From cruisers to ADV bike

[vulcano]

I was curious how many of you guys migrated from big cruisers to Tenere and what's your opinion about that transition? I've been riding over 30 years , from sport bikes, dirt bikes cruisers , last one is Kawasaki vn2000 which I still have along with Honda CRF250 . Last year we went to TN and N Carolina rented BMW1200 GS to ride on Tail of the dragon, Blue ridge parkway and in general we put 600 miles in 2 days there. Last week I went on my cruiser on 1 day trip , we put 460 miles but - man I missed that idea of going in the woods and trails . Question is how many sold their cruisers to get Tenere and If some of you regret it? I mean big, muscular bike with low , thunder like exhaust but not do much comfortable and limited to stinking asphalt? Sorry for little to long post! Mario


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[RCinNC]

I rode a Harley Road King for eight years. Right after I retired, I did a couple rides out to the southwest on it. Now, I liked the RK a lot, and it gave me 50,000 trouble free miles, but it was limiting in several areas. For being classed as a touring bike, those conformal saddlebags couldn't hold much gear, and I ended up having to strap a T-Bag to the back of the bike just to hold essentials. Also, when I was out west, I would look at some of those dirt roads on a map and I'd wonder where they went, knowing all the while that taking a 900 pound low ground clearance bike down any of them would be a recipe for disaster. I wanted a bike that could do more than just highways, and began to research this adventure bike thing. Years before, I had been one of those guys who derided ADV bikes and their big ugly square panniers. As my ideas of what kind of riding I wanted to do began to change, I began to embrace the ADV bike concept. Soon after, I found myself to be the owner of a new V-Strom. After just under two years and 17,000 miles on that, I wanted something a little bigger that could handle the two up loaded touring that I was doing, so after much more research, I was the proud owner of a new Super Tenere. And here I am, 37,000 miles later (almost 38, to be honest), and I haven't regretted getting away from cruisers at all.

Cruisers are wonderful. They have style, they're loud, brash, in your face kinds of bikes; in many ways they're the triumph of form over function. For many years, they suited my needs for riding. Now, after almost five years on ADV style bikes, I can't imagine going back to a cruiser, ever. My S10 is far more comfortable than the RK was, a lot more versatile, and makes a better touring platform than the RK could hope to be.

I always have an eye peeled for a new bike; I'm not married to the S10. I've toyed with the idea of a sport touring bike more than once, like an FJR or a Concours. But what I'd gain in smoothness and power, I'd lose in versatility and luggage capacity. The biggest drawback to the ADV style bike is that because of the seat height, as my girlfriend and I get older, getting on and off the darn thing will get more difficult as time goes on. Maybe by the time it gets too tough to ride, they'll come up with an FJR that can mount Pelican cases....

 

[magic]

I agree with everything RC said. I too had Harleys prior to buying my S10. I had a 06 FLHT Electra Glide and a 09 FXD Superglide. I had about 50,000 on the FLHT and 20,000 on the FXD. The FXD was trouble free and a blast to ride. The FLHT was fun but not trouble free. I traded the FLHT in on my S10. I kept the FXD thinking I would use it for riding 2 up. After about a year, I never road the Harley and sold it. The seating position on the S10 is just more comfortable for me. The long travel suspension works great on the road because the roads around here are pretty bad. Then there is the versatility. I wish I had gotten into adventure bikes sooner.

 

[gv550]

Sport touring to cruiser to adventure.
My first bike was a BMW R60/6, rode it a lot and traded for a new R100RS, put almost 300k on it, traded for new R1100RS, then R1100RT. I could not bond with the oil heads and actually quit riding all together. After a hiatus including a sports car I got the bug and bought a Kawasaki Drifter (looked like an Indian) and I became a cruiser rider, rode it a lot, traded it for a Nomad, rode it a lot and traded it for Voyager. Well over a million kilometers on those 3 cruisers when I got the itch to explore back roads, bought a KLR and rode it 40k and traded it for a new S10. Love it but not enough to make it my only ride, still have the Voyager and it will soon roll over 600k.

 

[vulcano]

Sport touring to cruiser to adventure.
My first bike was a BMW R60/6, rode it a lot and traded for a new R100RS, put almost 300k on it, traded for new R1100RS, then R1100RT. I could not bond with the oil heads and actually quit riding all together. After a hiatus including a sports car I got the bug and bought a Kawasaki Drifter (looked like an Indian) and I became a cruiser rider, rode it a lot, traded it for a Nomad, rode it a lot and traded it for Voyager. Well over a million kilometers on those 3 cruisers when I got the itch to explore back roads, bought a KLR and rode it 40k and traded it for a new S10. Love it but not enough to make it my only ride, still have the Voyager and it will soon roll over 600k.

