Off road riders opinions

[Yamahaguy]

I’m thinking of buying a super Tenere to take place of my FJR and KLR650. I know on the street the Tenere will be great but how about off road. Who here has some big block knobbies so they can get there S10 all muddy? I’m looking to hear what you think of this big heavy bike off road. I’m looking to do a lot of 50/50 riding street/dirt and I’m concerned with the size and weight of it. My KLR is considered heavy for a off rode bike and I do great on that so I’m thinking the S10 will be fine.

 

[Mak10]

For me the biggest drawback is ground clearance. Off road with the S10 a bash plate is a must. With the ACD plate on mine I’m ringing it like a bell off road. And I would have done significant damage to my catalytic exhaust pipe without it.
The weight is manageable but the front end does not like soft sand. And she is a big heavy girl that takes some muscle to do what you want.
ABS is lacking off road and let my brakes “go” on a steep downhill. I need to find a workaround to turn it off.
However if you have to ride 40 miles of paved road to get where you want to ride, the S10 gobbles that up while putting a grin on your face.

Bottom line, the S10 is a hammer. Don’t expect it to do the job of a screwdriver.

 

[ballisticexchris]

This is going to be a very interesting thread. You will get a lot of opinions. Here is my take. It is going to be almost 100% rider skill that will dictate how much and how gnarly of off road you can take this bike.

Another huge factor will be the tires. IMHO, you should not consider tire life as a factor at all when choosing a tire. The only safe tire in all off highway conditions is a big block style. Even the Mitas E07's, Heidenau K60's are not going to cut it when you get into deep sand or mud.

You also must consider the weight of this bike. At over 600lbs, it is not going to do the same trails as even the KLR. As long as you realize the limitations you are good to go. I had big plans for some off road adventures on this bike. My plans were sqaushed from the 1st gear click out of the dealers driveway. I have a set of Anakee wilds ready to spoon on. I've decided to hold off until I get used to it on the highway and I can do walking pace lock to lock turns and other slow speed drills before mounting the knobbys.

I already keep a long length of climbing rope, carabiners, and a small pulley. Even a small slip into a shallow rut, tip over in the deep sand, or flopping over in a rock pile is going to be brutal on a bike this big.

 

[Yamahaguy]

To help put a little more context to this question the guys I ride with have VStrom 650’s VStrom 1000 and even a Multistrada. I have been amazed at some of the terrain that these bikes have gone on. I plan to spoon TKC80’s as soon as I leave the showroom floor. Like you said rider skill plays a big role. I’m no expert off road but I do have a few years of experience off road. I might even look into a off road training course to help sharpen my skills.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Nahhh - It's too big and heavy. No ground clearance. Just can't do it.

Welcome aboard noob. The search function works pretty well for these basic questions and who likes what accessories.

The Biggest Dirt Bike In The World - TBDBITW - That's us. The Super Tennis Shoe is amazingly composed and balanced when at a 3 mph slow walk. It also works as a battle tank.

My eperience is that there will be too much overlap between the Tenere and the KLR to keep both unless you want a loaner for friends. I sold the KTM 690 due to the overlap.

 

[14kmtnman]

I have to echo several of the above notes, ground clearance (more would be nice), skid plate (necessary, several good brands), crash bars (necessary, several good brands), rider skill. I too went from a KLR to the Tenere. With the superior power/balance/ride of the Tenere, the difference was like day & night on the same roads and trails. Even with the additional weight, the Tenere is faster & more stable & more capable than my heavily modified KLR ever thought about being.

3 of us a couple years ago did the COBDR, 1 bike had the 804/805 Shinko knobbies, another had the stock tires, & the other one had the Shinko 705's. The only part where 2 of the 3 didn't make it was thru the long deep gravel/sand section outside of Buena Vista. The front end does feel really heavy in the deep sand like mentioned in another post.

We have taken our bikes just about anywhere we took our KLR's. Picking the correct line, watching the speed & knowing that you are on a 600# bike helps keep things in check, most of the time...

The Tenere really opened up the state (CO) and the surrounding areas. Much nicer to ride for 1-2-3 hrs or days to get somewhere to ride, ride off road for a while & then back home. With energy & non body soreness the next day to do it all over again.

 

[Yamahaguy]

This is the bike I’m looking to buy. It has the skid plate and crash bars already installed. Plus the bags. I just need to ad some knobbies and maybe a bigger windshield

 

[Don in Lodi]

Find some of Eemsreno's old ride reports. He and his friends are some crazy back country explorers.

