Merfman
Member
I spent the day yesterday in the foothills above Denver and Boulder CO yesterday. As we were cruising up Deer Park Canyon my Tenere' broke the 1000 mile
mark. I came from an '03 VStrom and 30 years of dirt bike racing and very little street. Here are my thoughts regarding the ST and some of the issues that others
have reported.
Buffeting - yea, it's still there but it's MUCH less than the Strom. I put the screen in the low position and rode for a day before putting it back in the
high position. I'll have to look into solutions. Someday.
Steering - The Strom needed a fork brace to clean up the steering and make it feel a little less hinged in the middle. When loaded, off road, the fork flex
was very noticeable. Even un-loaded it wasn't as "sharp" as I would have liked. I haven't been distracted by the ST's offroad manners.
Seat - gotta do the mod to remove the forward cant. I think it'd be jusssst a tad more comfy with this done.
Motor - Love it love it love it. I'd de-chuddered the Strom and it was/is a great motor. I like the ST motor even better. Tons of torque down low
and just twisting the grin stick out of tight corners brings a smile the Strom never could. Sorry Strommers. Passing on the ST is even
better than the Strom with the lowered gearing.
Handling - It's not a race bike but I've yet to tip it into a corner that it didn't seem to like. Simply confidence inspiring.
Brakes - no comparison. ST's brakes are almost on par with my CRF...
Add - ons:
Panniers - love them but the flimsy feel of the key makes me nervous. (Oh, and Dear Yamaha, hows about putting a list of special
tools needed to install the panniers in the freakin instructions? Ridiculous that I had to find out on this forum that I needed a T50
AND a T10 Torx Security for the install)
Grip Warmers - spendy? Yea but they rock.
Simply loving the bike and I'm sure, for me, I 100% made the correct choice...
L8r,
Merf
mark. I came from an '03 VStrom and 30 years of dirt bike racing and very little street. Here are my thoughts regarding the ST and some of the issues that others
have reported.
Buffeting - yea, it's still there but it's MUCH less than the Strom. I put the screen in the low position and rode for a day before putting it back in the
high position. I'll have to look into solutions. Someday.
Steering - The Strom needed a fork brace to clean up the steering and make it feel a little less hinged in the middle. When loaded, off road, the fork flex
was very noticeable. Even un-loaded it wasn't as "sharp" as I would have liked. I haven't been distracted by the ST's offroad manners.
Seat - gotta do the mod to remove the forward cant. I think it'd be jusssst a tad more comfy with this done.
Motor - Love it love it love it. I'd de-chuddered the Strom and it was/is a great motor. I like the ST motor even better. Tons of torque down low
and just twisting the grin stick out of tight corners brings a smile the Strom never could. Sorry Strommers. Passing on the ST is even
better than the Strom with the lowered gearing.
Handling - It's not a race bike but I've yet to tip it into a corner that it didn't seem to like. Simply confidence inspiring.
Brakes - no comparison. ST's brakes are almost on par with my CRF...
Add - ons:
Panniers - love them but the flimsy feel of the key makes me nervous. (Oh, and Dear Yamaha, hows about putting a list of special
tools needed to install the panniers in the freakin instructions? Ridiculous that I had to find out on this forum that I needed a T50
AND a T10 Torx Security for the install)
Grip Warmers - spendy? Yea but they rock.
Simply loving the bike and I'm sure, for me, I 100% made the correct choice...
L8r,
Merf