I rode my Tenere from the dealer and drove it, on the pavement, gravel, off road and absolutely loved it. The TCS saved my butt a few times I am sure, just a little more torque than my KLR. It was very windy (60k plus). The bike handled it very well, the KLR would have been all over the road. (side wind)
I was a little worried the Tenere would be a hand full compared to my KLR on the gravel. Well its not. The weight is a non issue. I didnt even notice.
One problem the bike has is its ability to make 100 kph feel way to slow. While rideing I was looking at the tach and thinking "look how low the RPM is" and then I notice I had another gear.
The torque is so liner that I found myself looking for a sweet spot, my two stroke was at the top RPM, so was my 650 Night hawk, my supercharged car at the bottom. I havent found one, it pulls like my car with the 6.0 l motor. Just endless power and it seems to just keep coming. I can see how they can call it boring, but it works very well.
At first I had TCS1 on aka the default mode. I hammered on it and thought damn the front wont come up. Then I shut TSC1 off, then damn it came up..fast.
I was on it from 600 to 1100 at night. The lights are very good. In fact better than my 3500 dodge truck.
At 23 kph I did notice a kind of lurching, bucking feeling. But a four stroke with low gearing as soon as you cut the throttle a little, the engine acts as a brake. That big bike has a big engine brake. (Ever notice a guy do a nose dive while jumping his four stroke. He may of cut the power on the ramp and the engine acts as a brake and you nose dive. A two stroke doest do that, just a little info.) I just pulled the clutch in a very low speed and use it to smooth out the ride. That being said I need a little more time at very slow speed to see if it is a real issue to me.
On curves my old 650 Night hawk wanted to go straight of the end. The KLR there was no problem. The Tenere is as nibble as the KLR and sticks like glue and tracks so smooth. Wow.
I would like to say to all KLR riders...you will love this bike, I am not sure why but this bike made me feel like it was built for me. I was right at home on it.
What do I need to do..Respect the power it has.
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