Hey guys, the Yamaha Demos are in Asheville, NC this weekend. I had a 30 minute test ride on a Super 10 this morning. I'll post a report when I get back home and have more time, probably Sunday. 8)
Awesome k-woo! Would have loved to been therek woo said:Hey guys, the Yamaha Demos are in Asheville, NC this weekend. I had a 30 minute test ride on a Super 10 this morning. I'll post a report when I get back home and have more time, probably Sunday. 8)
Bigbore4 said:ARGGGGGGGGGGGGG
I am in Richmond Virginia today, the demo ride fleet will be at Richmond Yamaha on Hull Street (#360) Next weekend.
RATS
So any Virginia guys, get after it!
Great report. After I demo'd the Tenere I also walked away without the big grin on my face. There is something though about the Tenere. I not sure if it's a sense of dependability, confidence or what. It just feels right!k woo said:Summary:
This is an exceptional motorcycle, I mostly concur with previously written reviews. The Tenere will easily perform it's designed task. Does it fits my needs as a comfortable long range world crosser with back road capability? Absolutely. Does it make me grin all the way back to my molars?? No, not that type of bike. The KTM 990 Dakar I test rode did that.
Hope this helps. Sorry, no pics that would really add to the review.
k woo, 8) 5/15/11
Cost ya a ride reportpqsqac said:Could you give me more detail I live in this area and never knew we had a Yamaha dealer so close to us on Hull St?
Thanks
Claim they are going to be in Shawnee Mission Kansas this coming weekend. Not sure if they have more than one demo fleet.eemsreno said:K Woo
Very good report, I just wish there was a schedule out there of where the bikes are going to be. Does anyone know of any bikes coming to the midwest?
......... AgreedBrntrt said:After I demo'd the Tenere I also walked away without the big grin on my face. There is something though about the Tenere. I not sure if it's a sense of dependability, confidence or what. It just feels right!
Bigbore4 said:
Was down on business and my buddy / colleague lives a tad off Hull street in Midlothian, we were going into town and I spotted a banner hanging oot in front of the dealer and Googled it.pqsqac said:Bigboar thanks a lot now it makes sense this is the Honda dealer not far from my house. They never sold Yammi there before only Can Am and big H. This is awesome the demo truck is coming so close to me because it is not on the schedule on the Yamaha site. How did you end up in Richmond being from Minn that is a long way off but I'm glad you did. I could have very well never heard this news and missed it completely. I will be up there first thing Sat and ride all day man great news. Thanks again for posting.
Bigbore4 said:Was down on business and my buddy / colleague lives a tad off Hull street in Midlothian, we were going into town and I spotted a banner hanging oot in front of the dealer and Googled it.
I talked to a sales guy named Aaron, seemed like a good sort. I am now contemplating an 8 hour ride to Kansas City, they also are supposed to have a demo ride.
Thanks k woo!k woo said:The Yamaha Star Demo truck was at the Asheville NC Bikefest this week (Thurs-Sun) with a FJR1300, R1, R6, FZ1, FZ8, FZ6R, Super Ténéré, V Star 950, V Star 1300, Raider, Road Star, Roadliner, Stratoliner, Warrior, Raider, and VMAX to test ride.
I had 2 turns at the Tenere. Each test ride was the same 30 minute loop of slab with a good mix of interstate and twisties. This bike had 2000+ miles on it so I considered it to be broke in. I rode only in sport mode. As of Friday the Tenere was the most ridden bike. It went out every time while some of the others sat there all lonely. The Yamaha/Star staff was very professional and friendly.
The Good:
1. Guys, this bike is BALANCED. I immediately noticed it's excellent balance and low center of gravity as we idled around the parking lot heading out. It is easy to not have to put your feet down during short stops.
2. It does handle on asphalt like a much lighter bike.
3. The Tenere gracefully falls into the curves, recovering on switch-backs requires no manhandling.
4. I felt no vibration in the handlebars and foot pegs up to 98+ mph
5. It eats up 4 lane slab with absolute ease and comfort, I see no issues with high speed 10 hour rides.
6. Super stable at speed.
7. It is plenty quick/fast for it's class, the 2 R6's on the 2nd ride couldn't get me by that much. One R6 rider commented on how well I kept on his tail.
8. Very good torque, a passenger and luggage should not kill it.
9. Did I say how well it is balanced?
10. Very good brakes, I got on them hard twice, not too much nose dive.
11. The factory wind screen worked surprisingly well for me. I already have an adjuster and will most likely get another screen but for my height (5'9") with an Arai XD3 I didn't think the buffeting was that bad.
12. It sounds better than I thought it would. Not the authoritative note of a triple but O.K.
The Questionable:
1. The transmission is butter smooth, BUT under hard acceleration the throw between gears seems long to me. Shifting from 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th required a looong upward pull. I missed twice. This could be me being used to the solid "klachunck" of my KLR's gearbox but I don't think so. This was not a problem at all during regular acceleration and shifting.
2. I did experience the mid range lull when accelerating between 3 and 5000 as some have reported but HOLD ON when it hits 5 grand. ??? I only noticed this rolling on the throttle without shifting. No lull nailing it going through the gears.
3. At idle/slow speeds I found the throttle to be VERY jerky. No problem at speed, again I only rode in sport mode so I cannot say how it would do otherwise. This could be me being used to a KLR, a minor issue at very the most.
4. The factory crash bars are poorly designed. No news flash here. The demo bike had been dropped on both sides. The side panels were not cracked but took a beating. The factory bars leave the radiator far too exposed. If the bike goes down on anything but a flat surface the panels and underneath will catch hell. k woo HIGHLY recommends after market.
Summary:
This is an exceptional motorcycle, I mostly concur with previously written reviews. The Tenere will easily perform it's designed task. Does it fits my needs as a comfortable long range world crosser with back road capability? Absolutely. Does it make me grin all the way back to my molars?? No, not that type of bike. The KTM 990 Dakar I test rode did that.
Hope this helps. Sorry, no pics that would really add to the review.
k woo, 8) 5/15/11