Sport bike v. Tenere

Sierra1

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I figured we might want to start a new thread since we hi-jacked the other one; BMW GS Update.

A sport bike, by design, is made for sport; handling, and speed. Duh. The Tenere, by design, is a compromise; pavement, and not pavement. Apples and oranges. MY point is that, for what it is. . . . and what it was designed for . . . . the Tenere does a great impression of a sport bike.

Sport bikes are lighter, have more peak HP, and have a whole bunch more rubber on the ground. The Tenere is almost exactly opposite. The sport bike has all of the advantages. And, yet. . . . the Tenere more than holds her own in the curves. And, depending on the riders of each, can sometimes be the victor.

I've never had, or even ridden, a non-ES. So I don't know how easy/difficult suspension tuning is. I do know how easy the ES is. When my settings don't match my road, I adjust.

Personally, that's one of the big reasons that more and more people are switching to adventure bikes; regardless of brand. They can all, more or less, ride with most sport bikes in the curves. . . . and then leave them behind when the pavement ends. :)
 
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gunslinger_006

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I have not put my track pants on with the tenere. I suspect if i were to remove the side and or centerstand, that i could very comfortably get my knee down at the track on this bike. All it needs is a set of track worthy tires and some big changes to how i have the suspension set.
 
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ballisticexchris

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I would like to go on a track and do some real testing. Me as a rider is very limited comparing bikes on public roadways. The adventure bike segment has really hit an all time high. It's for good reason: Versatility!!

The Super Tenere suspension adjustability and good tires get it as close to a sport bike as I am willing to go. I would like to see what kind of lap times a capable rider can peel off on a track when compared to a true crotch rocket.
 

Nikolajsen

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10 years ago I had a VFR 750 F.
And I actually can do turns a lot quicker on the S10, and I even got 10 years older...you just can't se it :D ;) .
And yes, the VFR was of course older construction, but still. (I don't say that the VFR can't do turns faster than the S10, I just can't do it on a VFR)
I don't need a sport bike:cool:
 

gunslinger_006

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Lets remember how even just being slightly undersprung will kill the advantages that come with 15 years of technological evolution.

Watch a k5 gsxr stomp a 2020 panigale on the basis of suspension alone.

This is more complex than this model vs that model. On the track everything has to be just right.


 

MattR

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There is no comparison between my Zx14r and my S10. The Zx14r is much quicker in every respect. When I open up the Zx14r I start giggling like a little girl. The adrenaline hit is fantastic. But I’m 60 this year and I don’t need constant adrenaline feed now and I wouldn’t contemplate riding my Zx14r on gravel roads. The radiator is just too vulnerable. So for me, the S10 is nice, relaxed old girl for everyday riding without any events. But anyone who thinks the s10 is anywhere near fast hasn’t ridden a modern hyperbike. I recommend they do it, just once for comparison...
For crossing continents quickly to get to where i need to be, I choose the Zx14r every time.


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Sierra1

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Just make sure you've scheduled the chiropractor to meet you when you arrive. I never claimed that the T-12 was as fast as a liter sport bike. I even said that's why I keep the FJ/FJR around. I also never said anything about taking it to the track. (Although there's was a video on here with a T-12 doing quite well on an actual track; highly modded I'm sure.)

I'm talking real world, real roads. . . . the T-12 will hang with many "sport bikes" when the road gets to twisting. I'm not saying it's going to beat them. . . . or it's better than them. One of my kids have an R6; the other has an FJR. When we were running through the curves in South Texas, and I ran out of tire, the R6 just kept pulling away. As expected. But, that's when I realized that there was a whole lot more to this bike than I had expected. Even when I got to the edge of the tread, I never ground anything. Which makes me wonder if these guys that talk about grinding pegs on the T-12, have their suspension sorted out correctly. It would also would explain the resistance to admitting/realizing the capability of the T-12.

I have to assume that the Beemer, Tiger, KTM, etc, will perform just as well. Hell, the magazine say they're much better.

That's fine. . . . I've found my perfect bike. Didn't mean to ruffle y'alls feathers. :)
 
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ballisticexchris

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I have ridden more than one modern hyperbike. The HP is intoxicating. Unfortunately there are no roads in the United States where you can legally use the power. Track bikes are just that. Track only. The only advantage of them being DOT legal is the ability to ride them to the track, race and ride them back home again.

The older I get the more I realize that the deliberate act of temping death on a motorcycle is not very smart. Of course that is only my opinion. I am in the minority. Most guys I see in the canyons ride well over the limits of human reflexes.