 

[Yamahaguy]

I have to echo several of the above notes, ground clearance (more would be nice), skid plate (necessary, several good brands), crash bars (necessary, several good brands), rider skill. I too went from a KLR to the Tenere. With the superior power/balance/ride of the Tenere, the difference was like day & night on the same roads and trails. Even with the additional weight, the Tenere is faster & more stable & more capable than my heavily modified KLR ever thought about being.

3 of us a couple years ago did the COBDR, 1 bike had the 804/805 Shinko knobbies, another had the stock tires, & the other one had the Shinko 705's. The only part where 2 of the 3 didn't make it was thru the long deep gravel/sand section outside of Buena Vista. The front end does feel really heavy in the deep sand like mentioned in another post.

We have taken our bikes just about anywhere we took our KLR's. Picking the correct line, watching the speed & knowing that you are on a 600# bike helps keep things in check, most of the time...

The Tenere really opened up the state (CO) and the surrounding areas. Much nicer to ride for 1-2-3 hrs or days to get somewhere to ride, ride off road for a while & then back home. With energy & non body soreness the next day to do it all over again.

Thanks for you input this was just the kind of information I was looking for

 

[bigbob]

Nahhh - It's too big and heavy. No ground clearance. Just can't do it.

Welcome aboard noob. The search function works pretty well for these basic questions and who likes what accessories.

The Biggest Dirt Bike In The World - TBDBITW - That's us. The Super Tennis Shoe is amazingly composed and balanced when at a 3 mph slow walk. It also works as a battle tank.
.

Now Bob in all honesty the Ténéré is not perfect (although my favorite bike where other than highway involved) so you really should include the other picture on that road. The unplanned stop before or after that picture.

 

[bigbob]

Find some of Eemsreno's old ride reports. He and his friends are some crazy back country explorers.

Steve and his wife, 2-up with weeks of camping gear, have ridden tracks I do not want to walk!

 

[eemsreno]

These guys must want to put you to sleep if they are referring you to some of my ride reports.
I just like seeing new things off the beaten path and sometimes that takes us on some rough trails.
Here are some links to a few, you'll probably be good and rested up after reading them.

Alaska with my wife.
https://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?threads/2up-to-hyder-alaska-to-see-the-bears.12837/

Alaska with 2 other Super Tenere's
https://advrider.com/f/threads/three-of-tbdbitw-ride-to-alsaka.1087923/

Here is a White Rim Trail trip.
https://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?threads/moab-white-rim-trail-2013.9648/

Here is 4 Super Tenere's out in some of Utah's back country.
https://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?threads/the-not-so-straight-and-narrow-road-to-zion.20590/

 

[Checkswrecks]

Now Bob in all honesty the Ténéré is not perfect (although my favorite bike where other than highway involved) so you really should include the other picture on that road. The unplanned stop before or after that picture.

Here ya go:

It's a bitch when the trailer hangs up in a pot hole, springs loose and you catch sight of it passing you.
The only damage was a bent license plate on the bike.

But it got me to this camp sight:

 

[Yamahaguy]

Wow you have had some epic rides. I hope to do some like that one day

 

[Yamahaguy]

My wife and I use to have that same camper

 

[ballisticexchris]

Holy crap!! Some of those creeks and rocks look pretty gnarly on a 600lb bike!!

 

[Checkswrecks]

Would it be easier on a KTM 350? - Of course.

But with the big girl it's more a matter of the rider's focus. If your head isn't in the now and is fearing a fall, you'll get the fall.

 

[14kmtnman]

eemsreno - this what I want to do on my 2nd trip to Alaska... Just shows part of the what the SE can do...
Alaska with 2 other Super Tenere's
https://advrider.com/f/threads/three-of-tbdbitw-ride-to-alsaka.1087923/

The last time we were on Mosquito Pass (on the ST's) it was raining & in the low 40's high 30's we went up & down the same section shown in one of the above links. You stay upright & the ST can go almost anywhere....

 

[eemsreno]

 

[ballisticexchris]

Those tires look spooky!! You sure are braver than me. I made the decision a few years back to only have a full on big block style knobby for any off-road travel. I figure if they will last between oil changes then I'm good. Back in May I was at a rally at Mojave National Preserve. Almost everyone had the big blocks on their adventure bikes. One guy had the Mitas E07's on his Africa Twin. About a dozen of us made it through a deep sand section and his bike did the smack down. I understand the "chevron style" tires last longer but I want something safer.