Gee, I wish I purchased a KTM or BMW!

[redneckK20]

I miss my Super Tenere every day, but given the option to do it again, I'd go with the KTM. The Tenere was great but I want the no compromise horsepower and suspension of the KTM. I do all my own work, so the maintenance wouldn't even bother me. The ST was fun, but after a year, I got bored with 100hp and 600lbs on the street. And off-road it's too bulky and heavy, in my opinion. Granted, I was doing things people probably shouldn't ever do on a bike that size.

 

[cosmic]

And how is the KTM switch working out for you? Any dust inhalation troubles??

 

[snakebitten]

I cannot for the life of me understand you guys who are constantly cycling thru motorbikes.

I am not so much a motorcycle enthusiast as I am a riding enthusiast.

All that material shit means zero once you are gone, what does matter is the life you lived and how you lived it.

You can bet your ass, if I had your guys money and time, rather than wasting it on some bike with a slightly lower center of gravity or more HP I could do nothing better with with except brag about, I would be finishing riding the world.

::021::

Cycling through motorcycles? Ok, I guess you could look at it like that.
(I've had my Tenere since the day they cracked the crates on the PDP arrivals on our yankee shores)
It's not something I can defend. Maybe explain, but not defend.

But your comment on materialistic sh.......
Ummmm, I kind of do want to defend myself on the implication you are making.

It's ok if you don't believe this, but I can take it or leave it on ALL this sh..., stuff. In fact, that's the point. Easy come easy go.
I have given away motorcycles, cars, stuff. Mostly because I wanted to bring joy to somebody that mattered to me.
And I promise you, I am aware that it's "how you live your life". Why do you think I don't?

Also, it's a bit of a stretch to interpret cycling through various motorcycles means I don't ride. I ride almost every single day of my life.
At 57, I have taken spells off, but not many. I choose 2 wheels, the modern day horse, as my preferred form of transport. I simply have a few horses in the barn.

Tell ya what, come on down and pick one or two to go for a ride on. It's fun to jump on a playful horse sometimes.
But I promise if the clouds parted and God Almighty spoke out "Bruce, cycling through bikes is over, pick 1, give the rest away"
I'd keep my Tenere!!!!!

Hey Dirt Dad, because I'm obedient, and I know you know how to live,
I'd give you this:

 

[Ramseybella]

I foresee another locked thread coming!
Time to chill...

Lets hope the weather gets good and we can all indulge in riding as adventuresome adults, maybe cross paths and have a.. ::003::

 

[bigbob]

Nope. Let it run.

If you ride and LOVE to ride your S10 just ignore it.

Leave the Idiots who do not like the S10 or unwisely spent moola (dollars, pounds, franks, euros, or give an American a break some other currency)' a place to vent!

 

[snakebitten]

Nope. Let it run.

If you ride and LOVE to ride your S10 just ignore it.

Leave the Idiots who do not like the S10 or unwisely spent moola (dollars, pounds, franks, euros, or give an American a break some other currency)' a place to vent!

Yea, it's been a little spicy for moments, but not over the line, in my opinion. :
Gotta have some banter somewhere, or the place can get a bit stiff.

I love my S10. I love my S10. I love my S10. Okay?
And I'm still an idiot about all kinds of stuff. And many many times this old fool has unwisely spent some moola. But boy it's been fun.

 

[True Grip]

Bruce it's not hard to know a mans heart thur a keyboard. Some just don't know you like we do. I wish I had your spirit at times but I've been given my own. Bruce if you don't have living right I'm in big trouble Brother.

Enough teasing full disclosure on the beast. Looks wicked! Would love to see young son take up riding with Dad. Us old guys can be fun at times.

 

[motorider]

I have owned a KTM 950 and a BMW GS Adventure. The KTM is the ONLY bike I have ever owned that left me stranded(half way between Tres Piedras and Chama,NM...water pump went out). The GSA was ok but I did not like the motor. Those jugs sticking out to the sides just seemed like a disaster waiting to happen. I also didn't like the scarcity of dealers for either bike.
I now have a '13 S10 and love it much better than either of those. It does not seem as top heavy and is a real blast to ride. I wish this winter weather would go away so I can get some more miles on it. I live in East Texas where fun twisties are literally right out my door. Not much in the way of dirt though.