Now how about that Kawaski H2 SX!! It even has cruise control!!

 

Highwayman

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Always have more than a few bikes in the garage (5 currently) I have ridden a MC in one form or another for a looooonnngg time. Sun, rain and sometimes snow. On the topics of sportbikes and S10's. One of them is a Busa powered streetfighter. Absolute smiles and smiles ripping on it through twisties and straights...

One of the others is the S10. Absolute smiles on that too in a different way. Has humbled crotchrocketeers in the twisties with all boxes and gear on. Gobbles up the shitty So Cal freeways on my daily commutes with comfort. Takes the chores of interstate touring over my other baggers everytime. Tackles offroad touring when asked.

I have to have a wide range of bikes, thats me. But when asked about the S10 and how I feel about it..... Of all the bikes I have if they were crashed, the S10 is the one Id be at the dealer getting another as soon as the insurance check hit my hand. Pretty good testament to how good and do it all they are.
 

gunslinger_006

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The style of riding i do these days is *far* better suited to a motor with a bunch of low end grunt like a big twin (v or parallel).

I have had high strung 600s and while they are the exhilarating, they also only get really fun once you wind them up.

When you can do ~100mph in second gear...that is incredible, but you have to get the bike to redline to see it.

These days its way more fun for me to bang through the gears on a motor with grunt at 2000rpm...but i am getting, as they say, old and stuff.
 

Longdog Cymru

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10 years ago I had a VFR 750 F.
And I actually can do turns a lot quicker on the S10, and I even got 10 years older...you just can't se it :D ;) .
And yes, the VFR was of course older construction, but still. (I don't say that the VFR can't do turns faster than the S10, I just can't do it on a VFR)
I don't need a sport bike:cool:
Ah yes! The older I get, the faster I was...... ;):)
 

Boris

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I have not put my track pants on with the tenere. I suspect if i were to remove the side and or centerstand, that i could very comfortably get my knee down at the track on this bike. All it needs is a set of track worthy tires and some big changes to how i have the suspension set.
Knee down on an Adventure bike is comfortably doable. This is at Silverstone, on Metz Tourance tyres.
AD92F38E-4B8E-4C0C-B578-82D2F96921C0.png
 

MattR

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I have ridden more than one modern hyperbike. The HP is intoxicating. Unfortunately there are no roads in the United States where you can legally use the power. Track bikes are just that. Track only. The only advantage of them being DOT legal is the ability to ride them to the track, race and ride them back home again.

The older I get the more I realize that the deliberate act of temping death on a motorcycle is not very smart. Of course that is only my opinion. I am in the minority. Most guys I see in the canyons ride well over the limits of human reflexes.

Now how about that Kawaski H2 SX!! It even has cruise control!!

I’m sure you don’t ride legally all the time no matter what you’re riding. For me, being able to risk assess a situation for danger and the probability of being caught, then picking a point on the horizon and arriving there at warp speed is what it is all about. I’m very selective about when I use that super power but most rides on my Zx14r will include at least one.


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ballisticexchris

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I’m sure you don’t ride legally all the time no matter what you’re riding.
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Actually I do the very best I can. My employment depends on it. Just a simple moving violation will destroy my career. As a haz mat driver you are allowed only 1 point. As a commercial driver in the state of CA you cannot go to traffic school even if the violation is in your personal vehicle.
I just had a lane violation from 2009 drop of my DMV report. Violations stay on your record for 11 years.

The biggest challenge as a rider is in the carpool/toll lane when there is construction. Speed limit is 55mph and you are stuck with road rage cars behind you and no way out. Normal flow of traffic is 80-90mph even in "double fine" zones. It's a challenge for sure.
 

MattR

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Actually I do the very best I can. My employment depends on it. Just a simple moving violation will destroy my career. As a haz mat driver you are allowed only 1 point. As a commercial driver in the state of CA you cannot go to traffic school even if the violation is in your personal vehicle.
I just had a lane violation from 2009 drop of my DMV report. Violations stay on your record for 11 years.

The biggest challenge as a rider is in the carpool/toll lane when there is construction. Speed limit is 55mph and you are stuck with road rage cars behind you and no way out. Normal flow of traffic is 80-90mph even in "double fine" zones. It's a challenge for sure.
Jeez!! That’s really fucked up man! I too need my licence for my job (ambulance service) but I’m allowed 3 points. I have 3 points from driving a hired removals truck of all things but I’ve never had any points from a bike. Our points stay valid for 3 years and then become spent. I suppose I enter a different state of mind when I’m riding, very similar to when I’m driving on blues and twos.


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