AKC Tenere
New Member
::012::
Just test rode a Tenere and Triumph Explorer 1200 back to back
- Thread starter sportsguy
- Start date
Donk
Well-Known Member
I love it! ::015::AKC Tenere said:
FredBGG in my opinion you are being way too kind. That is only the start of the list.
MrSpock
Member
About a month ago (July 2015) I test rode a bunch of heavy ADV bikes that I was allowed to consider as a potential cure for my midlife crisis. Ok joking. I just was going back to riding after taking a pause for growing couple of kids. So, I called some of my local dealers and rode:
2015 BMW R1200 GS (they didn't have GSA for test ride, so I assumed it was close enough)
2014 KTM 1190 Adventure
2015 Triumph Tiger 800 XCx
2015 Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer
2015 Suzuki V-Strom 1000
2015 Yamaha Super Tenere (non-ES)
Here are my notes (strictly subjective and incomplete):
- Bimmer: super expensive, first available GSA is coming in 5 weeks, need to make a deposit NOW. Concerned with first generation of water cooling engine. Too many electronic gizmos, including critical components. Germans are not known for reliable electronics. Plus, it is a bimmer - can I cope with the parking lot looks??
- KTM 1190: POWER!!!!! Amazing machine! Great engine and suspension. Felt much lighter than it is. However, very expensive in maintenance, chain drive, bad dealer attitude (would not give me a deal - asked MSRP plus $2000 in fees for a 2014 model with about 200 test drive miles on it! Oh, and I had a stall on the freeway during my test ride.
- Tiger 800: Zippy. Fantastic engine! Nice and light-weight, enough power for one + luggage. Great fully adjustable suspension. Cons: very hot engine - was impossible to sit on it in traffic on a 90F day. Chain drive. Tube tires on spoke wheels!!! Welded passenger pegs that would total your bike in case of a lay over without panniers.
- Tiger 1200: A behemoth. Very top heavy, didn't like the dynamics and ergonomics. Triumphs are not known to be very reliable.
-V-Strom: I had a Vee for 4 years and some 30K miles, so this new model supposed to cure some design flaws... Well, some were cured, some weren't. It felt like almost the same bike. Sure enough it was the same engine. A 20+ years old engine... I would expect more from a supposedly "new" bike. It felt heavier, even more restrictive.
- S10: plenty of power. Not as smooth and powerful as KTM or bimmer, but enough for 2-up and luggage. Engine is a bit rough and low-RPM - something to get used to. Seems to have nice weight distribution. No thrill shaft drive. Decent fully adjustable suspension, pretty comfortable ergonomics out of the door. Fantastic set of features and for the price and overall value (approx $4000 less that KTM, $8000 less than GSA). I always liked Yamaha engineering and reliability.
So, here I'm - breaking in my new S10 and reading the internets about the bike and its farkles.
2015 BMW R1200 GS (they didn't have GSA for test ride, so I assumed it was close enough)
2014 KTM 1190 Adventure
2015 Triumph Tiger 800 XCx
2015 Triumph Tiger 1200 Explorer
2015 Suzuki V-Strom 1000
2015 Yamaha Super Tenere (non-ES)
Here are my notes (strictly subjective and incomplete):
- Bimmer: super expensive, first available GSA is coming in 5 weeks, need to make a deposit NOW. Concerned with first generation of water cooling engine. Too many electronic gizmos, including critical components. Germans are not known for reliable electronics. Plus, it is a bimmer - can I cope with the parking lot looks??
- KTM 1190: POWER!!!!! Amazing machine! Great engine and suspension. Felt much lighter than it is. However, very expensive in maintenance, chain drive, bad dealer attitude (would not give me a deal - asked MSRP plus $2000 in fees for a 2014 model with about 200 test drive miles on it! Oh, and I had a stall on the freeway during my test ride.
- Tiger 800: Zippy. Fantastic engine! Nice and light-weight, enough power for one + luggage. Great fully adjustable suspension. Cons: very hot engine - was impossible to sit on it in traffic on a 90F day. Chain drive. Tube tires on spoke wheels!!! Welded passenger pegs that would total your bike in case of a lay over without panniers.
- Tiger 1200: A behemoth. Very top heavy, didn't like the dynamics and ergonomics. Triumphs are not known to be very reliable.
-V-Strom: I had a Vee for 4 years and some 30K miles, so this new model supposed to cure some design flaws... Well, some were cured, some weren't. It felt like almost the same bike. Sure enough it was the same engine. A 20+ years old engine... I would expect more from a supposedly "new" bike. It felt heavier, even more restrictive.
