bye bye FJ09, hello AT!

[greg the pole]

Holy shit on a stick!

I put my 2015 FJ up for sale, late in the season, after zero inquires I decided to bite the bullet and trade it in.
Off it went to the dealer, in part exchange on a brand new 2017 AT, tri color, slush box.
Not picking it up till January, and I have a whole half of a Canadian winter to slap all the goodies on it.

Tenere is still here, keeping me grinning. Finished up a nice 4k km trip, with a few good buddies. One of them was riding a well sorted AT. That sealed the deal.
I'm on the fence with my ST. It's running well, knocking on 90k km, but it will not see much action with the new AT next to it. Might sell it, or keep it as plan B.

More to follow.

 

[Checkswrecks]

The AT sounds like fun if you can live with the chain and tube tires. I understand they are going through wear (new models have teething problems) with the forks and people are installing ones from Yamaha.

 

[greg the pole]

I've read somewhere about the wear on the forks...
but not too much grumbling.

chain, meh...if you want a lighter bike it will have chain.
tubes, yeah a bit of a pita, but they saved the day for my buddy and his vstrom, as both his rims were bent so bad that the tubs could only seal them.

 

[True Grip]

Only run heavy duty tubes and most tube problems go away.

 

[gunny]

Don't sell your S10. I bought an AT last summer and planned to sell my S10. When I saw the low prices people were getting for their S10s, I decided to keep it as a spare. I'm glad I did. Variety is good, and I'm having a blast riding the AT for a few days, then switching over to the S10 for a few days, then back to the AT, etc.

 

[greg the pole]

Don't sell your S10. I bought an AT last summer and planned to sell my S10. When I saw the low prices people were getting for their S10s, I decided to keep it as a spare. I'm glad I did. Variety is good, and I'm having a blast riding the AT for a few days, then switching over to the S10 for a few days, then back to the AT, etc.

That will likely be the plan. My ST has 90k km on it, so no spring chicken. But with a recent new top end, the bike is awesome. Had a late season ride today on it, still puts a grin on my face.
That said, I'm super excited about the AT. New rear shock on the way (tractive) will be spending some money at Altrider and on SW motech gubbins.

 

[True Grip]

Let us know how it compares to the ST in the nasty stuff. I struggled my last dirty adventure on my Tenere. So much that I sold it but not done riding but came to the sad conclusion I'm not young anymore.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

So much that I sold it but not done riding but came to the sad conclusion I'm not young anymore.

??? WHAT? I realize I'm missing a lot of threads over the last few months, and I definitely missed this news. Is there a thread out there with more on this major development?

 

[True Grip]

No thread just came to the conclusion that for me just to much to handle and pick up. Waiting to see what comes out in the middle weight class. In the end may end up with a thumper and do what Bruce does. Bed and kitchen on wheels is appealing to me and then wife can come sometime. If I do that will likely buy a 1250 Bandit for the rush and road trips. It's one bike I've always wanted to put some miles on.
We'll see?

 

[Checkswrecks]

Let us know how it compares to the ST in the nasty stuff. I struggled my last dirty adventure on my Tenere. So much that I sold it but not done riding but came to the sad conclusion I'm not young anymore.

??!!!
Shocked and sorry to hear it.
You know that you can ride the 690 if my butt is not on it. Cleaned the injector and it runs great now.

 

[True Grip]

my wife was shocked too. The 690 is definitely a better dual sport than a Tenere. Still looking to come to Romney regardless of what I'm on.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Still looking to come to Romney regardless of what I'm on.

Good, glad to hear that. I don't blame you. I'm finding the older I get the more I'm interested in just using the right tool (or bike) for the job. Sure the Tenere can do anything, but I'm getting to the point where the extra work just offsets the fun I would be having. My attitude has really come into focus riding my wife's XT250 out back where it is rocky, somewhat steep, with tight turns into a log hop followed by a big rock mine field. It's just so much easier on her 250 than even my DR650. Doing it on the Tenere just isn't a consideration. I'm thinking I'm going to turn in my hardcore, scrape the pavement, ACD skidplate in favor of a general duty plate. It's more in line with what I'm willing to do on the S10 these days. Good luck with selecting the next bike. Glad we will see you again in May.


Greg - congrats on the new AT. That seems like a really great bike. I talked to two AT owners this summer on the Alaska ride. One Ohio rider was up there 2-up and very happy with his AT. He did blow his fork seals on the Demster, but he was blaming the lack of installing fork socks rather than the bike. The other rider also was pleased with his new bike. He wasn't thrilled his drop earlier that day left him with a shortened break lever, but he was making it work. Hope you will give us periodic updates on your thoughts of the bike.

