Getting sucked in by the 'ADV tractor beam'..

[FHSSERMAN]

Hello all! Another old 'newbie' from Oklahoma here, 61 yrs actually. I've kinda gotten the bug for an ADV bike so I'm in research mode now, I have lot to learn. I'm not new to riding bikes, just new to the ADV world. Currently riding a 2016 Honda F6b and a 2017 Honda Goldwing. I'm also curious if this is just an impulsive phase I'm going through so I'm trying to take it in moderation. I've been bitten by the 'get off the highway to see America' bug, while I still can. So, my journey right now is to learn about the whole ADV thing and try to determine which bike and size I want and I'm leaning toward Yamaha (S10 or T7). I'm an engineer by trade so you know I'm gonna 'over think' a lot of this. I'm 6'2", weigh 225 lbs and still feel young at heart; but I'm also getting older, and we know how that goes...

 

[Wallkeeper]

Greetings from Minnesota! I think you will find the forum worth your time. LOTS of opinions to be found here

 

[MFP]

Greetings from NY and welcome aboard.
I am a bit younger but the same height and weight as you and the S10 is an ergonomic
delight whether it is a quick dash from here to there or many hours munching up the miles.
Off the slab she is a handful of big girl but thankfully I am still able to manhandle her when needed.
Ironically the toughest part for me is putting my S10 away in the garage in the tight spot I have
allotted for parking her between my other bike and car.
For what you described and what you re coming from I think the S10 will serve you right,
plus it is a "shaftie"!
**Tractor Beam reference to original Star Trek is realized and quite logical....

 

[Kelvinator]

Welcome and greetings from SoCal. For what it's worth I was in the same boat. I was riding a 2010 Yamaha Stratoliner Dlx 1900, big HEAVY hot rod of a cruiser with a tiny gas tank. I lurked here on the forum for a couple years "doing research" and even managed to take a couple of test rides on the XTZ12. I was concerned about making such a radical shift in type of bike. I need'nt have worried. It literally only took the 300 mi. ride home from the dealer to confirm I had made the right choice. Good luck on finding the perfect ride for you.

Sent from my SM-A426U using Tapatalk

 

[Sierra1]

Welcome from Texas. Yes, you're going to hear plenty of opinions. But, if you've narrowed your choice(s) to the T-7 or T-12 . . . . it's easy. . . . coming from your current rides, you would not like the T-7 if you still plan on going distance; chain drive, and no cruise. I'm 6', and 300lbs. The T-12 is my favorite bike ever.

Besides . . . . resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.

 

[MFP]

Besides . . . . resistance is futile, you will be assimilated.

Blaspheme!
It is blasphemy for any quote from a Star Trek that is not from the original series!
Unless:

Space: 1999

 

[pilleway]

Welcome from Mexico. At your age (younger than me) you have lots of opportunities to ride and enjoy your bike I'm looking to ride my bike for at least 10 more years (I'm 65), just keep your mind young and the body will follow!!

 

[StefanOnHisS10]

Welcome aboard, the S10 is a great allrounder for on and off-road. Very well built and a joy to ride.

Let us know what you decide.

From the Netherlands,
Stefan

 

[barkingllizard]

a simple hello, FHSSERMAN...

 

[Mak10]

Welcome from Idaho. I have no regrets with this bike.

 

[fac191]

Blaspheme!
It is blasphemy for any quote from a Star Trek that is not from the original series!
Unless:

Space: 1999

Space 1999

 

[Checkswrecks]

Welcome to the group. Sounds like you'll fit right in with our demographic.