- S10: plenty of power. Not as smooth and powerful as KTM or bimmer, but enough for 2-up and luggage. Engine is a bit rough and low-RPM - something to get used to. Seems to have nice weight distribution. No thrill shaft drive. Decent fully adjustable suspension, pretty comfortable ergonomics out of the door. Fantastic set of features and for the price and overall value (approx $4000 less that KTM, $8000 less than GSA). I always liked Yamaha engineering and reliability.
So, here I'm - breaking in my new S10 and reading the internets about the bike and its farkles.
I had a similar Journey in 2012, the S10 was not the lightest, or fastest, or best handling, or most "characterful", or best looking, but everything else I looked at had a big chink in the armour like being "potentially unreliable", expensive to maintain, expensive to buy, lacking dealer support.
The Yamaha seemed adequate in every area, likely to be the most sturdy and there were some great deals available so worked out about 20% less than similarly spec'd competition and about 40% cheaper than the highest spec'd BMW's.
The Yamaha seemed adequate in every area, likely to be the most sturdy and there were some great deals available so worked out about 20% less than similarly spec'd competition and about 40% cheaper than the highest spec'd BMW's.
shrekonwheels
New Member
I was on my way to pick up a used GS 8 hours away. At the last minute I would check my phone to see if there were any Tenere nearby for a test ride, there was, well sort of, it was 3.5 hours from home which put me an extra 1.5 from my destination.MrSpock said:
I rode it, power was great, handling great, and the added bonus the wife loved the looks, as did I.
The rest is history.
hambonee
New Member
I traded in my 2013 BMW LC GS and odd thing I find is that people mention the S-10 is low on power and rough at low RPMs. If that is the case then people will REALLY hate the BMW for that. I can lug at 1500 rpm on the S-10 no issue. On the beeemer it would jerk me around like crazy until I hit well aroung 2500 and even then it had a very very rough lunging sort or feel. It's transmission was also garbage..ugh..sooooo rough...MrSpock said:
Nice power and electronics though on the beemer..till the electronics break(as their switches have a habit of doing)..lol..
Love the S-10...happy I made the trade "up" ;D
RIDEMYST
So many roads......
You might want to do more than just a test ride on the Explorer.
I understand being impressed with the power, that triple is nice.
As to cruise control, yes it has cruise control but the lag time to re-engage after a pass is not good to say the least.
I owned one for 18 months that I bought new. I put over 42K on the bike. During that period it was in the shop for 5 weeks.
I had 4 factory recalls, cruise control went out, gear indicator and cruise control went out on another occasion and 2nd & 6th gears were replaced on the thrid occasion.
After a long ride (when the engine was hot) I would often have problems with the restart and every time it would clack just like a first start after an oil change.
I never rode the bike hard, I just rode it a lot but did ALL of the required maintenance.
I must say that Triumph stood behind their warranty every time!
My buddy bought the Trophy (same engine as the Explorer) at about the same time as my purchase and put similar miles on his bike with similar problems.
I simply lost confidence in the bike.
I still think Triumph builds a good bike but I must agree with those that point out that the QC on the Explorer must be lacking.
That said, I've now owned my 2015 Tenere ES for 6 months. I have over 14K on the bike.
So far it has done everything flawlessly.
No it does not have the power on the Triumph but not significantly less.
The cruise control works like a cruise control is supposed to work (just like my car) and for touring use, one of the best I've owned.
Just my 2-cents (and experience). -JEP-
I understand being impressed with the power, that triple is nice.
As to cruise control, yes it has cruise control but the lag time to re-engage after a pass is not good to say the least.
I owned one for 18 months that I bought new. I put over 42K on the bike. During that period it was in the shop for 5 weeks.
I had 4 factory recalls, cruise control went out, gear indicator and cruise control went out on another occasion and 2nd & 6th gears were replaced on the thrid occasion.
After a long ride (when the engine was hot) I would often have problems with the restart and every time it would clack just like a first start after an oil change.
I never rode the bike hard, I just rode it a lot but did ALL of the required maintenance.
I must say that Triumph stood behind their warranty every time!
My buddy bought the Trophy (same engine as the Explorer) at about the same time as my purchase and put similar miles on his bike with similar problems.
I simply lost confidence in the bike.
I still think Triumph builds a good bike but I must agree with those that point out that the QC on the Explorer must be lacking.
That said, I've now owned my 2015 Tenere ES for 6 months. I have over 14K on the bike.
So far it has done everything flawlessly.
No it does not have the power on the Triumph but not significantly less.
The cruise control works like a cruise control is supposed to work (just like my car) and for touring use, one of the best I've owned.
Just my 2-cents (and experience). -JEP-
KevinFH
New Member
The power on the Triumph not so good for 5 weeks? Who really needs more power than the ST has?