Is this the right bike for me?

Easyrider4

New Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2019
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18
Location
NW Ohio
I have been riding 50 years and have owned almost every style and brand of bike. I am considering the ST style of bike for road touring and commuting. My back is part of the equation too. I want a proven design, ease of basic maintenance and ultimate reliability and a good dealer network. If any of you have lowered your ST or put lowered foot pegs on it I will be studying that too. I know this forum can help me make the right choice.
 

Madscrapper85

Active Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2019
Messages
112
Location
Delaware
If your capable of handling the 600lbs then I think this bike ticks an amazing amout of boxes. Not very much in the way of peg lowering which was something I was hoping for. I believe there are pegs that will give you a small amount but not much for the $$. I have a 30" inseam and normally am on my toes unless I'm on one foot
 
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gunslinger_006

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May 21, 2016
Messages
961
Location
Seattle, Washington
Yeah 30” inseam here and im on the balls of my feet on this bike. It is what it is. It sucks in some situations but i want the suspension travel so i am unwilling to lower it.

If you deadlift 185lbs or better, you can lift this bike if dropped.


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WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
Joined
Jun 20, 2015
Messages
4,516
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Ventura, CA
If you have not "test sat" on a Tenere yet, you might be surprised at how much leg room there is compared to Sports, naked and sport touring type bikes. You might not need to lower the bike. I've got arthritic knees and the extra leg room is one of the reasons I moved on from a sports touring to an adventure touring bike like the S-Tenere. Yamaha also has a low seat option you could add.
 

Stantdm

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Jan 23, 2020
Messages
174
Location
Belle Fourche South Dakota
I am fairly old and have had my ST for a bit over a year. I don't ride a lot of long distance trips but get in quite a few hundred to two hundred mile runs. I was really worried about the ST ride height but as long as you pay attention to where you're going to put your feet down things are okay.

The foot pegs are fine for me although the ergonomics between the foot peg and shifter isn't to my liking. Just never feels quite right.

While I really enjoy this bike and it is the second best one I have owned in my 60 years of riding. In a year or two I will have to get a smaller bike, probably something like a KTM 790 Duke or the Yamaha 700.
 

moto.monk

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Aug 19, 2019
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los angeles
I'm 5'5 and can tippy toe it with not too much trouble as long I pay attention to any pot holes. I am about 30 inseam and with a aftermarket seat it makes it taller by 1/2 inch. But narrowing the front of seat helps with that. My back is bad I can still lift it unloaded with proper form. I have found no need to lower it. Also you can wear boots that add another 1-1.5 inch and definitely helps.
 
B

ballisticexchris

Guest
Well said. I have a short inseam and never consider seat height. In fact I have a raised suspension link, AirHawk, and BeadRider with zero issues. I very rarely have to plant more than one foot at a time on any bike.

I would not recommend lowering the Super Tenere as it already has a lot of static sag from the factory.
 

SHUMBA

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Dec 29, 2018
Messages
1,242
Location
ONTARIO, CANADA
Suggestion: Learn to support the bike at a stop with only one foot (your left) down.....like the dirt bike guys do. It's made a huge change in my stability sitting at a stop on tall bikes of all weights.


That's a very good piece of advice
SHUMBA

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Sierra1

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Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Messages
14,817
Location
Joshua TX
Welcome from Texas. I'm 6', but only have a 31" inseam. If I want both feet on the ground, I can get the balls of my feet to touch. Most of the time, it's only one at a time. Left foot, or right, depending of the totality of the situation. She only feels heavy when you have to pick her up. Otherwise. . . . solid as a rock.
 

patrickg450

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Jun 20, 2012
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2,070
Location
Memphis TN
I'm 5'5 and can tippy toe it with not too much trouble as long I pay attention to any pot holes. I am about 30 inseam and with a aftermarket seat it makes it taller by 1/2 inch. But narrowing the front of seat helps with that. My back is bad I can still lift it unloaded with proper form. I have found no need to lower it. Also you can wear boots that add another 1-1.5 inch and definitely helps.

I purchased the expesive boots that have the insole with a ride in them, the name brand escapes me.........Garne? Got them from Revzilla, good boots and very comfortable.
 

moto.monk

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Aug 19, 2019
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1,090
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los angeles
I purchased the expesive boots that have the insole with a ride in them, the name brand escapes me.........Garne? Got them from Revzilla, good boots and very comfortable.
I saw those waaay over priced. They insoles on Amazon for $10? and you can add 1.5 inch to any shoe if it has the room for it. I didnt up using them though.
 

richarddacat

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Joined
Jan 27, 2015
Messages
574
Location
Tennessee
At 180# 5'7" and been on bikes as long as you have, the ST is a bit much for me. I have lowered mine without any ill affects and currently working on the adjusting the bars now because I need to straighten my back out some. My old FJR and my K75c fit me better. It's a bitch to pickup. I mounted street tires and seldom attempt off-road adventures. Did I mention it's a bitch to pick up?
Otherwise it is Super for my purposes of backroad sport touring and getting to those locations by interstate. Wind protection is good and has all the electrical goodies I like and I like the big fuel tank.
Might even consider selling but NW Ohio may be bit of a stretch.
 

Longdog Cymru

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Jul 21, 2018
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1,665
Location
Swansea, Wales, UK
I purchased the expesive boots that have the insole with a ride in them, the name brand escapes me.........Garne? Got them from Revzilla, good boots and very comfortable.
Daytona make boots with thicker soles especially for vertically challenged riders.

 

patrickg450

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Jun 20, 2012
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2,070
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Memphis TN
I believe thay are daytona, I dont see how the insole mentioned above (amazon) would work in a regular boot.
 

Dirt_Dad

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Sep 21, 2010
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Northern Virginia, USA
Tenere sounds like what you are describing you want.

My 5'6" wife rode both generations of Super Tenere. She had lowering links and the OEM lower seat. With a 13mm change in the fork height, her bike handled exactly like my Super Tenere with stock setup. It was worth having a welder take about 3/4" off the stock kickstand.

Easy and relatively inexpensive to get a Super Tenere to a more comfortable height if desired.
 
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