In Love All Over Again

[JRE]

I've enjoyed the few years I've had with the Tenere but like many with the bike bug, I've been eyeing other rides. A week or so ago I did a ride with 10 others from Ohio, down through KY, into TN, NC, GA and then back around again. It hit many of the great roads down there including the Dragon and Cherohala being the most notable. We did it nomad style with a new hotel every evening so full luggage was on board the whole time. In my younger days, I used to rip it up pretty good on the sport bikes but have scaled things back as my sense of self-preservation has caught up with my sense of adventure. Several of the bikes on the trip were much more sport oriented (Speed Triple, FJR, Concourse, etc). I gave into peer pressure and we hit the Cherohala at mach retard speed and the Tenere kept up with the other bike without too much protestation. Granted, peg scrapes happen earlier than I'd like but it got the job done. Overall, we did 1200+ mi and with the Russell Day Long seat I had no issues at all. On the way home, we hit some pretty good cross winds and the well planted S10 took it well in stride. The others were squirming in their seat, stretching their legs etc. I realized how comfortable and well rounded this bike is. It definitely made me appeciate it much more and while I might get a lighter/quicker hooligan bike for around town (i.e. FJ-09), I think I'm going to hold onto this guy for quite a while. I really have no complaints at all. I'm only at 8k mi in a little under 2 years so there's plenty of time for the unexpected.

 

[BadNews]

Sounds like a nice trip! I'm glad to hear the S10 did so well. I'm heading down to southern Indiana in a couple of weeks for my first multi-day motorcycle trip since I was a 19 year old, so your report is confidence inspiring! ::001::

 

[gv550]

I've had my new '16 for 6 weeks. And I'm lovin' it! ::001::
Getting cool here so we are heading south Saturday, hope to set up in Maggie Valley for a week and go play in the mountains. Then Florida for a bit then working my way west, Arizona by Thanksgiving.
I traded a KLR for this S10, procrastinated for a couple years because I really liked the simplicity and character of the thumper but after getting acquainted with my new YELLOW bike I have no regrets at all. And she says "See you next time" when I park it. :-*

 

[Checkswrecks]

I went from a Gen1 Tenere to a Gen2 and still couldn't agree more. Rode a GSW not long ago and it was nice, but came home to the Tenere.

 

[colorider]

Pretty much nails it, although I still have this itch for a different bike about every 1-2 years. Maybe it's cuz I'm getting older? No, that can't be it since I have pretty much always been a bike sl*t and trade a lot more often than I really should! Recent years has me bouncing back and forth between FJR's and Tenere's.

::022::

 

[WJBertrand]

Pretty much nails it, although I still have this itch for a different bike about every 1-2 years. Maybe it's cuz I'm getting older? No, that can't be it since I have pretty much always been a bike sl*t and trade a lot more often than I really should! Recent years has me bouncing back and forth between FJR's and Tenere's.

::022::

Rod you just need to figure on owning one of each and then switch back and forth at will. Better a polygamist than a s**t perhaps?

 

[bob dirt]

I wish I would have found the adventure touring bike thrill earlier in life but I'm still liking what I have. I bought a '16 in July (because I wanted factory cruise control)while my wife was away and finally sold my '12 last month. I'm sticking with this one but will ride my wing when SHE wants to ride also. I have 7k miles on the new one and plan on riding all day tomorrow. Got some dirt roads in my sights. Best damn bike I have ever had

 

[colorider]

Rod you just need to figure on owning one of each and then switch back and forth at will. Better a polygamist than a s**t perhaps?

That's probably the answer Jeff! I've managed just that a couple times with a Wee and a FJR, but never could really swing owning both of my favorites (FJR and a Tenere) at the same time. Gotta work on that I guess!!!! ::025::

Many years ago in my ST1100 days, I also owned several different TransAlps. Again, it was a great combination!!!

