New Owner- a few questions...

[BadNews]

I'm picking up my new 2015 STen on Tuesday (Non-ES, no luggage). I was just wondering if there is anything I need to look for, like I did with my FJR. My FJR needed the rear mudflap, and I had to loc-tite the pannier locks, etc., stuff like that. So aside from generally checking all the fasteners, bolts, etc. for tightness, is there anything specific that you discovered that I should check?

Thanks in Advance!

 

[colorider]

Welcome aboard! Wow, joined in May of 2012 and this is your first post?! ::025::

 

[Don in Lodi]

Welcome aboard! Wow, joined in May of 2012 and this is your first post?! ::025::

Reads like first Tenere too. ::004:: finally.

 

[trainman]

was told to keep an eye on the spokes over the first year, seems like a few have had the odd one loosen then they settle down
I try to give them a ping every few weeks but still managed to miss one that lost its nipple just after 6000 miles, so took the spoke out until dealer changed them all out under warranty

am also told it tends to be the rear wheel, but no doubt someone may say otherwise!

 

[rider33]

the spoke thing gets a lot of play, primarily I believe because Tenere owners just don't have much in the way of other things to worry about. I'd get in the habit of pinging the rear spokes with a screw driver now and again when it's on the center stand, an off note may signal one loosening up but the odds are pretty low. This is a very smooth machine for a parallel twin, I don't think much is apt to rattle off and the build quality is quite good. Assuming the dealer who sets it up is reasonably competent my guess is you will have no issues at all like most of us. I would recommend the dealer 600 mile service. It's always handy to have a factory representative look it over and certify that things are good to go. That is the one service I would never skip if you can avoid it. Other than that, it's farkle time. The two I would recommend to anyone is crash bars and a Madstad bracket. Bars because if it fall on the left that can get to be expensive (Happy-Trail bars are both stout and fairly priced). The Madstat just gives you much more screen adjustment and makes doing that much easier.
'Enjoy the new bike, you can do pretty much anything with one.

 

[BadNews]

Welcome aboard! Wow, joined in May of 2012 and this is your first post?! ::025::

Yeh, I spent some time lurking back then when I was deciding if I wanted an FJR or a 2012 Tenere. I test rode both and I went with the 2013 FJR back then, which I don't regret, it is a fantastic bike. I just can't make myself fit on it anymore, tried peg lowering kits, Garaulds hi way pegs, seat in high position with Airhawk on it, just can't get comfortable nowadays. Besides, I found myself passing up some interesting looking gravel roads that I know the FJR can do, but the ST would do better. And I don't want to take the FJR up the Black Bear Pass or whatever the name of that road is that goes from 550 over to Telluride.

So here I am, and thanks for the responses so far.

Just one more question for now, on my FJR I ran the front tire at +3-4 pounds over the manual recommendations, it just handled better. Anything similar with the Tenere?

I will post up some pix when I take delivery.

Thanks!

 

[kpduffy]

If the forget to tell you where the tool kit is, it's located behind the right fairing. There is an allen wrench hiding under the seat to gain access. I went to wire my battery tender and discovered this. The battery is located in the same spot too.

Have fun, its a fantastic bike!

I'm picking up my new 2015 STen on Tuesday (Non-ES, no luggage). I was just wondering if there is anything I need to look for, like I did with my FJR. My FJR needed the rear mudflap, and I had to loc-tite the pannier locks, etc., stuff like that. So aside from generally checking all the fasteners, bolts, etc. for tightness, is there anything specific that you discovered that I should check?

Thanks in Advance!

 

[BadNews]

the spoke thing gets a lot of play, primarily I believe because Tenere owners just don't have much in the way of other things to worry about.
LOL This is good news! ::025::
I'd get in the habit of pinging the rear spokes with a screw driver now and again when it's on the center stand, an off note may signal one loosening up but the odds are pretty low. This is a very smooth machine for a parallel twin, I don't think much is apt to rattle off and the build quality is quite good. Assuming the dealer who sets it up is reasonably competent my guess is you will have no issues at all like most of us. I would recommend the dealer 600 mile service. It's always handy to have a factory representative look it over and certify that things are good to go. That is the one service I would never skip if you can avoid it. Other than that, it's farkle time. The two I would recommend to anyone is crash bars and a Madstad bracket. Bars because if it fall on the left that can get to be expensive (Happy-Trail bars are both stout and fairly priced). The Madstat just gives you much more screen adjustment and makes doing that much easier.

Thanks for the recommendations. I do want to get some panniers, I remember looking at the Happy-Trails stuff. Not sure whether I want hard or soft luggage yet.
I had a Madstadt bracket on my 2009 Wee Strom, it was a nice bit of hardware.
'Enjoy the new bike, you can do pretty much anything with one.

 

[craigd]

Let me know when you plan to do Black Bear on the Tenere, I would like to be there with a video camera. Personally I think the Tenere is at least 200 pounds too heavy.

