danmcten
New Member
Last week I took the bike to the famed "tail of the Dragon" in Deals Gap, Tennessee (USA), among many many many other less-know amazing roads. The Dragon's claim to fame is 318 curves in 11miles. All of the roads are basically roller-coasters. It was a week on the bike, doing heavy (1000+ KMs / day) interstate riding there and back to get to the good stuff. Not fun, but do-able. On the twisty roads, I was able to throw the bike around fairly well. I've done these roads on a Suzuki Bandit and a Triumph Spring previously and the S.Ten is clearly not sporty but still really fun to hammer through the corners.
I was very loaded down - having left in 14C and rain, camping whenever possible and too much camera equipment that got very little use. All this weight helped me scape a peg at one point
I'll admit that was pretty surprising.
(touratech cases, trailmax mission tires)
Two years ago I spent a week in the forests in northern Ontario (Canada) on part of the Trans Canada Adventure Trail (TCAT). There were really deep water crossings (there's more story here - i'm only half as dumb as I look) and some very tricky/rocky terrain, sand at times and steep hill climbs. All very easy on a dirt bike -- possible on this bike. This bike had no trouble doing everything I asked it to do. I was like a proud papa on that thing. And when the bike did go down (a few times) I wasn't upset about any damage like I might have been on one of the expensive competitors.
here's an article one of the guys on the trip wrote about the adventure for Rider Magazine.
https://ridermagazine.com/.../the-long-way-across.../
(soft paniers and Heidenau K60 tires)
To sum up, the bike sometimes gets a bit of a bad reputation for being heavy and sluggish at times but I think that's up to the rider. You can really work this bike and make it do nearly anything. PLUS!!! it will get you to the fun stuff without making you hate riding by the time you get there!
(all stock ECU, pipe and suspension)
Yamaha Super Ténéré FTW!
(if you've already seen this text - I cross posted to a FB group as well)
I was very loaded down - having left in 14C and rain, camping whenever possible and too much camera equipment that got very little use. All this weight helped me scape a peg at one point
(touratech cases, trailmax mission tires)
Two years ago I spent a week in the forests in northern Ontario (Canada) on part of the Trans Canada Adventure Trail (TCAT). There were really deep water crossings (there's more story here - i'm only half as dumb as I look) and some very tricky/rocky terrain, sand at times and steep hill climbs. All very easy on a dirt bike -- possible on this bike. This bike had no trouble doing everything I asked it to do. I was like a proud papa on that thing. And when the bike did go down (a few times) I wasn't upset about any damage like I might have been on one of the expensive competitors.
here's an article one of the guys on the trip wrote about the adventure for Rider Magazine.
https://ridermagazine.com/.../the-long-way-across.../
(soft paniers and Heidenau K60 tires)
To sum up, the bike sometimes gets a bit of a bad reputation for being heavy and sluggish at times but I think that's up to the rider. You can really work this bike and make it do nearly anything. PLUS!!! it will get you to the fun stuff without making you hate riding by the time you get there!
(all stock ECU, pipe and suspension)
Yamaha Super Ténéré FTW!
(if you've already seen this text - I cross posted to a FB group as well)
