Hello all

[SteveO]

I've been riding cycles for a while now, and just recently I parted with a M109R2, that my wife really liked. While she doesn't actually operate the (or any bikes) bike, she really enjoyed our rides around town, to dinner and just getting out. She has been lamenting to me about how she misses the riding we would do on the M109R2. At one point in near past I had a WR250R and a M109R2 that pretty much kept me in the dirt and on the street. But, after an event with other bikes, I quickly realized that the WR250R didn't have the legs for keeping up with other KTM 520 bikes. On one particular day I was tapped out at 72mph on an open dirt road and a KTM shot by me like I was standing still. Scared the crap out of me....I actually jumped off my seat. ::26::

So after that event I looked around and found a KTM 500EXC. Now the KTM 500EXC is quite a beast and has been a wild ride so far. However, its a dirt bike that has a headlight, brake light, mirrors and a horn to make it street legal. While I have been enjoying this bike, I must admit, that I indeed an missing my rides with my wife. Its a time for us to get away from everybody else, and being that she enjoys motorcycles so much, I feel kinda bad that I've taken that away from her. What happened to the WR250R and the M109R2? Well, the WR250R was sold to a guy in the Falkland Islands so he could run alongside the Dakar participants, and the M109R2 was traded in on the KTM 500EXC.

In in the position of only being able to afford one bike at the moment. So, after hearing my wife lament about missing our rides, I'm thinking maybe I should move from the KTM 500 EXC to the S10 (Super Tenere). However, I have some questions about this bike:

1) I've been looking all over for a load capacity for this bike. I can't seem to find one. I don't want to get a bike that can handle only 40lbs of gear after a rider and passenger....

2) Is the rear seat comfortable for the passenger. The S10 passenger seat "appears" to be more comfortable than a KTM Adventure for the V-Strom or a BMW GS 1200 (Well, lets not go there, they are way overpriced anyway).

...2A) As well, how about the rider seat, is this seat comfortable for the long haul?

3) I've read that the suspension can be tuned for the addition/subtraction of weight, which indicates that it can handle a good amount of weight, but how about the front forks? Are they competent for the dirt roads and occasional river crossing?

Essentially, I'm looking for an Adventure bike that will:

1) Take my wife AND I to town for a nice dinner one weekend,
2) Next weekend, take my wife and I camping without out subjecting us to too much abuse, and still carry all of our gear with us.....
3) Less maintenance than a KTM

Is this the bike for this kind of duty


Thanks

 

[Twitch]

Welcome to the forum Steve! Glad to have you aboard.

Max load (rider, passenger, cargo and accessories) per the Service Manual is 461 pounds for the 49 State model and 459 for the Cali model. There are a lot of opinions on the seat comfort spread around various threads on the forum plus there are a number of aftermarket options discussed in the forum. Some hate the seat; some like me think its fine. I did buy a factory low seat for stop-n-go, around town riding...I do hate that seat. I have several 500+ mile days on the stock seat, low position, unadjusted. There was nothing about those rides that makes me think I need and aftermarket seat or some work done on the stocker, but that's just me. Similarly, suspension is going to be a matter of opinion and there are a few spread about the forum, but to answer your question the front forks do have preload, compression and dampening adjustment to help tune them in. I've kept them at the factory settings and have been fine with them for my moderate, non-aggressive riding on dirt, gravel and light-sandy roads suspension-wise. We don't cross rivers in Florida because they have alligators and big snakes in them, so I can't comment on that. I don’t ride two-up, but quite a few guys seem to get along fine riding two-up on the ST. Good luck.

 

[dcc46]

Take one for a test ride and bring the wife, I'll bet you leave with a deposit on one. ::022::

 

[colorider]

Welcome aboard SteveO! You came to the right place to get answers to your questions, but you also really need to test ride one to see for yourself.

BTW, what part of NM are you from?

Rod

 

[rem]

Welcome on, SteveO from New Mexico. It's good you are taking your time and asking some questions. There are those here who know all that stuff. It's a pretty competent ride, for sure. Let us know what you decide. ::004:: R. ::022::

 

[barkingllizard]

a simple hello, SteveO.....

 

[SteveO]

Thanks everybody for the response, I do appreciate your feedback.

The more I think about it, the more I'm inclined to move towards the larger Adventure bike......despite having my KTM 500 for less than a year......
I currently, and have for the past 11 years, commute about 90 miles a day round trip. Being from Northern New Mexico (Santa Fe), Riding seasons starts about mid march and lasts until late November, depending on the year and crazy weather around here. I've been thinking that riding this bike to/from work would be really nice and could save me some gas money, as opposed to my current Accord, which pulls in about 28mpg. I understand the S10 gets around 40+mpg.....Is that what you all are finding with your bike's mileage?

While I do enjoy slinging a dirt bike through some single track, ::26:: the older I get the more I realize that I'm going to hurt myself ever more that what I have done. Indeed, I do wear lots of protection, but crashing is inevitable, and the faster your go, the harder you crash. Thus far, I managed to brake my right thumb, nearly brake my neck (thank God for the Leatt neck brace), and in the same crash broke two ribs. I've already had both Rotator-cuffs worked over, and both knees have been worked over......and I'm just 42 years of age. Sheeze...., I'm falling apart too quickly.

At any rate, I'm thinking that maybe I should slow down before I really hurt myself trying to play the young-man's game. AS well......, having my wife with me taking rides is really a nice thing. Not sure If I noted this before, but we are coming up to our 20year anniversary, and we are both finding that it's important to spend quality time together when we can; considering working hours, and others issues at home that take up our time. We both enjoy getting out and riding together.

Again, thanks for all of your responses, and yes, I should get out and take a test ride. The issue is, just finding a local dealership that actually has one in stock.

 

[Twitch]

I understand the S10 gets around 40+mpg.....Is that what you all are finding with your bike's mileage?

This thread on fuel consumption is great, particularly from the standpoint that it started five months before any of us got our motorcycles.

http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=839.0

I currently average 43 mpg, with a high of 48.8 on a tank that took me 280 miles.

 

[1reddawg]

Welcome to Da Club Steve-o!!