tankertruck
Member
Hello everyone. I just picked up a 2014 Super Tenere ES with 1 mile on the odometer, and I thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Tankertruck (aka Jesse).
A few years ago, after having two kids in the space of 13 months (now 5 and 4 years old), my wife decided she wanted to join me on my bi-yearly week-long motorcycle excursions, so that we had quality time away from the kids. I also did a little bit of commuting on my bike, and some weekend blasts to keep my head clear: a tough variety of riding for any single bike to provide. So I sold my Speed Triple (that was stupid) and ended up getting a Triumph Tiger 1050, which was OK for a year, but needed some $ to make it really what we were looking for, and I refuse to ride a bike that only has one headlight on in normal riding conditions - so we sold that. Then we went to a 2011 C14, which be both loved except for the fact that it was just felt a bit too heavy after a long day of riding, and it was a bit tough on the wife's knees after 4-hours in the saddle. In addition, the Connie couldn't really do some of the gravel roads that we started running into in NH & VT & ME, so that cut our ability to ride down in certain areas pretty drastically - which annoyed me. Otherwise, the C14 was a marvelous bike that gave us no issues - we sold that after 3 years. We then looked at BMW GS, Aprilia Caponord, Ducati Multi, KTM 1190, and Triumph Explorer 1200, as well as the Yamaha Tenere. The taller adventure style bikes seemed to solve most of the knee issues my wife had, and at 6'-0" tall, I could ride them pretty well, and they were all lighter than the C14.
We got the tenere after riding a whole bunch of bikes: BMW GS, Aprilia Caponord, Ducati Multi, KTM 1190, and Triumph Explorer 1200, and eventually cutting it down to the Triumph Explorer and the Tenere. I got a marvelous deal on a new tenere (while my wife was on vacation), so I went with that. If people are interested, I can break down my/our thoughts on the different bikes we road. Her favorite, believe it or not, was the Ducati Multistrada for comfort, but I thought it was too high strung for proper 2-up comfort, and I simply could not accept the fact that a $20k+ motorcycle had a center stand that hit you in the foot if you road it in a normal riding position. Bad design/engineering makes me crazy.
Anyway, back to the Tenere. Initially, I won't lie, after our test ride, and then reading all of the generally mediocre press that the Tenere got, I looked at is as a 'compromise' or 'value' bike, and I thought I'd always pine after the 'better' Triumph. Interestingly though, after about 75 miles in the saddle of the tenere (our test ride was only about 25 miles), I forgot all about the mediocre press and generally negative comments. The triumph might be a better sport/road bike (I actually think that's debatable because at slow speed it feels SO MUCH heavier), but the tenere is a darn good all-around bike for the type of riding I do. Yes, it's not perfect (it could use another 10-20 hp in my opinion, and the gear indicator is annoying since it doesn't show a gear if the clutch is depressed, and where do you put your paperwork?), but it is a shockingly wonderful bike. It is more comfortable than the C14 was, with a more characterful engine, and shockingly good steering once you get the suspension worked out.
Sadly, I only have about 150 miles on the bike, and I don't think that will go up very much before winter sets in (it goes off the road once salt hits the streets) because things at work are just getting crazy. However, this is probably the easiest bike to ride that I've ever owned, and has a very unique, almost comfort-cruiser-like, feel and sound. I've gotten a lot of questions about the bike in the week that I've had it (not quite as many as the speed triple, but a surprising amount for so few miles).
I also live about 5 miles from Thompson speedway, and have taken a few bikes there for track days. The C14 was fun, but I think, with that track layout, the Tenere might be more fun. If I can make it work, I'll tell you in the summer of 2015.
Also, to avoid this: ::006::
A few years ago, after having two kids in the space of 13 months (now 5 and 4 years old), my wife decided she wanted to join me on my bi-yearly week-long motorcycle excursions, so that we had quality time away from the kids. I also did a little bit of commuting on my bike, and some weekend blasts to keep my head clear: a tough variety of riding for any single bike to provide. So I sold my Speed Triple (that was stupid) and ended up getting a Triumph Tiger 1050, which was OK for a year, but needed some $ to make it really what we were looking for, and I refuse to ride a bike that only has one headlight on in normal riding conditions - so we sold that. Then we went to a 2011 C14, which be both loved except for the fact that it was just felt a bit too heavy after a long day of riding, and it was a bit tough on the wife's knees after 4-hours in the saddle. In addition, the Connie couldn't really do some of the gravel roads that we started running into in NH & VT & ME, so that cut our ability to ride down in certain areas pretty drastically - which annoyed me. Otherwise, the C14 was a marvelous bike that gave us no issues - we sold that after 3 years. We then looked at BMW GS, Aprilia Caponord, Ducati Multi, KTM 1190, and Triumph Explorer 1200, as well as the Yamaha Tenere. The taller adventure style bikes seemed to solve most of the knee issues my wife had, and at 6'-0" tall, I could ride them pretty well, and they were all lighter than the C14.
We got the tenere after riding a whole bunch of bikes: BMW GS, Aprilia Caponord, Ducati Multi, KTM 1190, and Triumph Explorer 1200, and eventually cutting it down to the Triumph Explorer and the Tenere. I got a marvelous deal on a new tenere (while my wife was on vacation), so I went with that. If people are interested, I can break down my/our thoughts on the different bikes we road. Her favorite, believe it or not, was the Ducati Multistrada for comfort, but I thought it was too high strung for proper 2-up comfort, and I simply could not accept the fact that a $20k+ motorcycle had a center stand that hit you in the foot if you road it in a normal riding position. Bad design/engineering makes me crazy.
Anyway, back to the Tenere. Initially, I won't lie, after our test ride, and then reading all of the generally mediocre press that the Tenere got, I looked at is as a 'compromise' or 'value' bike, and I thought I'd always pine after the 'better' Triumph. Interestingly though, after about 75 miles in the saddle of the tenere (our test ride was only about 25 miles), I forgot all about the mediocre press and generally negative comments. The triumph might be a better sport/road bike (I actually think that's debatable because at slow speed it feels SO MUCH heavier), but the tenere is a darn good all-around bike for the type of riding I do. Yes, it's not perfect (it could use another 10-20 hp in my opinion, and the gear indicator is annoying since it doesn't show a gear if the clutch is depressed, and where do you put your paperwork?), but it is a shockingly wonderful bike. It is more comfortable than the C14 was, with a more characterful engine, and shockingly good steering once you get the suspension worked out.
Sadly, I only have about 150 miles on the bike, and I don't think that will go up very much before winter sets in (it goes off the road once salt hits the streets) because things at work are just getting crazy. However, this is probably the easiest bike to ride that I've ever owned, and has a very unique, almost comfort-cruiser-like, feel and sound. I've gotten a lot of questions about the bike in the week that I've had it (not quite as many as the speed triple, but a surprising amount for so few miles).
I also live about 5 miles from Thompson speedway, and have taken a few bikes there for track days. The C14 was fun, but I think, with that track layout, the Tenere might be more fun. If I can make it work, I'll tell you in the summer of 2015.
Also, to avoid this: ::006::
