Tenere curious...

[GlenT]

Hi, I am current weestrom owner - I share the wee with my wife - and I also own the 'other' ST (ST1300). The ST13 is getting a little long in the tooth, and I find myself riding the wee more and more, especially for commuting. Have been thinking about replacing the ST13 with a Tenere or similar. I am a former BMW owner who has decided not to go the GS route.

Since I usually buy used, I have been watching for STs to come up on Craig's list. They are relatively rare in the Vancouver area, probably due to disasterous rollout by Yamaha Canada ("order one, pay full price, and we'll let you have a look at one in person").

But, suddenly, I see three used ones for sale locally. All have very low mileage. One has only 400 miles on it. The others are under 4000 miles. So my question is, what do you suppose is causing owners to change their minds so early?

 

[merchant]

I can't speak to why these owners are selling so quickly, but the Tenere could be a big departure depending on what you were riding previously. Jumping from a cruiser to a Tenere could be a shock to the system. Totally different seating position. Since you are on a Wee, the posture on a Tenere should be familiar to you. Give one a test ride. If you like it, go for it. If you're worried about buying used, get the YES warranty - pretty cheap piece of mind.

Since we're heading into winter, should be a buyer's market. Happy hunting! Hope you're back soon posting up some pics of your new steed. ::022::

 

[barkingllizard]

a simple hello, GlenT, with some reasons perhaps:

the bike is tall, and may be intimidating for those cruiser riders thinking to jump on the mcgregor/boorman bandwagon

the bike is powerful and quick, both in speed and handling. some people like to just lope along, and that's okay, for them.
the Super Tenere is not a ride for loping, but exploring and moving.

after a year and half, 37 000 kms, I still impressed and enjoying every riding moment.....

make your own decision based on what you want and ride safe

 

[GlenT]

I loved the seating position on the Tenere that I sat on at the motorcycle show almost 3 years ago. I was flat-footing at the show, but he suspension preload may have been set to zero.

I also loved the R1200GS that rented for three days in AZ a couple of years ago. I'm looking to do more exploring off the beaten track (for me, meaning venturing beyond where the pavement ends). There is one at the local dealer. I'm going to see if I can grab a test ride.

 

[thfraser]

I have seen a lot of people buy bikes with the intention of riding them. Then get scared, don't have the time, or just realize it isn't for them. I bought mine used and am very happy with that decision. I probably saved 3k by having someone take the initial depreciation and got some pre-installed farkles too.

I often look at the want ads for motorcycles, I'm always amazed at the 2 to 5 year old bikes with less than a 1,000 miles on them.

 

[greg the pole]

Glen, hope this helps.
I owned a 2005 St1300, liked it, did not love it. Put 10xxx km on it in less than 4 months, and moved on.
I owned a 2006 DL1000 from new, till I sold it last year with 55xxx km on it. Enjoyed the bike very much but was ready for something new, and ever since I sat on a tenere in europe I was hooked.

The ST is fabulous off road. With a good suspension, and excellent electronics it will be light years ahead of the DL650 budget front end. It will handle two up nicely, but it will not be as comfortable as your 1300, or the wee (read: stiff sprung)

Why people change their minds..who knows, economy, life, wife, chicken....could be a 1000 and one things

I have 22 odd km on mine, and have never looked back, this one is a keeper.
Buy in the states and save some dough, the import process is painless, ask me how I know.

 

[GlenT]

I guess that I'm comparing relative mileage with what one typically sees for GSs. A low mileage GS is often 20K and might be two years old.

I know it doesn't mean much. I also noticed that the few Moto Guzzi Selvios have seen used have also had very low miles on them. Probably for different reasons.

 

[greg the pole]

if you want a reliable motorcycle get the Yamaha.
If you want something that looks good outside of starbucks get the GS ::002::

 

[rem]

Welcome on, GlenT. I guess if we didn't believe in the Tenere, we wouldn't all be part of this Forum, so we're biased. It's a great bike. I wrecked my about 2 months ago. Without any hesitation, I ordered another one. Should be in soon. It's a great bike. Good luck with your decision. Keep us posted. R ::004:: ::022::

 

[GlenT]

I really enjoyed riding a GS. But I can't/won't bear the cost of ownership of one. Even though I do 95% of my own maintenance and repairs (and enjoy doing it MOST of the time) I can't really afford the time and money that it takes to keep a BMW on the road.