 

[Big Blu]

::026::

And to tell the truth there haven't been many I didn't like. Some much more than others.

Like girl friends..... they're all good for the first few rides, then a new one catches your eye.


Materialistic, I think not. Just a guy that lusts for all things motorcycle and always eager to try a new one.... an enthusiast, a rider, a former MFS MC safety rider coach/instructor and mentor, and former track day junky, and key board jockey at many m/c forums to keep me informed.

My Vespa 300 gets ridden several times a week because it's fun and it makes me smile. I did a fly and ride to Las Vegas, then rode to the LA area to visit the Rock Store, Newcomb Ranch, Mulholland Drive and to play in the canyons for a few days, then to San Diego for the 600 mile service, then up the coast to SF, then to Yosemite, visited with old friends in Mesa, Az. and in Austin Tx., then back home to SW Florida, 28 days and 5K miles all secondary roads except into and out off S. Ca.. Perhaps the most enjoyable cross country trip I've ever made, and there have been several. Met many nice people, made new friend, saw America and West Texas, a lot of West Texas! It doesn't have to big or fast or full of technology or brand X to make me smile.

I have a few motorcycles and about once a year it's out with an old one and in with another one...... and I'm sure snake "gets it"! ::008::

Paul

 

[AVGeek]

I foresee another locked thread coming!
Time to chill...

Lets hope the weather gets good and we can all indulge in riding as adventuresome adults, maybe cross paths and have a.. ::003::

I know its winter in most of the country, which is why I like living in Arizona! (It's only supposed to be 81* all weekend...tomorrow I taking the quad out for a ride!) And snake is right, this thread has been civilized, so even though I am keeping an eye on it, I don't see a need to take any action, and haven't so far. Carry on!

 

[Big Blu]

Paul,
I have to ask but do you still own a Tenere or just a BMW now?
Are all BMW service departments around the rest of the country just as good as in your neck of the woods?

I traded the ST for the GSA.

I've always been treated well at BMW dealerships locally, when travelling in the US, and in Europe. It's part of the ownership experience you should have when you pay a premium price for the product. I've found the same to be true with H-D dealerships when I was a two wheeled pirate, and It's the same with car dealership, owners are treated differently by Euro dealerships that most others. The cost of the customer lounge, motor cycle magazines, donuts, coffee, free lunch, wifi, etc.. is baked into product cost.

From about 2005 to 2008 I'd say BMW had a dark period. Bikes broke more then they should have, several parts were know failure points, dealers replaces old failed parts with new parts that were prone to failure, BMW motorrad looked the other way and denied culpability. This was the time period when BMW was introducing new technology as a means of differentiating the brand. They needed to do something because their were many other very good bikes in the marketplace with equal or better performance so they added technology. As a result they went from a company highly regarded for high quality durable products based on sound German engineering to a one regarded as producing shit product and piss poor customer support. None of this was the fault of the dealer, it was the mother ship..... just like H-D during the AMF years.

A few years ago things began to change, with reemphasis on quality, product support, and customer relations. They redesigns of the boxer models with more robust drive trains(clutch, final drive, etc..), they executed recalls on older model to replace parts prone to failure, they extended the warranty period to 12 years on other parts, they improved communications with the dealer and improved problem reporting and tracking. The recent "stop ride" and recall of the new LC-RT, shortly after it's introduction, is a good example of there effort to reimage the brand from one that looks away to one that cares. It seems to be working. There's less noise on the forums about poor product support and trending of failures, the owner of my local dealership is pleased with the support now being provided by the mother ship... but only time and mileage will tell if things are truly under control.

My decision to buy an ST was, in part, based on the state of affairs at the BMW mother ship at the time and the fact that the LC boxer motor/GS was a new design. I didn't want to participate in the customer beta test program. Late last year when it was time to replace the ST I went with the GSA because it made me smile, it seem the changes at BMW Motorrad are working, and I believe the beta test period had ended.


Paul

 

[kgfire]

I love my S10. I love my S10. I love my S10. Okay?

I love my S10!
Hey Snake you're going to have a blast with the KTM. I had one a couple years ago and it's a great big dirt bike with 100 hp and about 80 less pounds than the Yamaha. Zero problems.
I guess I'm an idiot too.

