How misinformation has slowly help kill the 1200XTZ

[a1scoot]

For me personally my Tenere is just too damn heavy for anything more than a dirt road..I dropped it in deep pine needles in a national park and tried for 20
minutes to pick it up...No bueno. These days I grab my XR 650L for the backcountry or better yet my KTM 300XC...Your experience may vary...

 

[Kemlyn⚙️]

For me personally my Tenere is just too damn heavy for anything more than a dirt road..I dropped it in deep pine needles in a national park and tried for 20
minutes to pick it up...No bueno. These days I grab my XR 650L for the backcountry or better yet my KTM 300XC...Your experience may vary...

Light under 800cc ADV bikes are great for local aggressive hard core single track riding but when you hit the road for a month headed to Alaska and need a motorcycle that is comfortable and can cruise all day at 80 mph loaded w luggage and still handle a gravel road when needed. Its a fit.
Smaller displacement ADV bike’s struggle with distance riding due to limited range and cannot sustain 80 mph plus cruising for hours. Knowing HOW you intend to use the motorcycle is the key to long term satisfaction. There is give and take in a motorcycles dynamics depending on it’s weight and size.
As a simple comparison would you have Shaquille O’Neal ride in the Kentucky Derby or a 100 pound 5 foot tall horse jockey play in the NBA⁉. neither would be successful. Size matters in a motorcycle just like people .. but most important is how you intend to utilize the bike. I consider my Super Tenere as a sort of a hybid motorcycle it pretty good at many things but never the best at anything its all a balancing act.. no pun intended.

 

[Madhatter]

Sierra said a few pages back about Harley riders joining the fun on a HD ADV . most Harley riders are challenged in the inseam so I don't see it . but Harley added the lowering mode on the top end bike to help in this .
the only bike more rare than tenere on the mean streets is the Harley ADv bike .

 

[Cycledude]

One of these days I’m going to buy one of those tools designed to help pick up a tipped over motorcycle.

 

[Kemlyn⚙️]

I’ve been riding over 50 years in remote areas of the Canadian maritimes in Labrador and Newfoundland .. try and find a BMW, KTM, or Ducati dealer there.
If you need parts on the road Yamaha makes and distributes ATV’s, Outboard motors all along remote fishing villages and backcountry. Because they are full service Yamaha dealers … they can get parts in days not weeks or months. Here’s what most people never consider when looking at sexy super model motorcycles…
RELIABILITY… when you’re in the middle of nowhere having a motorcycle that just works perfectly everyday with zero issues makes a trip great as opposed to a nightmare hung up for days hoping to get your motorcycle repaired... Yamaha motorcycles are extremely reliable as opposed to the sexy EXPENSIVE rides holding down the bottom of the reliability list.
Don’t be fooled at a dealership by sales people showing Paris to Dakar racing BS where 100’s of mechanics chasing their BMW, KTM and Triumph's bikes for days through the desert in monster service trucks to keep them running… I ride solo so don’t have scrambling mechanics at my beckon call. example of reliability see below

Yamaha done a lousy job emphasizing the stellar reliability of their motorcycles and allowed lesser brands to undermine their market share in ADV motorcycles. Actually it’s rather sad.

 

[Kemlyn⚙️]

One of these days I’m going to buy one of those tools designed to help pick up a tipped over motorcycle.

In my BMW group one of my buds has a NiCad powered electric wench to get it unstuck on muddy fire roads but it also works mounted to a tree to pick up his 600 lb GS1250

 

[TenereGUY]

Well, they should get the 700 Tenere or the new TransAlp. Not as comfortable on a long day though.
SkunkWorks... those are trails that I like. First pic... not enough speed to get over?
Maybe it's because I have been riding Goldwings forever or top heavy liter sport bikes. This bike isn't heavy unless you pack heavy and the footing isn't good or it is tipped over facing down hill. I was riding with a buddy in Whistler, CA and he stopped fast and tipped over on his GS1250 Rallye and he was getting ready to take his stuff off. He was loaded. Using the right technique I had it up quickly. I am 6'3" (and for Sierra1...270#) 59 and out of good shape as I am a bit pear shaped now! Technique is key.
But it is true. I have heard a lot of bad stuff about this bike but it is a trooper even on trails as bad or a little worse than what Skunkworks showed. It can handle them with ease as long as your tires are the right type. This is coming from a life long Honda rider who wanted an AT. I am going to be riding an AT across PA on the CPAAT this coming week. I'll let you know what I think of it... as it is only about 45# lighter and has that 21"wheel. 45#... that's hardly enough to even think about... oh, it has 1 less gallon of gas capacity... that right there puts it down in the 30# range for difference and I like shaft drives way more than chain. Nuff said

Update: The African Twin was nice but I have no need to swap to one now. Buuuttt a 21"wheel would be nice to have. It handled better in looser gravel and that's about it. I didn't ride it over or through any really rocky/baby head trails. Slick wet stuff and Pennsylvania gravel at the end of the season (read as: not much gravel left and mostly fines that were slick in the rain.) So I will stay put with my ST.

