Off road riders opinions

EricV

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This is the bike I’m looking to buy. It has the skid plate and crash bars already installed. Plus the bags. I just need to ad some knobbies and maybe a bigger windshield
That's not a skid plate, it's a gravel guard. A sump mounted 'skid plate' just means a broken sump if you tag anything solid. Cast aluminum doesn't bend, it breaks.
 

RCinNC

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I think most of the ones out there are just debris shields, and not skid plates. If it bolts anywhere to the engine, it's not a skid plate. I think the Rumbux sets that Eric imports are the only ones I've seen that are actually a skid plates, and the impacts from rocks etc don't get transferred to the engine case. The debris shields are still a good thing to have, though, since they do protect the oil filter from getting hit by crap thrown up from the front wheel.

I don't have the skill to ride this monster on singletrack, and at my age I'm not likely to acquire it (bones don't knit as fast as they used to). I'm definitely impressed with the places I've seen some guys ride them, though.
 

Butterthebean

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Temple, TX
These guys must want to put you to sleep if they are referring you to some of my ride reports.
I just like seeing new things off the beaten path and sometimes that takes us on some rough trails.
Here are some links to a few, you'll probably be good and rested up after reading them.

Alaska with my wife.
https://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?threads/2up-to-hyder-alaska-to-see-the-bears.12837/

Alaska with 2 other Super Tenere's
https://advrider.com/f/threads/three-of-tbdbitw-ride-to-alsaka.1087923/

Here is a White Rim Trail trip.
https://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?threads/moab-white-rim-trail-2013.9648/

Here is 4 Super Tenere's out in some of Utah's back country.
https://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?threads/the-not-so-straight-and-narrow-road-to-zion.20590/

That really makes me want to take my super10 to Alaska.

Very nice.
 

SilverBullet

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Those tires look spooky!! You sure are braver than me. I made the decision a few years back to only have a full on big block style knobby for any off-road travel. I figure if they will last between oil changes then I'm good. Back in May I was at a rally at Mojave National Preserve. Almost everyone had the big blocks on their adventure bikes. One guy had the Mitas E07's on his Africa Twin. About a dozen of us made it through a deep sand section and his bike did the smack down. I understand the "chevron style" tires last longer but I want something safer.
No tire will transform this or any bike. My guess the rider of the Africa Twin had more to do with the drop than his E-07's did. And likewise the dozen riders that cleared the deep sand were not successful solely due to their big blocks.

If eemsreno used big blocks for his Alaska trip he would probably have used 5 tires and had 3 tire changes (2 rear, 1 front) on the road to make it back home. A tire set that can complete the entire 14k mile trip welcomes a little compromise/sacrifice. I don't think he ever airs down his tires either. I tend to do the same, run 38f/40r all conditions. With the uber stiff sidewalls of the E-07 Dakar airing down doesn't buy you that much anyway except for increased wear.
 

EricV

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There are a few frame mounted skid plates out there now. ACD from Spain, Ravetech in Thailand, T-Rex in TX, Rumbux (system approach) and Ride On ADV's bomb proof skid plate, (TX also).
 
B

ballisticexchris

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No tire will transform this or any bike. My guess the rider of the Africa Twin had more to do with the drop than his E-07's did. And likewise the dozen riders that cleared the deep sand were not successful solely due to their big blocks.

If eemsreno used big blocks for his Alaska trip he would probably have used 5 tires and had 3 tire changes (2 rear, 1 front) on the road to make it back home. A tire set that can complete the entire 14k mile trip welcomes a little compromise/sacrifice. I don't think he ever airs down his tires either. I tend to do the same, run 38f/40r all conditions. With the uber stiff sidewalls of the E-07 Dakar airing down doesn't buy you that much anyway except for increased wear.
In this case it was 100% tire choice. Chevron style tires are not good in deep sand or mud. I personally will not compromise on tires for longevity. Rider skill does come into play. But not in the situation we were in. This guy was a very good rider.
 

Curt

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Yamahaguy

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worncog

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All good comments. All she needs is knobbies, skidplate, Anthony's flash, long legs, and a confident skill set. The S10 will take you far. Just know how to pick it up, load it as light as possible, practice your sand game, and ride far. I've had mine on three BDR's, Alaska, and many parts in between. Long slab, twisties, the track, deep sand, snow, rock gardens, but not too much mud.

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Defekticon

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I'm kind of a jerk to my bike, but it keeps moving. It threw me off a few times this trip. It had been raining quite a bit in WV and one of the tracks I picked at the romney ride was super slick mud on top of large rocks. Lots of grip issues. But it was only that one track that was a PITA, and I was likely riding too fast anyway on 50/50 Mitas E07's that have a solid stripe down the middle. The rest of the regular dirt and rocks was a blast!
 
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