The next chapter...KTM Super Adventure S

[Dirt_Dad]

DAMN! Glad he's going to be fine. The lost memory is a scary thing. Not being certain he crashed is concerning. I told DM about your buddy...that may have been a mistake.

I do know speed isn't always what hurts you. In the last 10 years my worst, most painful crash was less than 5 mph doing a wheelie across the driveway. Screwed it up and on the way down did a dive for the grass and not the pavement. Odd landing, hurt like hell.

Again, glad he's going to be okay.

 

[Madhatter]

lol, my buddy has done that too. bought a GS and 30 minutes after getting it home totaled the bike along with a knee trying to do wheelies .... his wife is very patient with him . anything that weighs twice your weight maybe should stay on 2 wheels. just a thought.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

bought a GS and 30 minutes after getting it home totaled the bike along with a knee trying to do wheelies ....

That is truly astonishing.

anything that weighs twice your weight maybe should stay on 2 wheels. just a thought.

That is truly never going to happen. (I'm taking the liberty of thinking I understand your buddy enough to say that)

 

[Madhatter]

Pretty much right on about my buddy.

 

[ballisticexchris]

Wow not good. Ringing your clock is no joke!!

 

[Madhatter]

I do know speed isn't always what hurts you

its the sudden stop!

 

[Madhatter]

my buddy is a great guy , he is not reckless , but he does ride at a sporting pace shall we say. and both his crashes have not been at speed ..... pulling wheelies is fun on my honda X , not even going to try with the Tenere.... Saturday he forgot a riding rule , the bike goes where you look.
he was turning left and stated looking at something that caught his attention over his right shoulder , drifted wide right . the rest is history.

 

[Mak10]

Was this Carrot?

 

[ballisticexchris]

I'm just happy your buddy is ok Terry. Those kind of things can happen to any of us.

 

[Madhatter]

Good morning mak10 , not carrot . Carrot bought a dirt bike and he hasn’t touched his tenere in months. My buddy is not a forum member . Only rides Europe made bikes . No ones perfect.

 

[Madhatter]

Carrot is a great rider , and rides with safety in mind. Never seen him act up .

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Super Tenere related update...

After buying the SAS I rode my Tenere a grand total of 7 miles over 3 or 4 different rides. After selling my Tenere on Saturday, I spent part of Sunday riding a Super Tenere about 35 or 40 miles. The Tenere was instantly familiar, comfortable, and in the twisties I felt totally at home. Don't believe I lost a step on a Tenere.

Off the Tenere, back on the SAS. I felt uneasy, I was confused, shifted with a clutch, corners were awkward, I was slow and cautious. This feeling lasted probably 20 miles before I shook it off. Reminded me of my test ride, where the engine was entertaining, but I knew I was not comfortable enough to push the bike. I figured I'd learn that part.

I realized, for me, there is a world of difference between riding a Tenere, and competently riding the SAS. They just don't ride the same when you push beyond basic riding skills. That short time adjusting my brain to the very familiar Tenere was enough to make the SAS alien to me again. I was amazed at how uncomfortable I felt on my bike, and for how long it lasted. It does explain why I had to grow into where I'm at now on the SAS. After 20 miles, the TCS was off, god was in his heaven, and I remembered why I'm so smitten with the bike...took the long way home.

Also learned that the seat beads make a huge difference. On the last ride I took them off to try the heated seat when I left on a 54 degree day morning. Did not put them back on for yesterday's ride. Even at just 75 degrees yesterday the perceived heat was significantly greater without the beads. Live and learn.

 

[bmac]

Super Tenere related update...

After buying the SAS I rode my Tenere a grand total of 7 miles over 3 or 4 different rides. After selling my Tenere on Saturday, I spent part of Sunday riding a Super Tenere about 35 or 40 miles. The Tenere was instantly familiar, comfortable, and in the twisties I felt totally at home. Don't believe I lost a step on a Tenere.

Off the Tenere, back on the SAS. I felt uneasy, I was confused, shifted with a clutch, corners were awkward, I was slow and cautious. This feeling lasted probably 20 miles before I shook it off. Reminded me of my test ride, where the engine was entertaining, but I knew I was not comfortable enough to push the bike. I figured I'd learn that part.