 

[greg the pole]

Let us know how it compares to the ST in the nasty stuff. I struggled my last dirty adventure on my Tenere. So much that I sold it but not done riding but came to the sad conclusion I'm not young anymore.

I'll be nimbler, and easier with the 21" fron tire. The 60lb less weight should help.
It obviously has it's limitations as well.

 

[Checkswrecks]

No thread just came to the conclusion that for me just to much to handle and pick up. Waiting to see what comes out in the middle weight class. In the end may end up with a thumper and do what Bruce does. Bed and kitchen on wheels is appealing to me and then wife can come sometime. If I do that will likely buy a 1250 Bandit for the rush and road trips. It's one bike I've always wanted to put some miles on.
We'll see?

Mark -


The ride we were on together is probably the one you are writing about. In addition to being a real off-road for the big bikes, you were handicapped from the start with the rear tire you were on. I was frequently right behind you and that tire would just spin without hooking up. We all were feeling bad for you, buddy.

Here's a spot where even Unstoppable Patrick got stuck. I was really glad to have the 690 at this point.

On a sorta parallel idea, Dirt Dad and I were on a series of gravel roads a few weeks ago on my KTM and his DR650. As when riding with you, I generally sit until it's rough enough to stand on the pegs. At one point with Dirt Dad, over the intercom he pointed out that he had been standing while I sat through a lot of our ride and that the difference was the suspension on the KTM.

 

[fredz43]

Hi Mark,

Haven't heard from you in a while. I'll share a few thoughts that might interest you. This past Saturday I lead a series of short adventure type of rides on Yamaha and Honda adv type bikes. My tailgunner rider was on his 2017 AT and I was on my 14 ES. We switched bikes from the fleet of demos on a few of the tours and both of us agreed that the AT is much better for that type of riding and the S10 is much better if you are going to do any distance, especially if the surface was not as tore up as the roads we rode on the adv demo route. Sort of one was an ADVENTURE touring bike and the other was an adventure TOURING bike. I'll be keeping my S10 for sure, as I couldn't imagine riding an AT on a 4,000 mile trip in sometimes very inclement weather as I did this past summer. In addition I have a DR650 and DR350 for when I want to play in less than perfect conditions.

Now, something that may interest you if you are considering something in a midsize bikes is that we have known for some time that Oct 24 Honda will be unveiling a completely new Gold Wing AND we recently found out that they will also be unveiling a new adventure bike on that date. Since they already have the big bore class covered with the AT, we are guessing that it will be a midsize adv bike. Just a guess, so far, but it seems reasonable. The other guess is that it will be a hard core version of the AT.We'll find out next week.

 

[snakebitten]

No thread just came to the conclusion that for me just to much to handle and pick up. Waiting to see what comes out in the middle weight class. In the end may end up with a thumper and do what Bruce does. Bed and kitchen on wheels is appealing to me and then wife can come sometime. If I do that will likely buy a 1250 Bandit for the rush and road trips. It's one bike I've always wanted to put some miles on.
We'll see?

HUH ???

I'm not sure I am happy that I had any influence on anyone getting rid of a motorcycle. Especially a Super Tenere. And certainly not YOUR Super Tenere.
But maybe that actually isn't what you said.

OK, regardless of what specific bike(s) are being hauled around, I DO highly recommend the luxury of traveling in comfort and taking your toys with you!
It comes with a bit of hypocrisy, in the eyes of the Adventure riding purist, but I got over it quickly. (First time the weather was miserable? LOL )

But since you brought it up, AND since you might need to accommodate more than one person, can I also suggest sacrificing a little of the easy-tow experience that what you describe as a "Bed and kitchen on wheels" (Tear-drop) entails, for the addition of a bathroom\shower? And it is CHEAPER than my teardrop, to boot.

Only 3000lbs empty, can carry 2500lbs of cargo, and FAR more comfortable indoors! Get a tiny Toy Hauler. (Toy Haulers are NOT tiny, but this one is)
No need to load your bike(s) in the back of a truck. (You admitted you were getting OLD. Me too bro. Me too)


And you can haul 2 bikes in this little bugger, so quit getting rid of your stuff TrueGrip! ::013::


Greg, my Canadian friend, please forgive the hijack. I couldn't refrain. I'm a notorious horrible offender.

 

[greg the pole]

this went off the rails quickly ::025::

 

[snakebitten]

this went off the rails quickly ::025::

Post pics of that new AT in that amazing territory you ride in and I bet it gets BACK on the rails immediately.

 

[Checkswrecks]

this went off the rails quickly ::025::

Greg on his new toy!
::26::

 

[greg the pole]

my klim gear is not that clean ::025::