600 k kilometers on Voyager? Thats an impressive mileage for a bike.

 

[bob dirt]

My wife and I started out with Harleys. Sold both and bought a Goldwing. Bought a used 2012 Tenere just to ride to Deadhorse Alaska and back and then sell it. I liked it so much that I kept it and bought a new 2016 because I wanted factory cruise control. I still have the Goldwing to ride 2 up on trips with my wife. I also have 2 honda scooters, two Yamaha Big Wheel 350's, a 4x4 Polaris quad, XP4 1000 RZR, and a WR250. Never have a day with nothing to do ;D

 

[HeliMark]

Had an '06 Harley Ultra Classic for six years and some 60K miles. Great bike, no problems, and boy can it eat up the mileage in comfort. Have also had a Harley Super Glide, Honda ST1300 and BMW R1200RT. They have all been fun, but every time I am on back roads that are really rough, or going down the road and I see a nice dirt road, I kept wanting a bike that could comfortably go down those roads. Bought a S10 and now have the best of both worlds.

Do I regret not having a cruiser again? Not really, I am not interested in the big size. But I do have to say the sport touring bike is calling me again. But I have no intentions of getting rid of the S10. Way to versatile, and best suits my riding style, but an itch is an itch. I am fortunate that I can afford two bikes, so most likely next year I will add an FJR.

Mark

 

[WaltM]

Went from a VStar 650 (22k miles) to a RoadStar Silverado (35k miles) to a S10 ES last year (10k miles and counting). I still have the RoadStar, but have not ridden it in a year and plan to sell. I can't see myself back on a cruiser again anytime soon.


Walt

 

[Sierra1]

Back in '80, I thought I wanted one of Suzuki's GS-L cruisers. Then I saw Yamaha's '81 550 Seca, and then rode it. I enjoyed the steering geometry, and seating position better than cruisers. And when the first FJ arrived on the scene....I was finally able to afford one in '86 (for, at the time, a whopping $4800) when they bumped it to a 1200cc. I've always been drawn to the sport tours; never looked back at the cruisers. All my friends had cruisers though. Now that I have the Tenere, I will likely stick with the "adventure" genre. More versatile, and comfortable. ::001::

 

[DryRider]

I had a few 1100GWing and 1800Gwing BMW K12 and Road King 750 Honda Vstrom DL1000 and Yamaha KLR 650 28 different bikes...I was always looking down the road wondering where that went. I wanted a multi-surface bike something that could do all the roads I saw and wondered about...maybe even a small water crossing. I'm not the rider I was when I was young but still, I wanted to hit the back roads, no single track unless it was very easy. I looked at all the bikes and did my research. I wanted a bike that could do some long distance and high-speed travel I wanted a bike that could ride gravel at any speed I wanted without issue. I wanted to pass the trucks on the way out west without feeling a loss of control or wobble. I wanted a bike that had very low seat height Sargent low did that and electronic suspension. I wanted to know if I tipped it over it would not self-destruct Alt-rider did that. I wanted bags that don't leak when it rains Bumont did that. I wanted to be able to stand up and ride Rox did that. It been easy to own...worst thing I ever bought for it was the extended warranty...waste of money so far I ride solo so can't really speak about 2 up riding. The Super Tenere is a very good bike if not one of the best for an all around machine. Good luck...ride safe.

 

[RicoChet]

I can chime in here. My last 2 bike where an 1800CC M109R and a 2300CC Triumph Rocket III.

I do not regret selling either of them at all. I do admit, they were both excellent motorcycles, good looking, sound great and generally were very enjoyable to own and ride. However, I always felt limited to what I can do with them... No options for bags, no cruise control... Admittedly, I also say that these huge cruisers have terrible gas mileage, you don't get very far on the big cruisers. And very heavy as well.

Now that I've had my S10 ES for about a year, I am really pleased. I love cruise control, the hard bags that come off easily and the addition of being able to take the path less traveled, I am definitely a convert. A few weeks ago I went with my wife to a cottage and the road that lead to the cottage was a trail a few miles long through dirt roads and forest trails. NO PROBLEM!

So yeah, I love cruisers, but they are not a versatile motorcycle... just a good looking noisy machine... I Wish I could afford them all. But the Super Tenere has really opened my mind to how awesome this category of motorcycling is.

 

[barkingllizard]

vulcano, did the switch from big ass cruiser to Super Tenere, when they first came out in 2012.
better ride, more comfort, better handling, less stress on my back.
never looked back.....

