So I've been talking about suspension upgrades on the Tenere, and Tracie couldn't care less what I do to the bike, but she knows me well, sooooo.
She says, "You've had the bike for a couple of years, which is about the time you get the itch for a new one, so before you drop big $$ on suspension "stuff" - are you going to trade for something different two months from now?"
I, of course, took this as permission to get a new bike, so I started looking around. My search consisted of basically the same players as when I bought the Tenere: the Multistrada, the Explorer 1200, and the GS.
After reading a lot of forums, magazine reviews (yeah, I know), and anecdotal information from actual owners, I just couldn't find a bike I'm willing to part with the Tenere over...even a '14 Tenere.
The reasons for staying with the Tenere are largely the reasons I bought it over the others to begin with:
Reliability
Dealer Network
It's paid for
And a few reasons I didn't know when I bought it:
The thing fits me ergonomically so well. The most comfortable bike I've ever owned.
The "weak" point - engine performance - isn't a weak point at all. Especially after break-in and reflash.
It handles great! Even for street riding (which will surely improve post-suspension mods).
So, for now, my Tenere is stuck with me, and I'm getting ready to contact Nick at Stoltec to finish the Old-Girl off, once-and-for-all. Yep, barring disaster, I'll be hangin' on to her for awhile...
Maybe I'll be a player for the next-gen Tenere whenever that rolls around...
She says, "You've had the bike for a couple of years, which is about the time you get the itch for a new one, so before you drop big $$ on suspension "stuff" - are you going to trade for something different two months from now?"
I, of course, took this as permission to get a new bike, so I started looking around. My search consisted of basically the same players as when I bought the Tenere: the Multistrada, the Explorer 1200, and the GS.
After reading a lot of forums, magazine reviews (yeah, I know), and anecdotal information from actual owners, I just couldn't find a bike I'm willing to part with the Tenere over...even a '14 Tenere.
The reasons for staying with the Tenere are largely the reasons I bought it over the others to begin with:
Reliability
Dealer Network
It's paid for
And a few reasons I didn't know when I bought it:
The thing fits me ergonomically so well. The most comfortable bike I've ever owned.
The "weak" point - engine performance - isn't a weak point at all. Especially after break-in and reflash.
It handles great! Even for street riding (which will surely improve post-suspension mods).
So, for now, my Tenere is stuck with me, and I'm getting ready to contact Nick at Stoltec to finish the Old-Girl off, once-and-for-all. Yep, barring disaster, I'll be hangin' on to her for awhile...
Maybe I'll be a player for the next-gen Tenere whenever that rolls around...
