Want one...

[LittleSteve]

Tell me why I want a Super Tenere. I have been looking at this bike for some time and just found this forum. I'm currently considering trading in my V-Star 1300 '08 for the '12 Super 10. I've been reading as much as I can but not sure about the switcharoo yet. I was originally considering adding the KLR 650 and keep the big cruiser and have decided that is a bad idea and maybe get rid of the hard on the lower back and hips low to the ground Star and get something more fitted to touring that can actually go down a dirt road, but handle long days getting to where I want to go on the highways. The big problem for me has been having open road power in plentyn with the Star, reasonable comfort, but once I get to point "B" I can not get into the places I like to camp, read dirt roads and back country travel, nothing very technical, but nothing the Star could handle without making a mess out of a very nice ride and probably dumping it. I've already had the Star in places AT riders have asked, "You rode that in here?" What am I supposed to answer, "No, I carried it." So..., if I can get a V-Star where I probably should not take it (mind that it's loaded down with full camping gear etc for weeks travel and food, ice chest with cold after ride beer and three gallons of water), would you trade it for a 2012 Ten? I'm just thinking the Star is like riding a cow...or an ox, handles OK, sort of comfortable, can carry the kitchen sink, but...
Let me know,
SA

 

[spasm]

you just answered your own question, this bike is awesome and will do it all, as long as your legs arnt to short lol. buy one and dont look back mate ::022:: ::008::

 

[oregon-rider]

::004:: That's just what I did ::025:: Traded my 08 Vstar1300T in on a ST1200 and sold my WR250R and I have no regrets.I have been on some bad dirt roads with no trouble ::008::

 

[GrahamD]

::004:: from down under...

Looking forward to the pics of a SuperT camping in places it has no right to be ::012::

Cheers
Graham

 

[LittleSteve]

Thanks for the quick responses. I am kind of short of leg. Only 5'10" I think the Tenere might be a bit of a reach if things get technical. But the road capabilities vs downgrading for a lighter bike that is too high like the KLR would be an unhappy experience. I do have a lot of off road experience, dirt bikes and 4wd etc. The ABS brakes are a little troubling, especially the coupled front/rear, but I think the rest of the package looks good. I also think a more upright AT geometry would be a lot better for my lower back and hips for the long haul. Then I'll tell you where I want to go...
SA

 

[oregon-rider]

Thanks for the quick responses. I am kind of short of leg. Only 5'10" I think the Tenere might be a bit of a reach if things get technical. But the road capabilities vs downgrading for a lighter bike that is too high like the KLR would be an unhappy experience. I do have a lot of off road experience, dirt bikes and 4wd etc. The ABS brakes are a little troubling, especially the coupled front/rear, but I think the rest of the package looks good. I also think a more upright AT geometry would be a lot better for my lower back and hips for the long haul. Then I'll tell you where I want to go...
SA

I have adjusted to the brakes and like them ::008::

 

[Twisties]

I'm coming from a street ride too, but a more sporty touring experience on a BMW R 1200 RT than a cruiser. But yeah, same reasons as you, wanted to extend riding to include better access to campsites and reasonable dirt roads. The SupaT meets my needs, and is as sporty as the RT. In fact the RT is for sale.... Like you I was thinking to keep the RT and add a V-Strom or KLR for local dirt. Then the SupaT made me realize one bike could do it better.

Anyway, I'm 5'9" and can flat foot the SupaT.

I thought it would be too big too, but its not. Go ride one. Many dealers will allow a test ride. Be sure to put the seat in the low position. There is also a low seat available, although I have never seen one.

I like the ergos, but did move the bars back and up 1 1/4".

The KLR is a fine bike too, but if your purpose is more touring than hard core dirt riding I think you'd prefer the SupaT.

 

[GrahamD]

The ABS brakes are a little troubling, especially the coupled front/rear,

It's not a BMW so the limits are higher. The linked brakes turn off if you hit the rear first as well. It's not a dumb crossover pipe either.

The whole brake system had 1 year in Africa Off road being developed. You may still want to fit a switch but the limit is pretty high on this bike.

Cheers
Graham

 

[LittleSteve]

All good...
Not hard core dirt, not too technical, but not too bad at slow trials either... But a foot dab here and there had me wondering about the height of the bike. However, the most important thing is getting out there and that entails a lot of highway driving and thus my leaning away from something lacking in power and weight like the KLR 650. Passing a semi truck on the V-Star is like whatever just roll on the throttle... run away from lightning storm, easy, a hundred MPH for a couple minutes, zoom and no problem. The V-Star 1300 does over 65 MPH in 2nd gear. It's actually geared too tall for me as I drive pretty slow and would much prefer a 6 speed tranny. Honestly I think I just bought the wrong kind of bike starting out, but I gotta say the 1300 is a beast for being a mid-size el'cheapo cruiser. I grew up with an RD-350 and Kawi tripples. I always preferd the close geared RD's with 6 speed box.
SA

 

[GrahamD]

The s10 motor I would call a "cruising sport" engine sort of half way between a sport bike and a cruiser, but with good MPG.

