So, for the third year in a row, I have sandwiched a 2 or 3 day ride through the Smoky Mountains while doing some work down in North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. Bike rentals (and moonshine) were through Dan and Deb at GSM Motorent (http://gsmmotorent.com) – who are huge Beemer fans, out of Townsend, TN. Other than that, they are great people. The first year, he had a fully “Twisted” Super Tenere that he had in his fleet. I bought mine later that fall. The next year, I let my buddy try the Tenere, and I went with the GS (pre-water head). This year, Dan had sold the Super Tenere (anyone on the form buy it?), and added the new Triumph Tiger Explorer, again fully farkled by Twisted Throttle. I decided to try it and let my buddy go back to the GS, all the while lamenting that he no longer had a Super Tenere to rent.
Incidentally, Dan is going to only have GS’s in his fleet. He says that’s all he gets requests for (**##@@!!). He is picking up a “water-head” this summer, and will be selling the Triumph (although he just bought a new VStrom). No interest in the 2014 ST because no one asks for it: “Everyone wants the GS” to ride mostly on asphalt (So, feel free to call him up (828-448-6090) or email him at ltdan@gsmmotorent.com and ask if he has the new Super Tenere and that you may be interested in renting from him someday if he got a real Adventure bike!).
Now, for riding or testing adventure bikes, the Greater Smoky Mountain National Park area is amazing. Legendary asphalt twisties like the “Tail of the Dragon”. And no the “Dragon” isn’t over-rated, damn it, just overcrowded, especially with H-D’s. Why the heck would anyone find the Dragon fun on a hog, beats me. But I digress … there are great cruising roads like the Parkways (Blue Ridge, Foothills, Cherohalla) and miles and miles of forest service roads of all kinds of “texture”, cool views, and interesting geology.
So, after a couple of days and 600 miles with the Tiger Explorer, what did I think:
The pluses:
- Beautiful engine – smooth and really powerful. Acceleration was a “kick”
- Unbelievably smooth transmission (when it worked – see below)
- Good riding position and comfortable seat
- Nice cruise control that worked very well
- Electronic function algorithms were a bit laborious and “clunky”. I got used to them, but it took a bit to figure out how to turn off the ABS and TC when we hit the dirt.
- Tough and pleasing looking M-Fer (for an adventure bike)
The minuses:
- Very buzzy at 3500 to 4000 with numbing vibrations on the grips and blurred mirrors
- Stupidly top-heavy, with a side-stand that was so short that I actually needed help to get it vertical when I stopped on a slope one time (and I am not THAT small).
- Probably one of the worst handling bikes that I have ever ridden. Not confidence inspiring in the twisties or off the pavement. The Dragon was almost unpleasant, and I have done it multiple times with a GS and an ST. Constant input was required and it didn’t seem to be planted when going straight, or return by itself easily once tipped over.
- Heated grips didn’t work (I think they were OEM and they had shorted out)
- A couple of times I couldn’t up-shirt out of second gear and had to pull over and shut the engine off and restart????
- It’s a pretender off road bike, and a little too top heavy for fun sport bike performance.
So, in the end, I was extremely glad to get home to my 2012 ST. It feels lighter and more responsive and with the ECU re-flashed quick enough for me. I also don’t miss the cruise control because the Kaoko works great. When we do this again (seems to be becoming an annual event), and if Dan doesn’t have a Super Tenere in the fleet, I will rent a GS – or ship my bike. It just made me appreciate the Super Tenere even more. I think my wife is catching on to my love affair with my Blue Mistress, though.
Incidentally, Dan is going to only have GS’s in his fleet. He says that’s all he gets requests for (**##@@!!). He is picking up a “water-head” this summer, and will be selling the Triumph (although he just bought a new VStrom). No interest in the 2014 ST because no one asks for it: “Everyone wants the GS” to ride mostly on asphalt (So, feel free to call him up (828-448-6090) or email him at ltdan@gsmmotorent.com and ask if he has the new Super Tenere and that you may be interested in renting from him someday if he got a real Adventure bike!).
Now, for riding or testing adventure bikes, the Greater Smoky Mountain National Park area is amazing. Legendary asphalt twisties like the “Tail of the Dragon”. And no the “Dragon” isn’t over-rated, damn it, just overcrowded, especially with H-D’s. Why the heck would anyone find the Dragon fun on a hog, beats me. But I digress … there are great cruising roads like the Parkways (Blue Ridge, Foothills, Cherohalla) and miles and miles of forest service roads of all kinds of “texture”, cool views, and interesting geology.
So, after a couple of days and 600 miles with the Tiger Explorer, what did I think:
The pluses:
- Beautiful engine – smooth and really powerful. Acceleration was a “kick”
- Unbelievably smooth transmission (when it worked – see below)
- Good riding position and comfortable seat
- Nice cruise control that worked very well
- Electronic function algorithms were a bit laborious and “clunky”. I got used to them, but it took a bit to figure out how to turn off the ABS and TC when we hit the dirt.
- Tough and pleasing looking M-Fer (for an adventure bike)
The minuses:
- Very buzzy at 3500 to 4000 with numbing vibrations on the grips and blurred mirrors
- Stupidly top-heavy, with a side-stand that was so short that I actually needed help to get it vertical when I stopped on a slope one time (and I am not THAT small).
- Probably one of the worst handling bikes that I have ever ridden. Not confidence inspiring in the twisties or off the pavement. The Dragon was almost unpleasant, and I have done it multiple times with a GS and an ST. Constant input was required and it didn’t seem to be planted when going straight, or return by itself easily once tipped over.
- Heated grips didn’t work (I think they were OEM and they had shorted out)
- A couple of times I couldn’t up-shirt out of second gear and had to pull over and shut the engine off and restart????
- It’s a pretender off road bike, and a little too top heavy for fun sport bike performance.
So, in the end, I was extremely glad to get home to my 2012 ST. It feels lighter and more responsive and with the ECU re-flashed quick enough for me. I also don’t miss the cruise control because the Kaoko works great. When we do this again (seems to be becoming an annual event), and if Dan doesn’t have a Super Tenere in the fleet, I will rent a GS – or ship my bike. It just made me appreciate the Super Tenere even more. I think my wife is catching on to my love affair with my Blue Mistress, though.
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