 

[BadNews]

Let me know when you plan to do Black Bear on the Tenere, I would like to be there with a video camera. Personally I think the Tenere is at least 200 pounds too heavy.

I took my Jeep Cherokee over it many years ago. Maybe I'm confused about which road it is, I thought it was Black Bear something or other. We picked it up south of Ouray on 550, it goes over a pass maybe 10,000 feet? then down into Telluride. Surely a Tenere can do any road a Jeep Cherokee can do?

Edit: I checked Google Maps, it's Black Bear Road Hiway 823 also Black Bear Pass Summit. So educate me here, you're saying a Tenere can't do this road?

 

[Don in Lodi]

I took my Jeep Cherokee over it many years ago. Maybe I'm confused about which road it is, I thought it was Black Bear something or other. We picked it up south of Ouray on 550, it goes over a pass maybe 10,000 feet? then down into Telluride. Surely a Tenere can do any road a Jeep Cherokee can do?

Edit: I checked Google Maps, it's Black Bear Road Hiway 823 also Black Bear Pass Summit. So educate me here, you're saying a Tenere can't do this road?

A Tenere can do pretty much everything around Ouray, except Black Bear. I wouldn't want to be the one to have his Tenere go skittering into the creek going down those steps. That being said, I believe one of the folks here has done it. His skill set is far higher than mine.

 

[DonB]

Badnews ::004:: ::004:: ::004:: ::004::
What dealer did you get yours from?
You will find the Tenere to be extremely versatile. Mine is set up for road riding as I only do the occasional gravel road if I have to. When I had the factory tires on it I took it out into some logging roads and it did pretty well. Real heavy for a dirt bike though ;D
Where in Ohio are you? I am in Springfield.
I just returned from the gathering in Romney. My second one....what a great bunch of fellow adventure bike riders! The dealer is fantastic too ::008:: ::008:: ::008::
After riding three hours in the rain you may want to get a front fender extender ::013:: ::013::
Hopefully see you on the road!
Don

 

[BadNews]

I've bought quite a few bikes from Mid-Ohio in Mount Vernon (my hometown) through the years; that's where I'm getting my Tenere from. They always make me a good deal. They're small enough to be personable, but they always have a good selection. They have a yellow 2016 on the floor right now if anyone's interested.

Fenda-extenda is definitely on my list, I put one on my FJR.

I didn't remember any steps on Black Bear, but that was 20 years ago, maybe the road changed, or more likely, I just can't recall.

Anyone like to chime in on the tire pressure question? Maybe that's not an issue on the Tenere?

Ok , I'll be on another part of the web checking out some farkles! ::018::

 

[rider33]

Yeh, I spent some time lurking back then when I was deciding if I wanted an FJR or a 2012 Tenere. I test rode both and I went with the 2013 FJR back then, which I don't regret, it is a fantastic bike.

I looked at FJR's about 5 years ago, in fact I went in intending to buy one but an ST1300 was stilling next to it and it just felt much more comfortable to me (larger, more open). I took that bike all over the country, 'great mile eater. The problem was, you would get out someplace interesting and there would be this gravel road to the left and you would have to think twice about taking a fully flared 700#+ bike down it. This would be my ST1300 headed down the Valley of the Gods road in southern Utah:

I made it but it got pretty hairy at times. The nice thing about the S10 is it's about 80-85% as good a mile muncher as the 1300 but much, much better in the tricky non-paved bits. It certainly is not a 250cc dirt bike but if you don't get stupid, there really are not many places it can't go (and get back from). I really enjoy having that sort of flexibility, particularly when I'm several thousand miles from home.

 

[rider33]

PS- I don't find it to be particularly sensitive to tire pressure, in fact I don't even bother to reduce the tire pressure when going off road on it. Then again I'm not in the habit of trying to hammer #600 adventure bikes off road either, there are better tools for that sort of thing.
I did have it at sustained 80 MPH+ speeds out west last summer in everything from heavy rains to high wind and it did just find with the stock pressures. In fact in Nevada in some particularly nasty cross winds it was doing better than a few GS's I came across. Then again they were kitted out with the hardcase tourtech full Monty which gave them some pretty significant sail area. I'm not a fan of big metal boxes, I just travel with a big-ass seat bag which also serves as a backseat:

 

[craigd]

