Good Highway Bike?

[eemsreno]

I had a Goldwing some years back, and chose the Tenere over the FJR because not only is it more versatile, but it is more comfortable on the highway. More legroom than an FJR and more roomy than a Goldwing, and it is adjustable as well. It goes down the highway with ease. It does need a better windscreen than stock, but once that is done, I'd stack it against anything for long distance travel, with the option of running dirt too. 800 mile days are a snap. Set it up and you will be good to go.

I'm in total agreement on your words.

 

[martin_nj]

and quieter engine makes a big difference. (I had to wear ear plugs on the RT but not on the S10).

this makes no sense. it isn't the engine noise that causes deafness/sound fatigue it is the wind....

unless somehow our brick on wheels is more aero than BMW's top of the line street touring machine, i'm afraid to tell you ... you've become more deaf ::008::


tenere sucks on the highway compared to an FJR or C14. but it is better on the highway than my old honda 919 and current WR250R.

 

[snakebitten]

Rode from home to Big Bend. (my favorite place on the planet. can't really explain)
719 miles. Took my time and enjoyed the trip itself. 2 days with lots of stops.

Stayed too long, and got myself in a bind where I HAD to get home in a single day.
CRANKED the Blue Beast and crossed Texas at 90-95 mph (indicated) for 4 tankful's.
I suspect gas mileage was horrible. And I was on Karoo T knobbies, so figure that meltdown into the cost too.

But She never complained one bit. And I think she feels very planted when being pushed, considering.
Also, knobbies get smoother when you are flying!

 

[BarkSlayer]

I think once you get the wind management and seat issues handled, the Super Tenere makes a great highway bike. It's much more stable at 75 mph and above than my GS ever was.

 

[Boondocker]

I had the great pleasure of taking an Edelweiss High Alpine Tour this past summer, 2-up with my wife. Spent the week aboard a 2013 BMW R1200RT. RT beats the XT1200Z in one area, stock-to-stock, that is wind management, and the seat was decent too, but that is such a subjective area. Credit to the RT, it's a competent machine and did everything well. Fortunately, there were no dirt roads on this tour. Did it do anything better than my Ténéré? No. I would actually score them very much equal on highway and twisty mountain roads except in the handling department. Ténéré handles more to my liking. I'm used to forks not the Paralever front end. To be fair, I did not find the handling limits of the RT, but I gained confidence in it and pushed it harder as the week went on. Still, I prefer the seating position, ergonomics overall, power, and handling characteristics of the Super Tenere. If the R1200RT was the only bike I could own, I would call myself lucky. As it is, I'm luckier to own the XT1200Z. Yamaha reliability can't be beat, and you can take that a long ways down the highway.

 

[BravoBravo]

I had the great pleasure of taking an Edelweiss High Alpine Tour this past summer, 2-up with my wife. Spent the week aboard a 2013 BMW R1200RT. RT beats the XT1200Z in one area, stock-to-stock, that is wind management, and the seat was decent too, but that is such a subjective area. Credit to the RT, it's a competent machine and did everything well. Fortunately, there were no dirt roads on this tour. Did it do anything better than my Ténéré? No. I would actually score them very much equal on highway and twisty mountain roads except in the handling department. Ténéré handles more to my liking. I'm used to forks not the Paralever front end. To be fair, I did not find the handling limits of the RT, but I gained confidence in it and pushed it harder as the week went on. Still, I prefer the seating position, ergonomics overall, power, and handling characteristics of the Super Tenere. If the R1200RT was the only bike I could own, I would call myself lucky. As it is, I'm luckier to own the XT1200Z. Yamaha reliability can't be beat, and you can take that a long ways down the highway.

Boondocker, my wife and I did the same tour in 2011, also on an RT. I thought it was a superb bike on the highway. I did think it was a bit ungainly on the Alpine switchbacks, and I found myself wishing I had opted for an 800 instead, but all-in-all, it was a very competent motorcycle. This was two years before I purchased my Super Tenere, so I could not compare them back to back, but I do believe you are correct when you say that the handling of the Super Ten is better.

Bruce

 

[jackrabbit]

I put 18,000 miles on an S10 I bought in May of 2012. I put 8,000 miles on an '08 FJR I purchased in July of this year. If someone put a gun to my head and said you can only have one bike, the FJR would be gone. I think the Tenere is a great hard ball bike that does well on the rough stuff. Never been disappointed. If you don't know whether to crap or go blind, close one eye and fart.