 

[Sierra1]

I can attest to the Tenere's "two-up" abilities. Between my wife and I, we exceed the GVWR of the bike. Pump up the suspension, and it stops/accelerates/corners very well. (in sport mode)

 

[alzride]

Went from dual-sport, sport bikes, sport touring, cruiser and then to ADV. My last cruiser was a 900# Yam Royal Star Venture. There's nothing like it to eat up hwy miles, but that's ALL it's good for. Puttering around town and commuting was just too much work. So I bought a 650 vStrom to own with my Venture to explore some of the backroads and for easy riding, but I never rode the Venture again. I took my 650 Strom on a 3K mi. trip last year and decided I really didn't need a cruiser; I sold both and got an s10. I love all bikes and cruisers included, but ADVs will cruise, play in the dirt and keep up with most sport bikes out there. If I had unlimited funds I'd have a cruiser too, but if I only have 1 bike it will be an ADV and the s10 is probably the best one to be had (sorry GS, KTM and Tiger fans).

 

[Crew Chief]

I can attest to the Tenere's "two-up" abilities. Between my wife and I, we exceed the GVWR of the bike. Pump up the suspension, and it stops/accelerates/corners very well. (in sport mode)

I'm encouraged to read that. My wife and I aren't exactly at our recommended weight, and I am a bit concerned about the two of us touring on this bike. She has said that she would like to be able to go down some of the easier gravel roads and such that I wouldn't do on a sport tourer or a Wing, so that's where we're headed. I might still be as much as a year away, but I'm getting there.

Personally I never did the cruiser dark side. I've always ridden standards, sport tourers, and dual sports.

 

[Sierra1]

I guess I better qualify my last post. I don't think twice about going on a "joy ride" with the wife on the back. The bike does fine. I don't think I would load the bike like a pack mule, the wife, and then go on a cross country/continent trip; it would WAY overload the bike in my opinion. On a long trip, it would either be the wife or the luggage. (luggage doesn't complain) ::025::

 

[snakebitten]

33 years of marriage, and other than a few moments on the back of a street bike when we were in our 20's, she let "motorcycles" be my thing.
I admit to being a bit disappointed, at times, but I wouldn't want her to pretend she was enjoying it if she weren't.

Fast forward a few decades and shortly after I acquired the Tenere she asked if we wanted to go get some Mexican one evening.
Said "sure!"

She then asked "Ya wanna take your new bike?"

Ummmm, yea, ok. You sure?

Got just a few miles down the road and she hollered in my left ear these exact words: "I like this bike. I'll go anywhere with you on this one"

EVERYTHING changed that day. And the next 3 years were the best motorcycle years of my life.

So yea, I claim this to be the best 2-up motorcycle in the world. Why wouldn't I?
But it IS true that when we loaded it down for a 2 -week run the OEM suspension was just not up to the task.
It wasn't like you were going to break the sub-frame or anything like that, cuz this bike is a TANK.
But the handling would go way off and I'd have to leave a bigger margin for error while riding off-road and in traffic.

I sprung for the full Ohlin's kit the moment Jaxon's efforts made it available. It was $pricey, but totally transformed the pack-mule behavior.

Brenda never knew how amazing it was that we rode some of the places we did 2-up. She just thought that is what motorcycles do and that she had simply not ever experienced it before. I loved the fact she felt so comfortable and safe back there. She'd sing in her helmet while I navigated up a Colorado pass. Or head across a 4 hour dirt run through Australia's high country. Or ride 10 hours straight (in the rain) along the Great Ocean Highway.

In my opinion, there are very few motorcycles in the world that make a 2-up pack-mule ADV cross-country platform. And NONE better than the Super Tenere.

 

[Crew Chief]

I have just recently become a convert about suspension mods. If I do get a Tenere', it will be among the first things I mod on the bike. My dirt skills are marginal, but the ability to take some dirt and gravel roads and get my wife a little off the beaten path are the reason for wanting a Tenere'. She's 73 years young, but she has ridden on one twice and given it the seal of approval. She's also the one that made the decision about wanting to do more than just highway riding. I stated in my introductory thread that we were likely the first ones to ride one 2 up in the states according to the Yamaha rep. The second time she rode one, she shocked the rep by handing him her CHL. A doctors office had accidentally kept her drivers license and it was all she had on her. The rep was quite shocked to see an "old lady" hand him that. He was even more surprised when his system let him use it to register her. Even with her approval, I still feel a little guilty that I'm not buying a Wing or a cruiser, but I think she wants some "adventure" from our next bike.