 

[GlenT]

The ST is fabulous off road. With a good suspension, and excellent electronics it will be light years ahead of the DL650 budget front end. It will handle two up nicely, but it will not be as comfortable as your 1300, or the wee (read: stiff sprung)

I'm interested in this comment about the ST being stiff sprung. In one of the early reviews that I read, they referred to the ST ride as "Gold Wing - like". I'm 150 lbs.

 

[greg the pole]

The front suspension is on the stiff side, again, that's what I find.. rear is about normal. im 190lb.
I think it's worlds ahead of the suzuki stuff, which was ok ( I ended up doing gold valves, and new springs in mine, I will only have to change the oil when it's time on my yammie)
The maintenance is a doddle, everything is easy to get to, in comparaison to the v-stroms, the shaft is sweet, again only thing you have to watch for is the rear spokes.
Valves are every 40km, oil and is every 8km, fliter is every 16km. The rear drive is every 20 or 25km.
I would not hesitate to recoomend this bike to anyone, I thought seriously about the GS before I found out about the ST, but $22 large for a GS with no traction control is a bit much.
My ST was a lot cheaper out of the states, and I'm very satisfied with the bike.

any other questions fire away.

 

[Siseneg]

If you're at 150# you may indeed find it a bit stiff. I felt that that at 250# until I found the settings were all maxed. My previous ride was a well used KLR and it was pretty soft by comparison. What I have found with the ST is that it holds a line at speed in a hard turn over rough roads without any kind of wobble or drift. Big bumps, while transmitted to the rider, don't phase the bike. I couldn't say that about the Gold Wing or the KLR. I like this machine mire as I begin to push it a bit harder. Makes you grin a lot.

 

[GlenT]

I was impressed seeing an ST at the motorcycle show with the plastic and tank removed. It looks well made and relatively easy to work on. Shaft drive is an enticement to me. The wee is the first chain drive bike that I've bought since 1979. I also liked the built-in diagnostics.

I had to put stiffer springs in the wee front end. Does the ST have preload and damping adjustment on the front?

I find that at 150 lbs I am a bit light for my ST13. It rides better when I am loaded for a trip.

Are after market progressive springs available for the front end, if that became an issue?

 

[coastie]

GlenT, yes to all your questions. At your weight I would assume you would have to set your suspension up as soft as possible. I'm 190 and with everything set to neutral, mine is still very firm almost harsh on the bumps of city streets, but overall it works pretty well. Although the guys who have put aftermarket on cant stop talking about the vast improvements. But that's probably the case on any motorcycle.

 

[BadKarmaPa]

I put 60k miles on my '07 Wee and I'm unbearably pleased with myself for choosing a Super T. At 170lbs I find the suspention cushy in warm weather. It stiffens up quite a bit in the cold. But I'm not a suspention tuner, I have no idea what to do with all the adjustments on this thing ::025::

As far as selling low mile bikes, well, it happens. In 1980 I traded an XS11 for a brand new Sportster 1000. Les than 100 yards from the show room I absolutly HATED that bike. ::010::

 

[coastie]

I put 60k miles on my '07 Wee and I'm unbearably pleased with myself for choosing a Super T. At 170lbs I find the suspention cushy in warm weather. It stiffens up quite a bit in the cold. But I'm not a suspention tuner, I have no idea what to do with all the adjustments on this thing ::025::

As far as selling low mile bikes, well, it happens. In 1980 I traded an XS11 for a brand new Sportster 1000. Les than 100 yards from the show room I absolutly HATED that bike. ::010::

The owners manual explains each adjustment. If I were you I would verify each one. This was the first thing I did when I got it home and all the adjustments on the front forks were set different. I set all the adjustments to neutral and have adjusted them as needed ever since.

 

[Checkswrecks]

As for your original question about why 3 are suddenly for sale, three big reasons for selling any motorcycle are coming together.
1. It's the end of the riding season. People sell rather than storing bikes thru winter.
2. The US/CAN bikes first arrived in August a year ago. A lot of owners get the itch to change bikes
3. The bike has new competition arriving in the Triumph and water Beemer.

 

[GlenT]

Obviously, the next step is to go out and ride one. Looks like we might get a break in the weather this weekend. I think its time to swing by my local yam dealer.

 

[greg the pole]

Obviously, the next step is to go out and ride one. Looks like we might get a break in the weather this weekend. I think its time to swing by my local yam dealer.

No need Glen,
do like everyone else did, and buy it blindly. you will not regret it.