DL650 to Tenere

Niterunnr

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Irvine, CA
Ok thanks for your insight on the AT vs. the Tenere.
I shall find out for myself in about three months.
SHUMBA
Such great insights from everyone, just the info I was looking for.
SHUMBA, I think we might be related in a former life ;)
Have a DL650, (love it). Added a AT DCT and while I really like the bike and it’s off road chops, it felt much heavier due in part to obvious weight diff, but mostly due to the higher center mass from ground clearance. DCT is great and has unique advantages, but I’m much more smooth with a clutch (be it car or bike) than this DCT, but that’s another story.
I haven’t even sat on BMW, (do like the styling), but when I sat on S10, at 5’9” it felt perfect and just as light (or low) as my DL650. Plus most of the convenience and safety goodies. The shop actually has an AT next to the S10 so I could compare and the S10 feels better with my inseam.
I want touring comfort so my happy and willing wife to stays that way and the low end grunt to keep us and our gear cruising along without constantly changing gears and enjoying the scenery. I do like the dirt, but after the AT I realized none of these big bikes are much fun to pick up so I’ll get a nice 250 for that purpose.

If the GSA was a safer, more comfortable bike I would lay down the cash, but reliability is a huge factor. I’ve owned four Honda and two Suzuki that have never experienced a serious problem that disabled the bike. Reliability and safety are top priorities for me.
 

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SHUMBA

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ONTARIO, CANADA
Such great insights from everyone, just the info I was looking for.
SHUMBA, I think we might be related in a former life ;)
Have a DL650, (love it). Added a AT DCT and while I really like the bike and it’s off road chops, it felt much heavier due in part to obvious weight diff, but mostly due to the higher center mass from ground clearance. DCT is great and has unique advantages, but I’m much more smooth with a clutch (be it car or bike) than this DCT, but that’s another story.
I haven’t even sat on BMW, (do like the styling), but when I sat on S10, at 5’9” it felt perfect and just as light (or low) as my DL650. Plus most of the convenience and safety goodies. The shop actually has an AT next to the S10 so I could compare and the S10 feels better with my inseam.
I want touring comfort so my happy and willing wife to stays that way and the low end grunt to keep us and our gear cruising along without constantly changing gears and enjoying the scenery. I do like the dirt, but after the AT I realized none of these big bikes are much fun to pick up so I’ll get a nice 250 for that purpose.

If the GSA was a safer, more comfortable bike I would lay down the cash, but reliability is a huge factor. I’ve owned four Honda and two Suzuki that have never experienced a serious problem that disabled the bike. Reliability and safety are top priorities for me.
Hello Niterunner
Well, been ridin my new 2018 Tenere ES and have 7,200 km
Or 5,000 miles on it.
I'm enjoying the bike, It's big It's heavy and I am not a young man anymore.
I'd say from a performance perspective that the Tenere has only slightly more grunt than the Africa twin but on a quarter mile they would be close
Africa twin is a better gravel off road bike whereas the Tenere is a more comfortable cruiser.
The heated grips the cruise control and the shaft drive sealed the deal for me.
Best
SHUMBA
 

Mak10

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Aug 20, 2018
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SE Idaho
It’s the two up ability of the Super Tenere that is in of my biggest draws. Shaft drive was a big second. Put some good knobbies on the bike and it’s gravel road/off road abilities really impress me where it will go.
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
Hello Niterunner
Well, been ridin my new 2018 Tenere ES and have 7,200 km
Or 5,000 miles on it.
I'm enjoying the bike, It's big It's heavy and I am not a young man anymore.
I'd say from a performance perspective that the Tenere has only slightly more grunt than the Africa twin but on a quarter mile they would be close
Africa twin is a better gravel off road bike whereas the Tenere is a more comfortable cruiser.
The heated grips the cruise control and the shaft drive sealed the deal for me.
Best
SHUMBA
Funny you mention heated grips and cruise control. I would have never thought I would like either one of those features. Now I can't imagine doing without!!