 

[Sierra1]

. . . . a 21"wheel would be nice to have. . . .

Somebody on here put a 21" on their Tenere. I remember it being kinda costly. I can't remember who did it, somebody else might. He might still be here.

 

[TenereGUY]

In my BMW group one of my buds has a NiCad powered electric wench to get it unstuck on muddy fire roads but it also works mounted to a tree to pick up his 600 lb GS1250

Do you mean winch or wrench or a battery powered woman?

 

[Sierra1]

. . . . a 21"wheel would be nice to have. , , , ,

Found him. @Ramseybella His bike.

 

[TenereGUY]

Found him. @Ramseybella His bike.
View attachment 108122

That looks good! Looks like the tire is closer to the front of the engine. Wonder if that causes a problem if the suspension gets fully compressed? Wonder how he did that? Just a 21"rim with different length spokes? Interesting. Thanks for the picture.

 

[Kemlyn⚙️]

I have a 2021 Africa Twin adventure DCT its awash with technology like Apple car play , color TFT touch screens , a buzzillion ride modes. Even more suspension modes with load and rebound rates, multiple ABS configuration, rain mode, engine braking adjustments, self diagnostics , self dimming of headlights and screens,all amusing but is demanding to manage under way.
It comes complete w a 300 page manual of lite reading … I killed the battery in my garage going through various menus of how to get in and outta them. All is great right
Not so much.. missing, a center stand dealer option 225 bucks, oh wait its cold in Maine and NO heated grips! Bought some $200 tried to install no pug and play complex 2 dealer install another $300 bucks , lousy weather protection crappy windshield
$225 bucks from Cal Sci.. no power outlet to charge phone or GPS… dealer another $450 bucks a shit 5 gallon gas tank lucky to get 200 miles between fill ups the seat is like sitting on a 2x6 that needs to be addressed too for 500-800 bucks.. w 3800 miles the 21 bike out the door for 16.5k I’m pushing 20k to get the Africa Twin to where I can stand it l. We’l see but it nay go byr-bye to an unsuspecting friend

 

[Kemlyn⚙️]

Africa Twins have class leading weight .. why because they don’t have shit on them except loads of software which weights nothing.. but hang onto your wallet when you start buying standard items most motorcycles havr like a center stand 20-30 pounds maybe.. but get ready to feed the local Honda dealer thousands of dollars ti get it right

 

[Tenman]

I once put a 21” front wheel on a 2t dirt bike (Yamaha dt1-250) that came with an 19”. It made it handle weird (front end push) and would wheelie almost uncontrollably when I gassed it below 4th gear. It was a blast to ride though.

 

[Kemlyn⚙️]

Do you mean winch or wrench or a battery powered woman?

I watched Pirates of the Caribbean last weekend wether it’s a winch or a wench they both provide a good tug when your down to get back up for a happy ending

When I was a kid I had a 21 wheel on my orange,green and yellow plastic Big Wheel.. it did great driveway downhill spin outs.. thats where it all started for me!

 

[Sierra1]

Yet more reasons that I love my overweight, under powered, behind the times tech havin' Tenesaurus.

 

[TenereGUY]

I watched Pirates of the Caribbean last weekend wether it’s a winch or a wench they both provide a good tug when your down to get back up for a happy ending

When I was a kid I had a 21 wheel on my orange,green and yellow plastic Big Wheel.. it did great driveway downhill spin outs.. thats where it all started for me!

Those big wheel commercials were awesome! Most of the big wheels in my neighborhood had a flat side on the round wheel after a while from doing the skids and spinning it out.

 

[Kemlyn⚙️]

Those big wheel commercials were awesome! Most of the big wheels in my neighborhood had a flat side on the round wheel after a while from doing the skids and spinning it out.

Yes a FLAT spot on the wheel from excessive power slides…
I assumed the sport of drifting was derived back in the 80’s in an 8 year old driveway with his best buds on their Big Wheels.

 

[Madhatter]

those shiny rims on ramsybella 's bike need tube 's .... tubes suck .

 

[TenereGUY]

those shiny rims on ramsybella 's bike need tube 's .... tubes suck .

Yes, I saw that and I agree. No tubes!