Possible Owner Looking to Trade Up from Kawasaki Versys

[Roadpoet]

Hi everyone, newbie to the forum wanting advice which I am sure will be partisan! I want a new bike! All my research has drawn a blank. At the moment I have a Kawasai Versys 650 which is excellent, a bit vibey and breathless 2 up on long tours and also uncomfortable after a couple of hours. I hate chains so was looking for a shaft drive bike - Moto Guzzis were my choice but have been warned off by horror stories, Triumph Explorer looks none too reliable and I don't get on with BMWs. I have owned a fair few Yamahas (30,000 miles on a XS650 back in the day) and want to know if the Super T is a good all rounder - I ride in London (England) with regular trips into Europe and around Britain. 6 foot, 190 lbs, often ride long distance with my wife who is smaller.

Any thoughts, should I be considering the Super T?

Thanks for reading.

RP

 

[Rasher]

I find mine great, started two-up touring properly on a ZZR1400, moved to a GS (lovelly if you can put up with stupid running costs and the reliability lottery of a BMW) and now have the Super Tenere.

It is a great all round bike, decent power with lots of torque in the real world rev range, feels a little flat past 7k, but from 2k-6k is really solid grunt which propels two people almost as eagerly as one - certainly quick enough two-up with luggage to a ton.

The bike looks well made and nicely finished, so far basic servicing has also proved very easy, and in my (and some mates) experience Yamaha's do seem very reliable, easily as good (or better) than Honda these days. The shaft is fantastic and the bike does not feel like a shaftie, with the Beemer the rear felt a little harsh - not on this beastie, and I certainly don't miss having a chain to take care of. Even changing the FD oil only takes about 3 minutes.

Handling is very nice, much better than the weight figure on the spec sheet would suggest. Again two people does not hurt it too badly, shock is a bit soft, but so was my GS, and the ZZR before that, I don't think any bike manufacturers think anyone really goes anywhere two-up.

Seats are pretty decent as stock stuff goes, mine will go to Tony Archer as for £70 to re-work the pair it is a no brainer, but so far probably the best OE seat I have tried, and her indoors agrees.

Try Slocombes Yamaha (London) they did a fantastic deal on my bike and where a real joy to deal with, I normally hate stealers with a passion as they tend to be smarmy robbing b******, but Slocombes are one of the few I would heartily recommend and give first call to if looking to buy another bike - they also do Guzzi's if you get brave :exclaim:

 

[spklbuk]

Sold my Versys to finish farkling my Tenere. I miss that little red fireball sometimes, but it doesn't take long for the Tenere to assure me that all is well. ::022::

 

[Venture]

Hi everyone, nebie to the forum wanting advice which I am sure will be partisan! I want a new bike! All my research has drawn a blank. At the moment I have a Kawasai Versys 650 which is excellent, a bit vibey and breathless 2 up on long tours and also uncomfortable after a couple of hours. I hate chains so was looking for a shaft drive bike - Moto Guzzis were my choice but have been warned off by horror stories, Triumph Explorer looks none too reliable and I don't get on with BMWs. I have owned a fair few Yamahas (£0,000 miles on a XS650 back in the day) and want to know if the Super T is a good all rounder - I ride in London (England) with regular trips into Europe and around Britain. 6 foot, 190 lbs, often ride long distance with my wife who is smaller.

Any thoughts, should I be considering the Super T?

Thanks for reading.

RP

Hey Roadpoet, welcome!

I just wanted to comment on your quip about the Explorer being none too reliable. Based on what I've read they are sounding like another BMW. I think you're in the right place here if you're looking for the most reliable adventure bike in that class.

I'll leave it to the rest of the fellas to lock you in. ;D

 

[Roadpoet]

Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it - the Super T is top of my list now and I will pop over to Slocombes to see what sort of deal they can do.

 

[barkingllizard]

Any thoughts, should I be considering the Super T?

I see no reason why you wouldn't consider a Super Ténéré, with a simple hello, Roadpoet.....

 

[Rasher]

I tried your steed today.

The Mrs is on about doing her test and I was thinking of going halves on a smaller bike for her that I can commute on.

I quite liked the little thing, did find it vibey, small, cramped and slow, not that any of it was too bad. For what we may want I thought it was great, it does pull from low down, and when revved has some zap, handling was tidy enough, suspension a bit budget feeling, back on to the Tenere the differences are large.

The Tenere Motor revs 3k lower, and by comparison you will think the low down grunt of the Tenere will spin the world back in time, no comparison, and for two up it will completely monster the little Kwak. at a guess I would say shifting at 5-6k on the Yamaha will have you redlining to keep up - no contest. I had forgotten how awesome the Yamaha motor was after being so used to it.

The Yamaha is far bigger - or at least for the rider, more leg room, more arm room, more room to shuffle back and forth.

The Yamaha is far smoother, the vibes was the first thing I noticed (after lack of stomp) when hopping on the little Kwak, I would say the Tenere feels more relaxed at 80 than the Versys does at 60 - so watch for points on your licence as it is deceptively fast.

The Yamaha suspension although far from perfect, is still much better out of the crate - then again the list price of the Tenere is almost double that of the little Kwak so it really ought to be.

The Yams brakes also feel stronger and with more feel, the Kwaks were a bit wooden and needed a good squeeze - but for a 1st big bike would be fine, preferable even. But for a big boys two-up bike the Yams brakes are a lot better.

The handling is not much different, once moving the Yamaha feels almost as light, at standstill the Versys feel smaller and lighter, once moving it just seems a lot smaller and a bit lighter.

The Yamaha has a lot more "road presence" and will defintately eat up miles with far less effort, especially two-up.

Let me know if you come to flog your Versys privately ::008::

 

[kgfire]

I really get a kick out of all these comparisons of the Super Tenere vs Tiger Explorer, GS BMW, Versys, V-Strom, Multistrada, KTM, et.al. For me the Tenere, looks right, feels right, sounds right, and the price is right ( at least here in the states ). My friend and I have discussed how the ultimate bike would have a button that would transform it into a sport bike, a touring bike, a dirt bike, a commuter bike, and a track bike. That would pretty much resolve the whole issue of how one bike compares to another.
In the mean time I guess I'll just ride the Tenere.