What do we now think of the bike

So now you've got one how well does it stack up?

  • It surpasses my expectations

    Votes: 779 56.2%
  • It's exactley what I thought it would be

    Votes: 513 37.0%
  • It's not quite what I thought it would be

    Votes: 88 6.3%
  • It's nothing like I thought it would be

    Votes: 6 0.4%

  • Total voters
    1,386

HeliMark

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2013
Messages
995
Location
Tennessee
But, even in those three fuel maps, isn't there a "rev limiter" in the software? I've always ass-summed that the software is what shuts the fuel pump off at red-line. I've never hit the limiter on the Tenere though.
No idea, but my thought is the rev limiter is hard coded in the ECM.
 

RogerRZ

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2018
Messages
257
Location
New Brunswick, Canada
I really don't think that there are many bikes out there that can take a rider of middling ability (me) and treat him to nasty single track, BBG1500 rides, all while maintaining impeccable reliability, and not cost an arm and a leg (even more so on the used market). The Super Tenere is one of them. Only thing I'd change is the way TC switches on, and add cruise control (on my 2013-- and I'm on the fence wrt cruise, I find it's a pretty good tired-o-meter if I'm not able to maintain my chosen speed)...

An almost perfect one bike solution. If it gained 50hp and lost 100lbs, and kept everything else, it would be perfect!
 

Jlq1969

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Joined
May 5, 2018
Messages
1,749
Location
Argentina
I hardly ever need that extra oomph, but while you don't always use the hp you have, you can't ever use the hp you don't have. :)
If you have the need to have 160 hp, on an adventure bike, just keep your head cool when you go out to look for them. In gravel, they are unmanageable, in asphalt twisties, they are tempting
 

RogerRZ

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2018
Messages
257
Location
New Brunswick, Canada
No worries. I'm more of a slow and steady type. I was able to exercise restraint on a GSXR750, that was always whispering "just gas it".

As much as I'd like to have a bunch of extra ponies in the stable, I wouldn't want them to be at the expense of reliability, which is why contrary to every other bike I've had, I've left the motor bone stock...
 

Cycledude

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2016
Messages
3,999
Location
Rib lake wi
More HP does not interest me at all, the stock Tenere has way more HP than I will ever need.
In fact if there was a little lighter and less HP model Tenere with shaft drive, cruise control, self canceling turn signals I very likely would be looking to buy one.
 

Sierra1

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
14,819
Location
Joshua TX
….If it gained 50hp and lost 100lbs, and kept everything else, it would be perfect!
Then she wouldn't be a Tenere. Keep in mind what her mission in life is. I wouldn't know what to do with 50% more power....I couldn't imagine trying to handle 150+ hp in gravel....and I like the stability her weight gives her; the wide bars make Her FEEL light, and VERY easy transition left & right. (i.m.o.)
 

adventurelounger

Active Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2014
Messages
220
Location
New England
I just finished an 8-day, 2,400 mile motocamping road trip up through Maine, New Brunswick and the Gaspé peninsula in Quebec on my ‘13 Super T.
Also clicked over the 10,000 mile mark on the trip.

My Ténéré ran flawlessly with one niggling hitch: at the end of day one, I went to unlock my right hand pannier; the lock spun freely, and then fell back into the locked pannier. Guess I had the dreaded and not uncommon “loose pannier lock screws” syndrome. I had to bust open the lid with a pry bar, and used Rok Straps to secure it shut for the rest of the trip.

But other than that, the bike was unfailingly reliable. I rode slab, twisties, and dirt/gravel fire roads. Used an air hawk to keep my butt happy (and it largely was); and did a fair bit of wear on the Heidenau K60 Scouts.

WHAT A FAITHFUL COMPANION this bike is. It never complains, never strains. It’s comfortable at 85 mph for hours on end. And it’s easy and fun to handle in the dirt.

I’ve had a couple of BMWs (the small and mid sized GSs). I’ve been tempted by their big brother R1200GS; by the Tiger; by the Katoom; etc etc.

