SuperTen, to change or not to change?

Longdog Cymru

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Well I have had my 2017 SuperTen for 2 years now and I have done a few epic trips on it, but.......! I guess it all started when I saw the new BMW F900XR. I booked a test ride but along came Corvid-19 and the Lockdown and I never got my test ride. During Lockdown I started thinking, always a dangerous thing to do! So, I thought for about the same money as the F900XR, I can get a pre-owned BMW S1000XR or a Ducati Multistrada 1200S which has now developed a life of it’s own and now includes the KTM Adventure 1090 and the KTM Super Adventure 1290S, all within my price range, all pre-owned, low mileage except for the F900XR. So now my brain is mush and I’m still riding my SuperTen and wondering why I want to change. Let’s just see where this goes once I can actually get test rides!
 

TomBoy

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Hi LongDog Cymru, I had a test ride with BMW F900XR and bought ST 2017. F900XR is much sportier and less comfortable then ST. If you plan to do long trips, stay with ST or buy R1200GS.
 

Boris

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I get where you’re coming from Longdog, the F900XR is looking good, might go test ride one as well.

I’ve had my Super Tenere for 4 years now and done around 31k miles on it, including eight trips of over 2.5k miles, including one over 5k miles and two over 3k miles, all without issue. However, despite being reliable, handling well, stopping well (once the brake pads were upgraded), carrying me and my bags easily and being fairly frugal along the way, it was and remains a bike that I never really thought greatly of. I don’t think it’s a bad bike in any way, except perhaps it’s weight when paddling it about, it’s just not one that’s ever really excited me, albeit it has done all that I’ve asked from it.

I too have had the new bike itch for a while, and the S1000XR was at the top of the list. My mate has one and I rode it briefly last year and thought it was great, powerful, light, great handling and stopping, it got me thinking. Roll forward a year and I’ve just got back from a France trip, with a mate on an XR, where we swapped bikes for a full couple of hours, on different types of roads. Great great bike, but really not for me. Just felt too frantic, too busy, always on the edge of wanting to go, like it needed another gear or two, not the loping, lazy, progressive power that I’ve become used to on the Super Tenere and my previous Caponord 1000. I didn’t notice any vibration issues, but it’s just not for me, but great bike nonetheless.

Another mate has a 1290 Super Adventure, this is currently where my head is.......I need to ride one of these. But, just not convinced with the reliability.

Another bike that I cant seem to move past is the Tiger 1050 Sport, 25hp more than the Super Tenere and 30 kilos less. My mate (XR man) had one an earlier version for 10 years, without any issues whatsoever, a very capable and underrated bike.

Then, back to the F900XR.........

Let us know how you get on.
 

yoyo

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Having now just about sorted my S10 to exactly how I want it I'm 4yrs into it and I'm getting an itch, sadly I love the look of the R1200GSA but it's a stupid amount of money for a bike that will cost a fortune to service if you want to keep the warranty going, I'm also considering a Tiger 900 but they are a bit new yet or maybe a KTM 1290S which are a really good price at the minute, so many choices!

Sent from my ELE-L29 using Tapatalk
 

WJBertrand

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How high on your list of priorities is reliability? None of the bikes you mentioned are going to even come close to the Super Tenere in that department.
 

Longdog Cymru

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Fine if you want to pay German prices for Chinese products.

Get your S10 flashed by Chris Steedman at CJS Racing in Bristol before giving up on it. http://www.cjsracing.co.uk/
Thanks for the advice, but my S10 doesn’t really need flashing, ;) , I think the way it fuels and delivers it’s power is fine as it is. I do about 2 really long European tours each year and it is perfect for that, but when I look at the other 48 weeks of the year and the type of riding I enjoy, them maybe I have my priorities the wrong way around. I like my S10 and I lusted after one for a few years but.....!

Oh yes, if you are talking about the cost of motorcycles and where they are made, then the answer as far as I am concerned is I don’t really care where they are made as long as the quality is good. I don’t believe there is any mass produced items nowadays that are made in the countries that the brand name manufactures originate from. We live in a world that is getting smaller and where the consumers demand more for their money, it’s a Global Economy today.
 

Sierra1

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i,ve had mine 7 yrs now . . . . i can honestly say i don,t even think of any other bikes.
I've only had my Tenere for 3 1/2, but, I've had my FJ for 34. Even when the Beemer was brand new, I still preferred the FJ. Every time that I rode a different bike, and got back on the FJ, I still liked it better. Once I find something I like, it 's going to take something holy s**t better for me to switch. (especially if there's a ton of money involved) The FJR was never intended to stay, it was always intended for my kid to buy. The Tenere was me taking a chance. Didn't figure I would dislike it. . . . but, never envisioned how much I would like it. I don't even ride the FJ hardly anymore.

