The_Baron
New Member
Hello All,
I am in the market for a new ride, and I am considering the 2014-2015 Tenere. I realize the forum is probably a biased place to seek opinions, but I also think current owners can provide the best, most honest assessment of the bikes strengths and weaknesses. I’m hoping to receive “real world” impressions from current owners of ’14-’15 Teneres to supplement the journalistic reviews I’ve read on the Web, which, I think, tend to downplay bike negatives to avoid alienating manufacturers.
About me: I am 6’0”, weigh 160lbs and have been riding for the last 17 years. This will be my 3rd bike. I previously owned a CB750 for 10 years. When I got married, my wife, who had never ridden before, loved to ride but was afraid “to fall off the back”; so, I traded up to an 1100cc Shadow Sabre and added saddlebags, backrest, Mustang seats, etc. I’ve owned the Sabre for the last 7 years. My riding style: I typically leave early in the morning (0500-0600) and will ride for 6-10 hours at a stretch, returning home mid to late afternoon. I prefer cruising back country roads at a comfortable pace (50-55mph), but frequent, and sometimes lengthy, jaunts on Interstates (70-75mph) are necessary to explore new areas or reach those back country roads.
My bike requirements: reliability, low cost of ownership, touring range, and, especially, comfortable ergos for me and the wife. I’ve reached the point where I can no longer tolerate the Sabre’s shaky-quaky v-twin, especially after a 10 hour day in the saddle and when combined with the 100+ degree heat here in the South; too much vibration. The Sabre’s seating position looks comfortable and it is for a couple of hours, but the slight forward lean to reach the handlebars can leave me with stiff back muscles after a 10 hour day, so bike ergos are tops on my list. I need a mount I can ride comfortably for, say, 3 consecutive 10 hour days (long weekend) and possibly a cross-country trip. Where I live the roads are mostly flat, straight, open and cross each other at right angles, so, unfortunately, I won’t be doing any canyon carving. I also don’t intend to take it off-road; strictly on-road use only. I’m interested in the Tenere for its upright ergos, cruise control and adjustable, long-travel suspension. Besides a Tenere, I’m also looking at an FJR1300 for the same reasons, but I favor the Tenere because of the reduced weight and bulk.
My Questions:
1. What’s wind protection and vibration (footpegs/handlebars) like at Interstate speeds (75mph) in top gear in the stock configuration? Does lots of buzzy vibration intrude? Do you get blown around like a rag doll?
2. How effective are the low beams at night? The headlights look on the smallish side. Past 45mph, I am overdriving my Sabre’s low beam, even with an aftermarket HID bulb I installed. Does the Tenere have the same problem?
3. How comfortable is the stock seat for rider and passenger for a 5-10 hour day on decent roads?
4. If I add those brick-shaped Yamaha (or aftermarket) side cases, how does that affect bike aerodynamics at Interstate speeds? Do you have to feed constant, minute steering inputs to the bike to maintain a straight line?
5. If ridden conservatively for most of the day (no jackrabbit starts, cruise set btwn 50-55pmh) what’s the mpg like?
6. What’s low-speed parking lot maneuverability (with or without a passenger) like? I read the throttle, especially in ‘S’ mode, can be twitchy, which may make such maneuvers challenging.
7. Any other pertinent observations?
I'd appreciate any input and thanks to everyone for their contributions.
I am in the market for a new ride, and I am considering the 2014-2015 Tenere. I realize the forum is probably a biased place to seek opinions, but I also think current owners can provide the best, most honest assessment of the bikes strengths and weaknesses. I’m hoping to receive “real world” impressions from current owners of ’14-’15 Teneres to supplement the journalistic reviews I’ve read on the Web, which, I think, tend to downplay bike negatives to avoid alienating manufacturers.
About me: I am 6’0”, weigh 160lbs and have been riding for the last 17 years. This will be my 3rd bike. I previously owned a CB750 for 10 years. When I got married, my wife, who had never ridden before, loved to ride but was afraid “to fall off the back”; so, I traded up to an 1100cc Shadow Sabre and added saddlebags, backrest, Mustang seats, etc. I’ve owned the Sabre for the last 7 years. My riding style: I typically leave early in the morning (0500-0600) and will ride for 6-10 hours at a stretch, returning home mid to late afternoon. I prefer cruising back country roads at a comfortable pace (50-55mph), but frequent, and sometimes lengthy, jaunts on Interstates (70-75mph) are necessary to explore new areas or reach those back country roads.
My bike requirements: reliability, low cost of ownership, touring range, and, especially, comfortable ergos for me and the wife. I’ve reached the point where I can no longer tolerate the Sabre’s shaky-quaky v-twin, especially after a 10 hour day in the saddle and when combined with the 100+ degree heat here in the South; too much vibration. The Sabre’s seating position looks comfortable and it is for a couple of hours, but the slight forward lean to reach the handlebars can leave me with stiff back muscles after a 10 hour day, so bike ergos are tops on my list. I need a mount I can ride comfortably for, say, 3 consecutive 10 hour days (long weekend) and possibly a cross-country trip. Where I live the roads are mostly flat, straight, open and cross each other at right angles, so, unfortunately, I won’t be doing any canyon carving. I also don’t intend to take it off-road; strictly on-road use only. I’m interested in the Tenere for its upright ergos, cruise control and adjustable, long-travel suspension. Besides a Tenere, I’m also looking at an FJR1300 for the same reasons, but I favor the Tenere because of the reduced weight and bulk.
My Questions:
1. What’s wind protection and vibration (footpegs/handlebars) like at Interstate speeds (75mph) in top gear in the stock configuration? Does lots of buzzy vibration intrude? Do you get blown around like a rag doll?
2. How effective are the low beams at night? The headlights look on the smallish side. Past 45mph, I am overdriving my Sabre’s low beam, even with an aftermarket HID bulb I installed. Does the Tenere have the same problem?
3. How comfortable is the stock seat for rider and passenger for a 5-10 hour day on decent roads?
4. If I add those brick-shaped Yamaha (or aftermarket) side cases, how does that affect bike aerodynamics at Interstate speeds? Do you have to feed constant, minute steering inputs to the bike to maintain a straight line?
5. If ridden conservatively for most of the day (no jackrabbit starts, cruise set btwn 50-55pmh) what’s the mpg like?
6. What’s low-speed parking lot maneuverability (with or without a passenger) like? I read the throttle, especially in ‘S’ mode, can be twitchy, which may make such maneuvers challenging.
7. Any other pertinent observations?
I'd appreciate any input and thanks to everyone for their contributions.
