Long Trip Which Bike to Take?

[Boonerp]

Hello to all...thought it might be interesting to see what kind of feedback I get on the issue below.

I have a long ride coming up totalling about 1300 miles. We (myself and two other riders one on a GS and the other on a Hayabusa) plan to do it in 2 or 3 days travelling from SW Ontario to Orlando down I77 to I95. I have the choice of two trusty bikes to ride and Im struggling to make a choice between the two. Plan is to leave the bikes in Florida and do some riding over the winter months when we come down from the frozen north.

The first is a 2008 HD Ultra with ABS, Cruise, highway pegs, aftermarket seat, driver backrest and all touring amenities. It will cruise all day long at 75-80 mph and had loads of storage. Not the most nimble of bikes, brakes are ok and suspension is ok also.

The second is a 2014 Tenere ES with factory bags, Yamaha touring screen, winglets and a Sargent seat (on the way). Stock seat foe me is painful after about 3 hours so Im hoping the sergeant is an improvement. The tenure has better brakes, suspension and handling. Wind protection is maybe a little better on the S10.

I know many of you are using the S10 for long distance touring and thought perhaps maybe someone also has an HD touring bike and could compare the two.

Look forward to your comments!

Regards,
Peter

 

[Checkswrecks]

1300 miles is nothing to either of those. It'd come down to personal taste.

 

[MCGMB]

I'd take the HD, if for no other reason than that would make one heck of a different trio to behold (and hear).

Though I would say if the other two intend to ride very quickly, then maybe take the S10 if you plan to keep up.

Even still, I'd probably take the HD because with a 'Busa in the group, you're not going to hit anything off-road.

 

[dell835]

Wouldn't be much out of your way to ride some of the Blue Ridge Parkway or The Tail of the Dragon. Enjoy your trip on whichever bike you take.

 

[Chump]

I put 5700 miles in 6 days on my Tenere. Tenere is a fine and comfortable mile eater.

 

[Defekticon]

I couldn't go 60 miles on the stock seat without being in pain. Swapped out for an Russel Day Long and could ride 1000 miles a day, camp, get up the next morning and go another 1000 miles without being sore. It's worth going high end on the seat if you can swing it.

 

[magic]

Peter, I traded my 2006 FLHT in on a Super Tenere in June 2015. I enjoyed the HD, but I prefer the more upright seating position of the S10. I also had a nice custom seat on the HD with a driver backrest. The seating position on the HD puts your feet out in front of you and on the S10 your feet are directly under your arse. For me this is more comfortable on long rides. I also have a Sargent seat on my S10. I didn't think too much of it at first, but after 10,000 miles it feels much better. Either it is broken in now or my rear end has gotten used to it. On a side note, have you had the cam chain tensioners checked on your HD? Hope some of this helps and have a good trip.

 

[limey]

I just sold me 2008 Roadglide at the beginning of summer, just found it wasn't getting used after I bought the Ténéré (2012). I'm hitting 100,000km and I've done a few 1,600km days and lots of 1000km days.

 

[RCinNC]

I've owned both an '04 Road King and a '14 Super Tenere, and I've found the S10 to be a much better long distance touring machine for my tastes. Storage is better, handling, two-up comfort, riding position...all of them suit me more than they did on the HD. I've ridden both bikes cross country more than once on 3-4 thousand mile trips, and if I still had both bikes, I'd take the S10.

I like Harleys. I really enjoyed the one I had, and if I had unlimited funds and garage space there'd be one in my garage. But the S10 is a "load it up and go" bike to a much greater degree than my RK was. Two up touring on the RK could be a pain; those classy weird shaped saddlebags didn't hold much stuff, and I always ended up strapping a T-Bag to the back and looking like an Okie during the Dust Bowl. With the S10, both our gear fits easily in the side and top case, which can all be easily removed by my own QR system and carried right into the hotel room like a regular suitcase.

 

[EricV]

Long ride? <giggle> That's so cute! That's a day ride.

But to the point, which bike do you want to ride this winter in Florida? The HD is a great bike for day tripping in flatistan where curves are outlawed and slow traffic rules the day. I had a '05 Road King a few years back and while it never got the miles my FJR or Super Ten do, it was a great two up bike and lazy day ride bike. The Ultra is even better than the RK and a better distance bike than the RK. You're not going to be carving corners in FL, so if you play on staying mostly in that region for your winter riding, take the HD down and you'll be set.

