new competition for our tenere...

[nondairycreamer]

The KTM looks great.
The Beemer is - yawn - more of the same. Now with water. Press will wet their pants over it though.


But it's in the eye of the beholder, I guess, since I think the new VStrom is a fugly ripoff of the Beemer.

Actually the BMW is a ripoff of the Suzuki Big, an 800 single from the 1980's. And neither is a match for the original beak, the Moto Guzzi Quattro Cilindri 500 from 1952-1954. It had a beak that looked like it came off a hawk. Both the BMW and KTM will set some new levels of performance but neither will match the Suzuki or Yamaha for reliability. The OC crowd over at ADV Rider is mostly pissing and moaning that the KTM has less ground clearance than the 9XX models. Actually, they are complaining more about the loss of the 990 and no 750/800 "real" adventure bike offered from Austria. The BMW herd is mostly indignant that the world of reality is never going to be impressed. It looks like BMW has redone everything, time will reveal all and I'll step out on a limb and predict it will not be pretty. Other than a cowardly sump guard and nanny tuned ECU there is little to complain about here in Tenere land.

 

[JaimeV]

I don’t like the Suzi “hen” look.
I like all the rest ... I am very promiscuous
But really like to try the KTM, they did what it should have done Yamaha, a off road version with 21 and 18 tubeless wheels, long suspensions and good ground clearance.
And specific off road switchable ABS!!

 

[motostevie]

Wow, I thought that new bird faced Honda 700x thing was fugly, but that new Vstrom is HIDEOUS. It does look like a hen.... a huge one eyed red beaked hen.... on crack.
I don't really like these bikes with beaks, even the GS's. Why is everybody making them like this?? I considered the BMW 800 cc version before I got the Tenere, only because I thought it was great to ride when I took a Demo at Americade.
That KTM looks awesome. I'm sure it is, like all KTM's are. There are no beaked KTM's, I think. There never should be.

 

[dcstrom]

Before the Super Tenere I had a 1000 Strom, and loved it. You just had to recognize and work around its shortcomings. Once you did that it was a lot of fun on the road, and quite fun, most of the time off road. It made you work for it though.

I thought at the time that if Suzuki bought out a revised and updated strom I'd be all over it. There were even some pics of a new engine floating around the net for a couple of years. However it seemed like it was never going to happen and Suzuki was preparing to let the big strom die of neglect, so I went for the Yam instead. Glad I did... I don't see much in the new one that will make it a big improvement over the old - it still has that 1997 engine FFS. A new frame? Fixing something that wasn't broke - unless they changed the geometry to make it a bit less flighty in loose stuff. Plus it's ugly (but that's a long Strom tradition!). I think they've added more ugliness, so that's something I guess...

 

[everetto]

Just read the lengthy article on the KTM 1190 posted in the orange section on that other forum - I WILL be owning one, absolutely no doubt about it, anyone want to buy a used ST?

 

[cbat]

What about the Honda Crosstour?

 

[Smellyhound]

Just tossing in my $0.02. Having just got my new 2012 ST. I did quite a bit of research before deciding on the this bike. I honestly think everything is in the eye of the beholder and most people will buy what they want based on an infinite list of criteria that ranges from hard facts to the absurd. It isnt wrong or right. It's just everybody is different. When I started my shopping in earnest about a year ago, I was comvinced that the Triumph Tiger line was going to be "The One". After test riding the Super Ten, and doing an honest side by side comparison, the decision was clear to me. Between reliablity, dealer support network, cost, and capablities, I had to pick the Yamaha. I wasnt willing to do stuff to the bike to make it acceptable to me. I love my Wee but there are so many things that could be better. The ST is perfect in nearly every regard (switchable ABS would be nice) and there is nothing I have to do later. Those who love BMWs will always find fault with other bikes. Those who love KTMs will find fault with other bikes. Quite honestly I dont see much changing wiith these new variants really. The biggest complaint from BMW fans about the Super Ten is it's weight. For being 590lbs, it's the lightest feeling most agile 590 lbs I have ever had the pleasure of riding. For me, the Super Tenere sold itself, and the others fell short.

