Considering a Super Tenere for my next bike

dragonaut

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Joined
Oct 20, 2021
Messages
34
Location
Akron, Ohio
Hello from Akron, Ohio. The Super Tenere is on the short list for my next bike and I thought I'd join up here to learn some more from those who own one.

I currently ride a 2012 Honda NC700X and while I love many things about that bike, I'm ready to move on to something larger and more distance-capable. I would really, really like a shaft drive bike for ease of maintenance (chain maintenance is a chore I've always despised) and something that has more power for highway riding, better suspension and brakes, etc. I commute to work nearly every day outside of winter, 40 miles round trip on a mix of highway and secondary roads. I also like to tour when I can and pack camping gear (usually short trips are all I have time for, 3-5 days).

I demo rode a Tenere 1200 a couple years ago (seen in my profile pic) and really liked it given that limited experience. My biggest concern at 5'5" and 30" inseam is the size and weight of the bike. Other bikes on the list are the Moto Guzzi V85TT which I have demo ridden and found to be an ideal size, very unintimidating for me, and the BMW R1200GS which I have not ridden but sat on a couple and found them to feel awkwardly large for me. Although, I still wouldn't rule that out completely until I tried riding one.

Anyway, I'm looking to do some reading here and get some insight on the Super Tenere 1200. Thanks all.

Andy
 

MIKE R

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Feb 5, 2012
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722
Location
Lancashire, UK
All I can suggest is that you test ride the S10 again

They are big, heavy bikes especially when loaded with luggage. Although the weight disappears when you get going you need to try some low speed manoeuvres. I think you will be OK if you can flat foot. The S10 is certainly lower than the GS in that respect (I've owned both) and a friend of mine who is also 'vertically challenged' at 5'8 had no problem getting both feet down when he sat on my bike although I don't know his inside leg measurement (you seem to be 'long in the leg' for your height). By coincidence he also owns a V85TT and loves it

Hope this helps

Mike
 

Sierra1

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Nov 7, 2016
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14,819
Location
Joshua TX
Welcome from Texas. MIKE, and several others here have lived with both the Tenere & GS. Listen to them. I have a 31" inseam, but am 6', and have no stability issues at a stop. I can get both feet on the ground, just not flat. The Tenere is the lightest feeling heavy bike that I've ever ridden. She's my favorite ever.
 

Cycledude

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Jan 29, 2016
Messages
3,998
Location
Rib lake wi
Yes the Tenere is very top heavy, I happen to use a Corbin seat because it sits significantly lower, my inseam is 30” which usually works fine for pavement riding, but when I go off pavement it can become much more challenging so a few months ago I spent the extra $500 to upgrade to a good set of T-rex crashbars Incase I drop it somewhere.
 

Lautarooo

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Joined
Mar 6, 2019
Messages
152
Location
Riverhead, NY
I agree, the super tenere is remarkably light feeling even in slow parking lot maneuvers. I rented recently in Italy a 1200 RT beemer and was shocked how difficult it was to move around slowly, and also really didnt like the handling on the twisties, as i felt it didnt want to lean. I feel the S10 is far superior in these regards. I also love it on the highway and going up mountains, it just munches the miles… However, I would definitely flash the ecu though.. its a simple affordable procedure and it unleashes a lot of power and substantially curbs the engine breaking which i found very annoying. I love this bike!
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
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Jun 20, 2015
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4,516
Location
Ventura, CA
I’m 5’10” with a 30” inseam and can put both feet on the ground at a stop, but not flat-footed. I have the seat in the lower of the two positions, but have fitted an approximately 30% stiffer rear spring for my weight, which works to raise the bike a bit I suppose. The only times I’ve dropped her were both off-road and neither time was related to the bike’s saddle height.


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dragonaut

Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2021
Messages
34
Location
Akron, Ohio
I agree, the super tenere is remarkably light feeling even in slow parking lot maneuvers. I rented recently in Italy a 1200 RT beemer and was shocked how difficult it was to move around slowly, and also really didnt like the handling on the twisties, as i felt it didnt want to lean. I feel the S10 is far superior in these regards. I also love it on the highway and going up mountains, it just munches the miles… However, I would definitely flash the ecu though.. its a simple affordable procedure and it unleashes a lot of power and substantially curbs the engine breaking which i found very annoying. I love this bike!
Just goes to show you how much experience can vary from one person to the next. A friend of mine owned a owned a Tenere for about a year and did not like it at all - said it was very top-heavy and strained his legs badly to handle it at low speed, parking, etc. He's tall, at least 6' and reasonably athletic. Meanwhile he swears that the GS is perfectly balanced even moving at 1 mph. That's only one person's opinion but it still gives me some doubts.

