Hello all from Kentucky

[Ollie]

Hi everyone. I'm a returning rider after some years away and have my eye on the Tenere. First bike was a wee little Honda Ascot VT 500. Wondering if the jump to the Tenere could be a little too much. Just finished an MSF course and I've got many years of single track mountain biking under my belt (not sure if that even translates to experience). Anyone have any thoughts as to my quandary? I'm mostly looking for a bike for long hauls over the tarmac and dirt roads, in comfort. Thanks in advance!

 

[SpeedStar]

Hello and welcome Ollie. Sounds like the S10 could be a good fit for you. Given you can't get a demo ride right now, you could compare a BMW GS1200 which you can get a demo ride on now. Most feel the S10 feels lighter and handles similar. I think you will like it. Something a little smaller you might be interested in is the V-strom 650. I have one right now and love it. Does just about everything I want. I do have a Tenere on order though. Good luck.

 

[trinc4me]

Welcome Ollie!

 

[HoebSTer]

Well welcome Ollie!!! I just wrote you a nice long reply to your post, but it got deleted or something somehow. I am going to summarize.
Congrats on MSF CLass...remember entry speed, head turn and fundamentals!!! The Tenere isn't too big, if you repeat this regularly what you learned in MSF class!!! Take it slow learn, enjoy and ride the bike. After some riding on Super 10, take the Intermediate MSF class on your own bike.

AT 18 my first bike was a 120hp Honda V65 Sabre!!! I had patience, and respect for the bike!!!! 125k miles later on various bikes, I enjoy them!!!!

Overall, your the high risk statistic coming from a small bike and time away from them coming to a new bigger bike. I am an MSF instructor, and overshooting a corner or curve is #1 CAUSE for accidents and fatalities in this state and across the country behind alcohol. Just my thoughts for safety and enjoyment of riding a motorcycle. BE SENSIBLE and RESPECTFUL and it will all be good!!!

 

[Ollie]

Hello and welcome Ollie. Sounds like the S10 could be a good fit for you. Given you can't get a demo ride right now, you could compare a BMW GS1200 which you can get a demo ride on now. Most feel the S10 feels lighter and handles similar. I think you will like it. Something a little smaller you might be interested in is the V-strom 650. I have one right now and love it. Does just about everything I want. I do have a Tenere on order though. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply! The V-strom is also on my short list, among others, and it looks to be a great bike. So much has changed since the days when I rode and it's a lot to take in. It was simpler then. Bought the bike, rode the piss out of it, learned to wave at other riders and that was it (funny, for a while I didn't know why they were waving at me ;D)

I've sat on the GS many times recently but haven't taken it for a test yet. Hoping to do so when it warms up.

Cheers!

 

[HoebSTer]

Ollie, i just want to make sure you knew i wasn't bashing you on my reponse to you.

 

[Ollie]

Well welcome Ollie!!! I just wrote you a nice long reply to your post, but it got deleted or something somehow. I am going to summarize.
Congrats on MSF CLass...remember entry speed, head turn and fundamentals!!! The Tenere isn't too big, if you repeat this regularly what you learned in MSF class!!! Take it slow learn, enjoy and ride the bike. After some riding on Super 10, take the Intermediate MSF class on your own bike.

AT 18 my first bike was a 120hp Honda V65 Sabre!!! I had patience, and respect for the bike!!!! 125k miles later on various bikes, I enjoy them!!!!

Overall, your the high risk statistic coming from a small bike and time away from them coming to a new bigger bike. I am an MSF instructor, and overshooting a corner or curve is #1 CAUSE for accidents and fatalities in this state and across the country behind alcohol. Just my thoughts for safety and enjoyment of riding a motorcycle. BE SENSIBLE and RESPECTFUL and it will all be good!!!

I appreciate your cautionary advice and I have no intention of becoming the statistic you mentioned. At 40 my days of hitting corners hot are over. I just want to sit back and take it all in, as they say. Actually, now that I think about it, I've always been that way. I like to see what I'm passing. The bigger problem for me is the distraction of the changing landscape! Advice heeded.

 

[Ollie]

Welcome Ollie!

Thank you!

 

[HoebSTer]

Ollie, you and i are about the same age. I jsut runed 39, and have a baby due within a few weeks.

 

[Ollie]

Ollie, i just want to make sure you knew i wasn't bashing you on my reponse to you.

Not at all. People need to understand the consequences of their choices. The MSF instructors in my course were the same way, as well as the narrators in the vids they used in class. It kind of reminded me of my hunter safety course as a kid. A little fear goes a long way to creating respect.

 

[Ollie]

Ollie, you and i are about the same age. I jsut runed 39, and have a baby due within a few weeks.

Congrats and CHEERS!

 

[mobyfubar]

Welcome, Ollie.