But the Super Ten is just so darn good and so trustworthy at doing so many things...it’s kinda like the Subaru Outback if ADV bikes.

So now what do I think of the bike? I still love it, and I’m grateful for how well it’s taken care of me in through my adventures.
 

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jeckyll

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 11, 2016
Messages
651
Location
Lotusland
And, equally important, if not more, at what rpm. My kid's R6 has nothing until 8K rpms; of course it has a gazillion rpm redline. I love the Tenere's grunt.
Agreed.

A nice fat torque curve wins. Use to have a zx9r, my buddy had a 750 gixxer. I walked away from him despite the bikes having the same HP and similar weight.
 
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ballisticexchris

Guest
I'm liking mine more and more every ride. I'm still learning the characteristics of this machine as well.

The negative of this bike is the weight. It's the biggest, heaviest bike I have ever owned. It rears its ugly head when you get off the pavement. I remember Jimmy Lewis drilling into the class over and over to respect the weight of these machines. Small tip overs can be very expensive. As long as I'm upright and moving it does pretty damn good. I cannot imagine guys wanting to disconnect the antilock system on this bike.
 

Sierra1

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Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
14,819
Location
Joshua TX
Is the ABS a plus or minus off road? With my ZERO off road experience, it would seem to be a minus.
 

Mak10

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Joined
Aug 20, 2018
Messages
2,567
Location
SE Idaho
Abs is a big minus off road. Too intrusive. It works excellent on pavement though.
 

Jlq1969

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Joined
May 5, 2018
Messages
1,749
Location
Argentina
Is the ABS a plus or minus off road? With my ZERO off road experience, it would seem to be a minus.
In the gravel, the abs off, can reduce the braking distance by several meters, "BUT" as long as you are a good driver and know how to keep the motorcycle upright with your "good driving technique". On a very steep slope, it can become indispensable, but you can do it with the engine stopped, so the abs does not work .or disable it with the central stand "but before". Look stop ligth in this video
 
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ballisticexchris

Guest
I consider the ABS a plus off the pavement. OTOH, for an advanced aggressive rider I can see where not having the ABS could be a big advantage. I figure if I'm going at a fast enough speed where I'm doing hard brake slides, I'm going too fast and hard. Also there is no denying that electronic ABS cannot keep up with a human for quicker stops in the dirt. But again you have to be a really aggressive rider with a much higher skill set than what I have.

For the average guy, having the ABS is more than adequate and much safer on any surface. A buddy of mine has owned this bike since it first came out and he is a way more advanced rider than myself. He has not found one situation where ABS needs to be disconnected. And I have been doing some experimenting by dancing on the rear brake to control the bike in loose downhill turns. It actually works quite well at slower speeds.

It's very controversial to have it or not. Really depends on the rider and level of comfort. For now I choose to be a wimp and not ride over my head.
 

jeckyll

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 11, 2016
Messages
651
Location
Lotusland
Interesting question about the ABS. I find it works fine offroad ... to a point. I've not disconnected it often, but we were up one shale and rocky trail that had sharp turns just ahead of big cliffs, and I pulled off the sensor at the top. Definitely required.

(I keep a small loop of ziptie so I can tuck the sensor wire through and just put the bolt back where it belongs, works fine, takes hardly any time :) ).

For most gravel riding, "Gelaende Strasse - riding", it works great. :)
 
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ballisticexchris

Guest
In the gravel, the abs off, can reduce the braking distance by several meters, "BUT" as long as you are a good driver and know how to keep the motorcycle upright with your "good driving technique". On a very steep slope, it can become indispensable, but you can do it with the engine stopped, so the abs does not work .or disable it with the central stand "but before". Look stop ligth in this video
That's an outstanding point I never thought of. Simply shut the motor off if you need to use the brakes without the antilock!! I regularly shut the motor off on my dirt bikes for long steep downhills in the mountains.

Oh, and yet another reason it's a stupid idea to run anything other than a knobby off road!!
 
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