceptive weight on the Tenere which I continually remind myself don't go there. After 7000 miles on mine I am completely satisfied with it. I've added some extra protective pieces such as upper fairing guards which should all but eliminate any fairing damage.
It's pretty good at exploring
But for the most part it's an outstanding urban warrior
I'm really liking this bike...nice alternative to the GS1200 or Multistrada
How many owners of these big adventure/tourers actually take their bikes offroad...?
I know some BMW GS owners that might occasionally get on a gravel goat path but taking it intentionally 'offroad'...no way.
They are more "goldwing" than "KLR".
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-Randall
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro"
-Hunter S Thompson
I'm really liking this bike...nice alternative to the GS1200 or Multistrada
How many owners of these big adventure/tourers actually take their bikes offroad...?
I know some BMW GS owners that might occasionally get on a gravel goat path but taking it intentionally 'offroad'...no way.
They are more "goldwing" than "KLR".
You'd be surprised at how many go beating them to pieces. Broken spokes leaking fork seals threads are all over ADV and Tenere board as is the busted parts list. For me it is what it is a good solid bike that can take a good lick and is somewhat agile enough to go off the beaten paved path.
I got my Tenere cheap but I waited it out for a year the ones jumping in on them now are paying full retail. Back when I ordered on the pdp I negotiated my price based on the fact no one knew what is was or how well it would sell. I gambled right and the salesman didn't. I walked out with cost plus a small freight fee plus state tax. Like I said I waited a year for it. Still I barely have $15500 in it with every thing Yamaha sells for it that I wanted plus a better Altrider tail rack, Denali lights up front and Givi side guards. I really can't add much more to it since I have the way I want it now. My latest thing is to get ECUnleash to reflash the ECU to lift first 3 gear emission restrictions and pick up some midrange grunt in the process. The rest of the bike is all but perfect out of the box unless you weigh 250 plus then the suspension needs some upgrades.
My neighbor has an older Tiger he got for like $800 in North NJ. It was originally like $2500, but the seller somehow cracked the oil pan and then felt like a clown (as well he should) so let it go for $800. A cheap oil pan and a few other odds and ends later and it's been a great ride since (10K later). Not sure about the new ones though, technology has a way of complicating things if not done correctly.
I checked this bike out at the motorcycle show, it was huge and top heavy, felt as heavy to lift off the side stand as a Harley. I wouldn't want to drop it offroad, you'd need a forklift to pick it up.
I think the Super Ten is a better choice personally.
Oddly neither mention the Super Tenere as a point of comparison.
I noticed that to. The others IMO are more street oriented except for the BMW which the Yamaha has been thoroughly compared to more times than none. The Yamaha is bland not excelling in any one category but a well thought out package with some very sophisticated electronics.
This might be a dumb question, but would the Tiger 800 XC be comparable to the Tenere or new 1200cc Triumph?
From the looks of it, it would be more dirt-worthy (if any 400# bike can be considered dirt-worthy), quite a bit less expensive, and wouldn't give up much on the street except some horsepower which you rarely use anyway.
Actually it's the other way around the Tenere was designed to go head to hard with BMW GSA or GS. The 800 tiger is a direct if not a carbon copy of the BMW 800gs. Tenere is shaft driven big cc's verses small cc's chain driven. The Tenere is the bargain of the lot even at full msrp and those 800's cost as much with same assecories minus the shaft drive and fancy electronics. None are great off road but better than a GSXR cbr zx or yzf.
I'm torn. My old bones aren't handling the sportbike "First day in prision" riding sytle and I'm looking for something like this. I've found most of these bikes top heavy like Dolly Parton.
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Current Ride:
2006 Ducati 999S Mono in black.
I'm torn. My old bones aren't handling the sportbike "First day in prision" riding sytle and I'm looking for something like this. I've found most of these bikes top heavy like Dolly Parton.
Super Ténéré is far from a top heavy bike even though it has the appearance of being top heavy. It's as easy to lift off the sidestand as my heavy DR650
Go test ride one, my local dealer has a Ténéré just for that, test rides. It has so far paid off since most who ride it want one.
I hear you on riding the torture racks. I can't take but about a half day on a sportbike street riding and the next day I am sore all over mostly in my neck and shoulder area. I can ride the S10 all day long and into the night without the same problems.
Don't be fooled these type bikes can still be ridden very fast on pavement in the turns.
571 pounds! My '04 950 Adventure is 120 pounds less than that, and it's a bitch to pick up. I'd need AAA to ride off-road on that!
yeah, that's a bit on the heavy side but a wet GS1200 adventure is close to that. I have a couple friends that have KTM Adventures....I love how narrow that bike is...but I just can't get past the looks of it.
I wonder how much weight could be shed by losing the stock exhaust...?
It would be interesting to see a weight breakdown/comparison between the brands when it comes to the frame, engine, rims, etc.
Somewhat off topic...
While making a motorcycle 'lighter' can be a great thing for handling purposes, I often wonder if the constant pursuit of lightness is going too far?
What's the point of having a superlight frame on a motorcycle if you have to total the bike for an accidental garage tip over?
I'd be content in having a few extra pounds on a bike if it stays in one piece when you accidentally drop it on that damn gravel patch.
__________________
-Randall
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro"
-Hunter S Thompson
Triumph Tiger Explorer
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