 

[longride]

Excellent! 7 pages of crying, arguing and hand wringing over the KTM and BMW 'experience' I posted! I learned not to argue with people on the internet long ago. Been there and done rode for 47 years now with hundreds of bikes. The facts is facts. BMW's are expensive and unreliable, and KTM's are too. If that is what you want out of a bike, go get it. I'll keep my S10, thanks. Continue to argue, but the facts never change. Have fun! ) )

 

[snakebitten]

It's simply not an "either or" world, if you choose for it not to be.

I have an S10. I have an S10.
Im keeping my S10. Im keeping my S10.

In fact, I'm mum right now about what I'm doing to my S10. Upon deciding not to upgrade to the newer version, I decided to UPGRADE my original version. And if I had to describe it, I'd just say I am taking what I have always believed was the best RTW Big bike ever created for the consumer, and finishing prepping it for being the best RTW bike I possibly can make it.
It can CRASH and continue.
It can light up the countryside.
And it is snarly.



Viewing those 2 funny dudes movie on those BMW's was the final inspiration to just do it.

Hopefully, after it's done, folks won't misunderstand me ALSO riding other bikes, on occasion.

KGfire, so you had one? That thing is just sick. I unloaded it a few minutes ago and jumped on it the first time. It's crazy.

At 6'1" 34" inseam, I'm on tiptoes.

Just crazy.

I love my S10. I really love it!

 

[twinrider]

I don't know about their street bikes, but KTM makes the best plateable dirt bikes at the moment. This is mine....

 

[True Grip]

I hear the Huskys are nice too

 

[shrekonwheels]

Cycling through motorcycles? Ok, I guess you could look at it like that.
(I've had my Tenere since the day they cracked the crates on the PDP arrivals on our yankee shores)
It's not something I can defend. Maybe explain, but not defend.

But your comment on materialistic sh.......
Ummmm, I kind of do want to defend myself on the implication you are making.

It's ok if you don't believe this, but I can take it or leave it on ALL this sh..., stuff. In fact, that's the point. Easy come easy go.
I have given away motorcycles, cars, stuff. Mostly because I wanted to bring joy to somebody that mattered to me.
And I promise you, I am aware that it's "how you live your life". Why do you think I don't?

Also, it's a bit of a stretch to interpret cycling through various motorcycles means I don't ride. I ride almost every single day of my life.
At 57, I have taken spells off, but not many. I choose 2 wheels, the modern day horse, as my preferred form of transport. I simply have a few horses in the barn.

Tell ya what, come on down and pick one or two to go for a ride on. It's fun to jump on a playful horse sometimes.
But I promise if the clouds parted and God Almighty spoke out "Bruce, cycling through bikes is over, pick 1, give the rest away"
I'd keep my Tenere!!!!!

Hey Dirt Dad, because I'm obedient, and I know you know how to live,
I'd give you this:

I have lots of friends that have lots and lots of toys they cannot possibly ever enjoy & I do not use the word friend word lightly.
You can live as you choose, and hell an Iron horse is way, way better than the hooved kind any day of the week, and probably less expensive

This never fit more appropriately ::002::

 

[cosmic]

I don't know about their street bikes, but KTM makes the best plateable dirt bikes at the moment. This is mine....

True!

I hear the Huskys are nice too

I was torn between the white and the orange, but this sticker fits the orange so much better.

 

[Combo]

Bruce it's not hard to know a mans heart thur a keyboard. Some just don't know you like we do. I wish I had your spirit at times but I've been given my own. Bruce if you don't have living right I'm in big trouble Brother.

Enough teasing full disclosure on the beast. Looks wicked! Would love to see young son take up riding with Dad. Us old guys can be fun at times.

Yep! ::026::

 

[Donk]

A lot of the BMW and HD reliability problems is their insisting to use lots and lots of Chinese parts. At least if you're going to use Chinese parts you would think they would be better quality than the rock gut line of parts. Is KTM also Chinese? I've never read much about where their parts are made. From what I gather, reliability is definitely Chinese in nature.

HD reliability problems? There may be a lot of negatives you can throw at HD but reliability is not one of them. You can about shoot one with a shotgun and it will get you home. Might not even be any slower than before you shot at it.