Just completed a 3,888 mile ride - bike report

[Dirt_Dad]

No, not a ride report, but a report about how the bike performed and things I learned. (by the way, do we have a place for ride reports here?)

The course was from the Washington, DC area to the top of Nova Scotia, as far west as Ontario, Canada and back. Temps ranged from 50 degrees F to 96 F. Elevation from 10 feet MSL to over 6,000 MSL. Weather was everything from perfectly clear and low humidity to riding in the vicious winds and rain of Tropical Storm Irene.

No one will be surprised to learn the bike performed flawlessly during the entire ride. The heat issue that was so prevalent in the higher 90+ temps totally disappears when the temps drop below 80 degrees. Spending 8 to 12 hours a day on the bike for the last 11 days has cemented my opinion that this is the right bike for me and a huge step up from my DL1000.

After gaining so much seat time I'm left with the overall impression how stable, yet how maneuverable this bike is. I have no idea how Yamaha achieved both of these feats, but I'm so impressed. Having TCS1 and Touring mode was so reassuring when Irene unexpectedly caught up to us in Northern Vermont. The rain was hard and steady, but the wind gust were extraordinary. The bike never slipped, can't say the same for my wife's Spyder. I was pleased with the performance of the Battlewings during this episode. The only thing that failed in the storm was the after market Hyperlite that I removed from my Vee and put on the S10. Nothing on the Yamaha failed in these extreme conditions. Again, can't say the same for the Spyder which did suffer from a waterlogged related issue from the storm.

So after a nearly 4K mile ride I can say this bike only gets better and impresses you more the more you ride it.

Now about that seat comfort...

 

[Venture]

No, not a ride report, but a report about how the bike performed and things I learned. (by the way, do we have a place for ride reports here?)

The course was from the Washington, DC area to the top of Nova Scotia, as far west as Ontario, Canada and back. Temps ranged from 50 degrees F to 96 F. Elevation from 10 feet MSL to over 6,000 MSL. Weather was everything from perfectly clear and low humidity to riding in the vicious winds and rain of Tropical Storm Irene.

No one will be surprised to learn the bike performed flawlessly during the entire ride. The heat issue that was so prevalent in the higher 90+ temps totally disappears when the temps drop below 80 degrees. Spending 8 to 12 hours a day on the bike for the last 11 days has cemented my opinion that this is the right bike for me and a huge step up from my DL1000.

After gaining so much seat time I'm left with the overall impression how stable, yet how maneuverable this bike is. I have no idea how Yamaha achieved both of these feats, but I'm so impressed. Having TCS1 and Touring mode was so reassuring when Irene unexpectedly caught up to us in Northern Vermont. The rain was hard and steady, but the wind gust were extraordinary. The bike never slipped, can't say the same for my wife's Spyder. I was pleased with the performance of the Battlewings during this episode. The only thing that failed in the storm was the after market Hyperlite that I removed from my Vee and put on the S10. Nothing on the Yamaha failed in these extreme conditions. Again, can't say the same for the Spyder which did suffer from a waterlogged related issue from the storm.

So after a nearly 4K mile ride I can say this bike only gets better and impresses you more the more you ride it.

Now about that seat comfort...

This bike just seems to satisfy and satisfy. Consider yourself lucky, Irene beat the crap out of VT, lots of devastation.

Just curious, what exactly went haywire with the Spyder?

Also, ride reports can go in a board here called "Tall Trails."

 

[snakebitten]

Good to hear.

Fixing to do a compressed 2000+ mile trip sandwiched between 2 saturday college football games.
Got a buddy who will fly to Baltimore from Houston on a Monday morning. (He is picking up a sweet DL1000 farkled out in style) I will leave from South Texas on the Super Tenere on the same day. He will beat me, of course.

We will meet at Deals Gap!
Play around the mountains for a day and then haul it to Dallas for another game Saturday in Cowboy stadium. Fly the wives up for the game and then do our very first 2-up tandem back down to coastal Texas.

Should be a legendary week and your report promises that I will be even MORE impressed with this amazing machine when we finally unpack and wind down Sunday night.

Thanks!

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Just curious, what exactly went haywire with the Spyder?

We called it an early day (6 hours of riding) due to conditions being so dangerous. 30 minutes after pulling parking someone knocked on our door and said the Spyder headlights are on. Strange because they won't even turn on until the bike is running. I went out, started it Spyder shut it off and the lights turned off. We had had a knock on the door every 20-30 minutes. After the third time I finally pull the battery cable.

Wire back on in the morning and went to a dealer near Montreal. They checked the computer and said nothing wrong. Knowing it had been through the hurricane I was told to treat it like a road bike rather than a SeaDo. They said water was everywhere when they opened the panel. We chalked it up to a onetime extreme event and have had no problems with it since.

I'll post a ride report at some point in Tall Tails (thanks).

 

[SpeedStar]

Glad to hear that your trip went well and that you are so pleased with the bike. For the seat, have you changed the tilt yet? It really helped mine. Still room for improvement though.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Glad to hear that your trip went well and that you are so pleased with the bike. For the seat, have you changed the tilt yet? It really helped mine. Still room for improvement though.

Yes, I followed your thread and did the exact same thing. It did help, but was not enough for me on an extended ride. On this ride I used the Air Hawk my wife for her old DL650. Made a big difference. Not perfect, but much better than stock. Still hoping for the aftermarket to step up and give us some options.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Nice report dirt dad.... glad your both safe and the bike is awesome ! !

 

[Twitch]

Nice trip! 8)

 

[Brntrt]

Thanks DD, this bike really does grow on you. I keep riding it into conditions I shouldn't be riding it into and it keeps on getting me back out.

 

[motocephalic]

oh be sure to check out the seat thread, then you'll know why I pussed out of my 5K ride to Canada this year. I don't say that often, and I can't believe I am saying it now. I guess I am not willing too ride the bike with the stock seat, that was the final factor for me. It will be Russellized for Ironhorse fall rally, and yes I'm there.

 

[spearsall]

I'm one of those unfortunate guys that has to many bikes to ride. The Tenere is the newest and the best way to describe this beast is to imagine going from a sport touring bike to this adventure stuff. The first 20 miles are just awkward as you grow accustomed to the positioning of your body and how to maneuver the bike. After 50 miles you like it. After 100 you love it. After 150 I start thinking about getting ride of the R5, GTS-1000 & FJR1300. It's that good a bike. Yamaha hasn't hit a Grand Slam...I don;t think you can given everything you want to do with this thing and all the different size riders we bring to the stable...but man this thing is solid.

Just finished the Colorado Motomarathon (www.motomarathon.com) where I parked the FJR and took the Tenere. Other than one corner, newly graveled road and a white Toyota Matrix (Vin Number.....yeah it was that close!) It handled 14,000 peaks like it was standing still. 3 weeks old, nearly 4000 on the ODO.

Givi Bags are the only way to go on this thing. Picked the whole kit up for under $1400 delivered. Completely removable from the bike (even the mounting brackets) within 2 minutes. Adventure Moto in Carson City supplied the kit.

Great great bike we're only going to love more and more as we break it in! Next up is exploring her new home in Reno and the CA Motomarathon in October.

Ride safely guys & gals!