 

[VRODE]

Almost 6k in six months and still lovin it. Yeah, there's times I think about my old FZ1 or having a lighter sporty ride, but the reality is it's kinda fun to let the big dog run. And when I'm ready to relax and cruise, for me there's nothing better.

 

[creggur]

I just fired up my Gen 1 for the first time in months, actually considered selling it about three months ago since a promotion at work has seriously limited my time for anything other than work. I just couldn't do it - I knew the desire to ride would come around again. Got it out last Monday, and man I had forgotten what a wonderful machine the Tenere is... Currently devoted to carving out time to ride each week - it's just too good for my mental health to not do so...

 

[Checkswrecks]

Wondered why we hadn't heard much from you recently.
Congrats on the promotion. Or at least on a pay raise, I hope.

 

[creggur]

Wondered why we hadn't heard much from you recently.
Congrats on the promotion. Or at least on a pay raise, I hope.

Yeah, pay raise came with the promotion. I've questioned my decision to accept it a few times over the past year in the vein of, "be careful what you ask for, you just might get it" - well I got it.

Even though the hours are longer, and stress is higher it's an opportunity to seriously carve years off my time-to-retirement. The irony is that making time to ride would seriously carve off levels of stress, but I got out of the habit of just going.

I'm off today, and the first thing my wife said to me this morning was, "Where you riding to today?" Read: "Get your ass on that bike and go somewhere!" Apparently she enjoyed being around me after my ride last week... Admittedly, my disposition was greatly improved.

So, enough about me - I'm going to gear up and head northwest to nowhere in particular. It is great to see a lot of familiar names still ticking around here!

 

[Checkswrecks]

LOL -
I supervised a department before moving to the Govt 29 years ago, then had the opportunity to move into management 20 years ago. Said "no" and never regretted it.
While a lot of guys my age (61) are physically falling apart, I spent last week running around outside with some great guys to figure out a really big jigsaw puzzle which ought to do good when the results come out.

 

[JRE]

Someday, I'm going to pull a Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey character in American Beauty)...

LESTER: "I'd like to fill out an application."

FAST FOOD WORKER: "There's no jobs for manager, it's just for counter."

LESTER: "Good. I'm looking for the least possible amount of responsibility"
::025::

 

[greg the pole]

The tenere can hold it's own on road pretty much with any bike. But it's nice to have choice too.
I wouldn't sell the Tenere if I were you. I tried an FZ09, FZ01, FZ07, and finally settled on a FJ09. Fantastic second bike to the tenere. Great around town, excellent light sport tourer that eats miles better than the tenere (IMO). They are both keepers
https://thetenerist.wordpress.com/2016/08/30/four-day-blast-on-the-fj09/

 

[JRE]

I wouldn't sell the Tenere if I were you. I tried an FZ09, FZ01, FZ07, and finally settled on a FJ09. Fantastic second bike to the tenere. Great around town, excellent light sport tourer that eats miles better than the tenere (IMO). They are both keepers

This is exactly what I plan on doing. I can get a "new" leftover '15 for $7500 right now. The only thing stopping me is that it's likely I'm going to need achilles surgery (heal spurs causing a rupture) which won't happen due to other commitments until March '17 at the earliest. It's probably 12 weeks of non-weight bearing transitioning into some weight bearing with a boot, etc. Minimal recovery time is 6 months and really it's a year before you are 100%. I had this happen to my right achilles a few years ago so I know the drill. As such, in all likelihood, no riding for me next year so I'm not sure it makes sense to buy something else right now :'(

 

[Daithi]

JRE - Just out of interest - where are you finding a 2015 "leftover" for 7500???

 

[JRE]

Several dealers in Indiana and one in TN I think...$7999 + $500 customer cash rebate.

 

[Davesax36]

I'd believe 12,999... post a link. Maybe I'll go get an extra one.

 

[JRE]

$12999 when the msrp is $10500? Perhaps you are thinking of an FJR?
I don't care to post a link because I just may pull the trigger so I'm not going to broadcast it so someone else can buy it before I do. Y'all can use Google I'm sure...