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I'll lock this off and when we see how the results are panning out we'll open up the debate.
toompine said:Just posted this in the GS/ST thread and it bears reposting for this survey
I road Observed trials for decades. I road raced. I road a lot of lot of commute miles. At the annual San Mateo motorcycle show in 2010 I happened to ride the Tenere. It was the first ADV bike that I had been on that I had a chance to get my feet down, most of them gave me a nosebleed from the seat height. Bonus 1. ::008:: Test ride was a mix of freeway, street and goaty road. The Tenere did them all really really well. Bonus 2. ::008:: Back into the parking lot and stood up on the pegs, solid, easy full lock turns, perfectly balanced weight down low. Bonus 3...done, sold. ::008::
Ordered, waited, waited and got to know all these fine folks as we salivated over the bike and dreamed farkle dreams.
After I got the bike I took an off road class for big bikes at an OHV park I had known for 40 years. I knew every inch of that place and in my mind I had a list of all the places I would not/could not ride the Tenere. Somehow the instructor did not have the same list and we rode all the trails I had ridden my trials bike on. Trails mind you, not sections. Regardless I came away from that day knowing I had bought a great big trials bike capable sport touring.
Next was Death Valley and two days off road; gravel;some fast, some deep, sand, rocks, steps. All no problems. Big smiles. Then it was Prudhoe Bay and back. 9,000 miles. No issues, took it all in stride.
36,000 trouble free miles now, lots of dirt, (still dirty from a recent Death Valley trip with even more and tougher trails this time ( and a gravel road/two track that we were hitting 65 mph on ???). I bought this bike to do medium length trips (200 - 300 miles), long trips (thousands of miles), and dirt riding. This bike excels in the dirt, way better than ever anticipated and it does all those other things very well.
Expectations exceeded in capability, reliability and fun factor. All that and it was (and remains) a reasonable expense ::001::
rmarble1 said:Does anyone know of a backrest that can be fitted to the rear rack of the Tenere? My wife likes the ride, but would prefer something to lean against. I'm really not wanting to put a top box on with a pad.
Thanks