Took the Super Ténéré out for a 2000 mile spin to my family cabin north of Yellowstone and then off to Galcier NP with Dad on the TW200. It was a tale of 2 Yamaha extremes but the TW put up a good fight for a 200. In case you are wondering the TW can cruse at up to 63 MPH and has a range to reserve at highway speeds of around 83 miles. Dad was wishing for his G650GS single which was in Denver at the time but you use what is available and the next choice was a Grizzly 650 or a King quad 750 all licensed for life in MT (MT is so cool).
I have had my XTZ for well over a year now and haven't really done any touring till now. That said I just got back from a 2000 mile ride to Glacier NP. Highest mileage day was 506 miles. Did about 100 miles of rough river rock 2 track. Many miles of twisty MT back-roads. Too much super-slab trying to get home for my anniversary. In the end the Super Ténéré was an awesome tourer. I had ZERO issues. My ass was not perfect but fairly comfortable. The handlebars are a bad bend and need to be changed but didn't suffer much although my back was the first to fatigue from the reach and bend. I found myself riding fairly spirited running into the low 100mphs (GPS). Speedometer is 8% optimistic. On rough dirt 2 track the suspension and handling was superb. Before the Super Ténéré I had an extremely well modified DR650 with Cogent Dynamic Suspension, Gold Valves... The Super Ténéré will eat any DR up on rough 2-Track (not rock crawling but fast and rough). The bike is extremely well planted and even with Tourance EXPs rarely slipped traveling well over the speed limits on dirt or tarmac. I never felt any desire to turn off the ABS it worked great in all conditions I encountered. My SW Motech skid plate is likely the best insurance I bought for the bike and definitely took some hits by some big river rock. I am really surprised how well this bike soaks up rough roads. Some pics below, for more click on one of the thumbs and browse them all in Photobucket.
The XTZ on the way to Kintla Lake, Glacier NP Last week.
Many Glacier area
Dad on the TW200. Yes we did a test of Yamaha's adventure extremes for 2012.
Grizzlies at Many Glacier.
I have had my XTZ for well over a year now and haven't really done any touring till now. That said I just got back from a 2000 mile ride to Glacier NP. Highest mileage day was 506 miles. Did about 100 miles of rough river rock 2 track. Many miles of twisty MT back-roads. Too much super-slab trying to get home for my anniversary. In the end the Super Ténéré was an awesome tourer. I had ZERO issues. My ass was not perfect but fairly comfortable. The handlebars are a bad bend and need to be changed but didn't suffer much although my back was the first to fatigue from the reach and bend. I found myself riding fairly spirited running into the low 100mphs (GPS). Speedometer is 8% optimistic. On rough dirt 2 track the suspension and handling was superb. Before the Super Ténéré I had an extremely well modified DR650 with Cogent Dynamic Suspension, Gold Valves... The Super Ténéré will eat any DR up on rough 2-Track (not rock crawling but fast and rough). The bike is extremely well planted and even with Tourance EXPs rarely slipped traveling well over the speed limits on dirt or tarmac. I never felt any desire to turn off the ABS it worked great in all conditions I encountered. My SW Motech skid plate is likely the best insurance I bought for the bike and definitely took some hits by some big river rock. I am really surprised how well this bike soaks up rough roads. Some pics below, for more click on one of the thumbs and browse them all in Photobucket.
The XTZ on the way to Kintla Lake, Glacier NP Last week.
Many Glacier area
Dad on the TW200. Yes we did a test of Yamaha's adventure extremes for 2012.
Grizzlies at Many Glacier.