 

[Buelligan]

I took time off work during the thanksgiving holidays.
I rode an ironbutt saddlesore, 1000 miles in 17 hrs from Albuquerque to Memphis.
Then rode down to the coast, and over to Brownsville, the started another saddlesore ride back to 'Querque. 17.4 hrs
Total miles was around 3100 miles in 6 days, two of those days +1000 mile days.
The Tenere was comfortable, smooth, handled everything I wanted it to, as usual.
Great bike, goes anywhere, does it all!

B

 

[XtreemLee]

It's a decent bike on the highway, but feels to me like the engine is really working at 80mph, not that smooth effortless cruise you'll get out of a big 4 or 6 cylinder bike. I've done 750 miles in a day and was OK, but I've done 1700 in a day on a Goldwing, and no way in heck I would do that on the Tenere.

Turn it up to 90, 5k is so smooth...

 

[Maxified]

But She never complained one bit. And I think she feels very planted when being pushed, considering.
Also, knobbies get smoother when you are flying!

Amen, brother! K60s did alright in the triples and sweepers but mileage really stinks when your wrist is in the tank.

 

[jimmy z]

I guess im just jealous.In these parts you would not have a license at 85 to 90.At 9 your fine 10 your mine.LOL Jim

 

[AVGeek]

I've had a couple of paved-road only trips this year that the FJR motor would have been welcomed...but the ST ergo's are much better for me than the FJR. And I was running at highway speeds, fully loaded with both panniers on, so had the aerodynamics of a brick!

 

[TwoLukes]

Great replies in all these posts, but in all these opinions, you're getting what you pay for ;-) . . . So with that said, here is mine: I bought the '12 in ABQ with Mich Road 1's on the bike. Just for grins, riding back to Vegas, I took it, with OEM boxes, up to 120, no problem with more throttle left. . . I didn't stay there long as common sense kicked in. I changed to H-60s (thanks Jaxon) and just finished 9,500 miles including the Arkansas Rally. With 3 boxes and all the farkle you could want, took it up to 125 across OK and TX. That was about all it would do loaded down. I cruised 80-95, fully weighted, most of the trip. Very comfortable the entire ride. I do have a Russell Day Long Seat and a Parabellum(Tall - 2 inch) windscreen for windblast and butt comfort, but love the bike on and off road . . . Now where is my pay . . . ;-) Good luck on your decision. Luke

 

[snakebitten]

Texas. You BETTER get a move on!

You can be running an indicated 95mph on a Tenere and the Highway Patrol will actually pass you in the left lane.

 

[racer1735]

Adjust the windscreen to suit you and its a very good highway bike. You may need to invest in a adjustable bracket (SW Motech, Touratech and Madstadt make them) but once you get the wind managed, its very good. There are BETTER highway bikes, but they will be heavier, or simply a different demographic. The Super Tenere can go over the highway or down the dirt road. Very few will do that as easily.

 

[bigbob]

You can be running an indicated 95mph on a Tenere and the Highway Patrol will actually pass you in the left lane.

And what is the legal speed limit on those roads? Free or pay/toll roads?

 

[racer1735]

Most of Texas is 75 mph outside of urban areas. I-10 West of San Antonio is 85 mph. I'm sure others can speak of the limits in their areas.

 

[Motorrijden]

Great posts! Oh man, how I love riding the S10 on the highway. Doing 60mph only as Dutch roads are quite busy. Had a MRA sport screen till this weekend and now changed to a Calsci Large. Very comfortable, also in freezing cold conditions like this morning.

Had some 1200RT experience as well, it was too much for me. I think if you're looking for a comfortable yet easy to handle highway cruiser, the S10 won't disappoint you.

Indeed, one thing, it took me some time to get the best wind protection management so prepare for some trial and error.

Enjoy whichever bike you choose!

 

[oldbear]

As stated, great all round bike. I own a 2010 Goldwing and a '13 S10. When I'm solo I'm on the S10-ALWAYS! It will go anywhere I want to go on a full size motorcycle, cruise highway speed all day in comfort, and is dead solid reliable. What more can you ask? Go for it! ::015::

 

[SixdayMike]

One aspect of Adventure bikes like the S10 that I don’t think anyone mentioned is safety. Because of longer travel suspension, stronger frames, higher riding position, wider handle bars; the bike is far less upset by rough roads and that armadillo you may find in the middle of a blind curve. High ground clearance allows you to lean way over before dragging anything. The multi-purpose tires hardly ever hydroplane and are way better when there is any kind of gravel or dirt on the road.

The Super Ténéré is a great long distance touring bike and will comfortably exceed any posted speed limited in the US for days on end.