OTOH, if you plan on extending your rides out of FL, again, what type of riding do you want to do? The Sargent seat may be a good fit for your butt, or not, but the Super Ten can be made into a great long distance touring platform. You're not quite there yet though, so maybe keep it home where you can do some winter farkling. The Ultra is a known comfortable ride for you and will easily take you anywhere you want to go in comfort. If you want to so some off pavement riding this winter, well that sort of changes things. If you live for carving tighter corners with lots of lean, you won't really get that thrill from the Ultra. If you want to keep pace with the GS and 'Busa in the curves, you need a sharper tool than the Ultra and the Super Ten will do better at that. Even riding The Pace, my Ultra friends always ended up off the back, grinding hard parts in their attempts to keep up with my lazy pace in the twisties.

Take the bike that suits the riding you want/expect to do. Both are good bikes. A 2-3 day ride down means you can survive any discomfort if the Sargent seat doesn't work for you. A sheepskin or bead seat cover will help, or even a AirHawk if you're really suffering. As others have said, if you're going to get a custom seat, get a custom seat. I've had two RDLs on two different bikes and nothing else touches them for all day comfort. Its a tractor seat, but your butt won't care. I've spent too much money trying other seats and gone back to a Russell Day Long in the end. Others are good, the RDL is the best for LD riding.

 

[Cycledude]

No matter which bike you take it sounds like a nice trip, but I'm surprised that you said the Tenere has better wind protection than the Ultra, I've never riden an Ultra

 

[Don in Lodi]

I don't think it's the ride-down-bike you need to think about, it's the daily ride staying back home you need to be concerned with. If you're getting close to packing it in up there in London then it become less clear, but if you ride off and on through the next six months I think the Ténéré needs to stay home. ::26::

 

[billyp]

Just got back from the Blue ridge and Sky line dr.Did 2600 miles in 7 days .Did 600 miles last day and was in good shape the whole way.Had more fun on the back roads and did fine at 75 to 80 all day long.

 

[Boonerp]

A big thank you to all for the input. Great advice and refreshing to see the lack of Harley bashing as the floor was open.

It may be a decision that is best made the day before the trip so I can stop driving myself crazy!

We may take a day and do the blue ridge parkway but something tells me my buddy on the busa may want to get to Orlando asap and get the hell off that thing!

Ride safe guys and see you on the road!

Regards,
Peter

 

[HeliMark]

I had an '06 Ultra for about 5 years. For munching miles in comfort, it really couldn't be beat. If I had both, I would take the Tenere. It is just the jack of all trades. Roads that I would sweat due the potholes, dirt, uneven pavement with the Ultra, on the Tenere it just adds to the fun.

Mark

 

[stomp347]

I've done long trips on both the HD and Tenere. You can't beat the FX pillow seat and riding position for the highway, but as others have said, the Tenere is a jack of all trades. Back roads, dirt roads, it just does everything great. Either way, have fun, ride safe. ::003::

 

[rider33]

they are both good bikes and I have ridden cross-country several times on a version of each. FL's are very, very good at freeway cruising in straight lines on flat land. They can do a variety of other things but not as well. S10's are pretty good as freeway mile munchers, they are also pretty good at just about anything else too. Florida for the most part is flat, straight, and boring as roads go. If that is where you are going to be spending most of your time an FL would be fine. If, on the other hand, you plan to spend some time on some of the more interesting roads in that direction (Blueridge parkway and Tail of the Dragon come to mind to say nothing of countless mountain back roads) the S10 is a better bet. The S10 will let you do anything, the FL not so much. When several thousand miles from home flexibility is good to have. I'd also be a little less concerned about leaving an S10 in storage than a Harley. Harley appeal is broader which makes lifting parts or the bike more attractive. 9 out of 10 motorcyclist aren't even sure what an S10 is which makes stealing one less likely.

 

[Derekj]

I would ride the Tenere hands down. I also have a 2008 Ultra with all the bells and whistles and find the Tenere to be a much better cruiser. The Harley , to me, is a tank compared to the Tenere and I feel exhausted after 250 miles on the HD. I rode to Arkansas to the rally a few years ago with a buddy on his ultra and had to keep stopping because he was hurting. By the time we got there I was ready to party and he was done.

 

[limey]

I've been thinking about this and I would take the HD so you can ride the S10 in the winter.

 

[Derekj]

I've been thinking about this and I would take the HD so you can ride the S10 in the winter.

Good point. I was caught up with the ride.