I realized, for me, there is a world of difference between riding a Tenere, and competently riding the SAS. They just don't ride the same when you push beyond basic riding skills. That short time adjusting my brain to the very familiar Tenere was enough to make the SAS alien to me again. I was amazed at how uncomfortable I felt on my bike, and for how long it lasted. It does explain why I had to grow into where I'm at now on the SAS. After 20 miles, the TCS was off, god was in his heaven, and I remembered why I'm so smitten with the bike...took the long way home.

Also learned that the seat beads make a huge difference. On the last ride I took them off to try the heated seat when I left on a 54 degree day morning. Did not put them back on for yesterday's ride. Even at just 75 degrees yesterday the perceived heat was significantly greater without the beads. Live and learn.

I am a little surprised to read about your difficulty transitioning from bike to bike, especially ones that you are intimately familiar with.. It is a bit hard for me to fathom as I instantly adjust to the bike I am on.

As far as seat beads go, they work but there is a MUCH better option. The company linked below produces a much higher tech version of seat beads. They are phenomenal!!! I cannot overstate it! They work extremely well and are not very expensive. Do yourself a favor and just order them. It is the one product that may allow me to buy a KTM V twin.

Cool Covers seat covers

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Trust me, I was very surprised too. I do suspect, knowing your profession, you are more accustom to changing bikes than me. I pretty much change between the same 4 bikes year after year. Guess that is a limiting factor for me.

Ive been curious about that seat cover. Does it slip on and off easily? I'm thinking it would be great in warm/hot weather. But in the winter it would be nice to take advantage of the heated seat.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Super Tenere related update...

After buying the SAS I rode my Tenere a grand total of 7 miles over 3 or 4 different rides. After selling my Tenere on Saturday, I spent part of Sunday riding a Super Tenere about 35 or 40 miles. The Tenere was instantly familiar, comfortable, and in the twisties I felt totally at home. Don't believe I lost a step on a Tenere.

Off the Tenere, back on the SAS. I felt uneasy, I was confused, shifted with a clutch, corners were awkward, I was slow and cautious. This feeling lasted probably 20 miles before I shook it off. Reminded me of my test ride, where the engine was entertaining, but I knew I was not comfortable enough to push the bike. I figured I'd learn that part.

I realized, for me, there is a world of difference between riding a Tenere, and competently riding the SAS. They just don't ride the same when you push beyond basic riding skills. That short time adjusting my brain to the very familiar Tenere was enough to make the SAS alien to me again. I was amazed at how uncomfortable I felt on my bike, and for how long it lasted. It does explain why I had to grow into where I'm at now on the SAS. After 20 miles, the TCS was off, god was in his heaven, and I remembered why I'm so smitten with the bike...took the long way home.

Also learned that the seat beads make a huge difference. On the last ride I took them off to try the heated seat when I left on a 54 degree day morning. Did not put them back on for yesterday's ride. Even at just 75 degrees yesterday the perceived heat was significantly greater without the beads. Live and learn.

I appreciate the swap of rides yesterday and ought to throw in my take.

When we first swapped and started out, I did a few slow and tight turns in the shopping center parking lot and the first surprise was how UN-surprising the 1290 felt. It didn't take long to feel comfortable on the SAS and as you keep saying it ALWAYS keeps the rider in total control of those 160 hp. The seating position was very similar to the Tenere, just taller and with nicely lighter steering. It took less input for the bike to move, which means both that the SAS is more maneuverable AND that on the road it is less stable. I now understand why you mentioned that you'd rather be on the Tenere if you hit another deer. For those who've ridden a BMW 1250 GS, the lighter feel of the SAS and controls were closer to the 1250 GS than they were like the Tenere.

With respect to the speed shifter, it was too short a ride to get used to it. To use it was a conscious effort, but as I kept saying on the intercom, when we got into the twisty roads a lifetime of habit frequently had me using the clutch to shift. To the bikes' credit, it didn't care whether or not I used the clutch, and I can understand how once you got used to it the speed shifter it would be really great. As-is, the SAS clutch effort tis lighter than on the Tenere and that alone is nice.

I totally agree that the SAS is a BALL in the twisties in every way. It feels flickable, handles light, and twisting the throttle out of a corner is a hit every time. It accelerates like an electric car with all that torque, and the honk of listening to the intakes opening is visceral. The suspension was absolutely KTM which means spot on. To me on the twisty roads was the best part of the bike. It was very conspicuous how I would leave you behind on the Tenere when we hit the throttles.