Smaller, lighter bikes with lower seat heights are in general easier for beginners, but many people start out on bikes that may not be optimal and still get along fine. You sound like you have a healthy attitude, which will serve you well.

When learning on a bigger bike, it's helpful to concentrate on keeping the bike vertical when stopping, so you don't end up having to hold it up. Remember "eyes up" and "square the bars" when stopping.

Once you get a couple thousand miles on your ST, consider taking the MSF Experienced RiderCourse (ERC) to help hone your skills. If Kentucky doesn't offer it, we do have it in Ohio.

 

[Venture]

Hi everyone. I'm a returning rider after some years away and have my eye on the Tenere. First bike was a wee little Honda Ascot VT 500. Wondering if the jump to the Tenere could be a little too much. Just finished an MSF course and I've got many years of single track mountain biking under my belt (not sure if that even translates to experience). Anyone have any thoughts as to my quandary? I'm mostly looking for a bike for long hauls over the tarmac and dirt roads, in comfort. Thanks in advance!

Hey Ollie, welcome!

As to your quandary, it's a bit of a tough call. I personally believe if you can control your right wrist you can ride anything, but not everybody has that level of control starting out. If you have any doubts go grab a cheap beater off of Craigslist and give it a go to start. I've found with the cheap, older bikes you almost always get your money back on the resale so it's not a loss at all.

Good luck and ride safe.

 

[Ollie]

Welcome, Ollie.

When learning on a bigger bike, it's helpful to concentrate on keeping the bike vertical when stopping, so you don't end up having to hold it up. Remember "eyes up" and "square the bars" when stopping.

Once you get a couple thousand miles on your ST, consider taking the MSF Experienced RiderCourse (ERC) to help hone your skills. If Kentucky doesn't offer it, we do have it in Ohio.

Yes, slow speed maneuvers and my reaction to sudden stops coming out of curves are situations I'm most concerned about with a bike this big. I also live in a big city and this kind of thing will happen all the time. I've begun to take a mental log of places to avoid during certain times of the day.

It also take quite a while to get out of town where I live and the fastest options are super highways. Suffice it to say, I will be studying a lot of maps of the city between now and May.

 

[Ollie]

Hi everyone. I'm a returning rider after some years away and have my eye on the Tenere. First bike was a wee little Honda Ascot VT 500. Wondering if the jump to the Tenere could be a little too much. Just finished an MSF course and I've got many years of single track mountain biking under my belt (not sure if that even translates to experience). Anyone have any thoughts as to my quandary? I'm mostly looking for a bike for long hauls over the tarmac and dirt roads, in comfort. Thanks in advance!

Hey Ollie, welcome!

As to your quandary, it's a bit of a tough call. I personally believe if you can control your right wrist you can ride anything, but not everybody has that level of control starting out. If you have any doubts go grab a cheap beater off of Craigslist and give it a go to start. I've found with the cheap, older bikes you almost always get your money back on the resale so it's not a loss at all.

Good luck and ride safe.

Yeah, these kinds of post are probably hard to respond to, since you really don't know the character who you are giving advice to, but I appreciate that you did.

I've heard similar advice about buying a beater and selling it after I get my feet wet, but I think with my prior experience, I may be ready to skip past that step. Time will tell.

 

[jly51]

Welcome Ollie,what part of Ky are you from.I,m in far North west Tennessee.With the optional power modes,abs,tracion control the s10 should be less intimadating than some other large bikes.I am semi-retired from a Yamaha shop,if you haven`t ordered yet ,they have a raven on order that is for sale,if interested call 1-731-885-1792,ask for Tim or Curtis.

 

[Ollie]

I'm in Louisville. Still haven't decided, but I'm leaning toward the tenere. Just need to see how big it is and throw a leg over it. May is a long way away, but it'll give me some time to stash a few bucks to put down on the bike.

 

[Ollie]

Welcome Ollie,what part of Ky are you from.I,m in far North west Tennessee.With the optional power modes,abs,tracion control the s10 should be less intimadating than some other large bikes.I am semi-retired from a Yamaha shop,if you haven`t ordered yet ,they have a raven on order that is for sale,if interested call 1-731-885-1792,ask for Tim or Curtis.

Oh, you're talking about Abernathys. When I first started looking at bikes I was interested in the vstar1300. Couldn't believe that they had 09's for $6500 for a while. Almost pulled the trigger, but I'm glad I waited, because I really didn't know what I wanted at that point. Do you know what kind of prices they have on the S10?

 

[jly51]

Ollie,I did`nt ask what the price will be .Abernathy is a low price-high volume dealer so the price will be very good.I worked for them for over 6 years before heart problems forced me to retire.My son is the parts-acc. manager so I keep up on whats going on.Give Tim or Curtis a call ,they will treat you right.You are out of state so there price is out the otd,no fee`s,you pay tax_. title in Ky whene you register it.Good luck!

 

[Jakeboy]

Welcome!!