Is the Super Tenere an "Old Mans" Bike?

[RicoChet]

I've heard the old man's bike comment regarding my ST1300, but so far never in reference to the Super Tenere. I'm 64 and I can see a point somewhere down the road where dealing with the tallness of the bike might become more challenging. It's kind of at cross purposes. While the tall stance allows for more legroom, which is good for older knees like mine, at the same time clambering up onto it as opposed to just throwing a leg over my ST works a bit in the other direction.

I had an ST1300 last year for some road trips. I really liked it. But damn was it heavy!! Such a smooth bike.. amazing brakes, clutch and engine... A bit gutless though. Still, it was a superb machine -- I Wish it had been updated to have cruise control!

 

[Scrogs10]

Well I have a Harley Dyna and an S10 so I must be well old. I'm 52.

I do get people taking the mick out of the Harley until we go somewhere in a hurry and I have no problem staying with a few sports bikes. Not so long ago coming back down a twisty rode my mate and I had to stop on our Harleys to wait for a guy on his GSXR 600. Maybe that's just experience.

As for the S10. I get comments about its size and road presence. And 1 or 2 of a riding group I go out with are looking into getting an adventure bike. As for keeping up there are no issues what so ever whatever they are riding.

Plus whatever bike I'm riding I don't have to keep stopping and shaking my arms at every opportunity.

 

[snakebitten]

Re: Is the Super Tenere an "Old Mans" Bike?

My kids are grown now, but they never were drawn to dads motorcycles. Well, nothing more than occasional ride sitting in front of me.
So they know nothing about motorcycle genres beyond maybe street vs dirt.
So if someone were to say something to THEM about their dad having an "old mans bike", they'd likely be met with a big question-mark look.

To them, one minute they might see their dad ripping across a field with the KTM front tire reaching for the sky, then the next roosting the center line of the dirt drive on the Tenere.

To them, the only thing "old man" is their ridiculous dad. Not his bike(s).

 

[Bigbore4]

I'm only 16, but my knee's will be 60 this summer. I have 2 old man bikes, still have my FJR. Love them both. I like Checkswrecks response. the Saddle Sore race! And the FJR will still shock a lot of inexperienced youngsters on their rice rockets. Not the liter bikes, but the 600's.

My knees do seem to prefer the Super Tenere, it gets most of the duty these days.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Well, if I came on here and asked the collective how many would be interested in having a Hayabusa or R1 as your go to motorcycle, maybe that would shed some light on why our beloved Tenere is considered an old man's bike. Kids are about speed and sport, the Tenere is neither.

Scott -
YOU have the talent and experience to ride a KLR650 and eat a kid who is on a R1 or Hayabusa. On a Tenere you're friggin unstoppable, even with a hole in your leg.

 

[Sierra1]

Well, if I came on here and asked the collective how many would be interested in having a Hayabusa or R1 as your go to motorcycle, maybe that would shed some light on why our beloved Tenere is considered an old man's bike. Kids are about speed and sport, the Tenere is neither.

Uh....I have to disagree that the Tenere is neither speedy or sporty. It will keep up with many "sport" bikes when the corners get sharp. And isn't motocross a sport? I will agree that it does not LOOK sport though.

 

[HeliMark]

Re: Is the Super Tenere an "Old Mans" Bike?

Couple of weeks ago, I was following some crotch rockets. No problem staying with them in the corners. Came up to a dirt road and waved good bye to them. Works for me.

Mark

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

 

[Cycledude]

Yes the Tenere seems like an old mans bike to me, and I'm pretty happy with it, the majority of motorcycle riders these days seem a lot older than they did back in the 70's when I started riding. I think CanAm was pretty smart coming out with the Three wheeled Spyder when they did. I wonder if Yamaha will ever come out with a 3 wheeled motorcycle ?

 

[Sierra1]

Re: Is the Super Tenere an "Old Mans" Bike?

Couple of weeks ago, I was following some crotch rockets. No problem staying with them in the corners. Came up to a dirt road and waved good bye to them. Works for me.

Mark

::026:: Even with your luggage bolted on.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I think CanAm was pretty smart coming out with the Three wheeled Spyder when they did. I wonder if Yamaha will ever come out with a 3 wheeled motorcycle ?

They sell one outside the US, but it targets a different type of buyer.

 

[Sierra1]

Saw a similar type here in Texas a few years back. But I think it was a Piaggio. The owner was going to let me test it, but I was working. He was and "old man" though.

 

[RCinNC]

It was. Piaggio makes an MP3, a three wheeled scooter. Ted Simon, of Jupiter's Travels fame, toured all over the United Kingdom on back in the early part of this decade.

 

[Tenerester]

I have often get comments like 'beast', 'giant', 'tank', 'hauler' etc...but never heard anyone calling it an 'old man's bike'. On the other hand every time I considered buying a Harley Davidson, my friends and family never fail to ask the question 'isn't it an old man's bike'?

 

[bob dirt]

I have an old man's bike...GL1800. I ride it occasionally or when my wife wants to go for a ride. I sold both of our Harley's 6 years ago after she had 2 bouts of cancer. I've never had anyone call my bike an old man's bike, but I always catch people starring at my yellow beauty and usually asking what it is. ::008::

 

[HBLQRider]

Is the Tenere an Old Man's bike? I don't think so, even though in my mid-50's I guess I am old. It does a lot of things well and I think a younger person could enjoy it.

I ride it because I am tall and the other comfortable bike I wanted, the GSA was way too expensive in comparison. Plus, I didn't want to worry about reliability and BMW service intervals.

Quick story on youth v old age and treachery...my buddy's soon to be son-in-law joined us on a camping trip that included some very nice twisty roads. Of course he was on his liter crotch rocket. Poor kid couldn't believe that every time he looked in his side view mirrors, my 60 year old brother (a much better rider than me) was on his tail even though he was riding a GSA with 50/50 tires. ::012::

 

[Checkswrecks]

My 27 year old son has an older Strom and sneaks off with my Tenere when he can, especially if involves taking his fiancé for a ride.

 

[steve68steve]

A youngster working in a Cycle Gear once came outside to check out my bike, because he'd HEARD of a Super Tenere, but never actually saw one in person.


I'd guess the guy was maybe 5'7" to 5'9" tall. From my vantage on the sidewalk, when he walked around the bike it looked like the seat hit him about halfway between his belt and his shoulders. Just as I was thinking how small this guy looked next to it, he raised both eyebrows and said, "woo, this is a MAN's bike," with what seemed like a mix of respect and fear on his face.


I'm 6'4" tall, so I took him to mean that the S10 was physically large, or that you'd have to be a "big man" to handle it.


Now I read this thread and you bastages make me realize he was really just censoring out "old" to spare my feelings!!