Of course my Honda is not a short or light bike either but it carries its weight low and feels well balanced to me. And I've gotten into a few bad spots where I had a hell of a time handling it (though not many) and in fact dropped it in a parking lot just a few weeks ago. Crash bars and barkbusters would be a must for me on any bike.

My riding is 99% pavement anyway with the occasional gravel road for a few miles to get to a campsite, etc. so that's not the biggest consideration for me.
 

AusTexS10

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Jan 24, 2020
Messages
733
Location
Austin, TX
74 years old, not the picture of health with some extra 60 unneeded pounds, and a 30 inch inseam. I love my Super Ten and it's a Gen I without the bells and whistles of Gen II (cruise would be nice). It's so maneuverable (super turn-in) that leg length shouldn't matter once it is moving because when rolling, even slowly, your feet belong on the pegs. I come to a complete stop at signs and go again without putting a foot down (unless a LEO is behind me that maybe won't believe it can be done, so I put a foot down for show to avoid a ticket). Go for it, you won't regret it.
 

Sierra1

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Nov 7, 2016
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Joshua TX
. . . . - said it was very top-heavy and strained his legs badly to handle it at low speed, parking, etc. He's tall, at least 6' and reasonably athletic. Meanwhile he swears that the GS is perfectly balanced even moving at 1 mph. That's only one person's opinion but it still gives me some doubts. . . .
If he likes/wants the GS, so be it; to each their own. But, to try and convince you that the Tenere is top heavy, and ill handling at slow speeds?! Credibility destroyed. Almost everybody agrees, that once she's moving, she feels much lighter than the number on the scales. The Tenere is the only bike that I know that has the ability to have rear brake activation only. Hit the pedal first, rear brake only. Which makes slow speed maneuvering so much easier; bar lock turns are a breeze. Hit the front brake lever first, normal linked braking. And, any amount of front braking in a super tight turn is never an advantage.

I've never had a GS, but I had an RT for seven years, and 60k miles. Dr. Jekyl, while the warranty was in effect, and Mr. Hyde after the expiration.
 

Wallkeeper

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Minneapolis
Just goes to show you how much experience can vary from one person to the next. A friend of mine owned a owned a Tenere for about a year and did not like it at all - said it was very top-heavy and strained his legs badly to handle it at low speed, parking, etc. He's tall, at least 6' and reasonably athletic. Meanwhile he swears that the GS is perfectly balanced even moving at 1 mph. That's only one person's opinion but it still gives me some doubts.
Greetings from Minnesota!

A couple of things from my experience with the Super T. I do not have any issue with slow speed maneuvers with the bike. For me, I find it comparable to the GS with the GS maybe a bit smoother in the friction zone. If you look on the media section there is a video titled "Snowman" that illustrates the bikes ability in confined spaces. In the final analysis, low speed maneuvers are more about the riders applying techniques than it is about the motorcycle.

On the height side, I work with an MSF coach who is 5'4" and rides an ST. She has a seat at 30" and is comfortable with the bike at stops.

Good luck in your evaluations!
 

pilleway

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May 18, 2019
Messages
747
Location
Mexico
Welcome from Mexico. regarding issues on slow speed or cruise speed, what has help me a lot is to practice differente slow maneuvers as tought in You Tube, many great videos to learn from and then go and practices as much as you can in a empty parking lot. Practice, Practice, Practice and more Practice will help to have a much better control of the bike and learn how to control it. Snowman shows what you can do after you practice with your bike.
 

Sierra1

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Nov 7, 2016
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Joshua TX
I've never done the snowman on the Tenere, but, you can see on the last circle, how much extra room the rider has left. This bike is extremely capable.
 

JJTJ2

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Aug 14, 2018
Messages
349
Location
Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Hello from Missouri. I went from a Honda NC700DCT to the S10 and I had no issues with the transition. Once the bike starts moving the weight goes away and I would say it feels the same as the NC700. The bike does have a high and low seat setting and some have put lowering links on their bike to lower it even further. Here is a video of a blogger who is 5'4" and owned an S10.

You won't get the fuel economy out of the S10 that you get out of the NC700.... I do miss that and the frunk was super handy. Having to move my gear off the pillion seat to fill it up was a PIA. But the addition of cruise, shaft drive, adjustable wind screen, more room, the dash does give you more information.... I think I made the right move.
 
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