It's best off road in that kind of configuration. Mine gets smoother the higher you rev it (after that 4000RPM rumbly patch.).

But I can also just leave it in sixth and cruise through a town at 35MPH. I think I went 500Km last ride in 6th come to think of it. ???

 

[dcc46]

Of course you want one, it's a great bike Seriously though I'm 5'8 and I can almost flatfoot this beast so you shouldn't have any trouble getting both feet down.

 

[HoebSTer]

LittleSteve, There is always the lower seat option, and lowering links. DirtDad here on the forum has lowered one of his for his wife. He can help you with that, if it really is too tall for you. Oh, and carrying an ice chest and 3 gallons of water along with other things??? um this may be one reason why a bike feels like a cow!!! When you described that, it sounded more like a mule made to haul gear. Ha!! YOu will like the Tenere, it does everything wonderful, and nothing perfect!!!

 

[greg the pole]

get one, you will not regret it, i'm 5 foot 9 and I have the seat in the higher postion. no issues.
you will not get a bad opinion from this bunch on a ST 12 ::002::

 

[Dingo]

Your leg inseam maybe a better gauge of whether you think the bike will fit ... Im 5'10", have the stock seat in the low position and dont really have an issue with the height - while my feet are not flat when sitting, I dont find it to be a big deal. Plenty of mods (mentioned above) that can alleviate that concern anyways ...

Dual sport tourer to go camping? Absolutely. Fire roads/trails? Hell yeah. Small jumps ... sure, but beyond that you maybe pushing it.

Its not a CRF, or XR ... but for what its built for, it does it very well.

 

[AVGeek]

+1 to what Dingo said about seat height...I'm 5'9" with a 30" inseam, and while I'm not fully flatfooted on mine, a slight shift left or right is easy enough at a stop. Also, with the weight carried as low as it is on this bike, it's much easier to hold it up than my FJR (which now feels small in comparison, and its considered a "big" sport tourer).

 

[MurphCO]

I came to the Tenere from a Vic Hammer (1634cc) and I'll say that the Vic had the Tenere 0-60, however, the Tenere is all over it past that point, I find myself around 100 on the highway all the time, not realizing it. And no slouch getting up to 60 either, especially in Sport mode with TCS off


If you don't know, do a little reading, but this bike has two modes, Sport and Touring, one quicker, one more reserved, and three traction control settings, giving you a lot of options to figure out how you want the bike to perform.



No regrets here.....

 

[RED CAT]

Don't worry about the power. I think the S10 would walk away from a V Star. As for the ABS. Always surprises me about dirt guys thinking they have to turn them off on dirt. I am fairly aggresive on gravel roads and find the ABS an advantage. I've been a dirt biker for 35 years and have only found I should have turned off ABS on my GS1200 one time and that was in a place I should not have been,on a snowmobile trail by mistake. It was a long, steep, hairy, wet downhill in 1st gear. Other than that I'm willing to bet you don't really need to turn off ABS. The S10 is an awesome motorcycle.

 

[Camshft]

Yes, RedCat is very aggressive on dirt [gravel] roads. I have learned that Sport Mode combined with TCS 2 and a big old handful of front brake can carry you places on gravel on the Tenere that you would not think possible. Then woof on the throttle, kick out the wheel [Tenere will correct], big grin....and Bob's your uncle [or RedCat].

The Tenere responds beautifully on gravel, Sport, TCS 2 and a handful of brake [ABS]. Trust this combo and you'll never look at the Tenere the same way, ever, ever again....once I learned this I'm all-in.

CammyB'hammy

 

[tenerejack]

I tend to agree w/ Redcat. I oly turn off TCS so I can get radical and spray my neighbors dog as it chases me up my driveway. I've been riding in the dirt a long time and I still like the rooster tail. The one place TCS is annoying is on the wash board section of the gravel road. When you ask for some power it chatters at you as if to say hold on I don't want you to get hurt. Otherwise TCS takes a lot of the technical out of your trail ride. This bike is awesome!!! ::009::

 

[Dirt_Dad]

As was mentioned, I did use 1" lowering links and the Yamaha shorter seat to lower my first Tenere for my 5' 6" wife. She cannot flat foot it, but she tells me all the time how easy it is for her to handle. She believes it feels much lighter and easier to ride than her last DL650 which was also lowered 1". If she's happy at 5'6" I don't see any issue for someone that is taller.

As for the ABS, I have not found any place where where I wish I could turn it off. To be fair, I haven't done anything too hardcore with the bike. I have done a fair amount of mud and lots of dirt and gravel roads. ABS has been a complete non-issue to me so far.

I tend to run in TCS2 95% of the time on and off pavement. TCS1 is good for rain and TCS off is needed when wheelies are desired, or when running hard in the twisties and trying to squeeze every last bit of performance out of the bike.