700 Baby Tenere vs 1200 Super T road test...

PhilPhilippines

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Just back from the showroom. None of the above on show but I have been ''promised'' that as soon as they have the Super T (Saturday) and the 700 ("
...in two weeks I think.."), I will be able to test them back-to-back on the same day.

I am looking forward to it, but although I have heard great reviews regarding the 700, I think my mind is pretty much made up. Will be nice to see what all the fuss is about and also compare it to my much-lovedHusky TR650 Terra.

Has anyone else tested the 700 and seen benefits?

Will let you know...
 

fac191

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Just back from the showroom. None of the above on show but I have been ''promised'' that as soon as they have the Super T (Saturday) and the 700 ("
...in two weeks I think.."), I will be able to test them back-to-back on the same day.

I am looking forward to it, but although I have heard great reviews regarding the 700, I think my mind is pretty much made up. Will be nice to see what all the fuss is about and also compare it to my much-lovedHusky TR650 Terra.

Has anyone else tested the 700 and seen benefits?

Will let you know...
Its a tall bike the 700.
 

Superraid

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I thought it might be. The amount of rear travel is talked about. Did you get a chance to compare?
Hi, had a T700 as a loner for two weeks last year while I had a new water pump on my S10, very nimble quick and light I' m just under 6ft and the height wasnt an issue, riding it slow was really fun machine but I feel a like its a little light weight for the kind of riding I like
Good in town off road and anywhere, but if I wanted to do 300mile days or even have a pillion I think I would rather be on my s 10.
20210121_110640.jpg20201022_224841.jpg
 

fac191

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Have not ridden it but my 2010 660 Tenere was too tall for easy road use great for the Dakar. I lowered mine. Unless you are going to really use it as a duel sport the 700 Tracer is a better bike.
 

PhilPhilippines

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Hi, had a T700 as a loner for two weeks last year while I had a new water pump on my S10, very nimble quick and light I' m just under 6ft and the height wasnt an issue, riding it slow was really fun machine but I feel a like its a little light weight for the kind of riding I like
Good in town off road and anywhere, but if I wanted to do 300mile days or even have a pillion I think I would rather be on my s 10.
View attachment 76307View attachment 76308
Prefer your S10. Very stylish.
I don't like the blue ''flare'' on the back of the 700. I am 99% made up on the S10 tbh...just a nosey git :D
 

PhilPhilippines

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I intend to do a lot of motorbike touring in the Phils when it opens back up again and I feel the S10 is the ideal for my requirements. Low maintenance, primarily.
 

fac191

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They are 2 different bikes. I dont off road mine but ride gravelly lanes with grass, farmers roads i call them. The S10 handles it all great as long as you have decent momentum it just ploughs through it.
 

Johnwesley

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It really boils down to primary use, crisscrossing the USA on paved roads running 500-800 mile days and the s10 is grand. Running two track and staying on small back roads and dirt roads, throwing in some of the mountain passes the T700 would be the better bike. The T700 will still do long days but not as comfortable and with chain up keep needed. The S10 will still do the the small roads and two track with the more difficult passes found in Colorado but it won’t be as easy. The parts of the Philippines I have rode I would probably be more comfortable with the T7 there, but I never was in a place where cruise could have been used and the narrower profile would have been a nice thing to have.
I would like to have both but with a klr in the shop I have most bases covered for how I ride.
 

regder

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I've never been to the Philippines, but have been to Thailand and Vietnam, and ridden a bike in both. For my analogy, I'm going to assume that riding in the Philippines is similar to Thailand and Vietnam. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

For that part of the world, I would 100% get something smaller than the Super T, anything other than a Super T or similarly big ADV. I've never ridden a T700, but it would probably be top on my list. SuperT is a big (both width and height) and heavy bike. That is an advantage when you're doing 120km/h on the highway, all day, loaded up with luggage. Not so much when you're filtering through traffic, or bobbing along on small roads at 30-40km/h.

For the lower speeds of SE Asia, a smaller lighter bike is infinitely more fun. Heck, 6th gear on the Super T isn't even useful unless your cruising at 110-120km/h. In Vietnam, I had an XR150 and while I could have used some more power, it was never lacking power for the riding conditions. In Thailand, I had a Triumph Bonneville. Which is not a fast bike, but probably had too much power for the riding there.

Edit: Thinking about it, a CB500X may be the perfect bike for that part of the world if you're not doing serious off road
 
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Checkswrecks

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Unless the shaft vs chain is a deal breaker, I'd also go for the smaller bike if not on paved roads and highways all the time. When I'd rent in Europe, my favorite was something like a 650 Strom for just running endless back roads and cobblestones.

That said, we have one member here who got one of the first T700s in the US and sold it within a couple of months.
 

SilverBullet

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I've never been to the Philippines, but have been to Thailand and Vietnam, and ridden a bike in both...
I've ridden extensively in all 3 countries. You are correct there are many similarities. But having said that it still depends on your intended use. You can ride nice smooth paved roads throughout all countries (well maybe delete "smooth" for Philippines) or you can ride rough, rutted, often muddy roads that are the only link to remote villages.

The fact that OP already owns a Husky TR650cc thumper tells me the S10 is the best bike for him. Difference between a T7 and his current bike are not that great. And if he keeps the Husky in addition to a new S10 then he has the best of both worlds.

Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk
 

Superraid

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I've ridden extensively in all 3 countries. You are correct there are many similarities. But having said that it still depends on your intended use. You can ride nice smooth paved roads throughout all countries (well maybe delete "smooth" for Philippines) or you can ride rough, rutted, often muddy roads that are the only link to remote villages.

The fact that OP already owns a Husky TR650cc thumper tells me the S10 is the best bike for him. Difference between a T7 and his current bike are not that great. And if he keeps the Husky in addition to a new S10 then he has the best of both worlds.

Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk
My comparison also took into account having a husky, an S10 with a husky for fun and serious off road is a brilliant combo20200615_215107.jpg
 

PhilPhilippines

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Thanks for the feedback gents.

As SilverBullet rightly states I currently ride a Husky TR650 Terra - a bike I love but now always worries me about reliability - water ingress into the dash is my main concern, which could leave me stranded. It is not comfortable over any great distance in the saddle either.

I lived in Laos and Thailand for many years and the roads in the Philippines are far superior to Laos out of town, and generally inferior to Thailand. I will be travelling between destinations on sealed roads that will have scarred surfaces, the odd pothole and concrete slab elevation changes. Any off road excursions will be kept to the minimum, or I will hire a beater locally.

Oh, and I will be out with my wife. She loves the Terra/hates the saddle.

I think the Super Tenere is the right option for the long hauls, just because it is such a reliable low maintenance option. It has been on the list to tick off for quite a while now and it will be conducive to get out there more. I can keep the Terra for playing locally and if friends stay.

I am getting so frustrated with time ticking away. My wife and I were looking forward to June to October 2021. We had set aside the dates for a camping road trip of Europe in a Caterham and some time with friends and family (and probably a chiropractor), but covid has put paid to those plans until 2022 at the earliest I think.
 
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