 

[RockyDS]

Between reliablity, dealer support network, cost, and capablities, I had to pick the Yamaha.

::026::

 

[BadKarmaPa]

When I started my shopping in earnest about a year ago, I was comvinced that the Triumph Tiger line was going to be "The One". Between reliablity, dealer support network, cost, and capablities, I had to pick the Yamaha. I love my Wee but there are so many things that could be better. For me, the Super Tenere sold itself, and the others fell short.

::026:: Me too
Sounds like we followed parallel thought processes.

 

[Smellyhound]

::026:: Me too
Sounds like we followed parallel thought processes.

I consider that a good thing. I think everybody at one time or another makes a choice based on self contrived reasoning. I've heard everything from "it's got the latest swingarm technology" to "Well this is the only manufacturer that has this color available, and I love that color". Not that it's wrong, I mean if you like it buy it. But don't get all upset when I don't buy one for the same reasons. BMW wasnt even a consideration for me. The dealer I dealt with was such a pompous jackass I won't ever go back again. Quite honestly I liked the Triumph Triple motor better but there was a reliabilty issue there. The Triumph dealer told me they were finding valves out of spec at 4500 miles. They arent supposed to be checked for 10,000. He said they have already had at least 5 like that. That in itself scares me. The Yamaha dealer said they have checked 2 or 3 at the scheduled 24,000 and havent had to adjust any of them. As for the ride, the Explorer just seemed like the front end was kind of mushy, and I wasnt a big fan of the seating position. I'm sure I could fix all that with buying springs, and risers, but then again... why should I have to? Im dropping 14-16 grand on this thing it better be what I want. I learned a lot by having my Wee. It can be so much better by doing stuff to it, but I really dont want to have to do stuff to it. I know for some that's the fun of owning a bike. I want mine so I can ride, not have it spread across my garage floor. Again, it's to each his own I guess. BTW just for the record, beaks are frigging ugly. and look stupid. Suzuki's concept 1000 is ridiculous. They put a beak on it so it makes it more dirt worthy? Just my opinion. WTH are they (beaks) supposed to do anyway?

 

[cesarb]

Just tossing in my $0.02. Having just got my new 2012 ST. I did quite a bit of research before deciding on the this bike. I honestly think everything is in the eye of the beholder and most people will buy what they want based on an infinite list of criteria that ranges from hard facts to the absurd. It isnt wrong or right. It's just everybody is different. When I started my shopping in earnest about a year ago, I was comvinced that the Triumph Tiger line was going to be "The One". After test riding the Super Ten, and doing an honest side by side comparison, the decision was clear to me. Between reliablity, dealer support network, cost, and capablities, I had to pick the Yamaha. I wasnt willing to do stuff to the bike to make it acceptable to me. I love my Wee but there are so many things that could be better. The ST is perfect in nearly every regard (switchable ABS would be nice) and there is nothing I have to do later. Those who love BMWs will always find fault with other bikes. Those who love KTMs will find fault with other bikes. Quite honestly I dont see much changing wiith these new variants really. The biggest complaint from BMW fans about the Super Ten is it's weight. For being 590lbs, it's the lightest feeling most agile 590 lbs I have ever had the pleasure of riding. For me, the Super Tenere sold itself, and the others fell short.

I agree 100% with this post. You are so right in saying that everyone is different and so are our criteria/tastes for things, items bikes, etc. In the end, I also love that its a reliable bike with good dealership network.

 

[JaimeV]

What about the Honda Crosstour?

I tried some months ago.
Very nice ROAD bike. Nothing to do with off road, I don't think is a ST competitor unless you are looking the ST as a road bike only.

I was really impressed with the automatic clutch and how quick and perfect was changing and reduce gears automatically.
I though it could be like a scooter that you need to break in every corner because you don’t have the engine brake but not, the bike reduces the gear magically…
I don’t like the bike concept but must admit it looks a good quality well build bike. And the engine is amazing.