It’s the two up ability of the Super Tenere that is in of my biggest draws. Shaft drive was a big second. Put some good knobbies on the bike and it’s gravel road/off road abilities really impress me where it will go.
My biggest draw to the Super Tenere was comfort over long miles in the saddle. I'm still trying to get used to the 19/17" wheelset and 600+ lbs when venturing off the pavement.

Seat hight is no issue as I have been riding tall dirt bikes for so long I've learned to plant only one foot at a time with my butt slid over one side or the other.

I cam pretty damn close to getting the Africa Twin DC. After swinging a leg over one I was thinking: "who in the hell am I kidding". 21/18" wheels, chain drive, and tubed tires? This is is nothing more than my Beta with over double the weight!! Also the single frame with no rear sub-fame is a big turn off to me. A simple tip over can turn into a full frame replacement.

I'm so very happy with my Super Tenere!! I'm blown away how easy you can peel miles off on this bike. I can head out at 0400, do a 550+ mile ride and be home by 1430!! Head out at 0700 and do a 14 mile dirt and 126 mile paved ride and be back home at 1130 before lunch!!
 

cyclemike4

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ky
hey niterunnr I think you have made a great decision. Especially if the better half enjoys going with you on the bike. You are right it is way too big to have in real rough stuff. I also have a 250 for that kind of work. I have had mine in some places where i had to say to myself what the @#$% was i thinking! All in all i went right on and got through with out much issues. It is amazing where these things will go with the right tires on them.
 

Niterunnr

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Irvine, CA
hey niterunnr I think you have made a great decision. Especially if the better half enjoys going with you on the bike. You are right it is way too big to have in real rough stuff. I also have a 250 for that kind of work. I have had mine in some places where i had to say to myself what the @#$% was i thinking! All in all i went right on and got through with out much issues. It is amazing where these things will go with the right tires on them.
Thanks.
Wow, the moderators are working hard; I just received a notification that my post was moved to a DL650 thread. While it’s true I don’t have any experience on a BMW and didn’t mean to threadjack, the big Beamer is really the benchmark I’m using, (as it should be), but I wanted to share my experiences on my most similar bikes. I also have a Hayabusa, but I doubt there’s a “coming from a Busa to the S10” thread ;)
Last summer I rode my DL on some pretty gnarly gravel roads and tipped her over once on a washout; this is all I’m hoping to get out of any bike over 400 lbs.
It’s great to hear so many positive reviews about the S10 and I’m really looking forward to the addition.
I have contacted a few members about bikes for sale. I’m willing to travel, but the time/cost is rarely worth it to both parties, so I’ll likely stay within a few hundred miles of SoCal. There’s a ‘19 for 16kOTD near me, but I’m not sold on the light grey tank color.
 

Checkswrecks

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Me work hard? Baa ha ha ha.
:p


Thought you'd get better response here in the Intro section of the forum. We had both a DL650 and 1000 and liked the 650 more.

Anyway, welcome to the group.
 

Niterunnr

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Jul 2, 2019
Messages
104
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Irvine, CA
Me work hard? Baa ha ha ha.
:p


Thought you'd get better response here in the Intro section of the forum. We had both a DL650 and 1000 and liked the 650 more.

Anyway, welcome to the group.
Thanks.
When I bought my 650 back in 2010, I read multiple reviews that the 650 was superior. Since 2014 I believe that has flipped to the 1000, though the 650 is still very capable, cheaper and more frugal on gas.

I’m hoping the Tenere will offer that little bit more comfort, (esp 2 up) while preserving the DL modest off road ability.E1A9B7FF-B08E-49DE-A621-FC4719A621B1.jpeg
 

Madhatter

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buda texas
dl650 not always frugal on gas.... my buddy on our trip to ft. davis texas got about 29 mpg trying to run the speed limit in the face of a cold front.... speed limit I-10 west is 85 and 30 to 50 mph head winds sucked the mpg's right out of the bike …. my tenere never got worse than 38 mpg (he at one point could not pass a semi as he had run out of power the tenere never had that problem ) he traded the dl 650 for a 1250 triumph, lots of power now. your going to love the tenere .
 
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