Regarding Black Bear Pass, I did it last summer on a KLX300 which weighs a bit under 300 pounds. On that bike, with very low gearing, it was not bad. Although having never done it before, and knowing it's reputation, I was definitely paying very close attention through the steppy section, which is just before the switchbacks leading down into Telluride. The steppy section is steep and has a fair amount of loose stuff scattered in the steps. There are also several other sections both up hill and down hill that have loose, lumpy rock. Any of these could easily result in an unplanned dismount. Certainly, there are riders who could do any of the passes around Ouray on a Tenere, but I can't imagine that anyone would consider it enjoyable. As an example, I ran into a group on their way up Corkscrew Gulch. There were four R****GS's, an F800GS and a KTM(500? 690? I can't remember for sure). The KTM was having no issues, as would be expected. The rider on the F800GS was quite good and doing fine. One of the R's was an older, lighter 1100 or 1150 with a pretty good rider, and he was managing ok. The leader was a very good rider on a pretty new GS and his skill made it look easy. The other two were flailing horribly and definitely not having fun. The leader actually had to ride his bike up through the harder sections and then walk down twice to ride the other two up. I ran into part of the group the next day in Telluride. I think they came over Ophir Pass. None of them chose to do Black Bear and the two lesser riders opted out entirely and were doing paved roads only. As far as the difference between 4x4's and bikes is concerned, I have done both pretty extensively. There is very little value in trying to determine the difficulty of a trail based on the other type of vehicle. Some obstacles which are easy in a truck can be shockingly difficult on a bike and visa versa. In closing, I would say that a smaller, lighter bike would be much more pleasant for exploring the non maintained trails of the western US.

The attached photo is just above the steppy section. The detail is hard to see, but you may notice the loose lumpy rock in the trail.

 

[BadNews]

Thanks for all the replies!
So far I've got:
Keep an eye on the spokes (maybe use a tuning fork? )
Factory recommended tire pressures are fine.
Don't try Black Bear on the Tenere unless you have Mad Skilz. (I don't).

Ordered my fender extender (Thanks DonB!), and I find Tech Spec Snake Skin tank pads indispensable, so I ordered a set of those.
As far as side cases and other farkles, it looks like Altrider, TwistedThrottle, and Happy-Trail all have some good stuff. I kinda like the Wolfman stuff, too.

From kpduffy: If the forget to tell you where the tool kit is, it's located behind the right fairing. There is an allen wrench hiding under the seat to gain access. I went to wire my battery tender and discovered this. The battery is located in the same spot too.
Thanks, good to know. I'll be attaching the battery tender lead I took off the FJR.

craigd: Thanks for the photo, it seems like one would be so focused on negotiating the trail that you would miss the scenic views!

I looked at FJR's about 5 years ago, in fact I went in intending to buy one but an ST1300 was stilling next to it and it just felt much more comfortable to me (larger, more open). I took that bike all over the country, 'great mile eater. The problem was, you would get out someplace interesting and there would be this gravel road to the left and you would have to think twice about taking a fully flared 700#+ bike down it. This would be my ST1300 headed down the Valley of the Gods road in southern Utah:

I made it but it got pretty hairy at times. The nice thing about the S10 is it's about 80-85% as good a mile muncher as the 1300 but much, much better in the tricky non-paved bits. It certainly is not a 250cc dirt bike but if you don't get stupid, there really are not many places it can't go (and get back from). I really enjoy having that sort of flexibility, particularly when I'm several thousand miles from home.

I test rode a Honda ST before I bought my FJR, I know a lot of folks like them and they have proven their worth, that V-4 is a great motor!
Your comment above is a major reason I'm switching to the Tenere, so I can go down some of the non-paved bits when I get the notion. Of course, someone will point out that John Ryan took his FJR to Deadhorse, but I'll just say that he was 'special'.

 

[BaldKnob]

A Tenere can do pretty much everything around Ouray, except Black Bear. I wouldn't want to be the one to have his Tenere go skittering into the creek going down those steps. That being said, I believe one of the folks here has done it. His skill set is far higher than mine.

The Inmate you speak of is MrTwisty and his skills are indeed mad. But I believe he bulldogged the machine down the Steps as even he has his limits of stupidity.

Congrats on your new ride, Bad News. Another thing to add to your checklist is the steering head nut. Some come loose, sometimes the bearings aren't greased very good and some may be just fine. The final drive fluid gets ugly quick so change it ASAP then it should be good for a long time. I would loosen the axles and check for binding and check the torque on your upper/lower fork clamps just for giggles. You never know. Set suspension and ride but think real hard about Black Bear. Incline, loose rock and a 600 pound dirtbike don't play well together. Ophir is more Tenere-friendly...

Oh, and those extender thingys sometimes hang up in your future skidplate so, there's that. Have fun!

 

[oldbear]

May I suggest an oversize "foot" for the kickstand as a early farkle? Will save a lot of worry when you park it somewhere soft..

 

[BadNews]

The final drive fluid gets ugly quick so change it ASAP then it should be good for a long time.
Thanks, I have some left over from my FJR, should be the same stuff, right?

think real hard about Black Bear. Incline, loose rock and a 600 pound dirtbike don't play well together. Ophir is more Tenere-friendly...
I was thinking about Black Bear just for nostalgia sake, I didn't realize it really is a "Bear" on the Tenere. I'll avoid it, but now Ophir sounds interesting......