 

[RCinNC]

It wasn't an impulse in my case. Over my first twenty years of riding I'd been gradually getting larger highway oriented bikes, until I bought a Harley Road King in '04. I had that for 8 years, but after a couple of cross country trips to places out in the Southwest, I started to notice that there were an awful lot of roads out there that I wanted to ride on that weren't really in the wheelhouse of a 900 pound plus touring bike. I'd never been a off-road rider, and had no real interest in that, but I'd be tooling down the road on the Road King in places like Moab and see some of those dirt roads that meandered off in the distance, and I wanted to see where they went. That led to first buying a 650 V-strom in 2012, and then to the Super Tenere in 2014. Seven years and 85,000 miles later on the Yamaha, and I still know that I made the right decision. I loved the Harley for what it was, and have zero bad things to say about it, but it was no longer the right bike for the kinds of places I wanted to go.

Getting to where this photo was taken was way easier on the Yamaha.

 

[WJBertrand]

One of the things that attracted me to an adventure touring bike is the roomier ergos. My arthritic knees really appreciate the relaxed leg room, and upright seating position, even compared to a sport touring bike. I quickly zeroed in on the Super Tenere because of it's reputation for reliability and it's shaft drive.

 

[RCinNC]

That was my experience also. The Harley's laid back seating position and overall size makes it seem like it should be really comfortable, and I put 50,000 miles on it, but it didn't take long at all to sell me on the upright seating position on an ADV bike. Way easier on the body in general, and being able to stand up and stretch while you're riding is a big bonus. Surprisingly, my passenger has a lot more room on the Yamaha than she did on the Harley.

 

[MFP]

Space 1999

Yes I know....

 

[FHSSERMAN]

It wasn't an impulse in my case. Over my first twenty years of riding I'd been gradually getting larger highway oriented bikes, until I bought a Harley Road King in '04. I had that for 8 years, but after a couple of cross country trips to places out in the Southwest, I started to notice that there were an awful lot of roads out there that I wanted to ride on that weren't really in the wheelhouse of a 900 pound plus touring bike. I'd never been a off-road rider, and had no real interest in that, but I'd be tooling down the road on the Road King in places like Moab and see some of those dirt roads that meandered off in the distance, and I wanted to see where they went. That led to first buying a 650 V-strom in 2012, and then to the Super Tenere in 2014. Seven years and 85,000 miles later on the Yamaha, and I still know that I made the right decision. I loved the Harley for what it was, and have zero bad things to say about it, but it was no longer the right bike for the kinds of places I wanted to go.

Getting to where this photo was taken was way easier on the Yamaha.

 

[FHSSERMAN]

Thanks so much everyone for all of your nice welcoming posts and replies, very much appreciated! This posting by RCinNC, as well as some others, captures the essence of where my heart is. I just need to get 'over the hump' of acceptance and 'let the force be with me' on my decision. Speaking more specifically about the bikes; I am getting the sense that most of you really like your S10s and I can definitely see the benefits of the S10 over the T7 but I do have a couple lingering questions: 1) Do you ever wish you were riding a smaller, more maneuverable bike like theT7 or one of the other brands in the 650-850 class or do you just prefer the S10s highway prowess and comfort? and 2) for those of you who might have had both, what is the advantage (besides shaft drive) of owning a S10 over a newer Africa Twin now that the AT has cruise control and tubeless tires? I know, I know, that last one is a bit of a traitorous question but we all have to do our homework and comparison shopping for the peace of mind it brings. I know both Honda and Yamaha have very good quality and reliability reputations and they're a great value for the money. Finally, yes, I do know there are some very good European brands but they're also more than I want to spend. Thanks again!

 

[Cycledude]

Smaller and lighter is something I definitely would prefer.
My first Tenere was a 2013 and the only real reason I traded for a brandnew 2018 was to get cruise control.
If I had known the AFrica Twin was going to be upgraded with cruise control and tubeless tires I would have waited and bought that instead. And I definitely would have also got DCT.

 

[eemsreno]

I like the Super Tenere for it's fantastic ability's of travelling long distances comfortably then riding trails and good roads when I get there.
If I wasn't going to travel I don't see any reason to get a big bike. I have travelled on smaller bikes and it's not that fun or safe.