The dash was really the only negative impact on me somehow and I am still not sure why I didn't click with it. It had all the information there but wasn't the kind of display where I'd know what's going on without actually focusing on it for a second. I still am not sure if it was being the sharp crisp TFT type of display, how the info was laid out, that too much is packed into a small space, or (most likely) I just didn't have enough time with it for the display to click with my brain.

I thought that I'd miss the suspension or acceleration when I got back on the Tenere and we split up, but that didn't happen. I turned the traction control down to head north up Smoketown then east on some of the other gravel and clicked right back into my comfort zone. But if the SAS had a shaft I would seriously consider buying one and can totally understand why you'd been so smitten with it.

 

[Sierra1]

. . . . That short time adjusting my brain to the very familiar Tenere was enough to make the SAS alien to me again. . . .

That's just muscle memory. You had years with the Tenere, and don't even have to think when you're riding it. You've only had your new ride for just weeks/months. Kinda like a pair of boots. New boots can feel good, a little stiff, but good. Then you put your old boots back on. Totally broken in, and molded to your foot; fits just right.

I remember when I was going through motor school. They told us not to ride our personal bikes until after the three week school. It might confuse us. So, I rode the KZ during the day, and my FJ to and from the class. I never had a problem switching back-n-forth, but the FJ was definitely my comfortable broken in pair of boots.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

The dash was really the only negative impact on me somehow and I am still not sure why I didn't click with it. It had all the information there but wasn't the kind of display where I'd know what's going on without actually focusing on it for a second. I still am not sure if it was being the sharp crisp TFT type of display, how the info was laid out, that too much is packed into a small space, or (most likely) I just didn't have enough time with it for the display to click with my brain.

I definitely went through an adjustment period with the TFT. Compared to DM's BMW TFT there is a lot more to look at on the SAS. Hard to beat the BMW simplicity, and attractiveness. I've learned to really appreciate how the information is presented now and like my TFT a lot. Less messing with TFT controls to get information you want vs the BMW. When I ask DM a question about her bike, her response is, 'hold on...' a while later she gets to the info and reports back. For me, it's all there, no pushing buttons or twisting rings. Still think the BMW looks great, but the KTM is less distracting once used to it.

That's just muscle memory. You had years with the Tenere, and don't even have to think when you're riding it. You've only had your new ride for just weeks/months. Kinda like a pair of boots. New boots can feel good, a little stiff, but good. Then you put your old boots back on. Totally broken in, and molded to your foot; fits just right.

Excellent description. Muscle memory was definitely there on CW's bike. I'll go with that.

 

[bmac]

Ive been curious about that seat cover. Does it slip on and off easily? I'm thinking it would be great in warm/hot weather. But in the winter it would be nice to take advantage of the heated seat.

It takes a a minute or two to put on as it is tightly fitted. Not quite as easy as seat beads but easy enough. It comes off in seconds.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Three things I neglected to mention.

1. The Puig screen with the spoiler you installed was perfect for me at 6'. It was one of those things where after the fact was when I realized I had been getting no turbulence and the top of the screen was not up in my face.

2. The seat. The cushioning was fine and shape was great once we were off the highway. However, on the highway the rise at the back of the pocket was high and steep enough that it caught me just under the tailbone.

3. HUGE thanks and always glad to have you as a friend!

 

[Boris]

I am a little surprised to read about your difficulty transitioning from bike to bike, especially ones that you are intimately familiar with.. It is a bit hard for me to fathom as I instantly adjust to the bike I am on.

As far as seat beads go, they work but there is a MUCH better option. The company linked below produces a much higher tech version of seat beads. They are phenomenal!!! I cannot overstate it! They work extremely well and are not very expensive. Do yourself a favor and just order them. It is the one product that may allow me to buy a KTM V twin.

Cool Covers seat covers

Interesting. I was looking at these Cool Covers this very morning. Have a couple of very long (for me) tours coming up over the next couple of years and really struggle on the Super Tenere after a few hours in the saddle. Didn’t want to go down the new seat route, so considered the AirHawk and similar route, then started seeing a few bikes with the cool covers. Do they help with the numb bum situation?