Maybe what people complain about on the Tenere, is due to what they are coming from. To me, she feels light and plenty quick/fast. I know she does fine on twistie roads. Maybe I would be on the "more HP" band wagon if I spent more time on interstates at 80mph. Maybe I would be on the "she's too fat" band wagon, if I took her way off road. But, I just use her as daily transportation. Real world riding. A little city, a little highway, a lot of fun.

But, ya' got to love what you're riding, so good luck on your searching. I'll still be interested on your road tests. :)
 
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twinrider

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Thanks for the advice, but my S10 doesn’t really need flashing, ;) , I think the way it fuels and delivers it’s power is fine as it is. I do about 2 really long European tours each year and it is perfect for that, but when I look at the other 48 weeks of the year and the type of riding I enjoy, them maybe I have my priorities the wrong way around. I like my S10 and I lusted after one for a few years but.....!

Oh yes, if you are talking about the cost of motorcycles and where they are made, then the answer as far as I am concerned is I don’t really care where they are made as long as the quality is good. I don’t believe there is any mass produced items nowadays that are made in the countries that the brand name manufactures originate from. We live in a world that is getting smaller and where the consumers demand more for their money, it’s a Global Economy today.
Saying it's fine without having tried a flashed S10 is like the 40 YO virgin saying that spanking hank is as good as the real thing. The difference between non-flashed and flashed is night and day. More power, much smoother, no more jerky off-throttle engine braking.

You're not getting more for your money by buying BMW's Chinese products. BMW's getting more for its money.
 
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14kmtnman

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Well, I'll jump in too. I have had the itch to change bikes for a year or 2. I did the BMW demo rides last year (850GS, 1250GS, xr1000) as well as the Triumph one (Street bikes, no 1200 Scrambler). This past weekend Yamaha had their truck out (T700, Nikon and Tracer gt). Very early last year rode the KTM 1290sar and 1290sas back to back. Also rode a friends 1290sas a few weekends ago for about an hour. Triumph is supposed to have their truck out and about in the fall. Hoping to ride the new 900 Rally Pro. I was on a KTM forum the other night and several of the people there had recently owned Teneres . They kept relating back to the reliability and comfort of the ST. I wind up going back to the KTMs but now looking at the 790r and the 1290sar. The power and suspension are the allure. Weight is also a side factor. 100 to 150 lbs less makes a big difference off road and off camber when trying to pick something up. Like other posters, I always like getting back on the Tenere and haven't found something that really excites me enough to change over yet....
 

Longdog Cymru

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Saying it's fine without having tried a flashed S10 is like the 40 YO virgin saying that spanking hank is as good as the real thing. The difference between non-flashed and flashed is night and day. More power, much smoother, no more jerky off-throttle engine braking.

You're not getting more for your money by buying BMW's Chinese products. BMW's getting more for its money.
You do what you want to do and I will do what suits me. I have not felt the need to get my S10 flashed, therefore I haven’t done it. Jerky off throttle braking? Maybe you’ve been spanking hank a little too often ;) :)

I can see that you are anti-Chinese and maybe anti-German too for all I know, but show me a single manufacturer who doesn’t out-source any of their parts.
 

stutrump

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Longdog. The answer seems simple, although I'm sure you've thought of this already. If you can afford two insurance policies and road tax...buy an old Fireblade or similar and then you've got your S10 for reliability/comfort/touring and the Fireblade to really make you feel 17 years old again. Yee-ha
 

Longdog Cymru

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So, you would have no problems acquiring a Huawei 5G cell phone and leaving it in your bathroom with the camera pointed at you, while you take a shower? :):cool:
Ermm... not really my thing to be honest, maybe it’s something you have tried yourself? Still, if it works for you and doesn’t affect me, whatever you do in your own home is your business. Hey, maybe you and twinrider could get some mutual satisfaction together, you know what I mean? ;)
 

Boris

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Longdog, I guess looking at other bikes means you think the Tenere is a pile of turd. This upsets my sensitive side, so I’m off down the BMW dealers to kick a GS. ;)
 
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Dirt_Dad

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My wife has the "Chinese" engine BMW. After nearly 9K miles I can say it has been a wonderful engine. Absolutely no complaints about that bike.

Life is too short to ride the wrong motorcycle. The Tenere is an awesome bike that I started riding back in 2011. Been a great experience for me. There are a lot of choices out there right now. Nothing wrong with trying something else. Your next bike is probably not your last bike, don't treat it like it is.
 
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